by christina l.

this is one of my favorite places in ny!  the food is great but what makes it special is that the owner is a fantastic artist who did the decor himself.  he made the tables and had the vision to transorm elevator doors into art.  everyone is always amazed that such yummy food comes out of such a small kitchen.  i would go and just eat bread with the spiced oil and dessert ever day if i could.

by Sunil R.

There are so many aspects that go into a good dining experience. Decor, service, ambiance. I feel like people often forget the most important part, the food. Mombar is a chef run and owned restaurant in astoria, which is pretty rare. the food does not disappoint, flavors blend together rather than dominate and the complexity is somewhat surprising for such a small, modest restaurant. the dining area is decorated with art created by the chef/owner, a little over done, but overall nice. the food is well executed, flavorful and unique. the chef's station is visible from mostly the entire dining room, making it obvious the wait time between appetizer and main course is longer than usual. mombar has an interesting take on the dining experience, while i was there with my girlfriend the chef took the time to come to our table and listen to our critiques of his food. they have one server and one chef, which is very rare, especially in astoria. overall, i was very satisfied with the food, the service was good and the dining area itself was interesting. one tip, if you are considering skippig dessert like my girlfriend and i were, stick around for the chef's surprise dessert, you will definitely not be disappointed.

by Kaoru U.

having lived in manhattan all my life, i had actually never ventured out to astoria before!  blasphemous i know.  so i got a few friends together, and somehow picked the coldest and windiest night of the week to go...  i got off at the Astoria Blvd stop on the NW line, walked 8 seemingly long blocks to steinway, and was grumbling to myself that i was not liking this experience already with cheap stores and rundown delis passing me on both sides.  suddenly i see this beautifully decorated store that really pops out from the rest of the neighborhood vibe.  i walk in and the warmth of delicious aromas envelop me.  the decor was random but homey.  the tables were decorated with buttons and you could really see the effort that the restaurant-owner put into it.  (yep, he decorated the whole place himself)we had a group of 6, and we couldnt decide on an appetizer so we did the (in japanese) 'omakase' style of ordering and had him put together a hummus plate for 6ppl.  the food took an exceptionally long time to come out (esp since it was just hummus -- unless they blended it there), but with only one guy in the kitchen and one at the helm, i could see why.  they were so warm and friendly though, with their at-home service that it was hard to be rude or demanding.  when the appetizers did come, it was delicious and so flavorful.  i was never much a fan of hummus bc it was usually so bland to me, but whatever the chef put in it made me love the dish more and more. the entrees were delicious as well.  my favorite was the glazed duck that just fell off the bone when you touched it.  this was my first egyptian dinner experience, but with their warm service, homey decor, and comfort food, i felt like i was invited to his home for dinner.  =)the only downer is they close around 11pm, its cash only, and BYOB.  but there's a liquor store around the corner (on steinway astoria blvd) so just stop by there before heading in.

by Jeff M.

I'd give this 3 stars in Boerum Hill but here in Astoria I think the distinction's better earned. (Yes: I'm well aware of Astoria's culinary eclecticism!) The very amiable proprietor is wonderfully proud of everything they serve and it's no wonder. You'll feel completely at home in his hospitality, and their fresh cooking is splendid.

by Michelle B.

i don't know what authentic egyptian cuisine is, all i know is that what i had at this restaurant was delicious. i loved the baked stuffed chicken....it was so worth the 30 minute wait (we were pre-warned that it would take this long to make). also, gotta love how the chef comes to your table and tells you today's specials and ask how the food is. this is probably one of the friendliest little restaurants i've been to. the only thing i didn't like was they didn't serve new york's finest tap water (gasps!). i'm not cheap, but i just hate paying for water and $2 for each small bottle of poland spring adds up if you know what i mean.

by Kimberley D.

I discovered this place via yelp and was excited about the idea of Egyptian food which I'd never had. I convinced my friends that we should go despite the two dollar sign price listing. It had a great rating and the food sounded interesting. Once inside I was sure I'd been right to drag them inside. I loved that the owner decorated the entire restaurant, made the tables, and did the decor. While eating someone who I think was probably their child was running around adorably. It had a very family-oriented feel in general. We were brought a copy of a book that told the story of the history of the restaurant and its gentrifying neighborhood.I'm vegetarian and found a few options on the menu. We all found our meals quite tasty. What knocked this place down in stars was the speed of the food's arrival and of the service in general. I'm guessing the woman waiting on us was a relative/perhaps wife and co-owner... she was very friendly. However, shortly after taking our order, she disappeared. There were only a few customers in the restaurant and they were eating, but it seriously took 3 full hours to place our orders, get our food, and depart. 3. No joke. I'm rarely in a hurry, but during the majority of that time no one came to check on us (or on any of the other tables either as far as I could tell). We finished our drinks shortly after arrival because we were very hungry/thirsty and would've happily purchased other drinks if the option was available. To her credit, our server did apologize sincerely for the wait once the food did arrive. But by the time it did we were starving and grumpy and very unhappy. Bringing us some bread to snack on or something would've gone a long way. I actually feel guilty for the rating because the server seemed like such a genuine, warm, good person that I want to give this place a better rating. But for a $25-30 meal, I want someone to check on my table more than once per 3 hours. If I lived nearby it's possible I'd give them another chance if I had the money to spare, wasn't incredibly hungry upon arrival and wasn't in a rush. However, my friends wrote it off after that experience and vowed never to return. They're cash only but for whatever reason that seems to be normal in New York. I find it strange because I'm used to never carrying cash at home, but it's probably normal enough to natives that doesn't merit mentioning.

by Nefertiti I.

