Openings: Lions & Tigers & Squares, Nostro and Auriga Café

Lions & Tigers & Squares

As we noted on Oct. 11, the outpost of Lions & Tigers & Squares is now open here on Second Avenue and 10th Street.

The pizzeria, via the owners of Artichoke, is an homage to all things Detroit with a menu showcasing four-slice Detroit-style square pies featuring pepperoni, baby meatball, black olive and their Mustard Pie with spicy brown mustard and cheddar cheese. Other menu items include spicy chicken wings called the Detroit Red Wings.

The first Lions & Tigers & Squares opened in the spring of 2018 on 23rd Street in Chelsea. This space is larger, with a 50-seat dining room and a bar. The sidewalk cafe arrives in the spring.

Nicoletta closed last December at this address after six-plus years in business. They are still delivering pizzas from somewhere.



Nostro

The low-key Italian restaurant is now open at 75 Second Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.

Expect to find an array of pastas and staples such as eggplant parmigiana ($12) and grilled salmon ($17). Not sure what their portions are like — the prices look reasonable enough.

This is the second outpost for Nostro, which got its start out on Fifth Avenue in the Greenwood Heights/South Slope area of Brooklyn. (EVG contributor James Maher is a fan of the Brooklyn location!)

No. 75 has been vacant since ZaabVer Thai closed in the spring of 2018.


[Photo by @BobbyFingers]

Auriga Café

The cafe at 198 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street had been in soft-open mode since early September ... with the grand opening taking place last Thursday.

Auriga Café is the second venture for David Duran, who owns nine-year-old El Camion two storefronts to the south. With this space, he's offering "upscale comfort food" with aspirations of filling a dining niche left by former Avenue A mainstays 7A and Sidewalk Cafe.

The menu features a variety of burgers, salads, soups, etc. Find the menu here. There's also a weekend brunch with breakfast and lunch entrees. Breakfast and lunch service will begin the second week of November.

No. 198 was previously Empire Biscuit, which faded into potato peeling' infamy in early 2016.

Signage is up for Auriga Cafe on Avenue A

Auriga Cafe took another step toward an opening date with the arrival this past week of their storefront signage here at 198 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street.

As previously noted, David Duran, who runs El Camion a storefront away on the corner at 12th Street, is behind this new venture.

No word just yet on particulars, such as menu items. (The website doesn't appear to be up and running yet.)

Previously on EV Grieve:
Auriga Cafe announces itself on Avenue A

Auriga Cafe announces itself on Avenue A

It has almost been a year to the date when we first heard that a diner was coming to 198 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street.

Back on Friday, the signage arrived for Auriga Cafe. The cafe comes courtesy of David Duran, who runs El Camion a storefront away on the corner at 12th Street.

Through the grapevine, we've heard that this has been slow going here for a variety of reasons, such as waiting for city permits and approvals as well as undoing the mess that the previous tenant, Empire Biscuit, left behind.

The storefront hasn't been in use since the Biscuiteers started peelin' potatoes in January 2016.

H/T to dwg, Christine C., Gojira and Lola Sáenz!