DECEMBER 2 0 1 7 I BOROMAG.COM 41
Photo by Danielle Fanelli. Instagram: @danithegirl_
FOOD + DRINK
QUEENS COMEBACK
Former Queens Kickshaw restaurant opening as Ha’s Chinese
Astoria residents were devastated
to find that Queens Kickshaw
would close its doors in August,
but the duo behind the eatery
have not hung up their aprons.
The beloved Astoria restaurant, mostly
known for its variety of grilled cheeses,
closed its doors on Aug. 27. But owners
Jennifer Lim and Benjamin Sadler
announced they would return to the
location at 40-17 Broadway with a new
concept.
In a newsletter to customers, the owners
announced that Ha’s Chinese would be up
and running on Dec. 5 starting with only
dinner service. Chef Eric Simpson, who
has worked at New York City restaurants
like Corton and The Elm for more than a
decade, is taking the helm.
“Ha’s is a vegetarian Chinese restaurant
from the crew behind The Queens
Kickshaw and Wassail,” the owners wrote
in the newsletter. “We’ve partnered with
chef Eric Simpson to bring some spicy,
complex, primarily Sichuan-derived
cooking to Astoria. The food program was
also inspired by the familiar flavors and
formats of American-Chinese cuisine.”
The menu will include dishes such as
Mung Bean Noodles with fermented
black beans, chili oil and green
peppercorn, radish cake with Hoisin
sauce, green radish and crispy garlic and
Chrysanthemum Greens with watercress
and persimmon in a spiced brown rice
vinaigrette.
According to the newsletter, the drinks
menu will include “American natural/
biodynamic wines, easy-going beers,
and tropics-inspired cocktails.” It will also
feature cold brew coffee.
Ryan Chavis, who created the drinks
menu, will be serving selections such
as the Sesame Bramble with Sesame
washed rye, blackberry and mint; Calm
Seas with Rhum blanc, coconut liqueur
and grapefruit; and Three Gorges with
Jasmine tea, baijiu and white vermouth.
Ha’s Chinese will be open from Sunday
through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to
Photos courtesy of Ha’s Chinese
midnight. They will add a brunch, lunch
and delivery service at a later date, and
only walk-ins will be accepted for the first
two weeks.
In an Aug. 14 post on the Queens
Kickshaw website, Lim and Sandler
announced that they were closing their
restaurant, which first opened at 40-17
Broadway in March 2011, to make way
for a new eatery at the same location.
Lim and Sandler explained that due to
“growing business challenges,” they
decided to remodel the restaurant and
change the food and drink menu.
“The Kickshaw spirit will stay in place,
though the food and beverage will
change,” the letter read. “We will maintain
our mission of being a supportive
workplace while envisioning a new
gathering spot for the neighborhood.”
BY ANGELA MATUA
@ANGELAMATUA
@ANGMAT08