This place has been on my list to try since I moved to Astoria years ago. This place and the owner did not disappoint. Everything was flavored so well. Try the lamb cheek for an appetizer as well as the lamb tagine. I also had bass which came with rice, spinach and cous cous. One thing to keep in mind is that this is a one man show so if you're looking for a quick dinner, you won't find it here. But if you're looking to enjoy good authentic food with good company, this is the place for you. read more

Mombar - Bass - Egyptian Near Me - Astoria, New York

We were the first patrons of the night; advantageous as we had exclusivity from the owner for our meal since he managed most of the establishment's responsibilities. Including the menu, additional specials for the day were appetizers of lamb cheek, liver, kidney, and testicles; main courses of lamb shank, eggplant, and fish. The lamb cheek was extremely tender and didn't feel as rich as I had expected. Lamb testicle had an interesting roughness and didn't have much stand-alone flavor, though it was enhanced by the olives. The mombar had an interesting amalgam of textures with meat and rice inside each piece. The rabbit in the tajeen was chicken dark meat-esque in texture and not chewy. Lamb shank slivers of meat fell off the bone without much need for a knife. Eggplant and zucchini were baked well in that dish, though other vegetables there were of the frozen variety. Ambience was cozy, as if we were in somebody's apartment. read more

AMAZING!!! This place has great food! Yummy Egyptian food! The food is delicious and the service is great, I've been here twice now & both times the food and service has exceed my expectations. The food here brings every other similar joint to shame, food is amazing! I could feel the welcoming environment of this place and got a little taste of their food, and one could say ever experienced a little of their culture too, after tasting some amazing Egyptian food. We tried several dishes and everything was well prepared. My favorite is the Rabbit Tagine and lamb cheeks yummy! Best Egyptian food I have ever had, tastes fresh and homemade, soooooo goood!!!! Unique flavor combinations, the food is incredible, no doubt. The customer service at Mombar is great, they make you feel like family. They're very friendly and helpful, I felt very much at home & very welcome. Overall: Amazing food, great service, and extremely friendly staff! I found Mombar through Yelp and hope that my 5 star review will encourage others to try. Thank you guys, and keep up the good work! read more

Mombar - Egyptian Near Me - Astoria, New York

Mombar is in the heart of Steinway so if you are driving be mindful you will be in traffic and looking for parking.....but it is worth it. As soon as we arrived we we're greeted by the owner and chef who gave us the spiel for the night. We ordered apps and entrees.(Sahara mix, mussels, rabbit and steak) Which were prepared perfectly in my opinion. Hibiscus is very refreshing. Two thumbs up on curb appeal alone. Nice date night spot. (+Points = pyramid shaped rice) read more

I went here with my husband on a Wednesday night. After reading reviews I made a reservation fearful it would be packed. When I arrived at the place I saw a guy hanging outside the front of it in the doorway. I assumed it was someone who worked there. He saw me standing outside taking pics of the place and waiting around so he invited me to come in and sit down. Since he could tell I was waiting on someone he said sit here by the window so you can see them. The place was empty!! The table I sat at was nice I had the option of sitting in a chair or couch seat. The menu online is identical to what is offered there which is great. But then the owner tells you about the specials and you're blown away! There were so many specials it should've been it's own menu. I opted to try the lamb testicles. My husband went for the beef liver. It took a while for the food to come out and I heard a microwave being used a bit so I feared the quality/freshness of what we would get. The food was delicious when it came out! The liver was delicious and didn't taste too chalky or "livery" like when I make it. The testicles were amazing!! Who knew?! Everything was nicely seasoned and a nice temperature- it was fresh out of the pan. Note: The kitchen is visible wherever you're sitting in the restaurant so you can see movement, but I wasn't close enough to see what was going on. Also, they must have a great exhaust system because we didn't leave smelling like food! For the main entrees we had the Egyptian style lamb chops and the rabbit (Ar Nab Moulekhia). The rabbit was delicious as was the moulekhia- although I had no point of reference of what the moulekhia is supposed to taste like. The rice was good too. The lamb chops were delicious according to my husband. I don't like lamb no matter how much I try to, but the small piece I had was delicious and didn't taste too "lamby". For dessert we order two coffees and the dessert which was not named on the menu. It seems to be a creation of his that I believe I saw posted on Yelp by someone else. The dessert was good, but not super filling- it's basically something that has the consistency of shredded wheat with bananas, fresh yogurt, and mango on a plate drizzled with honey and cinnamon. It was tasty, but it definitely left me desiring a bit more out of it. My husband felt the same way because he wanted Coldstone Ice cream after we were done eating. The tab came up to about $100 which surprised me, but seeing that the appetizers and dessert were each about $15 plus the entrees that meal added up fast. I'm happy to report that the food is worth the money- it was authentic, fresh and delicious. Overall, I would come back here one day to try some of the other dishes. read more

