One man. One room he built by hand.
No menu — just whatever Moustafa is cooking tonight, in a mosaic room he laid himself, one tile at a time, since about 2000.
☎ Call for a table Cash only · BYOB · Tue–Sun evenings · 25-22 Steinway St, AstoriaYou’re in someone’s quirky home. Mine.
“I came from Alexandria, by the sea. I built this room here on Steinway — every tile, every eye on the wall, the license plate over there, the fireplace I hauled in. Twenty-five years, and I’m still adding to it.”
Sit down. I’ll tell you what’s good tonight, cook it, and bring it to your table myself. Bring a bottle. Stay a while.
A room assembled by hand, from whatever he loved.
sliced thin, sauteed with garlic and a little jalapeño.
“The rare New York restaurant where you can sit for hours and feel right at home.”
— The InfatuationMoustafa comes to your table and tells you what’s fresh. Trust him.
warm, sweet spice — cumin, clove, ginger, nutmeg, coriander.
Cash only. Bring a bottle — two, if you’re smart.
the stuffed sausage we took our name from — when he’s making it.
What’s cooking tonight?
There’s no printed menu, and there never has been. He cooks Alexandrian home food — tagines, couscous, quail, the livers, the mombar — and what lands on your table is whatever was good at the market that day.
How it works here
No cards — never have. There’s an ATM up the block, and the bill comes handwritten.
No bar. Bring your own wine — “two, if you’re smart,” Moustafa says.
Moustafa cooks, serves, and hosts every table himself. Everything’s made to order.
This is a sit-for-hours meal, not a quick bite. Call ahead, then settle in.
Find the door with the eye.
Mombar
25-22 Steinway St
Astoria, NY 11103
the Little Egypt stretch of Steinway
Call: (718) 726-2356 — walk in, or call ahead for a table.
- MondayClosed
- Tuesday – Sundayevenings
Dinner only; hours vary with the one-man kitchen — please call to confirm.
Cash only · BYOB · M/R train to Steinway St.
☎ Call for a table