Feb. 7, 2014 By Michael Florio
A new Mexican restaurant that will serve food directly imported from Puebla, Mexico, is coming to Astoria.
Maizal Restaurant is expected to open some time next week at 32-07 34th Ave, according to its owner Leo Zelaya.
Zelaya, who has lived in Astoria for 6 years, said he already has another Mexican restaurant by the same name, which is located in Staten Island.
The menu will be the same as his Staten Island restaurant, which opened four years ago. It will feature steak and poultry choices along with fish, shellfish, Mexican rice as well as vegetarian selections.
The chef, Alejandro Santos, is a graduate from the French Culinary Institute.
Zelaya said there is a need for a restaurant like his in Astoria since it features food imported from Puebla as well as a tequila bar stocked with wine, beer and craft beers.
“There is nothing like what we have here,” Zelaya said. “You haven’t tried anything like it.”
The bar/restaurant is about 2,000 square feet and can cater to up to 128 people.