Bad Habits
32-03 BROADWAY, ASTORIA
BADHABITSNYC.COM
347-738-5989
@BADHABITSASTORIA
SEPTEMBER 2 0 2 1 I BOROMAG.COM 21
BY JESSICA MILITELLO
Photos by Jessica Militello Bad Habits, the newest
addition to Broadway
in Astoria, is more than
just a place to grab a
bite, with a Latin sushi
menu and original artwork
that tells a different
story on each wall.
With fun names like Nueva
Yol and El Chapiadora on their
menu, along with original artwork
by New York-based artist
Andrew Thiele, every corner
of the venue is meant to be Instagrammable.
The owners want the food and
décor of Bad Habits to be so unique that
a photo or video of the venue is synonymous
with the restaurant — without even
having to mention the name.
“We wanted to be able to say the
name without having to say it,” said Alex
Roldan, one of the restaurant owners.
“Every corner of the place is covered
with a decal or a special item. We’re
not even finished yet. Everywhere you
go, there isn’t one spot that, if you take
a picture, you won’t know exactly where
you are.”
Roldan is one of several owners, including
international artist, DJ Camilo,
which comprise the Blend Group. The
group also owns several other Astoria
eateries, such as Slice and Blend Astoria
on 30th Avenue, along with a few others
scattered throughout NYC.
The group has worked well together
combining their knowledge of dining,
nightlife and design. Bad Habits stands
out as passersby can’t help but notice
the bright colors and beautiful artwork
through the venue’s tall glass doors.
The restaurant has a wall with kings
and queens, a love-themed wall, even a
gun fight happening from one panel to
the other, along with music videos playing
on their flat-screen TVs. Flowers and
chandeliers also accent the space.
“The artist is amazing,” Roldan said.
“Every wall has a little story.”
And while the venue itself is certainly
pleasing to the eye, even more satisfying
is their Latin sushi menu. The group
partnered up with a company in Miami,
Florida, called Tiesto Café, from which
Bad Habits exported much of the food
and drink menu.
Some of the names of the rolls and entrees
were also kept the same, and the
group had fun coming up with some of
their own.
“We take Latin food and prepare it as
sushi,” Roldan said. “We’ll take typical
Latin dishes and roll them, so we’re like
a fusion.”
One of their most popular rolls lately
is the Nueva Yol, made with shrimp tempura,
cream cheese, maduro, crab meat,
avocado and tobiko with sriracha aioli —
a must-try.
In addition to their delicious rolls,
they have plates and appetizers like
their El Indeciso Picadera, which has a
mix of tasty samples of hanger steak,
shrimp, chicharron, Dominican salami,
tostones and yuca.
So far the new venue has garnered
a lot of attention and notable compliments
on their food and vibe. Roldan
explained that those who stop by
should expect a great experience,
each and every time.
“We don’t say that you come into
a restaurant; really what we try to do
is immerse you in an experience,”
Roldan said. “From our menu to our
drink menu and service, we always
try to make sure that my manager
or the server is touching every table
every 15 minutes. One hundred percent
service — that’s what we try to do.
Great food, great vibe, great time.”
Get in the Habit New Latin sushi restaurant
opens in Astoria
FOOD + DRINKS
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