It's weird that there's no sign outside of the restaurant. I thought it was like a museum or something. My family and I ventured in and we were the only ones in there other than the chef. The chef greeted us like we were entering his home. And that's what it felt like. This Egyptian man was the chef, the interior decorator, and an artist. His mosaic tables were beautifully constructed and his decor busy yet pleasant. The food was delicious. Since there's no menu outside we didn't see prices. Not too bad entrees $12-30.

by Molly T.

i'm torn about this place. if i didn't know about the brother's restaurant just a few doors down, i might have been thrilled to have discovered an astoria gem with eclectic decorating, a byob policy and excellent appetizers. but since i've been to kabab, it's impossible to not compare the two restaurants, and mombar just isn't the same. we went recently because kabab was closed. it was crowded on a friday night so they sat us in the back corner at benches with a low table. they were pretty nice about it and said we could stay there to eat so we did. mombar is 2 to 3 times the size of kabab, and the host (is that the brother, or is the brother the chef?) comes over and gives a very similar spiel about the specials. we pondered the $30-per-person tasting menu but it sounded like we'd get more variety by just ordering separate things. we got the hummus/babaghanoush/foul appetizer, stuffed sausage, and an artichoke salad. then we split two entrees-one with baked eggplant and the other with lamb. before the appetizers came they brought us this amazing oily roti-esque bread. all the appetizers were excellent (i loved how smoky the baba was, and the spicy fava bean spread was the table favorite) so we were excited for our main courses. that's where the disappointment set in. though they sounded quite different from his descriptions, they looked identical. a clay pot filled with peas carrots zucchini and then you had to dig around for the main ingredient. they were both good but we knew that had we been in ali's kitchen he wouldn't have permitted us to order two dishes that were so much alike. maybe it's our fault that we ordered incorrectly, and if i do go back maybe i'd just have the appetizers and skip the entree. but chances are that whenever i find myself in little egypt it'll be to eat at kabab cafe. sorry, mombar!

by Andrew D.

This place is real good. I would go again just to show friends the deep history this place has and the fantastic chef-owner who created all of the art in the restaurant. I had the Mom-bar, the hand stuffed sausage with rice, beef, lamb, herbs and spices. sauteed with garlic, chick peas and tomato. It was good... but surprisingly a bit bland for me. The egyptian coffee, as warned, was very thick. The thing to get, and we asked for a second serving, are the farmers' bread.

by Jenny b.

I love Egyptian food and took a friend here for his birthday.  I was told it was the kind of place you take your parents when they are in town because it was expensive and upscale....hmmm...a little pricey yes, but it's kind of a dingy place.  Cool art done by the owner all over, but still dinery tables and such.I got the tagine, and it wasn't terrobly flavorful.  As I recall my portion size was on the normal to small side.  I did like the personal attention.  But the actual food isn't worth the hype, and you can get cheaper, better eats in this hood!

by Jodi K.

Hidden gem.  Best food, best personal experience.  Great decor.  I've eaten at restaurants that get national press that aren't this great.It's out of the way, but worth it.  Call it an adventure, hop on the train and get your ass there.  Now.The chef came to our table and personally served every selection.  The flavors were so complex and absolutely wonderful.  Down to the last detail it was an unforgettable meal.  I miss it.  I'll never find anything like that in LA that isn't high-brow, pretentious, more style than substance and overpriced.Get over your Queens fear.  After dinner complete the experience at one of the Egyptian coffee shops round the way for sheesha and coffee.  This is such an authentic and friendly neighborhood.  When we lived in Astoria, we would walk around over here all the time.

by John W.

Egyptian cuisine.  I recall having the grilled whole fish.  Food was pretty good.  First time tasting Egyptian cuisine.Egyptian friend took me out there to try the place.  Restaurant is a little small, but the decor is very nice.  The restaurant looks hidden due to the simpleness of the front of the restaurant.

by Nancy R.

From Slovakia to the Nile, that's where a day in Queens, New York's most diverse borough will lead you.Although they specialize in Mombar, a melange of meaty goodness, we stuck to meatless items out of respect for our veggie friend.  Complimentary flatbread (sort of like Egyptian foccaccia) to wet the palate.  Kickin eggplant, intoxicating tabouli, and the spinach with garlic -- do NOT get me started. And the chef comes out to greet each table. The only caveat that precluded 5 stars was chewy coffee. Call me an ignoramous of Turkish brew, but I don't like coffee that requires a fork.  Sadly, I've never been to Egypt, but at least for a night I was temporarily transported there, via Queens.

by Kari B.