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Ambience - amazing. Food - poor. Service - great. To get : molokhia To skip: the feta and the Sahara plate As an Egyptian, I really wished they had some other classic dishes like koshari or besara (which they had on the menu, but unfortunately weren't offering it that night). We got the molokhia with rabbit, the feta (the special), mombar and the Sahara plate. The molokhia with rabbit was definitely the most delicious. I would go back for that. The feta was WAY too vinegar-y. We couldn't even finish it (which is VERY unusual for me) and the garlic or meat flavor really didn't shine at all. The mombar was decent. The Sahara plate was VERY underwhelming. The fool (fava beans) were not spiced well AT ALL. The baba ghanoush lacked some must needed flavor. No cumin, no lemon, no 'shata' (chili spice), nothing ! Also the pita bread that the give to accompany the meal was dry, and cold. Nonetheless, the music is great, and the place is beautifully decorated. Our server was also very sweet ! read more

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I can't imagine anyone but an idiot not liking this place. Truly a one-man operation with chef-owner-waiter. My wife and I came here on date night, and it was a blast. BYOB so it's guaranteed to be affordable. We got the lamb cheeks, Shrimp Alexandria, and Tagine. Kicked ass! If the lamb was a woman, I'd have fucked it. Nothing bland or boring, done just right. Gotta love the few morons leaving bad reviews; particularly liked the asshole that was in Cairo for a few days (probably ate every meal at TGI Friday) and claimed to be an expert of Egyptian cuisine. Astoria neighbors: check this place out! read more

We stumbled upon Mombar after having a conversation with my friends on, "what's the craziest thing you've ever eaten?" However, our visit ended up so much more than that. Sure we ended up eating lamb testicles and brains, but the experience was far more unexpected.. We walked into what looked like an antique store. The kitchen was right in front of us, and we were immediately greeted by the hostess/waitress AND the chef. It felt like I'm being welcomed to someone's home. So many smiling faces. It was great! My brother and I ordered the tasting menu which cost about $40 per person. It started with Lamb Cheek; delicious and tender meat mixed with herbs and tomato, and finished with an egg mixed with it. Second course was the bone marrow; fatty, nutty, and it melted in my mouth easily. It was topped with herbs, spices, and a little touch of olive oil. And then the balls came out...! The testicles were outta the 'casing', sauteed until the moister and blood was out. And at the end olives, herbs and spices were added. What did I think of them? I liked them, but didn't love them. Certainly something I've always wanted to try, but it's definitely not something I would go out of my way to order. However, the chef had prepared them deliciously, and I would eat them again. The last two courses were the brain and liver. I liked the brain because it was coated with flour and pan fried. I'm used to only soft texture on brain, but the slight crunchy fried texture really added a nice balance. The liver was definitely the most familiar dish to me of all the stuff we got. Overall, I really really loved this place. It's just one of those spots that you instantly feel like you're in for a treat. Having lived in the Middle East for most of my life, going to Mombar felt more like going to a relatives house than a restaurant. The chef would come and ask us about the dishes. Undoubtedly one of the most comforting experiences I've had at a restaurant. read more

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First time here and this place fits well in the Astoria area. Very authentic looking with helpful gentleman serving. I love Middle Eastern cuisine, but have never had Egyptian. I'm a fan. We started with Beet and Apple Salad, fragrant with cumin. Then the Lamb Tajeen and Chicken with Olives. The broths are hearty and the meat tender. he flavors burst in your mouth. The chicken sauce was salty form the olives but had a sweetness to it as well. Next time, I'll have dessert! read more

