Showing posts with label new restaurants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new restaurants. Show all posts

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Signage alert: Bungalow from restaurateur Jimmy Rizvi on 1st Avenue

Signage arrived last week for Bungalow, a new Indian concept from restaurateur Jimmy Rizvi, whose portfolio includes GupShup in Gramercy Park. 

CB3 approved a liquor license for the space in May 2023. (Find the original questionnaire here.) 

Vikas Khanna is serving as chef and partner for Bungalow, which is expected to open on March 23. 

In an Instagram post, Khanna said March 23 would have been his sister Radhika's 50th birthday. "We open Bungalow on the auspicious day as a tribute to her life and also to honor millions of kitchens, chefs, cook book writers, street vendors, home cooks across India — and most importantly to our MOTHERS who have nurtured our souls forever." 

The signage's arrival coincided with a recent refresh of the First Avenue storefront just south of Second Street  ... in the retail portion of the 101 Condominium (the residential entrance is on Second Street).
Two addresses — 24 First Ave. and its property mate 99-101 E. Second St. — were demolished several years ago to make room for the new residential building.

No. 24 's previous occupants included the cabaret Lucky Cheng's (1993-2012) and Club Baths, the first openly gay-owned bathhouse (1971-1983)... and Cave Canem and La Nouvelle Justine in between.

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

What's coming to the former Mochinut space on 2nd Avenue

Photos by Steven 

Renovations continue at 124 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place, where we're told an udon noodle restaurant is opening soon. 

The operators are also behind Okiboru House of Tsukemen on Orchard Street. 

The new establishment takes over the space from Mochinut, the quickly expanding California-born chain known for its mochi doughnuts and Korean-style hot dogs. The business opened here in August 2021 and closed the following year.
H/T Stacie Joy

Monday, November 27, 2023

Don Ceviche debuts today on 1st Avenue

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

After some friends-and-family meals, Don Ceviche debuts today at 57 First Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street. 
Owner Lenin Costas said that the Peruvian restaurant will be open daily for lunch (with lunch specials, see below) and dinner...
You can find the website and menu here

Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with an 11 p.m. close Friday and Saturday.
Don Ceviche also has an outpost at the Essex Market. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Openings: Red Onion on 10th Street

Red Onion debuted at 277 E 10th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue last Thursday. 

A longtime EVG reader shared a quickie review about the Indian restaurant: "Very tasty — best I've had in some time." They have an extensive menu, which you can find here

Red Onion is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., with a 10:30 p.m. close on Friday and Saturday... for dining in or to go.

The previous two establishments here, Chichen Itzá and Tompkins Village Cafe, enjoyed a few weeks in service before quickly closing in late 2021. This address was previously home for 11 years to the Brindle Room, which moved to 11th Street.

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Openings: Ayat on Avenue C

Photos by Stacie Joy

Ayat made its soft-opening debut on Oct. 13 on the NW corner of Avenue C and Seventh Street. (We had the scoop on this arrival back in April.)

The Palestinian bistro has several Brooklyn outposts, including the original in Bay Ridge, and one in Pennsylvania. This is their first restaurant in Manhattan.

Here's a look inside the space, the longtime home until February 2020 of Zum Schneider...
The manager, Eli, shared the menu with us (which you can find online) and pointed out some popular dishes...
... such as the Mezze Filistini Plate with hummus, baba ganoush, muhammara, tabbouleh, salata tahina and labneh...
... and the Flatbread Zaatar Margarita ...
They don't serve alcohol ... though you can BYOB — there's no corkage fee.

Hours right now: Daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m., depending on the night.

Hateful remarks and negative reviews

Ayat has been in the national headlines since war broke out between Israel and Hamas. 

Co-owner Abdul Eleanani was featured in an ABC News piece on the challenges facing Palestinian businesses in the U.S. and Canada.

Eleanani, who is of Egyptian descent, said that "the company has faced hateful remarks made to company staff face-to-face and over the phone, as well as an onslaught of negative Google reviews." Someone also reportedly walked into the East Village location and yelled, "'You guys are terrorists,' while adding an expletive."

Eleanani told the Associated Press that Ayat "was forced to disconnect its phone after receiving 'nonstop' threatening voicemails."
Still, the hostile reception was overshadowed by the support he has received from his neighbors, many of whom are Jewish and share his views about minimizing civilian deaths, he said.