This is one of the best restaurants in Astoria, period. The food is consistently excellent, the chef is friendly and wonderful, and the interior is eclectic and fascinating. You can keep going to overhyped, bland places or you can try food cooked with love.The service is a little slow, but good things come to those who wait. The lamb tagine here is amazing, as well as the striped bass and the Mombar sausages. The complimentary bread is amazing, as are the mussels. Basically, get anything on the menu and you will be satisfied. A must-visit for any Astorian.

by Sooj O.

It's worth your while to go to Mombar if only because the chef personally goes around to each table in this tiny post stamp of a restaurant to check on his guests.  Really, you feel like a special guest in this marvellously decorated little Egyptian restaurant.You start off with some soft flatbread served with herbed and spiced oil.  Yum.The appetizers are definitely worth eating, but be warned that the entrees can be quite filling.  The sausage is mild and soft (it's hard to explain how a sausage can be soft and certainly bound to invite certain jokes).  I also recall having more than a couple of delicious tagines with ingredients such as plums.  I can't comment on the desserts as I've always been way too stuffed to order one.  Service could not be better and you are not likely to encounter such warm hospitality again in a restaurant.

by David S.

This was such a wonderful meal!  I'm a big fan of the Kebab Cafe so i figured i needed to try his brother's place... We walked in and were greeted with big smiles and welcoming attitudes.  My friend and i had the tasting menu, fantastic deal!  $30 for bread, appetizer, and THREE entrees... Sure they were smaller than your usual entrees, but only slightly... We walked out of there totally stuffed!The meal started with farmers bread in a sauce that i think had balsamic viniger, hot fresh and wonderful.  The chef asked us what we like and we told him he could suprise us.  He asked if we ate tripe and feeling adventous we said we would try it.The appetizer was kinda like sausage stuffed with rice and other things... Like someone mentioned below it was a little bland, but overall very good.  It was definitely stuffed in some sort of Offal.  Good start to the meal.  The first entree was some sorta fish dish, perhaps tilapia,  with tomatoes and peppers with couscous.  This was fantastic.  Moist fresh fish with wonderful flavors.  Excellent dish.The next 2 meals were almost identical to each other which was a slight disappointment.  They were both with rice tomatoes, peppers, carrots, zucchini, chick peas served with rice.  The first dish was Lamb tagine and was just incredible!  The lamb was very noticeably Lamb, meaning it has that funky lamb taste that i love.  It was extremely tender, moist and lean.  The second dish was the tripe.  This was my first time eating tripe and thu i'm proud that i tried something new and sorta adventurous, i really did not enjoy it that much.  I've never had something so soft yet chewy at the same time... Very very strange texture.  Not much flavor to the tripe itself beside the sauce, which is guess is a good thing considering what it might have tasted like were it not cleaned properly!  It was disappointing that both the last 2 dished were basically identical, thu they were very good.The house wine was $4 a glass!  Decent wine to.  The waitress was the chef's wife and was very nice.  They were both thankful for our business and i will certainly be back.  We had a feast of a meal for $30 each... No room for dessert, but we did walk up the block for some mint tea and hookah.  Wonderful evening.  I highly recommended this place for those that want to dine.  I believe the meal took over 2 hours, which is fine with me!  If it were possible, this would be 4.5 stars.

by George B.

Mombar is really one of the jewels of Astoria.  Located towards the upper end of the Egyptian Hookah Row, I definitely recommend trying this establishment.For our second visit, the BF and I dined with friends who were in town for the weekend.  We called first to make sure there would be a table available, as the weekends see the most crowds.  We were in luck and hustled right over there to secure the last table in the place.  We just love just about everything on the menu.  For apps, the grilled quails are a stand out, and the beets are delicious.  As for mains, we ordered a mixture of fish and clay pots with chicken and rabbit.  I can't say enough about the tasty and fresh food.  It's definitely a place where you can be adventurous with your palate without wondering exactly what you're eating.  However, one problem with such fresh food is that almost nothing is prepped in advance.  Subsequently, with the place mobbed around 8:00-8:30, the food took an inordinate amount of time to arrive; the apps got to our table over an hour after ordering!  It was a bit annoying, however, we were all in good cheer thanks to the bottle of wine we brought along.If you do decide to dine at Mombar, it's probably best to avoid the busy days such as Friday and Saturday (possibly Thursday as well.)  The previous visit was on a Tuesday night and there were very few people dining, so the meal was well-paced and felt more like a real feast!As an interesting side note, the whole place, from the ceiling to the floor, was designed and decorated by the owner!  Not only is he a great chef, but has quite an artistic streak.INSIDERS TIP: Though Mombar offers beer and wine, they allow outside beverages.  There's a liquor store just around the corner on Astoria Blvd with decent selection of wines.

by lisa a.