Mombar is an experience. My boyfriend and I went for dinner looking for something different and we were not disappointed. From the decor, to the attentiveness from the owner, you will enjoy this place. You cannot miss Mombar, the outside decor is very Mediterranean-esque. The owner (who also served us) ran through the specials and gave us excellent recommendations as to what to get. The food was delicious. I had steak and my boyfriend had rabbit. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium, seasoning was not overpowering and very flavorful and the white rice melted in your mouth like butter. The food is authentic, fresh and made to order. read more

We just had a lovely dinner at Mombar and I wanted to share my experience. First of all, it's places like these that remind me why, as frustrating as New York City can be, it's still a fascinating place to live. Not sure there are many other places that could support a cozy little restaurant where your server, chef, and busboy are all the same person. Like many others have said, because this is a one man show definitely don't expect to come here for a quick meal. We ended up spending just over two hours for dinner. Being rather new to Egyptian food we decided to order different dishes and share, trying as many new things as possible. For appetizers we had the Sahara Sampler (hummus, fava bean dip, and babaganoush), a sweetbread special, and a liver special. We split two mains between the three of us: molokhia with rabbit and the lamb tagine. The sampler was delicious and all the dips were really flavorful. I will say, the most prevalent flavor was garlic, but I love garlic so I greedily gobbled it up. The sweetbread appetizer was easily the best thing we ate, and honestly they were the best sweetbreads I've ever had. I would go back just for that dish. I also loved the molokhia with rabbit. I've never had molokhia before and it's the sort of bitter green that I adore. It was a surprisingly light dish, which was great as we were getting stuffed! Admittedly, I feel I can't give all five stars because there were a couple missteps for us. The liver appetizer was pretty aggressive on the mineral-y liver flavor. Honestly I don't think this is a fault of the dish, I have a feeling it just wasn't to our taste. The lamb tagine was surprisingly also a bit of a disappointment for me. I usually love lamb but the flavor was TOO subtle. Again, this could be a preference thing. I prefer my food more boldly seasoned. It's clear the chef has a delicate hand with seasoning. I think it works great with certain dishes (the molokhia rabbit and sweetbreads) and less so with others (lamb tagine). I really enjoyed our meal here and actually enjoyed the slow pace of our dinner. It gave us time to relax, really enjoy our conversations. We will definitely return soon to explore the rest of their menu. And hopefully get more sweetbreads! read more

Came here with the bf after a Yelp Elite event at the Villa Lounge hookah bar across the street. We wouldn't have even thought to stop by this place had we not checked Yelp first because from the outside, this place looks like it would be an Egyptian themed home decor store instead of a restaurant. Once inside, we immediately saw that this place looked like the inside of somebody's home and it was absolutely covered from floor to ceiling in knick knacks, mosaics, and various other pieces of art. We also saw that there was one man that was essentially doing everything, aside from a designated dishwasher. He seated us, took our orders, cooked our food, and served us. We found out that this man is the owner and he not only runs the kitchen and the front of the restaurant, he is also an artist and created most of the restaurant's very unique and eclectic artwork. It was quite a feast for the senses! As for the food? The bf got a lamb tajeen over couscous (as spelled on their menu) and I got their vegetarian couscous. My bf loved his lamb and I appreciated my dish, even though it was made with frozen veggie mix. I'm guessing the food is better for non-vegetarians, but I enjoyed my time here and am willing to overlook this. Cash only, so make sure you hit up an ATM beforehand. Otherwise, this place is a truly unique dining experience that I would highly recommend if you happen to be in the Little Egypt area of Astoria. read more

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. read more

Some friends wanted us to try Mombar, an Egyptian restaurant on Steinway Street. I've eaten at several restaurants I like on Steinway, the heart of Middle East dining in Queens, and the meal here fell short of my expectations. Everything was under seasoned. The tagine barely had dried fruit. The couscous was flavorless. Not a hint of cinnamon or other spices. Maybe Egyptian tagine is totally different then Moroccan tagine, and I'm off base in being critical. But those I was with agreed that their dishes could have used some salt and spices. I've eaten in Cairo, years ago, and loved the fragrance and taste of the food. So my take is that this is food is made by an Egyptian (who is lovely and gracious), but is not truly representative of real Egyptian cuisine. Ironically, a spice shop is virtually next door. Just a note if you do come here, it's BYOB and cash only. Also, don't come if you're In a hurry. The night I was here, the chef was also the server. It was a one man show. One reason to visit is to see the decor. It's made up paintings, sculptures and handmade tabletops, all done by the chef/owner. It's a quirky place, and off-beat interesting, but the food could be better. read more

