Business & Tech
South Brooklyn Uzbek Restaurant to Open Sister Location in Park Slope
Park Slopers won't have to travel to Gravesend for that Nargis Cafe goodness anymore.
PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — The owner of an Uzbek restaurant in Gravesend plans to open a new location in Park Slope this March.
Boris Bangiyer moved to the United States from Uzbekistan when he was 14, he told Patch, and has spent his career studying restaurant management and working as a chef himself.
He said he opened the Nargis Cafe on Coney Island Avenue about a decade ago, but explained that many of his customers come from other neighborhoods, including Park Slope.
Find out what's happening in Park Slopefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
He's now in the process of taking over a two-part space at 155 5th Ave., the former home of Asian fusion restaurant Nana.
The new venture, to be called Nargis Bar & Grill, will combine a bar that holds about 25 people and a restaurant that will seat 64, Bangiyer said.
Find out what's happening in Park Slopefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The chef said that Uzbek cuisine shares elements with Middle Eastern food. He highlighted several noteworthy dishes, including the Lagman soup, mixing lamb, beef, vegetables and homemade noodles; rice pilaf that includes chick peas and lamb; and Samsa, a hot appetizer featuring meat and onions inside a cooked pastry.
Bangiyer said he'll also serve lots of salads featuring fresh cabbage, Israeli cucumbers, and vine tomatoes.
Lagman soup. Photo courtesy of the Nargis Cafe.
All customers will enter the restaurant through its bar entrance, where they'll be able to order food or just get drinks, Bangiyer said. (On Monday night, Community Board 6's licensing committee voted to back the owners liquor license application.)
Bangiyer said he currently plans to stay open until 11 p.m. from Sunday through Wednesday, until 12 a.m. on Thursday, and until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, although he could push that back if there's enough demand.
The property has an outdoor space in the back, but the owner said he doesn't intend to use it for seating or service when he opens.
He said he'll start hiring for the business in early February, and wants to bring on local workers. Those interested can email him then at borishomes@aol.com, or call him at 201-655-3778.
Pictured at top: the future home of the Nargis Bar & Grill. Photo by John V. Santore
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