I used to live in Astoria one block away from Mombar. I don't recall how I'd heard about the quaint little restaurant, but I visited shortly after they opened (2001?). Being a vegetarian, I was a bit hesitant at trying Southern Egyptian Food, but found out Mombar is very accommodating with their dishes. The owner and chef, Moustafa El Sayed is so friendly and hospitable and actually steps out of the tiny kitchen to talk to his customers, whom he treats like old friends. One instantly feels comfortable in this tiny, unassuming, dimly lit, dining haven. Through one of our conversations with Moustafa he told us that it was his dream to open a restaurant and that he had designed and created everything in the place, from the tiled tables to the paintings on the walls. I highly recommend the Saraha mix as an appetizer and a tangine (which can be made vegetarian if need be) for an entree. And even if you stuff yourself, order dessert (which is only revealed when it's brought to your table. It's cute how they make it a secret). Trust me, your taste buds will not be disappointed by this lovely dining experience.I need to make a trek to Astoria soon.

by Jessie C.

I was really disappointed at the food at Mombar. First, DO NOT go if you are really hungry and plan to eat your meal within the first hour of getting seated. They are a really small establishment with one cook. We did not receive our complimentary traditional Egyptian bread until 30 minutes into our seating. Thankfully, we had just come from happy hour, so were in a generally content mood. Second, do not forget that his place is BYOB and BYOD. Yes, you need to purchase water at this place. Considering that NYC tap water is one of the best in the nation, I don't see why Mombar has to go on wasting more plastic than necessary. Onto the food. Honestly, for the price you are paying, I really expected much better food. I had one of the better dishes in my group of 5. I got the chicken and the rice. Sounds plain? It was very plain and simple, but still the best dish out of the rabbit, bass, homemade sausage and lamb. But 18 dollars for chicken and rice? Really? I think that is a bit of a rip off. Especially when I had to wait an hour and a half for it. In the end, what annoyed me the most was that he overcharged us for the hummus platter we ordered (by far the best dish of the whole night) and rounded up the tax. I'm not trying to be finicky about a few dollars. I just wanted to point out the cherry on top of the entire evening.The strip on Steinway where Mombar is located is full of Egyptian restaurant. I would probably try one of those instead of the over hyped Mombar.

by Holly M.

Great atmosphere, incrediblly friendly service, cozy environment and great authentic food. It's almost like having dinner in someone's home with the open kitchen and friendly chef. Sometimes there is a wait for food if it's busy because there is one incredible chef making everything from scratch. I highly recommend any of the tagines. I had Egyptian friends introduce me to this place who also hold it in high regard.

by Shawn A.

"What's up doc?"I don't want to steal the waiter's best bit, but that's what awaits you when you order up on of their rabbit dishes.  It's touches like this that let you know that Mombar is all about service and atmosphere.  The place looks amazing.  The art, the tiles, the tables, the lighting.  The inside and the outside.  It all looks great.The chef/owner will come out of the kitchen all greased up to come and talk to you, and the waiter is a lot of fun and extremely knowledgeable.  The menu is creative (or at least it seems to be... I'm no Egyptian food expert), and offers a lot of exciting new dishes to try - but for the most part they seemed to sound a bit better on paper.  The steak was seasoned nicely, with a great assortment of delicious veggies on the side, but the meat itself was tough to eat - and I ordered it medium rare.  The rabbit was a bit boney, but the sauce it was served in was nice.  The real winner that I got to try was the lamb tagine (stew) that had some great spices, and the meat was perfect.The food isn't perfect, but the atmosphere helps make up for it.  And the menu offered up enough exciting options to make it worth a repeat visit.

by David J.

As other Yelp'ers have mentioned, eating here feels like you're in someone's home.  It's very mom-and-pop and you're treated that way.  The chef came out and personally greeted us (which we loved!).  He ran through the specials and answered every question we had.  We ordered the Artichoke with Lemon Juice appetizer, the Lamb Chops and Philo-wrapped Salmon entrees.  All of this, plus 2 glasses of wine and 1 bottle of water came to $65.  A tad pricey, but worth it.  Everything was delicious!  Very tasty (not over spiced, everything was perfectly cooked) and all with an authentic and homemade quality.  Because everything is made from scratch and there is only one chef, prepare to spend time here.  Even though the there were only 3 other tables with Guests, we waited 40 minutes for our appetizer (worth it!) and about the same amount of time for our entrees (worth it!).  Also, we didnt appreciate being charged for the water (especially having to wait so long for our food) but that's ok.  Lastly, you can bring your own wine here which is good to know for next time.When I go back, I want to try the tagines.  They passed our table and looked/smelled amazing.This was a great experience and we will definitely return and recommend to our friends!

by Natasha S.

