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Peruvian restaurant to finally open on 11th Street this month

Alejandro Rojas, at Jora

Nov. 6, 2013 By Christian Murray (update)

The new owner is young but he comes with plenty of pedigree.

Alejandro Rojas, 25, is opening a restaurant at the corner of 48^th Avenue and 11^th Street that will offer traditional Peruvian food.

The restaurant, to be called Jora, replaces the long-vacant Crossroads Diner and is likely to open by the end of November.

Rojas had hoped to open the restaurant back in May but between issues with the Building Department and additional renovations that were required–there have been plenty of delays. Now, he says, he’s ready.

Rojas’s father owns one of the oldest Peruvian restaurants in New York, which was established in Jackson Heights in 1976. That restaurant was initially called Inti raymi, but the name was later changed to Urubama.

Rojas will be the owner and chef at Jora– and this will be his first restaurant. While this a lot for a 25-year-old to be taking on, he grew up learning how to cook working alongside his father and has also been to cooking school.

“We will offer tapas and a few entrees when we open,” Rojas said. Then, “a few weeks later, we will have a complete menu with a proper grand opening.”

Rojas said the menu will change every six months.

The restaurant has a liquor license and has room for about 90 diners.