This is one of my all time favorite restaurants. It is literally like dining at the owners house, and he does pretty much everything himself- literally! BYOB with no corkage fees make it easy and affordable. But back to the important part- the food! Absolute dinamite. I've had most the menu, and not once was it less than fantastic. There is a baked eggplant special that always seems available, but never on the menu, which is my favorite. The mombar namesake is pretty special as well. One thing worth noting: this is not a restaurant you can go to in a hurry. The owner does it all himself and from scratch, and it can take some time. But enjoy that wine and company you brought, and conversely the table is effectively yours for the night so enjoy it! read more

Went here on a Friday night. Here are the pros and cons. Pros: 1. BYOB! Why didn't I bring a bottle of wine?? Good thing my brother bought a few bottles of beer from the deli across the street 2. Service - I really couldn't be happier with the service. Our waitress, Heba was just lovely. She was attentive and cheerful. Although, Mr. Sav mentioned that she was a little too attentive 'cause she probably asked how we're doing way too many times. 3. Complimentary bread - I don't know what it is. It's like a cross between a phylo dough and pita bread. Nevertheless, it was yummy! 4. Tilapia Tagine - Cooked perfectly, well-seasoned but it could use more spices. 5. Dessert - It was the chef's special and I gotta say, it was really tasty. It was mixture of fruits and nuts grind into a paste and stuffed into a phylo dough served with pears seasoned with cinnamon and sugar. Perfect balance of sweetness and texture. Cons: 1. Lamb cheek appetizer was okay. I thought it tasted similar to chili and nothing special. 2. Rabbit Tagine and Rabbit something - Tasty but just like the lamb cheek, it was nothing special. 3. Most of the dishes were bland. Whenever I think about North African cuisine, SPICES are the first thing that I associate it with. And I was really disappointed how most of the dishes are lacking it. 4. Place is cozy and it makes you feel as if you're in someone's living/dining room but it could use some cleaning. I don't think they've done any cleaning for years and the cushions definitely need to be replaced. read more

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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! read more

As an Egyption raised and born, After i moved here for almost a year searching for Egyptian/middle eastern cuisine I found Mombar. Very friendly owner and staff, Very comfortable atmosphere and the most important best Egyptian dishes cooked by Egyptians. You get what you paid for. Must have the hummus/baba ghanoush/beans salad as a starter and you got to love the lamb shank. If really want to get deep with the Egyptian taste try the tasting menu where you get to taste different dishes. To complete the Experience of being in an Egyptian cuisine the play some great oriental music. For drinks the hibiscus tea is awesome. read more

Mombar - Egyptian Near Me - Astoria, New York

OH yummmmm... Let's get the one negative out of the way: Long wait. Ok, not that we're done with that, it's definitely worth it. Just order an appetizer. The bread was to die for. It was kinda of crispy and tender, warm and flavored. My friend and I ate the whole basket and were looking around for some more. We split one entree since we were on a budget - it was def enough. I think that they plucked the feathers from the chicken outside and then slow cooked, because it was the freshest, most juicy restaurant meal EVER! Decorations are beautiful and cozy. Music was good. Owner charming. read more

