A Dessert Bar and Hookah Lounge From a Top Southeast Asian Restaurateur Opens in Long Island City | Eater NY

"Salil Mehta, the acclaimed chef behind Southeast Asian restaurants including Laut, Singapura, and the buzzy newcomer Wau, has gone all-in on sweets with a new dessert bar and hookah lounge in Astoria called Sands of Persia. Partnering with luxury car collector Abhi Malhotra, the menu is stacked with upscale desserts such as a fingerlime chiffon meringue made with fingerlime yuzu cake paired with rosemary-orange mousse and lime gel, and cones of baklava served with ice cream and pistachios. The drinks lineup centers on alcohol-free cocktails plus tea and coffee, including made-to-order Turkish coffee brewed in a pan of hot sand, and a few savory items like hummus platters are offered. Sands of Persia is open daily from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m., with food served from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m." - Erika Adams