I finally made it to Mombar last Friday night.  The decor is cute and kitschy.  The mixed appetizer plate that we got with hummus, babaghanoush, foul and something else that I can't remember was fresh and tasty.  Our entrees were good but I really can't say spectacular.  What was spectacular was the service.  Friendly, funny, attentive and polite.  We felt like "regulars" on our very first visit.  I think it's the personal attention that prompts people to give Mombar 4 or 5 stars.  I would give them 5 stars on that factor as well.  I didn't like the fact that you have to pay for water.  Nevertheless, we will return again with our own drinks (which you are allowed to bring) for another visit.

by Jen W.

When you're looking for this place, look to the right of the 3 princes and you'll find it there. It doesn't have a huge light up sign. Its a bit paired down if you didn't realize it. When you walk in, you realize this is a family run place. They are friendly and helpful, and have great suggestions. The chef came out and talked to us, gave us recommendations for the table, and had suggestions for our vegetarian friend. Everyone there is just super nice. The food is amazing. The lamb tangeen, so tender and flavorful. The mom-bar itself was different, but you gotta try it with the sauce. The hummus and baba ganush was so fresh and flavorful! You could tell it was hand made, and NOT from a jar or can. And eat the apple slices that come with it! The chef loves it when you praise just how wonderful everything is, and it is! The decor inside, is different from all the other restaurants, you'll like it and feel at home. You gotta try this place! You won't be disappointed. Its not a HUGE place, and they only take cash. But if you want some good food, definitely try this place out. The area where this is located has a large Egyptian/Arab community so there are lots of places to try.

by karen T.

My spouse and I live in the borough that contains the best restaurants in New York City. Thankfully, Manhattanites still have difficulty navigating Queens, leaving us mostly in peace to enjoy our amazing chefs in intimate comfort. For our special guests, good friends, and when the occasion calls for it, our number one restaurant of choice is Mombar.Mombar is owned by Moustafa El Sayed, who is the chef and the artist who decorated the front and the inside of the space. (His brother Ali owns the Kabob Cafe just up the street.)  I initially found Mombar by scent. There was no signage for the place, just a wonderfully decorated front, but when I strolled past it, the manager opened the door and the aroma of Egyptian coffee floated out to draw me in. (Egyptian coffee is as thick as you'd expect from that part of the world, enhanced by floating a cardamon seed on top.)Walking inside is like walking into a combination of folk-art gallery and the home of your favorite Egyptian uncle's place. The walls and ceilings are designed with found-tile mosaics, and each table-top is uniquely decorated, all by the chef. Chairs and benches with pillows are standard fare for seating.For a white-bread Midwestern Scots-German girl, I find Middle Eastern culture and atmosphere very homey. On our most recent trip, the manager/waiter and the chef greeted my partner and me, and our guests, with their usual combination of cheerful handshakes and friendly "we haven't seen you for so long" comments. This time, however, the chatter had added content - Moustafa and his brother Ali recently hosted Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern on one of Bourdain's television shows. http://www.youtube.com...Here's the thing about eating in Mombar: we've been there often enough, the chef knows us and we trust him. He always knows my spouse will have the duck glazed with molasses. He knows that I will try anything else, and have a fondness for tajines. We frequently encourage our guests to have the chef's tasting menu (I often go for that myself), but for the first time we were dissuaded by the waiter."You must try something we made for Mister Bourdain and Mister Zmmern," he insisted. How could I refuse? Okay, granted... I'm not an organ meats fan, but then, I wasn't raised eating most of what makes up my diet these days, nor was I raised to tell a chef that I wouldn't try something he was eager to make. So I agreed to try the lamb cheeks. Our guest was torn between the chef's tasting menu and just going for the rabbit tajine. The waiter listed off what he was already bringing to the table, and suggested that what we should round out the table with tilapia. We started with egyptian layered bread (imagine a phyllo that has weight) with three spreads - fresh hummus, the best babaganouj I've ever eaten (smoky!) and the Egyptian national food: foul. Pronounced "fool," this is a mashed fava bean spread usually eaten for breakfast.. and for snacking the rest of the day. Then the lamb cheek dish arrived, piping hot. It was a rich "meat spread" that was best eaten on pita.Food orgasms continued with the main courses - lamb shank, duck glazed in molasses, and the tilapia tajine. My side of spinach was infused with the juice of the lamb, while the spinach on the side for the duck main course was sharper, more greek in its lemony-garlic goodness. The three of us shared the food, and Moustafa personally came over to check on us. This is a touch I always appreciate at Mombar - there is no presumptive "how's everything" as if it's a rhetorical question. The staff cares, and the chef engages in conversation with us.Moustafa, in fact, will not only offer specials to us that aren't on the menu (like the lamb cheek spread), but will tailor his "chef's tasting" menu. We once brought a friend to Mombar who was recovering from a serious bout of diruticulitis, and Moustafa sat with us for a good 10 minutes, going over each dish he could make or enhance, to ensure that the tasting menu would not aggravate a medical condition.As awesome as our dinner was, we had to save room for dessert. My partner had the Egyptian bread pudding (one of those great Middle Eastern dishes that could also be an awesome breakfast), and I had Chef's surprise. Moustafa makes great, simple desserts that are generally a combination of a fruit wrapped in pastry, and drizzled with the syrup of another fruit. This time it was poached pear on a bird's nest, drizzled in pomegranant syrup with a scoop of cardmamon ice cream. Yum!

by Olivia C.