I'm being very detailed, so that if you choose to come here, you know EXACTLY what to expect. My husband and I had date night @ Mombar. And it was great! Just a few tips. We arrived about 915pm. PARKING:The parking is hectic. We had to park a block and a half away. There were a lot of Egyptian restaurants and Hookah bars around, but because I researched this place and read the reviews, I decided we should give it a try. The outside of the restaurant is different. That I liked. AMBIANCE: When you walk in, the ambiance is lovely. The lovely female hostess greeted us and told us we could sit wherever we wanted. We sat on the bench, next to the window, across from where the amazing chef was cooking. MENU: Although there is a menu, the hostess told us the specials for the night that are not on the menu. (She also informed us that we could go across the street to a deli if we wanted beer or just down the street to the liquor store if we wanted wine, so it's definitely BYOB, we opted for the Hibiscus tea instead of alcohol) If you like sweetbreads, ask if they have any that night. I wanted to try them and I asked and the chef came over, greeted us and described how it was cooked and the other things like Lamb Cheeks that were not on the menu or listed as a special. I guess some people are not so into those things so they only tell you if you ask. If you are looking to rush through your meal, this place is not the place to go, because everything is freshly and timely cooked to perfection. The hostess first brought us homemade bread with a sauce that consisted of olive oil, garlic and sesame seeds. Our appetizers: Lamb cheeks and sweetbreads served with Pita bread, was also served by the hostess and the chef.First time trying and was not disappointed. Our meals were the glazed duck served with rice and a vegetable that looked like creamy spinach. We also had the Sea bass with rice and a tomato style side. It was lovely. Because we were so full from the appetizers, we had to bring some of it home. They give you filling sized portions.THE BILL: Our bill came to $71.00. More than what we usually pay for food, but so worth it. There wasn't any patrons, but there seemed to be some family or friends there of the chef and/or owner and one of the guys were playing a instrument that looked like a guitar and they were singing as if it was a holiday. It was real homey. CLOSING TIME: They close at 11. We didn't leave till after 11, we were enjoying the music and singing. And they didn't even rush us to leave. They were so pleasant. We will definitely go back there and try other items on the menu. Just the atmosphere alone makes you feel like your in Egypt. NO CREDIT CARDS, CASH ONLY! read more

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I visited Mombar with a friend after reminiscing about good middle-eastern/Moroccan food. Mombar is actually Egyptian, but to my surprise has earned a new place on my taste palette. The place on the outside looks like a entrance to a rounchy old bar, and on the inside it turns into sort of an ethnic dining room. Nice decor, unique furniture, variously sized tables and another one filled with business supplies (not for dining - business office?) The waiter was super-nice and very inforamative about the cuisine, and the menu specials, which we turned into getting. Rabbit with white rice, Lamb Testicles... everything was delicious. Although small, the place slowly started filling up with diners but the waiter (owner?) did not show a sign of anticipation and we were left to leisure as long as we pleased. I highly recommend Mombar to anyone local wanting a taste of an exotic far-far land... or anyone visiting to add more spice to their travel. BYOWine. read more

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wonderful food - tried the "organ" menu and everything was cooked to order, super fresh and very tasty. The owner stopped by to make sure everything was as it should be. He is also the artist who created all the interior decorations making for an exotic and charming wonderful place for dinner! The man serving was also incredibly helpful and friendly and had interesting comments on the menu and helped with suggestions on what to order. Brought friends from England who had heard about Anthony Bourdain eating here and we were not disappointed! Recommended! read more

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What can I say that hasn't already been said? This place is legendary. I've been hearing about it since I moved to Astoria years ago and I finally made the trek. It's a very singular dining experience- all of the eclectic art was made by the owner... who also serves as the waiter... who also cooks the food. As such, things move a bit slower here, but that's part of the charm. Set your expectations to relaxing in a relative's living room while they cook you a delicious meal as opposed to a typical dining experience. And the food IS delicious too. Lamb cheeks are a must-have, but there are plenty of other mouthwatering and authentic Egyptian dishes to try. Don't go in expecting to get a certain appetizer or entrée, because the food on the menu (or lack-there-of, as the owner recites the available options to you at the table) is based on what the owner has readily available to make. There are very few places like this in New York and it's absolutely worth the visit! read more

Very cool interesting place to eat authentic Egyptian food. If you are on the hunt for a REAL Egyptian meal this is the place. I've been to a few places on Steinway to try Egyptian food, this is definitely the best place. I went here on a Saturday night and it took a long time to get our food but overall it didn't matter because it was worth it. I believe that the chef is also the owner, and he does everything from taking the order to preparing the food (very sweet man). It's also byob which is always nice and makes waiting a long time for your food go by a little faster. read more

