Very Thai looks to be done for at 186 Avenue B between 11th Street and 12th Street...
The first tip came in about a possible closure in late October (H/T David!). The space had shown up in real-estate listings dating to April 2018 ("motivated owner, low key money"). The storefront no longer appears to be for rent as of last week, suggesting that a new tenant has been secured.
The Very Thai website doesn't mention a closure, though their phone is out of service. Oddly enough, Yelp notes a temporary closure — with an October 2020 reopening...
Very Thai arrived in early 2017, taking over space from the 10-year-old Barbone, the Italian restaurant that was Cromanated.
Meanwhile, while we're on this block, another tipster notes that Guac on the east side of Avenue B has not been open. The photo below is from Saturday night.
No word via the Guac folks about a temporary or permanent closure. The Mexican restaurant, run by Vincent Sgarlato, who owns and operates Eleven B and 11B Express across Avenue B, opened in the fall of 2016.
I am afraid to say Very Thai isn't very Thai at all. Some time ago my ex-boyfriend and I were ordering take out. I requested a large side of peanut sauce before paying as it is our favorite. I was told they have no peanut sauce in their restaurant nor will they ever. I told them to cancel my order. Having no peanut sauce in a Thai restaurant is the equivalent of not having parmesan cheese in an Italian restaurant. I just found it very odd how they were unable to offer this side which is ubiquitous in all Thai restaurants that I've ever patronized throughout my adult life.
ReplyDeleteI will say Ave B is tricky though. Unless you have a loyal following, how can one sustain themselves when it isn't Friday to Sunday with people about? Operating a business in this area is challenging if you don't have capital or access funds to cover the slow periods. I never wish for anyone to not succeed. Perhaps they are on vacation or hiatus???
Very Thai was excellent when they first opened, but the last few times I ordered from them the food was rather sub-par. Sorry, though, because the folks who worked there were very nice.
ReplyDeleteSorry to see a place like this close however this part of Ave B has been rough for everyone in the past several years and I can only assume the commercial leases are insane. Franco's Peri Peri, just opened and encourage anyone that has not tried it yet to stop by to eat or get take out, it's delicous.
ReplyDeleteI GET IT---i owned a restaurant in nyc for 12 years (sold the remaining 8 years to a new landlord)---one decides to open a restaurant---you review your fixed costs---then the 'fun' part---you 'price' your menu---then the 'kiss of death'---a $4.00/chicken becomes $25.00---a $10.00 bottle of wine becomes $14.00/glass---then the 'landlord is greedy'(i agree)---well---maybe there should have been a more thorough phase of due diligence---unless you have a HUGE amount of foot traffic OR you are opening a bar---you a basically doomed to fail :(
ReplyDeleteGiven that we live a few blocks away, I love Thai food and the prices were reasonable, we did give Very Thai a few tries when it first opened up, but felt the food was mediocre. We did not go back. I agree that the Portuguese place that recently opened is quite good. The other sometimes unheralded gem of that block is Haile. Excellent food, super nice owners and very reasonably priced.
ReplyDeleteI think afbp nailed it. You need to pick a price point that brings in the crowds based upon what you are offering. Price is hard to get right anywhere I imagine, but particularly hard in NYC. Places that might survive elsewhere based on consistent business will die here...
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