Casa Bond next for 334 Bowery

The restaurant space at 334 Bowery between Great Jones and Bond won't be vacant for too much longer here. 

There's now a hiring notice posted on the storefront for Casa Bond (not to be confused with Zero Bond!)...

Not sure at the moment who's behind the venture. (There's a placeholder Instagram account here.)

As we've noted, this has proven to be a difficult space to make work... Xeo Cantina closed here in June after a year in service ... following Gia Trattoria's four months in business ending in December 2021.  

Is 334 Bowery now officially a doomed location for restaurants?

Xeo Cantina has been dark for the past month+ at 334 Bowery between Great Jones and Bond.

There's nothing about a closure on the restaurant's website or social media... they are no long on Resy. No one responded to our queries about their status.

Xeo, described as serving "Vietnamese food with Tequila," opened last June. 

 

It was the latest spot to try the space... Gia Trattoria closed after just four months in December 2021. Oddly enough, there was already a restaurant called Gia Trattoria from different operators at this address several years earlier. 

To recap: Between November 2014 and June 2015, when the storefront was divided into two spaces, we had Forcella, Espoleta, Gia Trattoria, Slice of Naples, SRO and Bowery Pizza come and go over six months. 

This space was later Gino Sorbillo, the first U.S. pizzeria from "the Neapolitan celebrity super-chef" of the same name. The "temporarily closed for renovation" sign arrived here in early January 2021 after a November 2017 opening — so not a bad run considering everyone else's tenure.

A soft opening for Xeo Cantina on the Bowery

Tonight marks the soft opening for Xeo Cantina at 334 Bowery between Great Jones and Bond...

In a Facebook post, hospitality vet Mike Khuu described the concept as "Vietnamese food with Tequila." 

Khuu also co-owns The Boil (with locations on Chrystie Street and Waverly Place, not to mention Jersey City) that serves creole and Cajun-style cuisine, and Saigon Shack on MacDougal. 

No sign of a menu or other particulars at the moment for XEO Cantina.

Gia Trattoria closed here late last year after just four months in business. 

Modern Asian restaurant slated for 334 Bowery

Restaurateur Dieu Khuu is opening a new spot at 334 Bowery between Great Jones and Bond... 

Khuu, who also operates the Boil, which has locations on Chrystie Street and Waverly Place, appeared before Community Board 2 earlier this month for a new liquor license. 

According to the CB2 questionnaire (PDF here), the still-unnamed establishment will be a "Modern Asian restaurant serving creative southeast Asian dishes."

Gia Trattoria closed here late last year after just four months in business. 

As previously noted, this space has been challenging to make work through the years. There was Gino Sorbillo. And between November 2014 and June 2015, the storefront was divided into two spaces, and Forcella, Espoleta, Gia Trattoria (unrelated to the most recent Gia Trattoria), Slice of Naples, SRO and Bowery Pizza came and went over six months.  

Gia Trattoria has closed on the Bowery

After four months, Gia Trattoria has closed at 334 Bowery between Bond and Great Jones.

The Italian restaurant had been dark in recent weeks, its website offline. Ownership confirmed the closure via an Instagram message but did not cite a reason.

Gia opened in late July with promises of "craveable Italian food, handcrafted drinks and much more.

Unfortunately, this space has been challenging to make work through the years. For starters, there was already a restaurant called Gia Trattoria at this address. Actually, there were a lot of places here for a brief time between November 2014 and June 2015 ... this is when the storefront was divided into two spaces, and Forcella, Espoleta, Gia Trattoria, Slice of Naples, SRO and Bowery Pizza came and went over six months. 

This space was Gino Sorbillo, the first U.S. pizzeria from "the Neapolitan celebrity super-chef" of the same name. The "temporarily closed for renovation" sign arrived here in early January ... after a November 2017 opening.

The storefront next door remains vacant too. Burkleman, a home and lifestyle brand based in Cold Spring, opened here in 2018. 