This place is LEGIT! It seems like the kind of place people may shy away from upon first glance, but those people would be missing out! If you like garlic, eggplant, hummus, artichoke etc.. and want some solid vegetarian options... look no further :) To put in perspective how good the food is here... It's the type of place where you literally have to fight the desire to lick the plate clean to not seem like a lunatic to people around you. read more

This worth checking out as a cultural experience and maybe slightly less so as a dining experience. The chef-owner is also an artist and craftsman whose work includes the intricate inlaid table tops, ceiling, floor, and densely curated objects on the walls. Service is quiet and somewhat ponderous. Try not to be anxious and appreciate that time moves differently here; he and his assistant in the tiny open kitchen won't hover or offer water incessantly. They will talk you through the menu and specials and then leave you alone until you're ready to order. We thought the Mombar, little sausages of rice and minced offal (liver?), delicately spiced in snappy chewy casings was the best and most interesting to eat. Neither that or the quite good mashed fava beans appetizer was photogenic, but both were quite good. The lamb tagine, on the other hand, was mediocre, neither well-seasoned or that tender with vegetables that were most likely from a frozen package. I only have a photo of the small pyramid of couscous to show you. Go and order something else and sit in for a slow ride back in time. read more

This place is definitely worth the trip to Astoria! First of all, you will admire the colorful Mediterranean facade and artwork/decor while waiting for your food. Try the hibiscus tea - it was served cold, tart and sweet... I loved it! The lamb cheek lived up to its fantastic Yelp reviews - very tender and tasty with the pita bread! The meat was so very tender and falling off my lamb shank, alongside yummy spinach and a pyramid of rice (or couscous). The mombar sausages are probably an acquired taste - the chef made it very clear that the sausage was filled with more rice than protein. By the way, the chef is very friendly and answers all your questions. He smiled when I told him a foodie friend highly recommended Mombar for "the best Egyptian food in NYC" and thanked us for all the kind compliments. read more

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I have been here 3 times. First time was amazing. I decided to bring a friend again another time. We both loved it. The 3rd time was a disaster. I brought another friend to show of this little Egyptian spot and the food was bland. It wasn't good like before and the worst part was there were roaches everywhere. TWICE they were crawling up my leg. One was behind my friend crawling up the chair. What the heck? It was so uncomfortable I got the check and left. I am so disappointed. I hope the chef can clean up his restaurant. Some of the stuff is just too old and it's borderline hoarding. It just needs to be thrown out and cleared. That's why there's roaches all over. I am sorry I won't be back unless I see he did a cleanup. It was really a letdown. :( read more

Delicious! Highly recommend eating the koshary, drinking the sahlab. Tasted like I was back in Egypt again only in Astoria! Remember, it is cash only but don't let stop you from supporting and treating yourself! read more

GREAT food and art by brilliant and charming chef owner!!! Very unique escapism experience in 2022.

The man who owns & designed the whole restaurant is an amazing chef, a creative and kind soul and just everything in his restaurant gives the best feeling ever. The food is beyond delicious, everything about the restaurant is an absolute 10/10 MUST SEE read more

Mombar's menu is different from many of the other Egyptian places on Steinway. Don't come searching for kebabs or falafels: Mombar is not a fast food restaurant. It's more about slow, home-cooked food. House recommendations will be made, as if you are dining at the restaurant proprietor's home. Prices will be overlooked. You will be taken care of. A sampling of spreads, stews and meats was a nice way to get acquainted with the Mombar experience. Talapia tagine was my favorite dish: imagine white fish, slow cooked on a clay skillet with a triage of summer vegetables -- yellow squash, green peppers, red tomatoes and garlic. It had a faint sweet and tangy taste, similar to a French ratatouille. Side of couscous was also sexed up with desert thyme, sea salt and sesame seeds. Duck in molasses exercised restraint in its sweetness. I found the dish to be pleasantly balanced -- a bit saccharine, but not too much to overpower the dense taste of the duck. Stewed okra on the side was a nice creamy and salty accompaniment. All of the dishes struck a balance in their contrasting flavors, and that balance was subtle. Some reviews coin the food as being lacking in flavor, but the flavor is there; it's just more subdued. The apps and the desserts were also delicious, albeit pretty standard. Doughy Egyptian bread with an olive oil and sesame dip; mezze platter with fresh pitas and a trio of baba ganoush, hummus and foul; dessert plate of baklava and a side of Egyptian coffee laced with cardamon. The menu has got hints of magic in it. The rest of the Mombar experience is a mixed bag. The prices do exceed the $15-per-entree-mark, although I feel that the quality is worth it. The setting is dark, yet cozy; not airy, but more than compensated by the homemade art on the walls. No drinks menu, but it's BYOB, which is better in my opinion. Service is humble and hospitable. This is my kind of eating establishment. read more

