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Broadway (N, W)
Steinway St (G, R, V)
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Fabulous food! The atmosphere at Mundo is romantic yet comfortable. I come here often, and am never disappointed. There is a wide selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes, however there is food for the everyday meat eater as well.
Again, Red Sonjas are awesome!!!
I adore Mundo. I adore Guillermo. I adore the artsy chandelier that some devotee conjured up and gave to Mundo. Not necessarily in that order.
Red sonja. Red sonja. Red sonja. Red lentil patties that seductively hold the shape of the hand of their creator. The empanadas are delicious, sure, and there are other appetizers, yada, yada, yada, but: RED SONJA. There's no need to veer off red sonja's path. The flavors have had time to get comfy with each other, way beyond an awkward hand shake and will make you feel comfy, too, once in your mouth.
The veggie wrap is the most decent wrap I've ever had. The ottoman dumplings are delicious but a one trick pony and should be shared with other one tricks (like the meatballs.) There's a decent malbec by the glass. The halva ice cream concoction is special.
That said, Mundo's magician is Guillermo and his feather flower turned dove: Red Sonja.
Guillermo, the host is quick to make you feel at home. The food is mostly Turkish, but there is definitely a South American flash to it. I personally recommend the Empanadas, Falafel, and Red Sonja (lentil patties).
The biggest problem with Mundo is that there are so many good appetizers, it's hard to have room for their main entrees.
Mundo also tries very hard to have theme nights and entertainment, which one doesn't usually get at restaurants; additionally Mundo is very good at promoting local artists by displaying their work in the dinning area.
the red sonjas are a MUST!!!!!!!!!!!
red lentil patties served with lemon in lettuce, waiting to be wrapped and crunched....i could make an entire meal out of them!
it's the perfect summer eatery. the sidewalk opens the restaurant and if you get there in time you can have a lovely seat just outside to see the cute dogs walk by.
every time i have eaten here it has been exquisite!
the owner and staff is friendly, knowledgeable and will answer any questions you may have. their service is fast and efficient.
I first went to Mundo soon after moving to Astoria from SF. I'd say it was one of the first 5 restaurants I ate at here. I went with someone my wife knows from the neighborhood, who eats there I think at least once a week.
While the menu is a little eclectic in terms of flavors that don't always seem to match, they have a few staples that are great. Being a former vegetarian, I am not one who needs a large slab of meat to feel satisfied or that I am getting my money's worth. That being said, my favorite dishes remain the signature Red Sonja (if you don't really like lentils or chickpeas, then it may not impress too much) and the Cretan salad (with olive-oil soaked herb rusks).
I prefer to go there and eat small plates and a variety of them, which is what I think they do best. The service is good, as the staff is very small and so after a couple visits, you've seen pretty much everyone. It can take a while to get the check when they are busy, but if you've ever travelled anywhere out of the US, or eaten anywhere else in Astoria, then, this shouldn't surprise you.
Overall, great, flavorful, light food, and something different for the neighborhood. The one thing they may need to do is switch up the menu just a little more frequently, as even though they do have a few specials, after a year, I would think the menu would have changed a bit.
A wonderful place to dine. The owner is gracious and accommodating. We especially love the lentil soup and the outrageous almond cake. Our food selections pair off beautifully with full bodied Spanish or Argentinian wines. Yes- the red sonjas are wonderful, but so are the Ottoman dumplings...wonderful in a yougurt/mint/garlic sauce. I recently ordered a shrimp special with cous-cous that was out of this world. A wonderful place for a delicious meal, in a welcoming atmosphere.
This dining experience left me wanting in a major way.
First, ok, the place is cute and cozy. It has the perfect atmosphere for a date night. A date that you don't want to end because it's nigh impossible to find a waiter to bring your check. Or refill your water. I mean, the place can't be more than 25 sq feet. Cmon.
The food was very disappointing. My empanada was ok, I was hoping for more nutmeg but it was just a basic spinach and cheese combo.
My ravioli were in a bland tomato sauce (way watery) and had little flavor. The tears of my sadness didn't even add enough flavor.
The one good thing is that it was pretty cheap. $50 got two people a drink, appetizer and dinner each. So, there's that to mitigate a whole boat of suck.
This is my wife and I's favorite restaurant in Astoria, and just one of our all-time favs. The food is awesome (red sonja, crab sandwich, veggie wrap, turkish meatballs, etc. etc.) and the staff is awesome. great atmosphere. Great for delivery too. oh and there french fries are awesome too. The best thing is the bang for the buck- doesn't hit your wallet too hard.