Late last year, a "closed for the winter" sign arrived on the door, which remains outside the now-vacant shop...  they relocated to Elizabeth Street between Houston and Prince. 

Openings: Gia Trattoria on the Bowery; Marufuku Ramen on 2nd Avenue

Gia Trattoria opened this week (Tuesday!) at 334 Bowery between Great Jones and Bond. (First reported here.)

Here's more about the restaurant via their website:

Gia ... brings craveable Italian food, handcrafted drinks and much more. In addition to an array of mouthwatering wood-fired pizzas, Gia's menu includes flavorful pastas, appetizers, shareables, snacks and entrees. 

Menu highlights include: the Pesto Rossa Pizza, Calamarata pasta with squid, san marzano, capers, pine nuts and fennel seeds, "Fairytale Eggplant" with gorgonzola, sun-dried tomatoes and pickled scape and Branzino with fennel confit and herbs. 

You can find the menu at this link. 

And the posted hours:

Tuesday-Thursday: 5-10 p.m.

Friday: 5-11 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 5-11 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Most recently this space was Gino Sorbillo, the first U.S. pizzeria from "the Neapolitan celebrity super-chef" of the same name. The "temporarily closed for renovation" sign arrived here in early January ... after a November 2017 opening. 

-----

Marufuku Ramen opened Monday at 92 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street. (First reported here.) 

This is the first NYC location for the growing brand that has five outposts in California and one in Texas. 

About their food, via the Marufuku website:

Marufuku proudly serves the authentic Hakata-style Tonkotsu ramen — featuring milky and umami rich broth made from boiling pork bones for long hours, an ultra-thin artisanal noodles that match perfectly with the broth, and Cha-shu made from specially selected pork. 

Steven took these photos as they opened on Monday...

Hours:

Sunday-Thursday: 5-10 p.m., until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The previous tenant, Sanpoutei Gyoza & Ramen debuted in January 2020 and never reopened after the PAUSE went into effect in March 2020. Some EVG readers may recall that Kabin Bar & Lounge was here until March 2015.

Gia signage arrives on the Bowery

Signage is up now for Gia Trattoria here at 334 Bowery between Great Jones and Bond. 

Gia's Instagram account describes it as a "rustic and fun Italian restaurant." No word on an opening date. (As you can see on the storefront pic above, they are still hiring for all positions.) You can sign up for updates on the Gia website.

Not sure who's behind the new venture at the moment. Coincidentally, there was a restaurant called Gia Trattoria at this address for a brief time in 2015. 

Actually, there were a lot of places here for a brief time between November 2014 and June 2015 ...  this is when the storefront was divided into two spaces, and Forcella, Espoleta, Gia Trattoria, Slice of Naples, SRO and Bowery Pizza came and went over a six-month period. 

Most recently this space was Gino Sorbillo, the first U.S. pizzeria from "the Neapolitan celebrity super-chef" of the same name. The "temporarily closed for renovation" sign arrived here in early January ... after a November 2017 opening. 

With Gino Sorbillo bowing out, there's another pizzeria slated for 334 Bowery

A "temporarily closed for renovation" sign arrived at the Gino Sorbillo outpost at 334 Bowery between Great Jones and Bond in early January.

It didn't seem likely that the first U.S. pizzeria from "the Neapolitan celebrity super-chef" Gino Sorbillo was going to reopen amid the pandemic. At the time, there wasn't any message about a closure on the pizzeria's social media...  and their website was offline ... and the phone went to a random voice mailbox. 

Turns out applicants, named as William Fung and Steve Fung, appeared before Community Board 2 last fall for a new liquor license for the space and sidewalk cafe. 

There's now an SLA notice on the front window...

The application, found here, notes that this will be a "artisanal neighborhood pizzeria" with hours of noon to midnight.

This hyped Gino Sorbillo outpost arrived here in November 2017. 