Great place! Go with friends. Everything comes out little by little and tastes great. You can have great Connor in between the starter and main course. read more

Just got home from Mombar and had to write up my review right away to WARN PEOPLE. Tonight the family got together to celebrate my dad's retirement. Since he wanted to try a new cuisine, we decided on Mombar. It was a nice little restaurant with interesting decor. The service was friendly (although slightly pushy), and even though the meal took a really long time to come out (there's a tiny kitchen area with one chef. It's THAT small), we didn't mind sitting around, chatting and catching up. Appetizers: Mom-bar: hand stuffed sausage with rice, beef, lamb. It was mainly stuffed with rice and not much meat at all...and it came with 4 small breakfast sized sausage links (Jimmy Dean sized) pieces for the 5 of us. We weren't too thrilled with it. Special: hummus / babaganoush/ fava bean platter with pita bread: it was what was to be expected of that platter Entrees: Sayadia: baked shrimp, mussels and calamari. It came in a small small pot with only 1 shrimp, 5 mussels, and fish instead of calamari. Almost felt like we were being ripped off. Egyptian Style Steak: roasted steak with onions, garlic, pepper and potatoes topped with egyptian herbs and spices. Out of the whole meal, this was definitely my favorite, Perfectly cooked and seasoned. IF, after reading this review, you still want to check it out, I'd recommend the steak. Special: Lamb Shank with cous cous and spinach. Not bad. If it was on the regular menu I would recommend it as a second choice after the steak. The reason why I'm giving Mombar one star is what happened afterwards when we got the bill. Now my sister, brother-in-law and myself never think twice when it comes to the bill. We just look at the total, add on tip and split it. So I looked at the total $153, added 20% on top of it and told my sister and brother-in-law that we each owed $62. Good thing for parents. My dad said it sounded a bit steep for what we ordered and asked to look at the bill. I should add in that we also had a bottle of wine ($25 for a $6 bottle in the liquor store), a Stella for my mom and my sister, brother-in-law and myself each got an extra glass of wine ($5 each). I hand the bill over to my dad and he immediately says $20 tax on $133 is too high and tells me to calculate the total again. Wanting to give the owners the benefit of the doubt, I first Googled how much NY state tax was (even though we all know it's 8.75%) and then recalculated the bill. Sure enough, 8.75% on $133 should've been less than $12. We called the owner over to question the bill and first he tried to argue that $20 was correct, then quickly changed his statement (when he saw 5 angry faces staring at him) and said, "well I just kind of guessed the tax." Excuse me? You're a small business owner. The way you get your clientele is by word of mouth and customer loyalty. With that said, how are you going to GUESTIMATE anything?! I don't know if he thought he could scam us because he saw how much we had drank during dinner but really?! Is that how you're going to run your business? If this review doesn't turn you off on this restaurant all together, I would strongly advise that you CHECK YOUR BILL VERY CAREFULLY. They're lucky we tipped 15% after all that. Definitely never going back there again. read more

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/watch?v=WBFDvyi6p64 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! read more

I dont understand how this place got such high ratings. From the minute we walked in to the minute we left the ( I assume owner) was straight grilling us. It was an uncomfortable feeling, especially while your eating. The only thing I remembered being good was the flat bread we dipped in some kind of sauce. We tried to order the hummus appetizer to share for $7, he kept insisting it was not enough for 3 people and offered us a portion for 3 for $15, which he said should be $21. We declined and said we will just order the $7 portion. He literally refused to give us that, so I said we don't want any at all, end of story. So we were the only people in the restaurant, besides the owners kids and the chef, so why did it take so long to get our food???? I ordered the rabbit with couscous which was edible but nothing to rave over. My boyfriend first ordered one chicken dish, but was quickly told by the owner, no your gonna order this chicken dish...lol. His chicken, although better than my rabbit, was still bland. The prices were ridiculously high for no reason, especially for the quality and quantity of food we received!!! The owner, of course, over charged us on the bill. The hand written bill I feel was purposely illegible, but my boyfriend's friend was able to pick up on the error....I dont feel the need to ever come here again. read more

