Friday, November 22, 2013

Cafe Rakka looks to be a goner on Avenue B


[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.

12 comments:

  1. 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.

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  2. I agree. Loved their falafel and french fries. And one of the last real "grab a cheap bite" places left in the area.

    Damn.

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  3. FUCK ME. All our good-quality inexpensive spots are going, going……...

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  4. Agree with the others great falafel.
    I'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.

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  5. 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.

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  6. I'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! :(

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  7. I 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.

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  8. Anna, the clothing store, moved to 11th St.

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  9. Ahh 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.

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  10. Big 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.

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  11. The St Marks location is actually being renovated and looks like it will re-open soon.

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  12. I 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.

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