Nov. 27, 2015 By Michael Florio
60 Beans is now a coffee shop by day and restaurant by night.
The popular Astoria café, located at 36-02 Ditmars Blvd., opened a kitchen late last week serving pasta, burgers, salads and more, according to owner Panos Voyiatzis.
Voyiatzis, who also owns Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Co., said opening the kitchen was a logical next step for the café.
“It was a natural evolution based on timing, the availability of kitchen space, and customer feedback,” he said.
The menu currently includes pasta dishes such as rigatoni with lamb Bolognese, pecorino romano and fennel gremolata, lamb burgers, roasted chicken and Price Edward Island mussels with chili, garlic, cured lamb belly and cilantro.
Other items include charred kale sprouts, beet deviled eggs, smoked wagyu beef tongue and a variety of salads.
The house-made pasta and charcuterie boards, such as the beef tongue and chicken liver pate, have been popular items, according to Voyiatzis.
The menu will evolve constantly, depending on what ingredients are freshly available, Voyiatzis said.
“One of the most important factors in developing the 60 Beans Kitchen menu is the availability of responsibly-sourced, fresh and local ingredients,” he said. “This will always be our top priority and something that will never be compromised.”
Chef Domenick Gianfrancesco’s education, training and experience will also be part of making up menu items, Voyiatzis said.
The kitchen will allow 60 Beans to act as a traditional café during the day and be transformed into a restaurant at night.
It will operate as a transitional café until 5 p.m. The kitchen then opens for dinner service from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m, Sunday through Thursday, and 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday.
“Our commitment to coffee, tea, and espresso has not changed,” Voyiatzis said. “We know that during the day, 60 Beans has become a favorite for professionals, teleworkers and freelancers, as well as Ditmars locals looking for their morning cup to-go.”
Voyiatzis wants those customers who frequently visit the café to now visit for dinner.
“We hope our loyal customers and new guests will see 60 Beans Kitchen as an addition to something they already know and love,” he said.
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