I walk past here almost everyday and the huge udjat (eye of Horus) definitely beckoned me to have a try... This beautifully adorned restaurant was actually a post office in a former life... Look closely and you can still see some old fixtures incorporated in the art... I came here for the first time with 3 other people who were equally impressed.  The server welcomed us from the outside and directed us to sit by the window.. He was extremely friendly and funny and took the time to explain everything on the menu and make great suggestions.  Dinner starts with an awesome flakey and buttery  egyptian bread.  We ordered a spread sampler and entrees and left sickly stuffed... like can't get up and walk stuffed... I swear they put some sort of drug in the food as we all fantasized about it for about 2 weeks after..   it's BYOB and I encourage BYOW (water)... This place is highly recommended to the adventurous eater and one who is not too prissy... The restaurant definitely needs a good scrub down.. We killed a water bug climbing the wall (which i really don't fuss about since every place in NYC is infested... a few of my friends are waiters at top notch places... you'd be surprised)  I just think it adds to the charm.  One of the few welcoming restaurants on the block.

by Olivia C.karen T.Jen W.

I walk past here almost everyday and the huge udjat (eye of Horus) definitely beckoned me to have a try... This beautifully adorned restaurant was actually a post office in a former life... Look closely and you can still see some old fixtures incorporated in the art... I came here for the first time with 3 other people who were equally impressed.  The server welcomed us from the outside and directed us to sit by the window.. He was extremely friendly and funny and took the time to explain everything on the menu and make great suggestions.  Dinner starts with an awesome flakey and buttery  egyptian bread.  We ordered a spread sampler and entrees and left sickly stuffed... like can't get up and walk stuffed... I swear they put some sort of drug in the food as we all fantasized about it for about 2 weeks after..   it's BYOB and I encourage BYOW (water)... This place is highly recommended to the adventurous eater and one who is not too prissy... The restaurant definitely needs a good scrub down.. We killed a water bug climbing the wall (which i really don't fuss about since every place in NYC is infested... a few of my friends are waiters at top notch places... you'd be surprised)  I just think it adds to the charm.  One of the few welcoming restaurants on the block.My spouse and I live in the borough that contains the best restaurants in New York City. Thankfully, Manhattanites still have difficulty navigating Queens, leaving us mostly in peace to enjoy our amazing chefs in intimate comfort. For our special guests, good friends, and when the occasion calls for it, our number one restaurant of choice is Mombar.Mombar is owned by Moustafa El Sayed, who is the chef and the artist who decorated the front and the inside of the space. (His brother Ali owns the Kabob Cafe just up the street.)  I initially found Mombar by scent. There was no signage for the place, just a wonderfully decorated front, but when I strolled past it, the manager opened the door and the aroma of Egyptian coffee floated out to draw me in. (Egyptian coffee is as thick as you'd expect from that part of the world, enhanced by floating a cardamon seed on top.)Walking inside is like walking into a combination of folk-art gallery and the home of your favorite Egyptian uncle's place. The walls and ceilings are designed with found-tile mosaics, and each table-top is uniquely decorated, all by the chef. Chairs and benches with pillows are standard fare for seating.For a white-bread Midwestern Scots-German girl, I find Middle Eastern culture and atmosphere very homey. On our most recent trip, the manager/waiter and the chef greeted my partner and me, and our guests, with their usual combination of cheerful handshakes and friendly "we haven't seen you for so long" comments. This time, however, the chatter had added content - Moustafa and his brother Ali recently hosted Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern on one of Bourdain's television shows. http://www.youtube.com...Here's the thing about eating in Mombar: we've been there often enough, the chef knows us and we trust him. He always knows my spouse will have the duck glazed with molasses. He knows that I will try anything else, and have a fondness for tajines. We frequently encourage our guests to have the chef's tasting menu (I often go for that myself), but for the first time we were dissuaded by the waiter."You must try something we made for Mister Bourdain and Mister Zmmern," he insisted. How could I refuse? Okay, granted... I'm not an organ meats fan, but then, I wasn't raised eating most of what makes up my diet these days, nor was I raised to tell a chef that I wouldn't try something he was eager to make. So I agreed to try the lamb cheeks. Our guest was torn between the chef's tasting menu and just going for the rabbit tajine. The waiter listed off what he was already bringing to the table, and suggested that what we should round out the table with tilapia. We started with egyptian layered bread (imagine a phyllo that has weight) with three spreads - fresh hummus, the best babaganouj I've ever eaten (smoky!) and the Egyptian national food: foul. Pronounced "fool," this is a mashed fava bean spread usually eaten for breakfast.. and for snacking the rest of the day. Then the lamb cheek dish arrived, piping hot. It was a rich "meat spread" that was best eaten on pita.Food orgasms continued with the main courses - lamb shank, duck glazed in molasses, and the tilapia tajine. My side of spinach was infused with the juice of the lamb, while the spinach on the side for the duck main course was sharper, more greek in its lemony-garlic goodness. The three of us shared the food, and Moustafa personally came over to check on us. This is a touch I always appreciate at Mombar - there is no presumptive "how's everything" as if it's a rhetorical question. The staff cares, and the chef engages in conversation with us.Moustafa, in fact, will not only offer specials to us that aren't on the menu (like the lamb cheek spread), but will tailor his "chef's tasting" menu. We once brought a friend to Mombar who was recovering from a serious bout of diruticulitis, and Moustafa sat with us for a good 10 minutes, going over each dish he could make or enhance, to ensure that the tasting menu would not aggravate a medical condition.As awesome as our dinner was, we had to save room for dessert. My partner had the Egyptian bread pudding (one of those great Middle Eastern dishes that could also be an awesome breakfast), and I had Chef's surprise. Moustafa makes great, simple desserts that are generally a combination of a fruit wrapped in pastry, and drizzled with the syrup of another fruit. This time it was poached pear on a bird's nest, drizzled in pomegranant syrup with a scoop of cardmamon ice cream. Yum!When you're looking for this place, look to the right of the 3 princes and you'll find it there. It doesn't have a huge light up sign. Its a bit paired down if you didn't realize it. When you walk in, you realize this is a family run place. They are friendly and helpful, and have great suggestions. The chef came out and talked to us, gave us recommendations for the table, and had suggestions for our vegetarian friend. Everyone there is just super nice. The food is amazing. The lamb tangeen, so tender and flavorful. The mom-bar itself was different, but you gotta try it with the sauce. The hummus and baba ganush was so fresh and flavorful! You could tell it was hand made, and NOT from a jar or can. And eat the apple slices that come with it! The chef loves it when you praise just how wonderful everything is, and it is! The decor inside, is different from all the other restaurants, you'll like it and feel at home. You gotta try this place! You won't be disappointed. Its not a HUGE place, and they only take cash. But if you want some good food, definitely try this place out. The area where this is located has a large Egyptian/Arab community so there are lots of places to try.

