Rincon Criollo Cuban Restaurant Opening Second Long Island Location in New Hyde Park
Rincon Criollo, a family-owned Cuban restaurant from Corona, Queens is set to open a new spot this spring in New Hyde Park, their second Long Island location in addition to the one in Huntington Station at 6 West Jericho Turnpike opened in 2015.
The restaurant’s Corona location closed and will be moving to the New Hyde Park site that the family purchased and allows them to expand. The new location is at 2232 Jericho Turnpike, the former home of Sorriso, an Italian restaurant that specialized in wood-fired pizza.
The history of Rincon Criollo dates back to the 1950s in Havana, Cuba and was founded by brothers Jesus Rene and Rudesindo Acosta, who starting from humble beginnings eventually opened their own restaurants named after a 1950 Cuban movie, “Rincón criollo.” Their establishment became a popular hub for celebrities and locals alike, until it was shut down in 1962 due to political changes in the region. In 1976, the brothers revived Rincon Criollo in Corona, Queens, where they continued to serve authentic Cuban cuisine.
Rincon Criollo will open this spring in the former Sorriso Italian Restaurant location on Jericho Turnpike. 📷 Google Maps.
The restaurant is still a family business, owned by the descendants of the Acosta brothers but after almost 50 years, they decided to close up the Corona location, something of a legendary restaurant in the neighborhood. The family pointed to the pandemic as the factor that made them decide to close their doors in the city.
“This is the best restaurant in Queens,” said one former patron in a news article announcing the closing.
The menu at Rincon Criollo includes dishes like their Rope Vieja, Picadillo, and Lechon Asado, along with sides like fried plantains, Moros y Cristianos, and yuca con mojo.
We reached out to the owners of Rincon Criollo and will update this story with more information as it becomes available.
📷 Rincon Criollo in Huntington Station. Image from the restaurant’s website.
