Astoria residents will be able to feast on vegetarian Chinese food on Dec. 5 when Ha’s Chinese, a bar and eatery from the owners of The Queens Kickshaw, opens.
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 will 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, will take 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 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.