Yelp, you let me down. This is becoming a more frequent occurrence, and though I have my theories, I'll leave them out of this review and just talk about my experience at Mundo.
Firstly, the wait staff was very excited and proud of their menu. They told us about how everything is homemade on the premises and how exciting and amazing everything is. They had some delicious specials and some great sounding food, so we ordered, and I was very willing to forgive the fact that they were out of house wine.
We sat outside, near the basement steps. While we were eating we saw the man carry from the basement giant bags of frozen raviolis. I'm sorry, that's not fresh, nor homemade.
The zucchini appetizer was fairly mediocre. Not so much that other than I would have expected the zucchini to have not been boiled into a pulp. The flavors didn't seem to go together: the garlic + onions with the yogurt and dill? Not really too stellar. I ordered the meatballs for my main course. I was disappointed with the size of the meal, fairly small for an entree. There 5 meatballs over a very ordinary looking bagged salad style greens. The meatballs were deliciously seasoned, and the fried outer crust was delicious, the downside being that they were very dry and difficult to eat on a plate with no dressing.
Finally, and where I really penalize Mundo is for service, where we had one water refill the whole time and it was impossible to get the waiter/tresses attention to get our check. I'd see them come by with water and talk to the other tables constantly, but no one ever checked on our table. So, for overall poor service, I take most of the stars away right there. Additionally, you can't put your tip on the credit card, so make sure you bring cash. no, this isn't made clear anywhere until you attempt to pay by card.
So overall for inconsistent service, fairly high prices, and food that didn't wow me, I feel like I'm a voice in the minority here, but I was disappointed by Mundo.
I came here based upon (what else?) but they great yelp reviews. It was a weekday and me and Armin L. arrived around early dinner. We luckily snagged a seat outside. The waiter was rather hilarious (Willy) and attentive to our needs throughout the evening.
We ordered the eggplant dip, cheese rolls and the red sonja to start. I liked the eggplant dip but I wasn't in loourve with it and everyone raved so hard core about the red sonja that I was overly hyped and therefore disappointed that I didn't climax at the table upon consumption. (minus one star for lack of big O) The cheese rolls however, (hard rolled dough stuffed with feta cheese) were amazing especially with the raspberry sauce.
Armin L. and I split the ravioli, I'm not sure if it was crab or lobster and it was really good as well. As I began to eat it I started getting bummed out that I thought I was cute by sharing a meal with my mizan initially but not all I want to do is stab is hand with my fork and keep all the ravioli to myself.
Lastly we had dessert. I'm going through a phase where I just can't take the whole molten chocolate cake for dessert, which is modified in some way or another at every place I go. So I tried the warm semolina helva and I'm glad that I did. It has a light taste to it and the pistachio isn't overwhelming.
All in all we had a really great meal and will definitely go again. It's important to note that inside is hella small so keep that in mind for larger parties. And another thing to note is that you should bring some amount of cash with you because they don't let you put the tip on the bill if you pay with a credit card...lesson learned
People weren't kidding around when they said the Red Sonjas were good...they are amazing! Very healthy and so tasty, make sure you use all your lemon! I would also highly suggest getting their soups. The Red Lentil is really yummy and fills you up. Split Pea was so good too! The perfect meal there includes a shared appetizer, like their Roasted Eggplant dip...amazing flavors and they will give you more warm pita! Followed by a soup then of course dessert! The first time I went I got the almond cake, which was delicious. All my friends wished they got my dessert. I had a few bites of the Semolina Helva and it was also very good. But the best dessert is the Ricotta Ice Cream that I had on my second visit. Really tasty! And you can keep the cute little terracotta cup it comes in.
The Terma drink was interesting and very refreshing. I love the staff as they are so friendly and attentive.
If you can go when the weather is still nice, sit outside and enjoy the food!
Lo, And there came a day, a day unlike any other, when Earth's mightiest eaters were united against a common mediocrity! On that day Mundo was found -- to fight bad taste no single eater could withstand!
You can tell that this place is realy cool. From it's charming decor, friendly service, and tasty food, it's a great treasure and addition to the neighborhood of Astoria. Their Beef Empanadas were lightly crispy (to me) on the outside, but the inside has such tasty goodness, I wondered why I never went here before. Their raved about dish, the "Red Sonja", had fresh, quality ingredients that lived up to my expectations. Taste, quality, rave reviews and an affordable price. What more do you need to go to this place?
