We won't have Michael 'Bao' Huynh to blog about anymore

Via Eater, we learn that Michael 'Bao' Huynh is leaving town...

Per Gael Greene:

Serial restaurant dabbler and assassinator Michael “Bao” Huynh has given up on trying to make money after countless diehard efforts and is leaving tonight for Vietnam, the land of opportunity. Bao III, Obao, Mickey’s Burger, Bia, BaoBQ, Bar Bao, Pho Sure. Nothing really worked for Hunyh, at least not for long...

He left behind quite a trail in the East Village. Such as!

• Baoguette Cafe closed for a few hours back in September and never reopened...

• BaoBQ on First Avenue, which closed in August

• The infamous Barbao-DOB 111 whirlwind on St. Mark's Place back in 2010-11...

Then there was always the promise of something new... like the "Old School Style Philly" cheesesteak place called Mikey's Cheese Steak that never materialized at 23 Third Ave. ... or, better, Bao & Buny, the burger, fried chicken and waffles concept for 125 St. Mark's Place with former Playboy bunny Nicole Van Croft ...

And he probably had more fun with all this than we did.

[Updated] BaoBQ has apparently closed on First Avenue

Last Monday, we pointed out that there was a store for rent sign above BaoBQ here on First Avenue between 13th Street and 14th Street... however, at the time, the latest from Michael "Bao" Huynh, which opened in December, was still open for business...

However, it appears BaoBQ has closed... the storefront is in some disarray... and the phone number has been temporarily disconnected...

The Croman 9300 listing says the space is available starting Sept. 1. The asking rent is $13,995.

Updated 8/14:

Huynh confirmed to Eater that he has closed BaoBQ.

The Baoster says that the space had bad plumbing problems (see the picture at right), and an upstairs tenant complained about the smoke coming from the restaurant. He also notes that "rent is too expensive, anyway."

Say goodBao to Tahini on Third Avenue and St. Mark's

[Image via Google Street Maps thing]

So Eater had the scoop yesterday that Michael "Bao" Huynh is taking over the Tahini joint here ... and opening an "Old School Style Philly" cheesesteak place called — Mikey's Cheese Steak. He'll serve a Korean version, Mexican version and Italian version of the sandwich. He already owns Baoguette down St. Mark's Place next to the incoming 7-Eleven.

No word yet if he'll remove the "falafel" and "shawarma" painted on the front of the building.

Also on First Avenue: BaoBQ opens this week

On First Avenue between 13th Street and 14th Street... the latest from Michael "Bao" Huynh, which we pointed out in October...

As the sign shows, they're opening this week — as soon as they hire a few people...

Peek A Bao

We haven't looked at the latest offering from Michael "Bao" Huynh in a month or so here on First Avenue near 14th Street ... (most recently home to the short-lived Select Burger...)

Here's a peek (and yes — that headline is awful) ...

BaoBQ coming to First Avenue

Well, now. This sign has appeared on First Avenue near 14th Street ... where the short-lived Select Burger most recently held forth... Not sure if this is something new from Michael "Bao" Huynh, who has opened and closed 68 several restaurants in the area in recent years... Perhaps this is the burger, fried chicken and waffles joint he was supposed to open with that Playboy Bunny, as Eater first reported...

Workers renovating former Barbao space on St. Mark's Place

EV Grieve friend Bayou passed along this shot from yesterday morning... where workers are gutting Michael "Bao" Huynh's eatery on St. Mark's Place...

This address is on the docket for Monday night's CB3/SLA meeting:

• The Saint Mark's Red House (TTD& G LLC), 115 St Marks Pl (wb)

This will make the third Bao restaurant here this year. DOB 111 became Barbao back in January.

In April 2010, the CB3/SLA committee voted against his application for a beer-wine license at DOB 111.

As the Bao turns

To be honest, I've lost track of the comings and goings here at Barbao on St. Mark's Place... It seems as if Michael "Bao" Huynh will have three eateries on St. Mark's Place soon enough, as Eater reported last Friday. (Including one with a former Playmate! Woo!)

Anyway, the one that is open, Barbao, which used to be Bao 111, certainly looked closed for some renovations last night...

So I gave them a call...

Barbao: Hello? [Suspiciously]

EVG: [A little surprised, expecting to hear a greeting like "Good evening. Barbao."] Hi. Are you open tonight?

Barbao: No. Tomorrow night!

EVG: So you'll be open tomorrow night?

Barbao: Yes! [Click]

All sorts of crazy, Bao-related food shit happening on St. Mark's Place

Lordy! Eater has the details on ... on.... this:

Michael 'Bao' Huynh has a new concept up his sleeve. He's partnering with Nicole Van Croft (left!) a Playboy Bunny ... on a burger, fried chicken, and waffles concept on St. Mark's Place. Croft, who Bao says makes "the best southern style fried chicken and waffles" will be the culinary force behind the place, which will be located at 125 St. Mark's Pl. The tentative name is Bao & Buny.

And there's more... which you can read at Eater.

Beau replaces Paste at Barbao on St. Mark's Place

Before!



Now!

A new era for DOB/Barbao on St. Mark's Place?

The transformation from DOB 111 on St. Mark's Place to Barbao seems to be complete... (We first noted this last week.) We even spotted Michael 'Bao' Huynh dining in the empty dining room last week...

Anyway, perhaps this is a new era for the Bao-owned eatery... there are new letters up on the front window for happy hour ... and takeout!

I've told this story before... Shortly after DOB 111 opened, Mrs. Grieve was waiting for me on St. Marks's... she walked over to look at a menu out of boredom/curiousity ... She asked to see a menu, and the hostess on duty yelled at her that DOB 111 doesn't offer food to go. She said that she didn't want food to go, only to look at a menu. The hostess yelled again that they don't do takeout...

I guess they do now.

Passing the Bao torch on St. Mark's Place

Eater reported on Friday that Michael 'Bao' Huynh will turn DOB 111 on St. Mark's Place into Barbao, his restaurant that closed last year on the Upper West Side. He's not messing around... the old DOB sign has already been painted over....

Then!



Now!

Known or understood by very few; mysterious; secret; obscure; esoteric

The French-Carribbean place taking over the space that belonged to Bao 111 on Avenue C now has a name...Arcane.