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Author Topic: JuJu's  (Read 3874 times)

Offline dssjh

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JuJu's
« on: August 26, 2020, 04:56:50 PM »
It appears to be closed. windows papered, phone "not in service."
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Offline Shelby2

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Re: JuJu's
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2020, 05:45:31 PM »
I saw what might be a rumor on FB that Sami is turning it into a Lebanese restaurant.
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Offline dssjh

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Re: JuJu's
« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2020, 05:47:51 PM »
Quote from: Shelby2 on August 26, 2020, 05:45:31 PM
I saw what might be a rumor on FB that Sami is turning it into a Lebanese restaurant.


that would be fantastic. his prepared dishes are really good, and i remember the two or three week run he gave that idea a few years ago.
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Offline jh_foodie

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Re: JuJu's
« Reply #3 on: August 30, 2020, 08:26:13 AM »
Quote from: dssjh on August 26, 2020, 05:47:51 PM
Quote from: Shelby2 on August 26, 2020, 05:45:31 PM
I saw what might be a rumor on FB that Sami is turning it into a Lebanese restaurant.


that would be fantastic. his prepared dishes are really good, and i remember the two or three week run he gave that idea a few years ago.

What type of dishes did he have then?
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Offline ljr

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Re: JuJu's
« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2020, 12:50:54 PM »
It was definitely not a two or three week run. I live right across the street and was thrilled at the idea of him serving dinner, so I was paying close attention. I think he literally served dinner ONE evening, and then told people he had to get more up to speed and work out the kinks before really starting dinner service. We had not gone there that one night but were planning to go the next night. But then he announced he would not do it after all, too demanding and difficult, I presumed. For that one night, he had a paper menu printed up (we took one home that day) and was serving the sorts of dishes he has always served at JuJu's--at least that's what I recall. It's really too bad. His food was great and I remember going there a lot around the time we moved here in 2011--getting coffee and lunch as we moved in, etc. It's really too bad. But he ran that place alone with the help of wife and son, and I imagine that's pretty hard to keep going. And how could he run dinner service too on that basis? I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for him to open a Lebanese restaurant in that space. Highly unlikely--more likely someone on FB was expressing a wish that he would do so. I'd be thrilled and surprised if that rumor is true, though.
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Offline abcdefghijk

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Re: JuJu's
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2020, 07:29:27 PM »
Quote from: ljr on August 30, 2020, 12:50:54 PM
It was definitely not a two or three week run. I live right across the street and was thrilled at the idea of him serving dinner, so I was paying close attention. I think he literally served dinner ONE evening, and then told people he had to get more up to speed and work out the kinks before really starting dinner service. We had not gone there that one night but were planning to go the next night. But then he announced he would not do it after all, too demanding and difficult, I presumed. For that one night, he had a paper menu printed up (we took one home that day) and was serving the sorts of dishes he has always served at JuJu's--at least that's what I recall. It's really too bad. His food was great and I remember going there a lot around the time we moved here in 2011--getting coffee and lunch as we moved in, etc. It's really too bad. But he ran that place alone with the help of wife and son, and I imagine that's pretty hard to keep going. And how could he run dinner service too on that basis? I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for him to open a Lebanese restaurant in that space. Highly unlikely--more likely someone on FB was expressing a wish that he would do so. I'd be thrilled and surprised if that rumor is true, though.

However...there was that Middle Eastern cafe on 82nd St (a couple of years ago)...Zaytoun...It lasted only a month or two.
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Offline ljr

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Re: JuJu's
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2020, 09:56:55 PM »
Yes we ordered from them once or twice--it was good--and then it failed quickly, alas.
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Offline Beech Court

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Re: JuJu's
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2020, 10:44:11 PM »
Quote from: Shelby2 on August 26, 2020, 05:45:31 PM
I saw what might be a rumor on FB that Sami is turning it into a Lebanese restaurant.

I had heard this also.
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I also channel Gladys Gilbert!

Offline dssjh

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Re: JuJu's
« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2020, 11:38:32 PM »
i didn't realize it was literally one night. i had one of those printed menus, too, and i had hopes, since Sami's prepared dishes (especially the soups) are quite good. thanks for a more detailed, more accurate recollection.
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Offline Jeffsayyes

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Re: JuJu's
« Reply #9 on: August 31, 2020, 10:20:40 PM »
The neighborhood is getting close to the ability to sustain this but... here's my question: Is there one restaurant here that does not primarily cater to it's own culture? Do we have any restaurants whose bread and butter is being "exotic"? Maybe Arunee but hard to consider it that since it's so close to Thaitown.
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Offline dssjh

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Re: JuJu's
« Reply #10 on: September 01, 2020, 12:12:25 AM »
Arunee "exotic"? in what way?
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Offline theplanesland

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Re: JuJu's
« Reply #11 on: September 01, 2020, 09:49:02 AM »
Quote from: dssjh on September 01, 2020, 12:12:25 AM
Arunee "exotic"? in what way?

I think what he's trying to say is that it is a Thai restaurant designed for primarily non-Thai customers, as opposed to other restaurants which are designed primarily for customers very familiar with the food, and where customers who aren't of that background are considered incidental.
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Offline dssjh

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Re: JuJu's
« Reply #12 on: September 03, 2020, 06:48:40 PM »
the demolition work inside the storefront looks pretty extensive. seems like more than a change of dining direction.
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Offline pipman

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Re: JuJu's
« Reply #13 on: September 03, 2020, 08:29:16 PM »
What I would give for a delicious Falafel or Shwarma in the neighborhood...right now I have to head to Sunnyside, Astoria, or Forest Hills.  This would be a good location for that, but anytime there is an attempt in Jackson Heights for food outside of our standard neighborhood cuisines it seems to lack quality.  Hoping this proved me wrong.
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Offline ljr

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Re: JuJu's
« Reply #14 on: September 09, 2020, 02:32:58 PM »
Work is being done inside JuJu's and the owner is there. I'm thinking maybe he's turning it into a retail/takeout place instead of a sit-down cafe? That might be easier to keep going in covid times? Has anyone asked him?
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