It was a perfect late afternoon meal at Mundo yesterday. The breeze, the abstract art, the friendly service... all made my first Red Sonja experience an absolute delight. It was really good and fun to eat. There was a B-day party in the middle of the room and after all the singing and cheers, the music got more and more upbeat. The Beef Empanadas were crispy on the outside and fresh with flavor on the inside. The Ottoman Dumplings woke up taste buds as I enjoyed the tempting mint in the creamy yogurt sauce. The Chicken Milanesa was okay, (an odd choice for me as I usually like to try new flavors) although I liked the basil pesto it came with. For the final touch, my friend and I shared the Toasted Almond cake which was spongy and sweet and just what I was looking for.
My experience didn't end there, as today I ordered take out. I've never ordered take out from the same place I've just been to the day before!
After reading a few of the reviews here I began to salivate for the DIPS! I was completely satisfied with the delivery except for one thing. Not enough pita!! I Loved the artichoke & crab dip as well as the carrot dip. Such a nice way to eat. I drizzled a little extra virgin olive oil on the carrot dip and it sang to me! Delish! Would you believe that we had the Red Sonja and the Beef empanada again?? They were as good as the day before. Thanks to Mundo for a gastronomical weekend.
Warning: I am a Vegetarian.
Food
Vegetarian Options for the entree are okay, but both items taste great, the Veggie Wrap is heaven! However, in terms of appetizers, the vegetarian options are extensive. The desserts are REALLY good. The Souffle is TO DIE FOR. It's on the expensive side at $10, but WORTH EVERY CENT.
Drinks
I keep going back for their Sangria. Of course, it has tasted a bit diluted once if you come when its really busy because I think they make their Sangrias before hand.
They also have this werid/tasty sour cherry drink. I love it!
Service
The service is great! They aren't in your face, let you take your time, but when you need them they are right there.
Atmosphere
It's not too far from the train, but secluded enough that even when you sit outside, its still great. It's a small place that probably does not fit more than 25 people.
Overall
I LOVE Mundo Cafe. I would recommend it in a heartbeat. The ONLY (not enough to take off any stars!) is that even though they accept credit cards, Tip is cash ONLY.
Mundo is sort of like an eclectic, well-traveled alcoholic never-married aunt, in both looks and personality. The interior is tasteful, while "interesting," and the menu has a random spattering of Turkish and Vegetarian dishes.
Yeah, yeah yeah, it's true, you need to try the Red Sonja, which is lumpy, delicious reddish brown stuff that you wrap in a lettuce leaf (appetizing, right?!) But seriously, you need to try it. Not just because it's amazing and unique, but because it's impossible to make and we can't figure out how they do it.
Most of the things my friends love to order here have seafood in them, and since I'm not a seafood fan, I usually get the Chicken Milanesa which is simple, but good. I do wish the menu had some more choices; there are only about 9 or 10 entrees to choose from.
All in all, this is a fun place with a lot of personality. The staff is very friendly, and the quirky manager will make you feel at home. It's an especially great place to go when the weather is sexy; there's pleasant sidewalk seating and the front wall of the restaurant opens right up into the street.
I like this place. You can tell they try really hard to put out good food, for reasonable prices. First, we had a pitcher of sangria, which was good, but nothing to write home about. Next came the apps, red sonja and empanada. Both were good. Finally, there was the special of the night, jumbo shrimps, for the main course, and crab cake, for the other. The shrimps were huge, and perfectly cooked. They certainly didn't need the sauce that came with it. The crab cake, unfortunately, was a bit loose. I couldn't really bite into it. It was like a bunch of crab lumps swimming in a mayo/cheese sauce. But, the fries that came with the crab cake were out of this world. They definitely rivaled the best of the french fries out there.
Overall, some hits, and some were near hits. I'll still go back, but I hope they'll put more meat items on the menu, e.g. rack of lamb, burger.
Oh, the service was as friendly as could be. I hope they stay that way.
P.S. the restaurant's tipping practice is a bit strange, they only accept cash for tips. :/
One of the best restaurants in Astoria, and one of my favorites in the city. I wish I knew more about the impetus for the joining of Turkish and other cuisines into this unique menu. But I've enjoyed many visits and sundry different dishes.
Obviously, the Red Sonja are their signature dish, so are a must. (And they are delicious and light.) The crab dip isn't as large as I wish -- but the arugula salad, as well as all of the fresh vegetables and greens, are wonderfully refreshing.