I've had Mombar bookmarked for years, and finally made it out there last night for a New Year's Eve meal. I feel some need to set the record straight after all these mixed reviews. (See Peter S.'s review, which makes a few excellent points) The atmosphere, as others have remarked, is magical. We were quickly greeted by an affable fellow who explained the menu ("The tagines are served with something called 'couscous'. Have you had it before?") and told us about the day's specials. Judging by the other reviews, the specials here are long-standing: lamb cheek appetizer, beet salad, artichoke heart salad, salmon poached in phyllo, tilapia tagine. We stuck to the specials, and after ordering I ducked out to a liquor store around the corner for some bubbly (spot is BYOB though I think they may have booze if you need it) The waiter brought out a couple mint teas and a wonderful buttery layered bread with olive oil and za'atar. This stuff is addictive! Next up the lamb cheeks arrived, and my enthusiasm waned a bit--they were undersalted and sort of tasted like beef chili. They were fine but not something I'd be likely to order again. The artichoke hearts redeemed the cheeks though--they were fresh, well cooked and reminded me of something you'd find on a seasonal menu in some Italian osteria. The pace of the meal was leisurely, which some here have complained about, but I much prefer to dine over a few hours, and enjoy time with friends. And the benefit of slow food is that you'll get a tableside visit from the cook--lovely. You want fast food, go to a shawarma shop! We were already stuffed by the time the mains arrived, but they were so good we soldiered on. The fish tagine was bubbling away in an oven-hot pan, plump slices of fish nestled among tomatoes and peppers. And the couscous that came with it was a sight to behold: mounded into a perfect pyramid with a sprinkling of za'atar. Their couscous here is the real deal--not small pieces of pasta, but small grainy chunks of semolina instead (similar to south indian pilafs.) And the salmon, which some have described as "bland with a pungent after taste" was anything but that. (And salmon always has a certain aftertaste.. it's a strong fish!) It was somehow perfectly poached inside a crispy shell of phyllo... an art indeed. Needless to say, we were too stuffed for dessert. The bill came out to $75 before tip. And let me get something off my chest here. So many reviewers are ranting and raving about these "highway robbery" prices. Seriously? Have you been to Manhattan lately? Or maybe you've been subsisting off street meat? Because $75 for two entrees, two apps, and several rounds of tea at a sit-down restaurant is a great deal. So quit whining! The prices are posted on the menu (unlike sister restaurant Kebab Cafe, where I can understand a bit of sticker shock). I would definitely come here again--though now I'm curious to try Kebab Cafe again! The experience is similar: the vibe is familial and the cook is preparing everything in the same room with you. So don't be afraid of Mombar. (Unless you're in a horrible rush and want to pay $5 for your meal... in that case, be very afraid.) read more

I went here with my boyfriend for a date night. This restaurant is very charming. It has a very authentic feel to it. The restaurant is cozy and very nicely decorated. We loved LOVED the food. Everything was perfectly cooked and very well seasoned. The lamb shank was so tender! So delicious, we'll be back!! read more

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. read more

This place is flat out terrible. Poor, slow service, and even worse food. Hand made sausage that taste like rotten jimmy dean that was made of ground up cat. Texturally speaking, the most disgusting amorphous thing i have ever eaten. Lamb Tagine had absolutely no taste what so ever. The lamb was so over cooked that it was essentially petrified. This all came in a little dish of tasteless bland vegetables. Utterly horrible food. Some shwarma from a truck would have been 10x better. Oh and did i mention the food took forever to come and they charge you for water? The owner's kids were playing video games on a laptop in the middle of the dining room. Whoever thinks this place has even the slightest redeeming quality has no sense about them. Stay away, you've been warned. read more