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Lady Gaga's Former Personal Chef Opens Eatery in Astoria

By Jeanmarie Evelly | October 6, 2015 3:59pm | Updated on October 6, 2015 6:17pm
 Lady Gaga performs at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 11, 2010.
Lady Gaga performs at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 11, 2010.
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Getty Images/Jason Merritt

DITMARS — A chef who went on tour with Lady Gaga as her private cook is opening a new eatery in Astoria this week, where vegetable dishes take the spotlight alongside comfort food classics like fried chicken.

Bo O'Connor — a native New Yorker and childhood friend of the "Poker Face" singer — will open The Pomeroy on Ditmars Boulevard between 36th and 37th streets Tuesday night, which she hopes will become "the neighborhood place."

"We really wanted it to be a really comfortable vibe," O'Connor said of the space, which got its moniker from the old name for 37th Street, which used to be called Pomeroy Street.

The eatery's menu features snacks and small plates like fried pickles with yogurt dip or polenta fries, along with salads, heartier main dishes like skirt steak or sea scallops and a medley of vegetable sides, including carrots cooked in brown sugar and adobo.

"It's very vegetable dominant," said O'Connor, saying they wanted to balance the heavier dishes with lighter, healthier fare. "There's really something for everybody."

 The Pomeroy opened Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015 at 36-12 Ditmars Blvd.
The Pomeroy Opens in Astoria
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Her favorites include fried chicken that comes by the half or whole bird, served with two dipping sauces — honey carrot and jalapeño herb — on the side.

She also recommends the kale and Brussels sprouts salad, which is tossed with ricotta cheese, apple and red onion.

"It's really light and it's really, really satisfying," she said.

Like the name of the restaurant, The Pomeroy's cocktail menu features drinks named after Astoria streets, like the "Ditmars Boulevard" — made with whiskey, honey, lemon and rosemary.

O'Connor grew up in the city, where she said her parents "really immersed me in food," and the local restaurant scene. She got her first cooking job peeling potatoes at a friend's restaurant in Washington Heights.

"I loved it from day one," she said.

The Pomeroy's menu will be updated seasonally, and will also feature rotating specials every week.

"We're really excited to be open," O'Connor said.

The Pomeroy is located at 36-12 Ditmars Blvd. and is closed on Mondays. It is open for dinner Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5 to 10 p.m., and Thursdays to Saturdays from 5 to 11 p.m. The bar is open Tuesday through Sundays from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. with a limited menu.