Dine and Discover Queens: Karen Calle of Bella Lulus

It’s “Dine and Discover Queens” time! “Dine and Discover Queens” is a monthly spotlight on some of the best restaurants around the borough! This month’s featured eatery is Bella Lulus, located at 90-40 160th Street, inside Jamaica Market. Karen Calle is the owner and catering events manager of the establishment. To learn more, go to https://bellalulus9040.com or visit them on Instagram @bellalulus9040.

Can you share a bit about your restaurant journey in Queens?

My husband and I are originally from the Bronx. In 2005, we got an opportunity in Bellerose, Queens, on the Queens Nassau Border. Our story is like so many others. We lost a lot, and at the tail end of the pandemic, we found a new opportunity in Jamaica. Being born and raised in the South Bronx for 25 years, I find Jamaica to be a familiar environment.

Can you share any memorable moments or experiences you’ve had as a restaurant owner in Queens?

Three months after we opened, Grubhub was running a program called Serving the City, and they were giving 500 meals away to various neighborhoods. Restaurants had to be recommended, and we were. We produced 500 meals, and they were served at King Manor Museum. Another thing that stands out is that the Greg Hill Foundation’s “Restaurant Strong Fund” awarded us a $5,000 grant this past December, and that was a lifesaver.

Are there dishes or drinks that have become beloved by the Queens community, or anything on your menu you would like to highlight?

We serve breakfast and lunch daily. Our customers love that we offer a lot of healthy dishes that are not greasy or full of salt. Our organic turkey meatloaf, mac and cheese, Southern fried whiting, and many of our gourmet wraps are loved. However, we specialize in catering. We hold five stars on Google and some favorites for event catering are our sweet chili vegan dumplings, wings of many flavors, meatballs, mango salads, pepper steak, and our homemade desserts.