Social Life
JULY 2 0 1 9 I BOROMAG.COM 37
By HAYLEY BRIDGEWATER
@HAYLEYREE3
BY JESSICA MILITELLO
The Social is the latest spot to open on
30th Avenue in Astoria, a street bustling
with restaurants and coffee shops. The
international tapas and cocktail bar has a
pretty aesthetic, with its name displayed
in delicate pink cursive letters against a
backdrop of eye-catching greenery. Sleek
black tables and chairs surround the
storefront while the interior lures curious
passersby in, if not for the edgy artwork
on the walls, then certainly for a perfectly
Instagrammable neon cursive sign that
reads, “I’m not flirting, I’m just being
social.” Once guests enter, they’ll discover
an enchanting backyard with tables and
pink lights strewn along a canopy, perfect
for summer nights.
The Social officially opened its doors at the end of
May and features a menu of tapas from five regions
of the world and delicious cocktails. The restaurant is
definitely a spot for everyone in the neighborhood, especially
young families in the area. Their menu reflects
the diversity of the Astoria community and will be periodically
changed to keep things fresh for customers.
Owner Eman Khamcy explained the inspiration for
the new restaurant and the special meaning behind
their diverse menu.
“I thought it was missing in the area as far as our tapas
idea,” Khamcy said. “The menu is international because
Astoria is a melting pot and I thought that everyone
comes together. We also incorporated other things. We
have SingleCut because it’s an Astoria beer and we wanted
a little bit of an Astoria feel also.”
Khamcy, who has lived in Astoria for over seven
years, spent much of his career in marketing and promotions
for restaurants. He built many relationships
from working side by side with restaurant owners and
managers before making the decision to open his
own restaurant for the first time. One individual in particular
with whom he built a rapport through his work
Photos by Jessica Militello/BORO
Tapas & cocktail bar opens to ‘likes’ on and off the ‘Gram
/BOROMAG.COM
