{"id":229002,"date":"2026-05-12T20:20:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T20:20:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/229002\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T20:20:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T20:20:17","slug":"sunnyside-up-opens-its-doors-at-site-of-shuttered-alpha-donuts-offering-specialty-breakfast-sandwiches-and-lunches-qns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/229002\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunnyside Up opens its doors at site of shuttered Alpha Donuts offering specialty breakfast sandwiches and lunches \u2013 QNS"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sunnyside Up, a new elevated breakfast and lunch caf\u00e9 offering a variety of specialty sandwiches, has opened its doors on Queens Boulevard at the site formerly occupied by neighborhood staple Alpha Donuts<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The new caf\u00e9, a joint venture by Sunnyside businessman Mircea Pirvu and chef Jason Potter, celebrated its grand opening Tuesday after opening in the neighborhood earlier in May.\n<\/p>\n

Potter, the co-owner and culinary director of upscale restaurant Foster in the Long Island village of Sea Cliff, said Sunnyside Up aims to bring high-quality ingredients and recipes to traditional breakfast and lunch options.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all approachable food, but it\u2019s done to a higher level,\u201d Potter, a former Blue Ribbon chef, said.
\n\"AnAn array of selections at the new Sunnyside Up Caf\u00e9. Photo courtesy of Sunnyside Up\n<\/p>\n

The menu has also been crafted to reflect Sunnyside\u2019s diversity, Pirvu added, pointing to sandwiches packed with Eastern European, Asian and Latin American flavors.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to cover the variety of people in Sunnyside,\u201d Pirvu said. \u201cBecause it\u2019s a huge mix.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Sunnyside Up\u2019s specialty breakfast sandwiches include an Egyptian-inspired creation featuring lamb sausage, feta eggs and hummus; a breakfast burrito packed with turkey sausage, quinoa, scrambled eggs, avocodo, feta and pico de gallo; and a Japanese-inspired egg custard sandwich with miso mayo, gruy\u00e9re and chili crisp.<\/p>\n

Other specialty breakfast sandwiches include a truffle egg toast creation featuring gruy\u00e9re, mushrooms and truffle and a breakfast wrap packed with sausage, bacon, ham, scrambled egg and hash browns.<\/p>\n

\"Egyptian-inspiredEgyptian-inspired Walk Like an Egyptian breakfast sandwich. Photo courtesy of Sunnyside Up Caf\u00e9<\/p>\n

The new caf\u00e9 also serves a wide range of breakfast classics, including oatmeal, French toast, avocado toast, bagels and spreads, and egg and cheese rolls.<\/p>\n

Specialty sandwiches are available for between $15-16, with classic breakfast items ranging from $4.50 to $13.\n<\/p>\n

Lunch options include burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, pita pockets and a salmon BLT.
\n\"Japanese-inspiredJapanese-inspired breakfast sandwich at Sunnyside Up. Photo courtesy of Sunnyside Up\n<\/p>\n

Additionally, Sunnyside Up boasts a broad selection of grab & go items and pastries in addition to a wide choice of coffees, teas and juices.<\/p>\n

Potter is striving to bring high-quality ingredients to all menu items, baking homemade bread at his Long Island restaurant for the caf\u00e9\u2019s sandwich selection.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of the stuff that we\u2019re doing is trying to mix a bunch of different flavors,\u201d Potter said. \u201cWe make brioche breads at Foster. Other breads we source locally.\u201d
\n\"BuenosBuenos Dias breakfast burrito. Photo courtesy of Sunnyside Up Caf\u00e9\n<\/p>\n

The caf\u00e9 also aims to fill a hole in the neighborhood left by the abrupt closure of Alpha Donuts three years ago. The no-frills diner, located just steps from the Sunnyside Arch, opened 24 hours a day and proved immensely popular with local cabbies over its 50-year history.<\/p>\n

Pirvu, who owns the adjacent Allegria Brokerage, saw an opportunity to bring in \u201csomething new\u201d after the Sunnyside staple went out of business three years ago. He then partnered with Potter after eating in Foster and being impressed by the quality of the Sea Cliff restaurant.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe location has very good visibility and I think he (Potter) is going to do great,\u201d Pirvu said.
\n\"\"Strawberry Matcha at Sunnyside Up. Photo courtesy of Sunnyside Up Caf\u00e9\n<\/p>\n

Sunnyside Up will not follow in Alpha Donuts\u2019 footsteps by becoming a 24-hour location, however. For now, Pirvu and Potter plan to open the joint from 6 a.m. until 2 or 3 p.m., focusing exclusively on breakfast and lunch.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not trying to attack dinner yet,\u201d Pirvu said. \u201cWe want to have our niche with breakfast and lunch.\u201d
\n\"JasonJason Potter (left) and Mircea Pirvu (center left) at the newly-opened Sunnyside Up Caf\u00e9. Photo by Shane O\u2019Brien\n<\/p>\n

Dirk McCall de Palom\u00e1, executive director of the Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District<\/a> (BID), described the opening of Sunnyside Up as an \u201camazing investment in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have made this space absolutely modern and gorgeous with an amazing array of food options,\u201d McCall de Palom\u00e1 said.
\n\"PhotoPhoto courtesy of Sunnyside Up Caf\u00e9\n<\/p>\n

He also credited Pirvu and Potter for making a commitment to hire local, with the caf\u00e9 set to employ eight staff in the early stages before adding more staff as it establishes a foothold in the neighborhood. McCall de Palom\u00e1 further praised Sunnyside Up for reactivating a space \u201cbeloved\u201d by the local community.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis fills the hole left in our hearts by Alpha Donuts\u2026 but Sunnyside Up is going to be a really wonderful addition,\u201d McCall de Palom\u00e1 said. \u201cLook at the sandwiches. Look at the grab-and-go. They have lunch stuff. They have breakfast stuff. They have all the iced coffees. This is amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

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