They always have a special entree, which has tended to be very rewarding, especially a fork-tender roasted beef with eggplant puree. The chicken milanese is comforting (their herbed french fries are the best). The Ottoman dumplings (in a yogurt-garlic-minty sauce) are heavenly.
Do be sure to leave room for dessert, because both the almond cake and chocolate souffle are essential. Also essential, at least worth investing in, are reservations, as it's a tiny place and a poorly kept secret to boot.
So.. Mundo is good. Like, really good. Really, really good.
We had a vegetarian at the table and one or two picky eaters. I mention this because some of the stuff on the menu is a little funky, and might put off some people. If you don't read any further, know this: everyone walked away happy.
First we got a pitcher of white sangria, which was nice, and wasn't too strong. Started with the red sonja, which was excellent. Everyone liked it - even our picky eaters. Also got the edamame to start (good) and the spinach and cheese dip (very good). Service was a bit slow in between the starter and mains, but part of the reason is that two of us got the special, which they said would take a little longer.
My main was the special - mahi-mahi on an eggplant puree or something, and Turkish couscous. And... oh lord, it was so delicious. The couscous was tender and fresh-tasting, and the fish was grilled just right. Our vegetarian got the wrap and was very happy with it. One of the other picky eaters got the meatballs and devoured them. I had a taste, and they were indeed quite good.
Dessert was a ridiculous flourless chocolate soufflee with vanilla ice cream. You probably don't need any more explanation than that.
So yeah, Mundo was really great. Prices were really good, food was delicious, and the service was pretty solid. Well worth your time to stop by.
I finally had a chance to dine at Mundo after passing by it about 50 times this year.
= service =
5/5 stars -- Always gave his recommendation and we delightfully took them. Very attentive, polite, and even gave us instructions on how-to eat certain dishes
= cost/value =
Great prices. tip: Go to http://restaurant.com and buy a $25 gift certificate for $10 for an even greater savings. Just make sure you tip them the original amount. I paid credit card and the receipt read "cash tips only"
Everything we ordered was good value with the exception of the empanadas. It was $3.50 and we only received one. I thought we would get at least two
= food/drinks =
I've yet to have something that sucks. The chocolate souffle was great. Red sanjay, crab burger, crab & artichoke dip, ottoman dumplings, sangria. Everything was decent.
= space/ambiance =
Very small, but in the summertime they have outdoor seating. Great decor/ambiance. Dim lighting, romantic setting
It's with a heavy heart and much internal debate that I even write this review... why would I want even more competition trying to get a table in this tiny, amazing place?
Yes, it's that good. And yes, it's that tiny. And yes, it gets crowded.
Must haves are the Red Sonjas and Beef Empanadas. The Crabmeat & Artichoke dip is also good.
I am in love with their Ottoman Dumplings, and always have their Turkish Meatballs with a side of Garlic Yogurt.
For their desserts, their Chocolate Souffle is good, but the Toasted Almond Cake is amazing! Light, airy, fluffy, delicious.
Small wine selection; the amazingly friendly staff can help you choose one that's best suited for your taste.
Definitely a star in Astoria, and one I've already frequented multiple times in the past few weeks!
Ravioli w/Vodka sauce and Red Sonjas......
You made the wait, the cramped space, and the cold more endurable that night. I will never forget the tantalizing food and cute bathroom
appetizer, main course, and a shared dessert..... bill was $27 includ. tax and tip
manhattan type restaurant in astoria for a non-manhattan price. i will be bringing people here.
if you want Mundo for a large group i hope you don't have more than 20 people because you will be renting the entire place. you will need reservations because it is pretty much a garage and it gets busy. the owners cook in the kitchen and are extremely nice and service is good. Mundo is also vegetarian friendly for those looking to offer more options to veggie friends.
part of me doesn't want to tell more people about this place because it is so good but i won't pull a Johnny Depp in Once Upon a Time in Mexico and 'kill the chef''.......i want these nice people to thrive in their business.
One of Astoria's best restaurants. Charming, quality ingredients, and an excellent menu that will surely meat all tastes. I find myself taking friends to Mundo continuously. My friends and I are big meat eaters but recently found ourselves ordering only vegetarian options.
Red Sonja - not exactly sure what's in it, but it's delicious. It's some sort of mix of lentils and spices and other stuff, formed into little patties and served on leaves of Romaine. Add lemon juice, roll up in the lettuce leaf, and enjoy. A must-order.