The address was previously a carousel of pizza-tapas concepts between November 2014 and June 2015 ... this is when the address was divided into two spaces, where we had Forcella, Espoleta, Gia Trattoria, Slice of Naples, SRO and Bowery Pizza over the six-month period. 

[Updated] Gino Sorbillo opens his pizzeria tomorrow on the Bowery

Tomorrow marks the official grand opening of Sorbillo, the first U.S. pizzeria from "the Neapolitan celebrity super-chef" Gino Sorbillo at 334 Bowery between Bond and Great Jones...







Here's more on Sorbillo from a profile at Eater in September:

Though he's unknown to most Americans, Gino Sorbillo is one of the most famous pizzaioli in Italy, with regular guest appearances on MasterChef Italia, three restaurants in Naples, and a reputation for having fought the mafia — beating back crime in Centro Storico, the neighborhood that’s home to his flagship pizzeria.

The pizzeria will be open from noon to 11 p.m. daily (until midnight on Friday and Saturday). You can find their menus here.

...and a look at the product via the pizzeria's Instagram account...

Gino Sorbillo on the Bowery! @sorbillonyc official opening on TUESDAY 11/28 🍕🚀 📷: @sharibayer

A post shared by Sorbillo (@sorbillonyc) on Nov 25, 2017 at 2:12pm PST

A post shared by Sorbillo (@sorbillonyc) on Nov 16, 2017 at 12:34pm PST

A post shared by Sorbillo (@sorbillonyc) on Nov 17, 2017 at 2:00pm PST

Will Sorbillo be able to break the streak of quick openings and closings at this address on the Bowery? Most recently, the hyped PYT — "Home of America's Craaaziest Burgers" — imploded here after just three months in business in early 2016.

The space was home to Forcella Bowery for nearly three years until November 2014 … only to be replaced in December 2014 by the tapas-friendly Espoleta, which closed six months later to make way for Gia Trattoria. They quickly closed.

Updated 7 p.m.

The Mayor was unhand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony this afternoon...

De Blasio defends New York pizza from own spokesperson https://t.co/LLqKTAiqHg pic.twitter.com/QOwZ5bWwnX

— New York Post (@nypost) November 28, 2017

Previously on EV Grieve:
A step back in time on the Bowery

Pizza-master Gino Sorbillo marks his arrival on the Bowery

Pizza-master Gino Sorbillo marks his arrival on the Bowery

As noted back in January, a pizzeria is coming to 334 Bowery between Bond and Great Jones... and the signage for Sorbillo arrived on Monday...



Acclaimed pizza-master and globe-trotting food personality Gino Sorbillo is the Sorbillo behind this venture. His shop, La Pizzeria Sorbillo, is considered by some to be best and most famous pizza hub in Naples, according to this feature on Vice.

You can see his Neapolitan pizzas via Instagram...

A post shared by Gino Sorbillo (@sorbillo) on Mar 2, 2017 at 9:12am PST

This has been a tough spot for restaurants. Perhaps Sorbillo can reverse the streak of quick openings and closings.

PYT — "Home of America's Craaaziest Burgers" — imploded here after just three months in business in early 2016.

The space was home to Forcella Bowery for nearly three years until November 2014 … only to be replaced in December 2014 by the tapas-friendly Espoleta, which closed six months later to make way for Gia Trattoria. They quickly closed. Then PYT arrived in October 2015.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A step back in time on the Bowery

SRO Pizza is apparently DOA on the Bowery

Perhaps to the surprise of no one, SRO, the pizza speakeasy with a $38 prix-fixe menu at 334 Bowery, has apparently closed for good. We noticed that the space has been dark of late. The SRO phone is out of service. A sign on the door (under the guise of Bowery Pizza) suggests that people try the newish stunt burger joint PYT next door...



One upset Yelp reviewer noted that SRO was closed on Dec. 16. We checked in with an SRO media rep who gave us information in the past. The PR firm no longer represents the restaurant.

