M. WELLS.

A few weeks ago, the NY Times published an article on the 10 Restaurants Worth a Plane Ride in 2011. I was surprised to see that the only NY-based restaurant that made it onto the list was off MY beaten path in the gritty and industrial Long Island City. And being that the restaurant was worth a plane ride, I certainly thought it deserved a simple journey on the 7 train.

Despite the fact that it is about the size of a large trailer, M. Wells is unlike your typical diner. The food that comes out of its kitchen is something of a miracle. But be prepared for a wait as reservations are not accommodated and hungry patrons are aplenty!! We arrived at 11am on Sunday and waited a little over an hour to be seated.

Due to the wait, we decided it would be best to order EVERYTHING we could possibly want on the menu, for fear of never being able to withstand the long line again in the future.


The Coquilles St. Jacques were just a pleasure - scallops and razor clams baked in a creamy, cheesy sauce. The mixture takes on an extreme liking to Stouffer's Vegetable Lasagna, which is nothing to scoff at - that ish was saved for a SPECIAL OCCASION meal back in the day!!!!


Next up: the Maine Shrimp chilled and served with mayonnaise. Do not, I REPEAT, do not be swayed by the fact that you have to peel these bad boys yourselves!!! They are AMAZING - very sweet, light, and tender. The mayo adds the perfect amount of tang to the meat. Check out all the roe in each shrimp!!


The Fish Soup with Rouille and Cheese Toasts - a well-flavored, smoky soup with a substantial consistency. The addition of the soggy/crunchy toast rounded out the dish.


The Maple Syrup Ploye - beautiful discs of buckwheat crepes soaked in a perfectly sweet maple syrup. The crepes had the most delicately crisp outer rim that added a fantastic crunch.


The Hand-cut fries.


The Tortilla Espanola made of egg, potato, and onion. OK - I will attest to the fact that this is possibly the best tortilla espanola I have had in my LIFE...and this is coming from the woman who ate bocadillo de tortilla espanola every day she was in Madrid. The consistency of this tortilla is unlike any other - it takes on almost a soft, flan-like complexion - which most likely is a result of the potatoes being mashed rather than being cooked in slivers.


The Egg Souffle made with a mushroom broth and served with bonito flakes. This dish had an Asian flavor to it, which was quite unexpected. The egg was also a shocking shade of pink and beet-red, as a result of specially-foraged mushrooms that were dried and ground into a powder. I thought the dish could have used more moisture.


And finally the Seafood Cobbler - a devastatingly addicting dish of (PERFECTLY mushy) brussels sprouts and chunks of pollack (a white fish) topped with biscuits and then drenched in Gruyere and Bechamel sauce. Are you dying yet?


And we really couldn't leave without trying some of their famed desserts. A slice of their Maple Pie is enough to have you signing your lease to a nearby Long Island City highrise. OMG that custard filling just REALLY hit the spot.


And also I couldn't resist ordering their Graceland Cupcake - a banana cupcake base topped with a delicious mound of whipped peanut butter frosting.

The mixture of Montreal and American breakfast delights served at M. Wells has given new meaning to French cuisine. And is also a lesson learned in never judging a book by its covers. Despite it's shoddy exterior, the dining area is quaint, inviting, and pumping with the energy of good food and satisfied customers. Make all efforts to visit this fantastic diner, one subway stop outside Manhattan. I will return once their custard machine is back up and running - the Rootbeer Float will be mine.