We also had stuffed zucchini, which is halved and stuffed with caramelized onions and garlic. Tasty, but I could have used some contrast in texture - everything was soft, including the zucchini, and a little crunch would have been a nice touch.
For my entree, I had the Ottoman dumplings. Tiny beef dumplings with perfectly seasoned fillings, but the star of this show was the amazing spicy red sauce and yogurt topping. Fantastic.
Finally, the service was extremely friendly and warm, and speedy to boot, even though the restaurant was at its maximum (albeit admittedly small) capacity.
I'm over this whole entree thing. Why would I want to eat a big plate of just one thing when I could eat lots of little plates of different things! Maybe it's a vegetarian thing... maybe living a foodie life that frequently thrives on the grace of side dishes has turned me into a person who demands an eatable mélange... well, Mundo seems to understand! The menu's strength clearly lives on the first page, each tantalizing line yelping "order me! order me!" With my intense affection for non-dessert fruit dishes I was attracted immediately to the Hungarian COLD SOUR CHERRY SOUP ($5). While I would have preferred it a bit more on the savory side, I couldn't stop spooning those plump tart fleshy cherries into my belly! http://www.yelp.com/bi... My partner in dining, Karl H, ordered the special TOMATO SOUP, which was reminiscent of Campbell's in all the best ways. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Next we received the CARROT DIP ($6 grated carrots/olive oil/garlic-yogurt/dill) an oily but delicately sweet petite dish served with lightly toasted pita bread that was promptly replenished mid dip http://www.yelp.com/bi... , and the HALLOUMI IN VINE LEAF ($8). This firm saliferous cheese is one of my vegetarian bbq favorites, but wrap it up in a briny grape leaf and grill to a fragrant salty char and you will have the best dish of the night! http://www.yelp.com/bi...
But the Halloumi cannot last, so we move on to the CHEESE ROLL ($7 feta cheese and parsley with raspberry sauce), which are far less exciting than the previous dishes. The feta lacks the milkiness to balance the dry crispy shell it has been rolled in, but I am a sucker for any fruit and cheese combo so I still enjoyed it. http://www.yelp.com/bi... Having read Alisha M.'s review and her non-endorsement of the EGYPTIAN ARTICHOKES ($8 with peas, carrots and fava beans) I'm not sure why I ordered them... and she is correct, these were unquestionably the least favorite dish of the night. http://www.yelp.com/bi... The artichokes are boiled to a bland pasty mush and the peas are the tell-tale brown of overcooked imperfection.
The final presentation was the highly anticipated exceedingly hyped RED SONJA ($7). These ductile mounds of red lentil and cracked wheat bear the finger impression of the chef like a squeeze toy but hold the (required) showing of lemon juice within the fresh leaf lettuce as you eat. http://www.yelp.com/bi... While these are most definitely delicious, the sky did not open up after consumption and world continues to turns.
We ended with the WARM SEMOLINA HELVA with Ice-cream ($7) http://www.yelp.com/bi... Holy Moly! This is good stuff. If you're a chocolate/tiramisu/cheesecake/cake and ice cream humdrum dessert person this is not for you, but if you have a taste for international culinary adventure (or if Indian Sojji is one of your favorite desserts like me) then you must this order this dish! The divinely warm not-overly sweet semolina cradles the cool vanilla ice cream like a penguin protecting its egg under a crown of chewy pistachios.
While I was pleased with the meal, the friendly dancey waitress and the idiosyncratic interior design; I don't imagine I'll ever be heading back out here unless I have some new friends who move out to Astoria.
Mundo Cafe is one of those awesome hole in the wall restaurants. Very small and cozy, but the food speaks volumes. The waiter, Willy, is super friendly and talkative.
My bf had a http://restaurant.com coupon for this restaurant because of the good reviews from Yelp, so we came here the same night. The menu is cool because it's designed to look like a daily newspaper. We decided to get the soup (I really wanted to try the cold sour cherry soup, but it was cold outside, so I opted for the soup of the day, which was mushroom soup). It was a perfect blend of spices and chunks of mushroom. We also had the red sonja (made with lentils and spices) on a piece of lettuce and the stuffed zucchini for appetizers. They were both delicious! It made me really want to try all the other appetizers.
As for the main courses, my bf got the ottoman dumplings and I ordered the lobster ravioli. The dumplings tasted a bit starchy and had a lot of sauce--not a good pairing because it tasted really heavy. My ravioli, on the other hand, was very filling and delightful.