"In New York, we all live together, we work together, we grow together," Elenani said. "And we all want this violence to stop."
As Eater reported, the negative response was due to, in part, "the restaurant's outspoken identity and its 'call to end apartheid'" on social media.

Eleanani and co-owner Ayat Masoud told Eater that "they do not support Hamas and simply want Palestinians to be treated fairly."

Friday, September 15, 2023

Openings: Cantina Cubana on Avenue B

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Cantina Cubana debuts today (Sept 15) at 4 p.m. at 17 Avenue B and Second Street. 

Ricardo Arias and Patricia Valencia, the husband-and-wife owners, were happy that ConEd finally turned on the gas for the restaurant.
The couple previously operated Café Cortadito at 210 E. Third St., just east of Avenue B. They closed at the end of January after 18 years in business after the landlord increased the rent from $8,000 to $15,000 monthly. 

Cantina Cubana is opening with a full menu with a similar lineup as Cafe Cortadito. Ricardo says it's 99% the same menu, with some new additions such as tacos and guacamole, plus a smash taco burger made with tortillas. 

Here's a look inside...
Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. breakfast hours are possible in the future. 

You can find the Cantina Cubana website here.

Friday, September 1, 2023

A new Indian restaurant for the former Little India on 6th Street

Photo by Goggla 

A coming soon sign for a restaurant serving Indian cuisine has arrived outside 324 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue... and next door to the shuttered Raj Mahal. 

And just last week, we noted that the block was down to one Indian restaurant, Malai Marke, when there were more than 25 at one point in its Little India heyday.

We don't know at the moment who's behind the new establishment.

Koo'k just closed at No. 324 after eight years in service.

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Openings: Seasoned Vegan Real Quick on 2nd Avenue

Seasoned Vegan Real Quick opens today at 128 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. (First mentioned here.) 

The spot is a new vegan concept from mother and son restaurateurs Brenda "Chef B" Beener and Aaron Beener, who closed their Harlem restaurant Seasoned Vegan this spring after nine years in service.

According to a restaurant rep, they decided to relaunch as quick service takeout and delivery with a few of their most popular dishes offered as sandwiches.

Per the rep: 
The offerings draw on the family's New Orleans roots and feature three sandwiches, including two made with their unique signature grilled burdock root "crawfish" — Craw Pretzel Boy with remoulade sauce, a vegan take on the crawfish po-boy on a pretzel bun, and BBQ Craw Sandwich in bayou BBQ sauce. 

SV Nugget Sandwich and Lemon Crusted Nuggets (soy protein) will be available as well, along with fries tossed with Cajun seasoning and housemade organic desserts: Raw Cheesecake made from cashews, walnuts and dates; Salted Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies and cupcakes. Beverages include fair trade Maine Root organic sodas. 
You can find the menu and more info here. Hours are daily from 11 a.m. to midnight. You can follow them on Instagram here

Photo courtesy of  Seasoned Vegan Real Quick

Updated

Several readers noted that the previous business signage for Tony's Pizza remains up temporarily ... with an important addition — the NOT ... (thanks to Steven for the photo!)

Friday, August 11, 2023

Openings: Memphis Seoul on 1st Avenue

Photo by Steven

Memphis Seoul debuted on Wednesday here at 123 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. 

The quick-serve establishment describes it as "Southern cookin' with a Korean kick!" ... offering the comfort food of the South with the spices and sauces familiar to Korean food. So expect items like ramen mac n' cheese, bulgogi meatloaf and Korean cornbread. Find the menu here.

Founder Bart Hubbuch opened the first Memphis Seoul in Crown Heights. 

Per Grub Street: "Originally from Dallas, Hubbuch was a career sportswriter who’d spent 27 in the business before getting fired from the New York Post for a tweet about Donald Trump winning the 2016 presidential election." 

Grub Street also states that "Hubbuch had always been a home cook... and had long been interested in running his own business." 

Current hours: 
Monday-Thursday: 5-9 p.m., with a 10 p.m. close on Friday... and on Saturday-Sunday: noon-9 p.m.

Monday, July 31, 2023

Openings: Dora's Restaurant on Avenue B; Rynn's on 5th Street

Top photo by Stacie Joy

Dora's Restaurant debuted on Friday at 40 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street.

Siblings Dora and Oskar Morales are behind this establishment. (Their mother is also named Dora.) 

