A new era for Baohaus on St. Mark's Place

Baohaus is reportedly returning to the East Village, opening in the weeks ahead at 97 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Avenue A.

According to Eater, who first reported the news, Eddie Huang, the chef, author and media personality, is partnering with Russell Steinberg, who operated Cecilia at No. 97, and Roman Grandinetti, whose credits include Regina's Grocery & Deli on Orchard Street.

Baohaus 2.0 will feature previous favorites such as pork buns and beef noodle soup, plus an expanded menu for lunch and dinner service, per Eater. 

The former East Village location operated for 9 years (2011-2020) at 14th Street between Second and Third Avenues. The original Baohaus, specializing in Huang's take on Taiwanese street food, debuted on Rivington Street in 2009. 

Cecilia opened in August 2024. The bistro and wine bar closed after service this past New Year's Eve for a "reset."

For 31 years, Yaffa Cafe was home to Yaffa Cafe... closing in 2014.

A new mural for a new restaurant opening at 97 St. Mark's Place

Cecilia, a new bistro via Russell Steinberg, opens later this summer at 97 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue. More on Cecilia later. (You can visit the CB3 application from January here.) 

And ICYMI: Longtime East Village-based artist Stephen Tashjian — aka Tabboo! — recently created the mural outside the address...

This space was mostly recently Luz Cafe and Taberna 97... and for 31 years it was home to Yaffa Cafe (RIP 2014).

In 2016, workers painted over the mural that had been on the wall since 1993 — a portrait of Lika Ramati, the former co-owner of Yaffa Cafe... a heart mural via Hektad arrived next for the Taberna 97 era.