For dessert, we had the semolina helva, since it got rave reviews on Yelp. It was ok, although I think I would have preferred something else.
I'm coming back for you crabmeat burger and all the other appetizers, dips, soups, and desserts!!
If there was a 4.5 Stars, Mundo would get it. Wily and crew serve up a great meal. Many times we don't even order an entre and just get a bunch of small dishes as they are so good. The red sonja is everything it is hyped-up to be. When I do go for an entree, I love the crabmeat burger or the turkish meatballs. The sangria is very tasty. Love the halvah and chocolate souffle deserts.
Wow! what DO they put in that red sonja. We ordered one portion, and then another because we just couldn't stop. For appetizers, we also got the red pepper hummus and the carrot dip (yummy!) with pita bread, baby okra (just okay) and the vegetable empanadas.
Needless to say, I had skip the main course and go straight to dessert. We were five of us, and we got one of each dessert. The chocolate souffle was sinful, the ricotta ice-cream a light and easy dessert. I personally didn'd like the semolina helva very much, and the toasted almond cake was my least favourite (too much artificial flavour creeping through).
Oh and did I say that i LOVED the Gluhwein (that's the german hot wine). Delish.
The feel of the restaurant itself is warm and fuzzy, and the service is friendly and eager. I hear they have a store too, but I didn't get a chance to check that out.
If you live in or happen to be in the neighborhood, definitely go here. It is such a joyful experience. The service is extremely friendly and excellent. The food is really good, even for non-vegetarians like me. The drinks are very reasonable, and come in cute penguin pitchers!
I haven't been disappointed by any of the food, including the Red Sonja (which is just amazing), the zucchini stuffed with onions, the salmon, the tuna that was a special one day, the Turkish meatballs, and the braised chicken.
I am definitely going back again soon to try the lobster ravioli this time!
Seriously, it is a therapeutic experience, surrounded by friendly people, atmosphere, and good food. I've left happy, full, and slightly tipsy every time.
Oh. Em. Gee.
Came here on a Saturday night with 11 friends. Yes, 11. They sat us promptly, had no problem when we asked to split the check in two, and were super friendly.
My boyfriend and I split the Red Sonja to start- amazingly fabulous... I'm still not entirely sure what it was, but it was easily one of the best things I've ever eaten. The sangria (which we also split) was a small jug (granted, it was inexpensive at $22 a pitcher) but it certainly had a kick!
Crab cake Burger- uh-may-zing. It was a great texture, not overpowered by a seafood flavor, and the fries that came with it were also fabulous- great seasoning.
Lobster Ravioli- my boyfriend loved it. There were actual chunks of lobster, the sauce they were in was a great accompaniment, and the portion size was just right.
My friends also loved the Turkish meatballs... two of them ordered this and raved about them all night.
The service was great, especially considering they were packed that night. I wish the ambiance were a bit swankier- something just seemed lacking, but there's no way it was bad enough to take any stars away from the impeccable food and service!
Wish I could go every night!
I will say pretty much the same thing everyone else says about Mundo. Great atmosphere, friendly and attentive service, an impressive range of appetizers, drinks in penguin pitchers.....
Most notably, the red sonjas are delicious and healthy. Also, I recommend the Helva for dessert. It's unlike anything I've ever tasted!
They've added some new dishes to the menu that I want to rave some more about.
Tried the Lobster Ravioli the other night and it was excellent. Chunks of lobster in the homemade ravioli.
The new dark Belgian chocolate souffle.. hot out of the oven and topped with a scoup of vanilla icecream. What the hell are you still reading this for??? Go go go!! Didn't you read that?!?!?!?
Awesome
It's very very rare that I hardcore crave something that is actually healthy. Actually.. so rare… Read more »
First of all, Mundo is perfection.
Last night I had a small (6 people) get-together for my birthday and they made the evening so memorable. As a vegetarian, its tough to find a decent place in Queens, but Mundo exceeded any and every expectation I had from the food to the ambiance. Everyone at the table raved about everything - from the apps (red sonja!), to the sangria, to the entrees - you honestly can't go wrong with what you order. My meat-eating friends loved their dishes and I could drone on and on about the vegetarian selection - get the Veggie Wrap w/ the fries, you won't be sorry.
So worth it on every level. I already have reservations for this weekend!
This place is awesome, the food, the decor, the service, it's all top notch. Everyone raves about the red sonjas and they're all correct. I went on valentines day and was able to basically try all the appetizers and I was impressed with pretty much all of them.
