[Photo courtesy of Ray LeMoine]
Ugh. Long-timer Cafe Rakka on Avenue B is for rent ... the familiar sign of Croman Realty's "Call Harvey" can't be missed.
Too bad — Cafe Rakka is always a nice, affordable option here near East Third Street. Anyway, it remains open for now.
Meanwhile, the Cafe Rakka — now called Rakka Cafe — is undergoing renovations on St. Mark's Place.
This makes me sad. They have really good food, it's reasonably priced..and I'm making a point to eat there this weekend. I fear what sort of business could take that space over. Something 'luxury' no doubt.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Loved their falafel and french fries. And one of the last real "grab a cheap bite" places left in the area.
ReplyDeleteDamn.
FUCK ME. All our good-quality inexpensive spots are going, going……...
ReplyDeleteAgree with the others great falafel.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed their otter location on St Marks & 1st is seeming pretty empty these days as well. If that one goes it will be an even larger tragedy.
Hell, I'm too quick on the comment trigger. Didn't even read the part about Rakka on St Marks renovation. I hope they actually reopen.
ReplyDeleteI've lived in this neighborhood for 18 years and this is next to my apartment. So far we are losing the Polish laundry mat on 3rd and A, I noticed the other day "Anna" which had been there forever is gone..(anyone know what happened? I used to see the girl who owned it all the time in our neighborhood) now cafe Rakka.. I eat there maybe once a week. These are all places that have been here at least since 1996! :(
ReplyDeleteI do know what happened to Anna at the Polish laundromat and also her friend Marzana who used to work there. They got fed up with the boss (who is not a woman at all) and quit. This was some time ago, though, not recently. They were really nice. The boss is, um, not really nice. At all.
ReplyDeleteAnna, the clothing store, moved to 11th St.
ReplyDeleteAhh thats too bad, I used to live right here and would go to CR a lot. Recently I had some Leeds UK buddies over, and one night they were hungry for a proper kebab, I told them I didnt really know what that meant, and took them to CR, and they were obsessed. Besides Northern Spy, it was the culinary highlight of their trip.
ReplyDeleteBig bummer! I went here often, it was basically my substitute for Habib's. I still really miss his 9th street place. Really sad to see Cafe Rakka go.
ReplyDeleteThe St Marks location is actually being renovated and looks like it will re-open soon.
ReplyDeleteI spoke to the cafe owner. The landlord is raising the rent to $5000 a month for that little dank hole. I would pop in there often. Good food and the guys are nice. We have also lost Vickey's Vietnamese on 2nd and A as of Nov 30. I have to say this trend of pushing out little businesses is pissing me off. I need good places to get a quick meal. Enough with the hair salons already.
ReplyDelete