by Olivia C.karen T.Jen W.Natasha S.David J.

I walk past here almost everyday and the huge udjat (eye of Horus) definitely beckoned me to have a try... This beautifully adorned restaurant was actually a post office in a former life... Look closely and you can still see some old fixtures incorporated in the art... I came here for the first time with 3 other people who were equally impressed.  The server welcomed us from the outside and directed us to sit by the window.. He was extremely friendly and funny and took the time to explain everything on the menu and make great suggestions.  Dinner starts with an awesome flakey and buttery  egyptian bread.  We ordered a spread sampler and entrees and left sickly stuffed... like can't get up and walk stuffed... I swear they put some sort of drug in the food as we all fantasized about it for about 2 weeks after..   it's BYOB and I encourage BYOW (water)... This place is highly recommended to the adventurous eater and one who is not too prissy... The restaurant definitely needs a good scrub down.. We killed a water bug climbing the wall (which i really don't fuss about since every place in NYC is infested... a few of my friends are waiters at top notch places... you'd be surprised)  I just think it adds to the charm.  One of the few welcoming restaurants on the block.My spouse and I live in the borough that contains the best restaurants in New York City. Thankfully, Manhattanites still have difficulty navigating Queens, leaving us mostly in peace to enjoy our amazing chefs in intimate comfort. For our special guests, good friends, and when the occasion calls for it, our number one restaurant of choice is Mombar.Mombar is owned by Moustafa El Sayed, who is the chef and the artist who decorated the front and the inside of the space. (His brother Ali owns the Kabob Cafe just up the street.)  I initially found Mombar by scent. There was no signage for the place, just a wonderfully decorated front, but when I strolled past it, the manager opened the door and the aroma of Egyptian coffee floated out to draw me in. (Egyptian coffee is as thick as you'd expect from that part of the world, enhanced by floating a cardamon seed on top.)Walking inside is like walking into a combination of folk-art gallery and the home of your favorite Egyptian uncle's place. The walls and ceilings are designed with found-tile mosaics, and each table-top is uniquely decorated, all by the chef. Chairs and benches with pillows are standard fare for seating.For a white-bread Midwestern Scots-German girl, I find Middle Eastern culture and atmosphere very homey. On our most recent trip, the manager/waiter and the chef greeted my partner and me, and our guests, with their usual combination of cheerful handshakes and friendly "we haven't seen you for so long" comments. This time, however, the chatter had added content - Moustafa and his brother Ali recently hosted Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern on one of Bourdain's television shows. http://www.youtube.com...Here's the thing about eating in Mombar: we've been there often enough, the chef knows us and we trust him. He always knows my spouse will have the duck glazed with molasses. He knows that I will try anything else, and have a fondness for tajines. We frequently encourage our guests to have the chef's tasting menu (I often go for that myself), but for the first time we were dissuaded by the waiter."You must try something we made for Mister Bourdain and Mister Zmmern," he insisted. How could I refuse? Okay, granted... I'm not an organ meats fan, but then, I wasn't raised eating most of what makes up my diet these days, nor was I raised to tell a chef that I wouldn't try something he was eager to make. So I agreed to try the lamb cheeks. Our guest was torn between the chef's tasting menu and just going for the rabbit tajine. The waiter listed off what he was already bringing to the table, and suggested that what we should round out the table with tilapia. We started with egyptian layered bread (imagine a phyllo that has weight) with three spreads - fresh hummus, the best babaganouj I've ever eaten (smoky!) and the Egyptian national food: foul. Pronounced "fool," this is a mashed fava bean spread usually eaten for breakfast.. and for snacking the rest of the day. Then the lamb cheek dish arrived, piping hot. It was a rich "meat spread" that was best eaten on pita.Food orgasms continued with the main courses - lamb shank, duck glazed in