80 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • FEBRUARY 21, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
dining out
Photos by Alyssa Buono
CimCim off ers quick taste of Mediterranean
BY DANIEL GROGAN
BORO magazine
Special to The Courier
It can be tough keeping up with the
ever-changing roster of restaurants and
bars in Astoria, especially on the always
boppin’ Ditmars Boulevard, one of the
most popular areas for food and drink in
all of Queens.
Th is month, Boro Magazine highlighted
three new businesses that have cropped
up on the boulevard, including CimCim,
a fast-casual Mediterranean eatery.
CimCim, also known as sesame, is an
ancient spice which lends its full-bodied
fl avor to many popular dishes of
Mediterranean origin.
When developing plans for his restaurant,
Omar Motair wanted to, above all,
“bring the fl avors of his homeland in
Egypt to his new hometown of Astoria,”
so he could think of no better name than
that of the primary spice he would be
incorporating into his dishes.
Th e eatery, which opened on Jan. 10,
serves up “Mediterranean food with
a modern New York City twist,” in a
fast-casual environment. And it isn’t just
food that gets the Mediterranean treatment
at CimCim.
“Beyond exploring delicious recipes of
the Mediterranean, CimCim also looks
to inspire our customers by encouraging
CimCim
3308 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria
cimcimkitchen.com
718-545-2200
elements of the Mediterranean lifestyle,”
Motair said. “Beyond eating well,
we know the importance of bonding with
loved ones over a meal, laughing oft en,
keeping things simple, and taking time to
relax and enjoy life.”
While Motair aims to provide a sense of
comfort and community to his customers,
he also understands the importance
of convenience in the big city, hence the
counter service model. Patrons can order
from a selection of their wraps, sandwiches,
salads, soups and sweets, or build
their meal from the pita up, as is typical of
many fast-casual restaurants.
Whether you decide to enjoy your meal
at CimCim or take your order to go,
Motair hopes that his guests leave having
tasted and felt what it means to be
Mediterranean.
“We hope to provide our guests with a
friendly, positive experience, and a space
to relax even for a few minutes on a
busy New York City day. Our dishes are
packed with fl avor and full of color, the
same feeling we hope to provide to customers
walking through our doors.”
On Friday night, March 1, 2019, hundreds of synagogues across the continent will take part in an
historic national Jewish event to celebrate that which unites all Jews – Shabbat! Everyone is
invited… singles, couples, families, all ages. Let’s celebrate together!
Join us for Shabbat Family Service at 6:30 pm, with dinner to follow; the traditional kosher
meal is $25 per adult, and $8 per child over 5 years old.
In addition to our wonderful Shabbat Across
America, please also join us on Saturday, March 16th
as we dance the night away at our annual Purim Ball -
please contact our Temple office for more
details!
Special Musical Guests:
Maestro David Close
and
Akira "The Believer" Wharton
There is limited dinner seating so please reserve early!
DON’T MISS THE BEST ART AUCTION
OF THE YEAR!
SATURDAY EVENING MARCH 2ND, 2019
PREVIEW 7:45 PM, AUCTION 8:15 PM
FEATURING ART IN ALL MEDIA AND PRICE RANGES
FROM MARLIN FINE AUCTIONS
HOLLIS HILLS BAYSIDE JEWISH CENTER
210-10 Union Tpke, Hollis Hills
For reservations call 718-776-3500
Admission $15 per person in advance
$20 per person at the door
Major Credit Cards Accepted
Desserts and Beverages served
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