I had a beef dish with baba ghanoush and kous-kous and it was excellent. My girlfriend ordered a portobello ravioli in vodka sauce which was also equally excellent. One of the highlights of this place is the warm, spiced wine they serve- it's a must. Everyone should go here at least once! Nice and cozy great for a date or a small group of friends.
Its very warm inside and cozy. The staff was very friendly and chat it up. They give you good recommendations and explanations of what's in their food. Its a bit dark in there, but its the ambiance.
They are known for their red sonja, which i have no idea whats in it, but its damn good. had i known it was so awesome i would have ordered more. its a vegetarian friendly place which is good.
I had the portobello ravioli, which was quite filling, a lot of dill was scattered on top of it. dessert was great, the chocolate souflee is super rich, and the semolina one with the pistachio and cinnamon and ice cream was really good as well.
They take your coat and hang it up, just remember what it looks like so you can retrieve it.
They play cool music as well. Definitely worth checking out.
This place is over-rated, factomundo. I was here recently and it was clear that Mundo doesn't deserve the travel time and effort of getting to Astoria from downtown Manhattan.
Mundo is located close to the train station and, being off-Broadway, it can boast of a quiet streetside presence. Its menu is very vegetarian-friendly. And the service is incredibly friendly. We began the meal with Red Sonja, their signature dish. These lentil patties came on a bed of lettuce. And while they were generally tasty, one wishes they were warm and cooked. My friend had the cretan salad, that seemed huge in quantity. She has salad for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and probably snacks on mixed greens too. But as always, she was more concerned about me enjoying my food. Under her watchful gaze, I stuffed myself with the cheese rolls and falafel, that was late to arrive. The falafel balls were perfect spheres, almost engineered to be so. I wonder where they come from. And the hummus was tahini-like in its texture.
The setting itself, aside from the outside seating area, is not anything to speak of, by the standards of Manhattan restaurants. Cheap pictures of bees hanging on the walls, stained sofas, and odd lighting made for a mediocre space. Speaking of which, the ceiling fans need to go. Perched below a couple of lights that are flush with the ceiling, their rotation casts fast-moving shadows on the tables below. A veritable annoyance, especially once you take note of it.
_____________________
o | o Lights
|
\\ | // Rotating
\\ | // fan
// \\
// \\
___________________
/ \ / /|
/ Rotating shadow / |
/ on the table / |
/ / \ /
/___________________/
| ' |
| |
All said, a 2-3 star dining experience. God, please don't make me travel to Queens for food, caring company notwithstanding.
Anything I write here will be redundant - I love Mundo: the staff, the food, the fun pitchers the sangria comes in. Wanted to write to share the closest approximation I have been able to find for Red Sonja's:
Yalanci Cig Kofte
http://www.turkishcook...
While I live very close to Mundo, I also love to cook & make versions of my favourite restaurant finds at home. Plus at $8 for an order of 4, sometimes I want more for less $. Not to say I don't still love going to Mundo for all of the other ah-mah-zingness.
I think they should rename Mundo. Yes, this is some of the best food in the world (or mundo), but it could also be Sistema Solar, as I'm willing to bet that the food could go up against the best from Jupiter or Mars.
Andrew J. & I had dinner and were both just blown away. Andrew was very pleased with his cold cherry soup- I had just a little bit of it, because I knew he didn't want to share, but can agree it was delicious. They do cold fruit soups all summer long, they said, and also had a mango soup as their soup of the day. I instead got just the basic greens salad. While at most places that does mean some lettuce and a light dressing, this had sundried tomatoes, capers, sunflower seeds, olives- it was delicious.
We were most impressed by the appetizers, so we stuck with that, getting the crab and cheese dip, the halloumi dish, and the red sonjas. Fantastic. Loved the crab and cheese dip- the fish was good, and it was warm and very satisfying. It was served with warm multigrain pitas, and those were great too. The halloumi cheese was nice. It was not my most favorite of everything, but Andrew pointed out that I was cutting it into very small pieces, so the leaf it was wrapped in became unnecessarily unwieldy. Next time, I'll be more careful. But lastly were the signature, not to be missed, red sonjas. Oh, man. I could have just continued to shovel those in to my mouth. Absolutely fantastic.
In case this somehow wasn't enough fantasticness (obviously a word), we got a chocolate souffle that was amazing. Chocolate souffle is pretty much the best thing to happen to civilization ever, and this one more than lives up to that statement. Delicious.
