Garden City Bistro

Amidst the busy suburb of Garden City, a one block oasis of cobblestone and eateries called 7th Street lays in the center of town. 7th Street is a quaint little area were the sidewalks are done up in cobblestone, and business men, housewives, and school children flock to the various interest points that range from popular franchises such as Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks to independent food stops that more so catch my eye.

Tucked away in the back parking lot for 7th Street is Garden City Bistro, a small gourmet shop that offers soups, salads, and paninis but specializes in their wraps.

Back Entrance From Parking Lot

At the food peaks of the day, especially lunch time, the narrow but long Bistro is filled with a long single line of businessfolk, teens, and everyone in between.  The employees behind the counter make everything right in front of you, stirring ingredients for the wraps in large salad bowls to integrate the flavors, and throw chicken, steak, and other favorites right on the griddle. Their bacon is like a steak in itself, thick and chopped up fresh, and may be the best actual bacon I've had out in terms of its flavor and consistency- not crumbly, but juicy.

There are a ton of wrap places on Long Island, but what makes GC Bistro stand out isnt just its quality, gourmet ingredients. The size and shape of the wraps make them their own unique entity, and two meals in one. The wraps arent the usual flat, food roll-ups I'm used too. They are big, bulky, burrito-esque torpedos of flaver.

The wraps come in Regular, Whole Wheat, Tomato-Basil, and Spinach

While there are plenty of great options that range from spicy, to savory, to sweet, such as the Buffalo Chicken Wrap and the Steak Wrap, my personal favorite is rooted in simplicity, which further celebrates Bistro as a simple concept that has something special about it. The BLT Wrap is the best item on the menu, taking the standard concept of bacon, lettuce, and tomato, and turning it into a flavorful, juicy treat. Besides the bacon, which Ive already praised, the key ingredient to the wrap (and maybe to the whole place) is a Basil-Aioli dressing, which takes the place of mayo in the creation, which takes everything to a whole new level. I'm a huge fan of special dressing or sauce- it can make or break an entire meal, concept, or restaurant- and this particular one has it down. I always ask for a little extra, and sometimes I'm out of luck because they run out quick.

The wraps are a bit pricey, which isn't a surprise given that they live in Garden City, but considering how expensive crappy wraps are, it's worth it in my book.

Bistro is located on:
662 Franklin Ave. (Or enter through 7th Street Parking Lot)
Garden City, NY
Mon-Sat: 8:00am-6:00pm
CLOSED Sunday
(516) 747-3696
Major Cards Accepted
GC Bistro