Bel Aire Diner
Diner · Astoria ·
Classic diner with a massive menu, 24/7 service, and drive-in movies
Classic diner with a massive menu, 24/7 service, and drive-in movies
"The Bel Aire — with its 1960s muscle car theme — endeared itself to the local population during the pandemic by showing drive-in movies in its parking lot. The place is gigantic, all shiny metal and Formica, and the menu is as big as the premises, with Mexican, Thai, Greek, and Italian specialties added to the regular menu, along with playfully named dishes like “cheese destruction fries.” It claims to serve the biggest burrito in the city." - Melissa McCart
"This American diner in Astoria has been around since 1965, and while we can’t say for sure whether or not they served a BEC with pancakes for buns back then, one relic from that era remains: drive-in movies. It’s $32 per car, but you can bring as many people as you want, and you can order from the very long menu of comfort food and diner classics throughout the show. You can keep track of what’s showing and ticket sale times on their Instagram." - matt tervooren
"This American diner in Astoria has been around since 1965, and while we can’t say for sure whether or not they served a BEC with pancakes for buns back then, one relic from that era remains: drive-in movies. It’s $32 per car, but you can bring as many people as you want, and you can order from the very long menu of comfort food and diner classics throughout the show. You can keep track of what’s showing and ticket sale times on their Instagram. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Team Infatuation
"Founded in 1965, Bel Aire Diner extends around the corner of Broadway and 21st Street in Astoria. Named after a Chevrolet model, it features pictures of convertibles on the outside. It claims to have been open 24-hours daily since its founding, and showed drive-in movies during the pandemic." - Robert Sietsema
"My final diner visit was to Bel Aire Diner, a massive chrome, 1950s hot-rod–themed spot way west on Broadway at 31-91 21st Street in Astoria that has been a family-owned local favorite for over 50 years. Its Mexican 'South of the Border' page includes chimichangas, a chorizo torta, shrimp fajitas and a carnitas bowl, and I ordered the 'double stuffed giant burrito' ($30): two giant flour tortillas annealed together with cheese and stuffed with steak, chicken, rice, bell peppers and a half dozen other ingredients. The burrito was too mellow for me, though the bottled chile sauce, crema and a Peruvian green hot sauce encouraged me to dip every bite—fine but not worth $30, and I only ate half." - Robert Sietsema
