Bell Boulevard will be getting a new restaurant to add to its strong culinary lineup with the arrival of Sol, a two-level bar and lounge with Latin fusion cuisine.
Owner Paul Rhee and legal counsel Dev Viswanath, both Queens natives born into multicultural backgrounds, aim to have Sol open by mid- to late August.
According to Viswanath, the cuisine at Sol, located at 40-09 Bell Blvd., will reflect their heritage as a fusion of Latin flavors with Korean and Indian influences. He said that now was a good time to start a fusion restaurant because modern consumers have come to respond very well to unusual flavor pairings.
“It’s a product of Queens,” said Viswanath, who grew up in Holliswood and currently lives in Hollis Hills. “We’re in a new, sort of post-ethnic world now where it’s not uncommon to find fusion dishes. It’s not uncommon to find several types of things on a menu.”
The interior design of Sol will carry on the theme of contrasting elements coming together. Both levels will have a bar, and each floor will follow a theme inspired by opposing forces of the sun or the moon. The downstairs is planned to have a warmer and more casual ambiance, and the upstairs area, dubbed the “Luna Lounge,” will have modern and sexy decor to create a sophisticated vibe.
Rhee, who grew up in Whitestone and has lived in Bayside and Jackson Heights before moving to Woodside, is very familiar with the Bell Boulevard scene, having formerly worked at Chase Bank near the LIRR station. Rhee had been a patron of several eateries that were previously located at the site of Sol, including former bar and lounge Conga’s, which closed in late 2014.
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