They serve 10 kinds of ceviche, plus wine, beer and sangria. 

No sign of a website or social media just yet.

Hours: Daily from 3-11 p.m.
Rynn recently debuted at 309 E. Fifth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

The restaurant offers a variety of Thai dishes, from starters (the crispy lotus root looks solid) to main courses. Rynn doesn't have a liquor license, so they offer free spirit-free concoctions and Thai iced tea and coffee. 

Like Dora's, they don't have a website or social media. (They are on Yelp.) Hours: Daily from 4-10 p.m.

Let us know if you try either place!

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

The 1st Manhattan outpost of Ayat shapes up on 7th Street and Avenue C

Renovations continue inside the storefront on the NW corner of Seventh Street and Avenue C ...
As we first reported in April, Ayat, a Palestinian bistro with several Brooklyn outposts, including the original in Bay Ridge, is opening its first Manhattan outpost here later this year.

The East Village location will offer Middle Eastern/Palestinian food — and no alcohol.

No word just yet on an exact opening date... though the space is shaping up nicely.

Zum Schneider, the popular biergarten and restaurant, closed here after 20 years in late February 2020. 

(H/T Jill Woodward for the initial renovation tip!)

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Openings: Caffe Corretto on 12th Street

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Caffe Corretto debuted at 511 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B last Wednesday. 

East Village residents Colin Vickery and Leah Blewett, partners in business and life, are behind this project that they say is inspired by the all-day cafes of Rome.
Caffe Corretto serves breakfast, lunch and dinner six days a week, Wednesday through Monday (closed on Tuesdays).
Chef Nicole Dakwar prepares the breakfast pastries and lunchtime pizza al taglio ... while the evening menu features a variety of pasta dishes, seasonal salads, and other entrees via Chef Alessandro Urbisci. You can find menus here.
Hours: 8 a.m. to midnight. You can keep tabs on Caffe Corretto via Instagram.

Monday, June 12, 2023

A Tacombi takeover on 12th Street

Brandage and signage has arrived for the new outpost of Tacombi at 139 E. 12th St. at Third Avenue. 

This is the latest location for the fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain that has 15 outposts in NYC, Miami and Washington, D.C. 

Dario Wolos reportedly started the business from a van in the Mexican beach town Playa del Carmen back in 2006. 

Oh, and those Vista Hermosa Totopos tortilla chips are quite good and have been on sale at Key. 

The previous tenant here, iSouvlaki, closed last summer after a two-year run.

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Openings: The York on Avenue B

The York debuted at the start of the month (March 3) at 186 Avenue B between 11th Street and 12th Street, and we've heard good things about it to date. 

The bar-restaurant from hospitality vets James Hurst and Hayden Tobin is open daily from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., with a Monday-Friday happy hour that features a smash burger, fries and a beer for $12 (among other deals). 

You can find updates on the York's Instagram account

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Openings: Döner Haus on 14th Street

Döner Haus is now open at 240 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... this is after a weekend of giveaways as part of a soft opening/staff training session.

The quick-serve establishment sells "real German kebabs" (chicken, beef or vegan) in a bread pocket... as well as fries.

Döner's website lists hours of 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, with a 3 a.m. close on Friday and Saturday.

Part of this retail space previously belonged to Eddie Huang's Baohaus, which closed in 2020.

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Openings: Bobby’s Night Out on Avenue C

Bobby's Night Out recently debuted on the NW corner of Avenue C and Ninth Street. 

East Village resident Bobby Gonzales is behind the establishment, which he described as "Tavern-style but more of a bar with great food." The menu includes a variety of tacos and burritos, including vegan options. 

Despite the "Night" element of the name, the space at 145 Avenue C opens at noon... and features a daily brunch service until 5 p.m. There are several projectors and big screens in the space, though he said they go up at night — leaving a lone TV behind the bar — "so people can engage with each other."

Hours: Noon to 4 a.m.

Gonzales, a native of New Mexico, operated La Flaca — billed as "New York's premier New Mexican bar and restaurant" — during a 10-year run (2010-2020) down on Grand at Suffolk. 

Esperanto quietly closed in this space sometime in 2021 after 22 years in service.

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Openings: the Office of Mr. Moto on St. Mark's Place

The Office of Mr. Moto is an omakase speakeasy-style restaurant now offering two evening seatings at 120 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

And there is some detective work to take part in before dinner via the fictional master of ceremonies, Mr. Moto, "a gourmand and art connoisseur [who] traveled alongside Commodore Perry aboard his flagship, the USS Susquehanna" in 1853.