Also- all of that and two sodas for $46! Amazing. Excellent restaurant.
Just moved to Astoria and I'm SO HAPPY that I live a block away from this place. The food, the atmosphere, everything about this tiny little cafe is thoroughly enjoyable. More importantly, three courses worth of food for two only ran me ~$60. (Granted, my partner in crime and I shared the dessert and the appetizer.)
The red sonja is a must as are almost all the other appetizers. In fact, my recommendation is to order yourself nothing but appetizers and desserts and wash it down with numerous glasses wine (which are also fantastically priced and well selected).
I gotta tell ya, I've been to lots of restaurants in this city. And I mean lots. But this place was the first place I've been to in a long time that flat-out blew my mind. I honestly couldn't believe it. When we left the restaurant last night, Chelsea J. and myself, I was stunned. It was sort of like I had to walk down the street a few blocks before I could collect words together to make sentences. Let's begin:
First of all, the two guys working here were really great. They had asked if we had been there before and all that and they were very helpful with the menu options and stuff like that; they were just all around very friendly guys.
You need to know that I feel it's mandatory for everyone who comes here to get the chilled, sour cherry soup. It was phenomenal. I couldn't get enough of it.
We also tried several of their appetizers as opposed to getting a whole entree. Which I think was a better idea because we got to try all sorts of stuff. The best of which was their signature dish, the Red Sonja. You need to get this dish. The plate came with four, but if I hadn't already eaten so much, I would've ordered four more for us.
Honestly, it was food ecstasy.
We finished our meal with a chocolate souffle that was to die for. I honestly think I died while eating it and then came back to life thanks to the chocolate-y goodness.
A quick note for every who is planning on going there, if you pay by debit or credit, they only allow tips in cash. That was the one thing that we got tripped up on.
Other than that one minor infraction, this place is amazing and I can't wait to go back again and again and again and again and again and again and...well, you get the idea.
We went here last night. Visiting "down to" Queens from Brooklyn. G to the 7 to the mutha-vuggin N yyyyoooo. You know how we do. We so seldom leave the borough and yet here we were. NAOW: usually I go to Astoria expressly to slope darkly into Silver Age Comics and piss away bill after bill on half-priced back-numbers; but here I was with MY ETERNAL DINING COMPANION and we met up with Miho chan and went to dawdle about the neighborhood.
Let's not forget the time Damian and I cycled from Greenpoint to Astoria.
Well so we went into a beer garden for about thirty bad seconds and then I said "this is Hell nor am I out of it" and we turned on our heels and left that place. Isn't a beer garden verily a place for the damned souls to sup on third-rate B-type blood? I believe it. It reminded me of a student bar in a student village; with that same level of learned discourse.
Traipsed around Queens a spell and then on Miho's recommendation we came to Mundo's. We began with the esteemed Red Sonja (and I go, here, "Red Sonja is a central female character in the legends of Conan the Cimmerian did you know." The womenfolk were singularly UNINTERESTED by that, and so I resisted the urge to proceed to expand freely on the eccentric but interesting short life of Robert E. Howard; or on that issue of Marvel Team-Up when Spider-Man and Red Sonja join forces to defeat the evil KULAN GATH. Or its sequel, that superb storyline in The Uncanny X-Men - - -).
People talk about the Red Sonja in the same breathless tone as when they speak of the clam pizza "pie" I mentioned elsewhere. And in truth it's for a reason. That reason is IT'S GREAT. Put some in your mouth; masticate the bolus vigorously and swallow it at your leisure like an egg-eating snake (don't forget to dislocate your jaws to accomodate fully the good substrate) and then distribute the constituent elements among the very cells of your tissues of your organs; and you, like me, shall feel irradiated with gamma-rays.
DINING COMPANION ("girl") had the crab-burger, but (as Travis Bickle would put it) she "could have had anything on the menu." I took the lobster ravioli. Her chips (/"fries") were exquisite and I ate a good part of her burger too which was creamy and globular and semi-liquid. Sheesh, I could have ate everyone's dish actually. Mine was great; came in a vodka sauce.
I like vodka sauce. I had a great vodka sauce at uh... Bamonte's too. You can't taste a trace of vodka in it - thank God.
It's an under-rated sauce.
At least I think so.
Neighborhood: Long Island City
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: Briarwood
Category: Vegetarian
Neighborhood: Long Island City
Category: Greek
Neighborhood: Long Island City
Category: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: Long Island City
Category: American (New)
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