Mundo, located at the Paper Factory Hotel, gives you a great reason to make the short trip from Manhattan to Long Island City. This restaurant offers a top-notch food and beverage experience in an inviting setting with stylish furnishings. The spacious bar and bi-level venue is well designed for parties of all sizes and the service is excellent. Mundo is by no means a typical hotel restaurant. It’s an area standout.
We stopped by on a weekday evening for drinks and dinner. Chef Yonatan Klainman has designed a menu that features classic American dishes with a creative, international flair. Klainman’s talents are evident in every dish with his inspired use of ingredients and outstanding presentation. There are choices to suit everyone’s tastes and dietary preferences from burgers and pasta to grilled fish and meats.
We started our culinary adventure with a few appetizers that included a house favorite, their Red Sonja, a savory vegetarian dish with rEd Lentils, bulgar, scallion, parsley, oriental spices and bibb lettuce. Their Scallops, pan seared to perfection, are served with a fresh corn polenta, light gnocchi pasta, glazed carrots and crispy parmesan. Mundo’s starters work wonderfully for table sharing.
The Factory Burger is a fantastic choice for an entrée. It is cooked to your exact liking and garnished with tomato, onion, cilantro, feta cheese and harissa aioli. Burgers are accompanied with Mundo’s crispy hand-cut fries. There are other tempting entree choices that include Risotto with porcini mushrooms, Grilled Salmon with a carrot puree and Oven Roasted Rack of Lamb with cabbage confit.
Add a side to round out your meal like their Sauteed Kale with heirloom carrots, cherry tomatoes and shallots parmesan or Mundo’s Cauliflower Tempura.
The cocktail program is distinctive with specialties you won’t find anywhere else. We enjoyed the Pachamama, an ideal blend of tequila, orange liqueur, cucumber, basil, poblano pepper, lime and aleppo sea-salt. And the L’al is a refreshing combination of mescal, mastika, grapefruit, lemon and honey. For those that prefer, there is a great selection of red and white wines, champagne, draft beer and bottled beer. Pairing drinks with food is an easy task at Mundo. But, it’s also the place to stop by for a drink anytime.
No meal is complete without dessert and Mundo’s housemade selections are sure to please. Satisfy your sweet tooth with items like their Chocolate Fondant, Gelato, or Espresso Crème Brulee.
Plan your next date night or friendly get together at Mundo. This long Island City hotspot is only 10 minutes from Manhattan so you can make the trip anytime.
Mundo serves dinner nightly, Happy Hour Monday to Friday from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm and weekend brunch that includes a bottomless option along with DJ entertainment. They will also be offering seasonal curated dining prix-fixes and holiday dinners throughout the year. Mundo at Paper Factory Hotel is located at 37-06 36th Street, Long Island City, NY 11101. Call them at 718.706.8636 or visit www.mundonewyork.com.
Photo: Courtesy of Mundo