Turning to the Robb Report for what to expect:
To enter the restaurant, you'll need to decode a cipher sent to you prior to your reservation. That code, entered on a pin pad inside a mailbox outside, will allow you entry to the Office of Mr. Moto. Once inside, you'll be greeted by the host and whisked away to either the Gallery or the Counter. The former is an eight-seat space serving a 23-course menu, while the latter is a six-seat sushi counter offering 21 courses.

In either spot, the $185 menu curated by executive chef Toshio Matsuoka features high-quality fish sourced from the Toyosu Fish Market in Japan.
And later...
Following your meal, you might linger in the Library, where you can enjoy a drink while listening to Mr. Moto's collection of jazz. The cozy space is decorated with leather furnishings, antique items and even a self-playing Yamaha piano.
As previously reported, Mr. Moto is from the team behind TabeTomo, which opened in December 2018 on Avenue A and is billed as NYC's first tsukemen-focused restaurant. (They also run TomoTomo on West 52nd Street.) 

Mr. Moto is open Wednesday-Sunday from 6 p.m. to midnight. Find more details here.

No. 120 previously housed the retail outlet for Squish Marshmallows. Owner Katherine Sprung's lease was up here after five years, and she now focuses on custom and catering orders.

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Openings: Wild Mirrors on 2nd Avenue

Wild Mirrors has debuted at 95 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.

The quick-serve restaurant offers "healthier options of your favorite food" for dining in or delivery. The menu shows a variety of burgers, wings and fries ... as well as Mexican Coca-Cola. (No alcohol.) It's not immediately clear how these are prepared to be healthier. 

Google lists their hours as 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The space was home for years to Thailand Cafe, which went dark in the summer of 2020. 

Thanks to Steven for the photo!

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Openings: Íxta on the Bowery

Íxta debuted last week at 299 Bowery between Houston and First Street. (First mentioned here in August 2021.)

This is a second coming for Íxta, which had a two-year run on East 29th Street from 2005 to 2007. Restaurateur Mike Himani, whose credits include a Chickpea in Penn Station and Nisi Mediterranean in Times Square, told Eater that he lost the location due to the terms of the sublease.

Here's more from Eater:
For Ixta's reprisal, Himani [brought] on executive chef Francisco Blanco from Mexico City. Blanco, who cooked at Le Cirque and Eataly’s Manzo, will fine-tune a menu of southern Mexican and Oaxacan dishes at Ixta, while mixologist Jenny Castillo will create tequila- and mezcal-based cocktails.
The restaurant is open daily from 5-11 p.m. You can find the menu here. And some Instagram pics here.

Daniel Boulud closed DBGB at this address in August 2017 after an eight-year run. 

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Openings: MayRee on 1st Street

MayRee has debuted at 58 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (First mentioned here.) 

The restaurant serves Southern Thai food from chef/owner Orawan Sawangphol and cocktails from industry veteran Sek Saraboon (formerly of The Met Bar in Bangkok and The Dominick Hotel in Soho). 

Here's more about MayRee via a rep:
Born and raised in Phang Nga, a small province in southern Thailand (about an hour from Phuket), Sawangphol started working in her family's restaurant at age 13, learning about techniques and spices as well as recipes from her great grandmother, eventually becoming the restaurant's chef. 

After studying hospitality, she moved to the U.S. She worked in California, Ohio, and Illinois before moving to NYC to open MayRee, her own restaurant, showcasing the Southern Thai dishes she grew up with. 
Sawangphol uses a bounty of Thai herbs and unique ingredients like garcinia cambogia (a tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia, aka Malabar tamarind), along with turmeric, coconut, chilies, and more. 

You can find a menu here. And some Instagram pics here

And if you are curious about the name...
The restaurant's name comes from a Thai folklore story called the Twelve Sisters — MayRee is one of the sisters. Despite the misfortunes that befall her in the story, she still manages to keep a cheerful disposition and, as a result in Thai culture, she symbolizes celebration and social gathering.

MayRee is open for lunch during the week from noon to 4 p.m., with dinner 5-11 p.m. (11:30 p.m. close on Friday and Saturday). There's a weekend brunch starting at 11 a.m. Phone: (929) 989-6213.