QUEENS — A former Upper East Side restaurant and catering company specializing in French and Belgian cuisine recently opened its new outpost in Rego Park, the owner said.
Michelle’s Kitchen, which for more than 15 years was located on Lexington Avenue and 62nd Avenue, opened Monday at 6324 99th St.
Its owner, Samir Billan, who’s been in the business for about 30 years, said he picked Rego Park mostly because the neighborhood offers reasonable rent.
"But it’s also close to Manhattan and people here understand good food," he added.
The company, which according to Billan, catered for Michel Bloomberg and Hillary Clinton, closed its Lexington Avenue location about eight years ago when the landlord raised his rent from $19,500 to $25,000 per month, he said.
He later began operating his catering business out of a kitchen in Long Island City, he said.
Now, he decided to open a small restaurant again, this time in Rego Park, where his rent is $6,000 per month, he said.
The new location, featuring several tables with no waiter service, is about three blocks away from the Rego Park subway station and near the Rego Center Mall. It's open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, Billan said.
