'Authentic Georgian-Mediterranean cuisine' coming to Avenue B

A reader told us that a new restaurant is opening in the space recently vacated by Caffe Buon Gusto on Avenue B and East Fifth Street.

We don't know much about the space. The reader noticed diners inside Sunday night, but thought that it was a friends-family kind of thing.

The restaurant is called Oda House, serving "authentic Georgian-Mediterranean cuisine" per the signage outside, from chef and managing partner Maia Acquaviva. Sounds interesting... hope to receive more information later...

Caffe Buon Gusto has been closed on Avenue B

Well, there's a long recent history here on East Fifth Street and Avenue B... We first reported Caffe Buon Gusto's incoming arrival in June 2009. However, through the years, the space became dormant, serving as a makeshift shelter and a canvas.

Then! Last April, new signage arrived... The Italian eatery did open in the spring... and the place never seemed all that busy... and while diners generally liked the food, we heard a few stories about the ambiance, like the Rangers game on the flat-panel TV behind the bar on mute with Yanni cranking on the house stereo.

In any event, Bill the libertarian anarchist and a few other readers have noted the place hasn't been open of late... calls to the restaurant go unanswered...

Caffe Buon Gusto lives on Avenue B!

Well, Caffe Buon Gusto does, indeed, live on Avenue B at East Fifth Street. We first reported the Italian eatery's incoming arrival in June 2009. However, through the years, the space became dormant, serving as a makeshift shelter and a canvas.

In fact, it is almost one year to the date since we last saw the gates open. Last week, though, readers saw activity inside.

Last night, multiple readers noted that the place was having its grand opening this week. (Last night looked like a family-and-friends evening, per one reader.) Workers were busy fixing up the space for the opening...

[EVG reader Duke]

[EVG reader Andrew]

[EVG reader AC]

...and here's the menu... they'll be opening for lunch too... and it looks as if they have a sidewalk cafe on the East Fifth Street side ...

[EVG reader AC — click to enlarge]

A reader said that they are related to the Caffe Buon Gusto outpost on the Upper East Side.

Restaurant that never opened on Avenue B looking like a restaurant again

Back in June 2009, we noted that Caffe Buon Gusto was opening an outpost on Avenue B and East Fifth Street... CBG, as we never called it, was on the CB3/SLA docket a few times... but nothing ever happened with the space, which became, at times, a makeshift shelter and a canvas.

In fact, it is almost one year to the date since we last saw the gates open... Until this afternoon. A reader walked by a bit ago and was surprised to find the gates up and the lights on inside... Perhaps the space is back from the dead? Anyone with details on what's happening here?

Breaking: Interior of Caffe Buon Gusto revealed!

This corner on Avenue B and Fifth Street has sat dormant for 9 years after Zips moved out ... EV Grieve reader Dave on 7th just caught this glimpse inside the longtime-in-the-works Caffe Buon Gusto ... And check out the napkin fold...

Cleaning up Caffe Buon Gusto

The empty shell of the longtime-coming Caffe Buon Gusto on Avenue B at Fifth Street has been a favorite photo op of EV Grieve's through the years...

However! Tonight, the CBGers are on the CB3/SLA docket (again) ... which is likely why workers have been busy cleaning up the exterior of late...

And a photo from @scottlava ...

CBG went before the CB3/SLA last May, a performance that gave some audience members a chuckle ... from our recap via RyanAvenueA:

[T]he guys applying for the sidewalk cafe for a non-existent business were hilarious. Having a business license and applying for a liquor license under different names, NOT actually having a business, and then being surprised when they wouldn't give them a sidewalk license. Hilarious. Best was when the "personal representative" of Buon Gusto's owner (hey nice ascot by the way!) said he missed his son's chorus concert to be there, so he was rightfully indignant that CB3 wouldn't hear him out.

We'll always have Caffe Buon Gusto

Well, this is actually starting to get entertaining...

During the April CB3/SLA meeting, the owners of graffiti and homeless hotspot Caffe Buon Gusto on Avenue B at Fifth Street were no shows... aside from a beer and wine license within a resolution area, they were also on the docket for a sidewalk cafe. But! Later, the architect representing the eatery for just for the sidewalk cafe arrived... though he couldn't very well make a pitch for a sidewalk cafe when they don't even have a liquor license yet. Plus, the Board said that they had instructed the owner to be present.

Got all that?

OK. The Gusto crew was back on the docket for Monday night's meeting... and, well, cue the circus music... EV Grieve reader Ryan on Avenue A provided the recap:

[T]he guys applying for the sidewalk cafe for a non-existent business were hilarious. Having a business license and applying for a liquor license under different names, NOT actually having a business, and then being surprised when they wouldn't give them a sidewalk license. Hilarious. Best was when the "personal representative" of Buon Gusto's owner (hey nice ascot by the way!) said he missed his son's chorus concert to be there, so he was rightfully indignant that CB3 wouldn't hear him out.

So, meanwhile, the space sits, being used to collect some tags...





...and provide some comfort for those in need of rest...



Will we see The Gusto Crew back next month? Will a restaurant ever open here?

Caffe Buon Gusto continues to remain restaurant-free

Caffe Buon Gusto on Avenue B at Fifth Street looks to remain vacant for a little bit longer... CBG was scratched from last night's CB3/SLA liquor license docket... Meanwhile, perhaps the space can continued to be used by those in need of shelter for the night...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Caffe Buon Gusto's shelter

Caffe Buon Gusto's shelter

Last summer, after a seemingly lengthy renovation, Caffe Buon Gusto hoisted its signage at Fifth Street and Avenue B. Since then, things have not gone so well for the Italian eatery ... The space has turned into a graffiti hotspot... and its first pass at obtaining a liquor license last October didn't go so well... The Caffe Buon Gusto folks are back before the CB3/SLA board this Monday.

Meanwhile, in recent weeks, the space has provided shelter for a variety of people....

Smooth sailing tonight...???

Also tonight on the CB3/SLA docket: the long-awaited Caffe Buon Gusto at Fifth Street and Avenue B goes for a liquor license. Meanwhile, the space continues to attract a variety of street art... such as this sailboat made from red tape...should be plenty of red tape tonight too...



Read my previous 5,987 posts on Caffe Buon Gusto here.

Noted

On Avenue B at Fifth Street, the site of the seemingly abandoned Caffe Buon Gusto.

Caffe Buon Gusto looking a little sad, neglected

Work on Caffe Buon Gusto on Avenue B and Fifth Street has seemingly come to a halt. More graffiti appears by the day. The paper covering the windows has fallen down. Not much progress can be seen inside.




An EV Grieve reader files this report after a walk by this past weekend:

One of the plate-glass windows has a big crack running from side to bottom, most of the new paintwork is tagged and defaced, and the paper peeling back from one of the windows shows that construction inside has come to a halt. I have eaten at the Buon Gusto on the upper east side a few times, and found the food tasty and the staff welcoming; not that the East Village or the Lower East Side wants yet another homespun Italian restaurant, but the empty storefront has a very sad look to it.

City's third Caffe Buon Gusto coming to Avenue B

As we noted yesterday (and thanks to reader Empire), the former Zips space on Avenue B and Fifth Street will be Caffe Buon Gusto...



Apparently there are two other locations in Manhattan -- one on 236 E. 77th St. and one at 1004 Second Ave. I'm not familiar with these places. The Caffe's Italian fare on one site gets pretty positive remarks, except from the last person who left a review. "The 'bruschetta' was served on toasted wonder bread!"

Anyway, to repeat what I wrote earlier....is there really a need for another Italian restaurant in the neighborhood?