June 9, 2016 By Christian Murray
New owners have taken over the 40th Street restaurant that was previously occupied by Bucharest and plan to open a similar Eastern European-style venue.
The establishment, located at 43-45 40th Street, is being called “Boon by Moldova Restaurant” and features Moldovan and Romanian cuisine.
Owners Radu Panfil and Sorina Panfil-Grecu, brother and sister, claim that that Boon will be the only Moldovan restaurant in Queens and would be a popular place for Moldovans and Romanians to celebrate weddings, christenings or other special occasions.
They believe it would be a good fit for the neighborhood, since there are many Eastern Europeans living in Sunnyside.
Boon will mirror Moldova Restaurant (click for menu), a Brooklyn-based establishment which Radu Panfil owns. “It will offer the same food and similar ideas just in a much larger venue,” his representative said at Community Board 2’s Public Safety and City Services meeting last night.
The venue is large and can seat approximately 150 people. There is also space for entertainment inside the premises and a dance floor that the owners intend to use at a later date.
The owners say that they aim to offer authentic traditional cuisine with an atmosphere specific to Eastern Europe.
They asked the Committee whether they could operate Sunday-Thursday until 1 am, while on Friday and Saturday nights through 4 am.
The Committee recommended that they close at midnight Sunday-Thursday and stay open until 2 am Fridays and Saturdays.
They said that they would check neighboring establishments to ensure that there isn’t a discrepancy in terms of hours.
Moldova Restaurant, Brooklyn
