Sprawling Spanish Restaurant, Asian Kitchen Open In Astoria Complex

ASTORIA, QUEENS — As the eagerly-awaited World Artisan Market takes shape on 31st Street, two more restaurants have just opened their doors: a sprawling Spanish eatery and a pan-Asian delivery kitchen.

Sala Astoria is the latest business to open in the burgeoning complex, based out of a converted warehouse between 34th and 35th avenues. Owner Michael Jannetta combined two different storefronts to create the 4,000-square-foot restaurant, which began its soft opening last Wednesday.

An industry veteran with a longstanding interest in Spanish cuisine, Jannetta previously ran the Manhattan restaurants Sala Bowery, which closed around 2010, and Sala One Nine and Rye House, which lasted until the pandemic.

When Artisan Market leader Steve Lysohir reached out months ago about an open space in the complex, Jannetta saw Astoria as a place to start anew.

"We’re pumped up to be here," he told Patch. "I was in Manhattan forever, so this is just a whole new fresh reset."

Sala's menu was designed by executive chef Barbara Amoros — a former contestant on the Spanish version of Top Chef.

The soft-opening menu, while smaller than Sala's eventual offerings, is still lengthy by most restaurants' standards, with highlights including gazpacho, grilled calamari and octopus, and small plates like pork loin with gruyere, a tortilla Española with egg and potato, and bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with almond — plus daily specials like branzino or duck breast truffle.

Drinks include a full cocktail list, Spanish beers, and wines by the glass.

The enormous space also includes a rear lounge with space for a stage, where Jannetta hopes to host jazz shows and flamenco events. A projector screen will show soccer matches and other events, while a retail space in front will offer takeaway food.

"Authentic Spanish food without pretense, Janetta said of the menu. "But we do it well."

Potlux, plus two more openings

A couple of doors down is Potlux, a delivery- and pickup-only kitchen that also recently opened. It serves dishes from three food brands: the beloved Manhattan-based dim sum restaurant Shun Lee, Japanese restaurant Hiro Ramen, the local chain T-Swirl Crepe, and Vietnamese food from Cloud Turtle Kitchen.

Potlux was created by Eddie Lin, and "draws on his Asian roots to create an amazing collaboration of brands and culinary experience," according to a news release from the market.

Meanwhile, Lysohir, the market's leader, told Patch that two more long-delayed openings are now slated for July: Urban Vegan Roots and Arepa Lady.

Urban Vegan Roots will be a pizza-focused outpost of the Manhattan restaurant Urban Vegan Kitchen. Owners are "putting the final touches on their space," but their opening will depend on the whims of the fire department, which is "taking an extraordinary amount of time" to conduct a required review, Lysohir said.

Arepa Lady will be a second location for the beloved Colombian spot in Jackson Heights.

The World Artisan Market's first opening was the Italian restaurant Sotto La Luna in December, followed by the bakery-cafe Elevenses in February.

A remaining storefront is set to be taken over by Yamato Noodle Company, which has not announced an opening date.

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• Long-Awaited Astoria Food Hall Will Open More Restaurants Soon