Jan. 2, 2015 By Michael Florio
A new restaurant offering a number of vegan dishes is opening on 30th Avenue today.
Jujube Tree Asian Vegan Food, located at 35-02 30th Avenue, will serve a variety of Asian vegan dishes.
The owners decided to open the restaurant as a means to provide Astorians with a different style of restaurant.
“We want to provide a new option to the community,” said Linda Ceusters, the restaurant manager.
She said the owners saw a need for Asian vegan dishes in Astoria. She said that the area has large number of Greek and Italian restaurants—yet few options for vegans.
The menu features tofu teriyaki, eggplant and string beans, moo-shu vegetables, sautéed tofu and vegetables, mango soy protein as well as sweet citrus soy protein.
It will also offer a variety of rice and rice bowls, soups and salads, and steamed vegetables. Starters will include grilled eggplant, stuffed wontons, curry samosas, summer rolls and tofu skin wraps.
“Along with a large selection of vegan dishes, we have kosher certified dishes as well,” Ceusters said.
The restaurant can seat up to 40 people and will be open from noon to 11 pm Monday through Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays it will be open from noon to 11:30 pm, while on Sundays 12:30 pm to 10:30 pm.
The space was previously occupied by Chicken Shack, which moved to 36-19 Broadway over the summer.
The restaurant opens at a time when many organic/vegan options are coming to Astoria, including Healthy Me, which is down the block at 30-08 37th Ave, and MiniStar Gourmet (38-16 30th Ave).