Truth Astoria: The Asian Fusion Restaurant That Will Take Your Breath Away
Truth Astoria is the newest Asian Fusion restaurant taking the neighborhood by storm. With a polished aesthetic found in both their décor and cuisine, Truth Astoria should be the next place you think of when you want to indulge.
Owner Franklin Santana is no stranger to the Astoria food scene. He explained, “I have a few other places. Before that I was a DJ, and I was also in the construction business. Started with my first place, slowly. I opened Oven Grill Chill in Astoria and Fonda La Consentida in Maspeth.” Eventually, he decided it was time to expand. Truth opened February 1st of this year.
If you’re looking for advice on the menu, head in the direction of the often-ordered spicy tuna tartare, served with crispy rice, spicy mayo, eel sauce, and sweet pickle serrano. Another great choice is the crispy rock shrimp. Definitely order fried rice and edamame for the table. And if you’re inclined, ask for the seasoned pepper steak, which, at ten ounces, is more than enough to go around.
If you get to Truth Astoria just a bit earlier, and wonders await. Santana explained, “We do have happy hour. We use house music. The R.A.F. is a great drink to try. And our espresso martini, a lot of people love it.” The R.A.F. he’s referring to? It’s a tasty blend of mezcal, honey pineapple syrup, pineapple juice, lime, hellfire biters, Korean chile, peppercorn, and mint.
The inside of Truth Astoria feels chic and hip. Everywhere you look, there’s something eye-catching with a simple and elegant style. Santana described the décor, “The interior has a very high class feeling, very Tulum vibe. The ambiance is very calm. The people going, the way they dress, the music, food, it engages everybody, and people keep coming back. People want to take pictures everywhere.”
Santana knows the local food scene well, “I went to school in Astoria. I live in Astoria. I know a lot of people here. I just want the neighborhood to come and try us out.” While Truth Astoria is usually a social experience, you can rent out a space for more private affairs. They also have a private dining experience that holds 24 people.
It’s important to Santana that the food at Truth Astoria be as tasty as it looks. “Sometimes you go to a place and it’s very beautiful, but the food is not great. Thank God, we get a lot of customers that come back. And I think that says a lot.”
27-35 21st St. / Phone: 347.527.2199 / truthastoria.com