While people generally seemed to like the pizza, the prices were too high and the concept too gimmicky. (When SRO opened last January, patrons had to enter a door marked "no vacancy" from the adjoining restaurant.) Plus the whole SRO connection to the Bowery's past was tone deaf.

Anyway, let's see if we have all this straight about the address: The space between Bond and Great Jones was home to Forcella Bowery for nearly three years until November 2014 … only to be replaced in December 2014 by the tapas-friendly Espoleta, which closed six months later to make way for Gia Trattoria. They quickly closed. That address is now PYT.

Meanwhile, in the adjacent space to the south, Slice of Naples remained open even after Forcella shuttered. (Same ownership!) That was until pizzaiolo Giulio Adriani converted the space to SRO in January 2015. Last June, the Bowery Pizza sign appeared. At that time, we thought that SRO had closed. However, the aforementioned rep told us that "while it appears that SRO has shuttered, it is indeed still operating, and quite successfully!"

Next!

Finally, you can get a burger served on a chocolate doughnut on the Bowery

[EVG photo from last week]

PYT — "Home of America's Craaaziest Burgers" — debuted on the Bowery last evening. This is the first NYC outpost of the Philadelphia burger place known for some pretty wacky creations.

See for yourself on their sidewalk sign here at 334 Bowery between Great Jones and Bond… for local flavor, PYT is offering the Basquiat Premium Beef Burger…



For now, PYT's hours are 7 p.m. to midnight… and cash only.

In the meantime, you can check out PYT preview pieces at Gothamist … and Eater …

Since last November, Forcella, Espoleta and Gia Trattoria have come and gone fairly quickly at this address.

Previously on EV Grieve:
PYT bringing its offbeat burger creations to the Bowery

PYT bringing its offbeat burger creations to the Bowery

The coming soon sign appeared last week at 334 Bowery for PYT, the first NYC outpost of the Philadelphia burger place known for some pretty wacky creations.

A rep for Gia Trattoria confirmed to us that the Italian restaurant has closed. While PYT will open in the weeks ahead, the adjacent space will continue to be home to the now larger SRO pizza speakeasy.

As for PYT, well they peddle speciality stunt burgers with deep-fried "Philly Cheese Steak" Hot Pockets for buns … or Chicken Bacon Eggo Sliders… the Cocoa Krispies Chicken Burger … hey, it's your colon. Check out their menu here.



Perhaps PYT will stem the tide of restaurants here, with Forcella, Espoleta and Gia Trattoria coming and going fairly quickly since last November.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Giving 334 Bowery another go with pizza

[Updated] Giving 334 Bowery another go with pizza

We've lost track of the comings and goings at 334 Bowery. Let's take inventory with the help of Eater and BoweryBoogie: The space between Bond and Great Jones was home to Forcella Bowery for nearly three years until last November … only to be replaced in early December by the tapas-friendly Espoleta, which closed six months later to make way for Gia Trattoria.

Meanwhile, in the adjacent space, Slice of Naples remained open even after Forcella shuttered. That was until the owners converted the space to SRO, a pizza speakeasy that debuted in January with a $38 prix fixe menu that included an appetizer, pizza, dessert and three beverage pairings, as Eater reported.

Now it appears SRO has closed as well. There's a sign up for Bowery Pizza. Perhaps this will be more of a takeout-friendly place.

Anyway, by our count, that's six restaurants for 334 Bowery since November: Forcella, Espoleta, Gia Trattoria, Slice of Naples, SRO and Bowery Pizza.

Updated 6-18

The folks from SRO left this in the comments...

While it "appears' that SRO has shuttered, it is indeed still operating, and quite successfully! Due to overcrowding inside our former 12-table restaurant on the weekends, we finally decided to take over the larger dining space in the back and continue to operate as a pizza speakeasy, serving the incredible pies of our pizzaiolo, Giuio Adriani. The dining room capacity has now tripled and is much more comfortable, and our menu has also expanded — serving both the $38 pre-fixe menu, as well as pizza, appetizers, and dessert a la carte.