molasses, and the tilapia tajine. My side of spinach was infused with the juice of the lamb, while the spinach on the side for the duck main course was sharper, more greek in its lemony-garlic goodness. The three of us shared the food, and Moustafa personally came over to check on us. This is a touch I always appreciate at Mombar - there is no presumptive "how's everything" as if it's a rhetorical question. The staff cares, and the chef engages in conversation with us.Moustafa, in fact, will not only offer specials to us that aren't on the menu (like the lamb cheek spread), but will tailor his "chef's tasting" menu. We once brought a friend to Mombar who was recovering from a serious bout of diruticulitis, and Moustafa sat with us for a good 10 minutes, going over each dish he could make or enhance, to ensure that the tasting menu would not aggravate a medical condition.As awesome as our dinner was, we had to save room for dessert. My partner had the Egyptian bread pudding (one of those great Middle Eastern dishes that could also be an awesome breakfast), and I had Chef's surprise. Moustafa makes great, simple desserts that are generally a combination of a fruit wrapped in pastry, and drizzled with the syrup of another fruit. This time it was poached pear on a bird's nest, drizzled in pomegranant syrup with a scoop of cardmamon ice cream. Yum!When you're looking for this place, look to the right of the 3 princes and you'll find it there. It doesn't have a huge light up sign. Its a bit paired down if you didn't realize it. When you walk in, you realize this is a family run place. They are friendly and helpful, and have great suggestions. The chef came out and talked to us, gave us recommendations for the table, and had suggestions for our vegetarian friend. Everyone there is just super nice. The food is amazing. The lamb tangeen, so tender and flavorful. The mom-bar itself was different, but you gotta try it with the sauce. The hummus and baba ganush was so fresh and flavorful! You could tell it was hand made, and NOT from a jar or can. And eat the apple slices that come with it! The chef loves it when you praise just how wonderful everything is, and it is! The decor inside, is different from all the other restaurants, you'll like it and feel at home. You gotta try this place! You won't be disappointed. Its not a HUGE place, and they only take cash. But if you want some good food, definitely try this place out. The area where this is located has a large Egyptian/Arab community so there are lots of places to try.I finally made it to Mombar last Friday night.  The decor is cute and kitschy.  The mixed appetizer plate that we got with hummus, babaghanoush, foul and something else that I can't remember was fresh and tasty.  Our entrees were good but I really can't say spectacular.  What was spectacular was the service.  Friendly, funny, attentive and polite.  We felt like "regulars" on our very first visit.  I think it's the personal attention that prompts people to give Mombar 4 or 5 stars.  I would give them 5 stars on that factor as well.  I didn't like the fact that you have to pay for water.  Nevertheless, we will return again with our own drinks (which you are allowed to bring) for another visit.As other Yelp'ers have mentioned, eating here feels like you're in someone's home.  It's very mom-and-pop and you're treated that way.  The chef came out and personally greeted us (which we loved!).  He ran through the specials and answered every question we had.  We ordered the Artichoke with Lemon Juice appetizer, the Lamb Chops and Philo-wrapped Salmon entrees.  All of this, plus 2 glasses of wine and 1 bottle of water came to $65.  A tad pricey, but worth it.  Everything was delicious!  Very tasty (not over spiced, everything was perfectly cooked) and all with an authentic and homemade quality.  Because everything is made from scratch and there is only one chef, prepare to spend time here.  Even though the there were only 3 other tables with Guests, we waited 40 minutes for our appetizer (worth it!) and about the same amount of time for our entrees (worth it!).  Also, we didnt appreciate being charged for the water (especially having to wait so long for our food) but that's ok.  Lastly, you can bring your own wine here which is good to know for next time.When I go back, I want to try the tagines.  They passed our table and looked/smelled amazing.This was a great experience and we will definitely return and recommend to our friends!