Hot Box bringing soup noodles to 2nd Avenue

An EVG reader shared this photo, noting that the signage has arrived for Hot Box at 77 Second Ave.

There's a website for the restaurant that states: "The finest soup noodles in NYC." The site remains under construction — as does the space here between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.

Ciala, which briefly served Georgian cuisine before switching to French food, had an inauspicious five-month tenure at the address. Before Ciala, Ballaro had a seven-year run, closing in February 2016.

Ciala has apparently closed

Several EVG readers have noted that Ciala at 77 Second Ave. has been dark in recent weeks.

Google says that the restaurant between Fourth Street and Fifth Street is permanently closed. Their social media hasn’t posted since December and their phone just rings without an answer.

The restaurant serving Georgian cuisine opened last July. Two months later, they closed, with a sign noting that they would reopen with an "all new and exciting menu." They made a pivot to French cuisine — specifically crepes. (The Ciala Facebook page said that they are "a new bistro and wine bar serving Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian fare.")

Here's what one EVG commenter had to say in September:

It's been sad to walk by and see this empty restaurant. With the doors wide open, there was always a view of the long faces of the staff waiting for customers to cross their threshold.

Unfortunately, their menu was mostly heavy meat dishes, unappealing in the heat of summer. I would certainly have considered that menu on a cold winter night, but not in June, July and August (and this hot September).

I hope their new menu is more appropriate to the season and wish them great success. This stretch of 2nd Ave is becoming desolate with so many empty storefronts.

In denying their liquor license last March, CB3 wrote (per the meeting minutes): "the applicant has no experience operating a licensed premises and has no experience working in a similar type of business."

2-plus-month-old Ciala on 2nd Avenue reopens tomorrow with new menu

[Photo Tuesday by Derek Berg]

Ciala, the restaurant serving Georgian cuisine at 77 Second Ave., opened back in July here between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.

A sign arrived on the front door this week noting that they are closed for renovations, reopening tomorrow (Sept. 29!) with an "all new and exciting menu."

Has anyone tried Ciala? I haven't heard much about it to date.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ciala signage arrives on 2nd Avenue

Ciala signage arrives on 2nd Avenue

[Photo by Vinny & O]

The new restaurant called Ciala has announced its arrival at 77 Second Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.

As you can see, Ciala will serve "Georgian Gourmet Cuisine." No sign just yet of a restaurant website or any social media presence.

The previous tenant here, Ballaro, which served Italian coffee and pastries during the day, and beer, wine and small plates in the evening hours, closed after seven years in February 2016.

Ciala bringing 'Georgian and European cuisine' to 2nd Avenue

A new restaurant-cafe called Ciala is in the works for 77 Second Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.

According to the application on file (PDF) at the CB3 website ahead of Monday's SLA committee meeting, Ciala will serve "Georgian and European cuisine." (Ciala is seeking a beer-wine license.)

The layout shows 17 tables with a total of 49 seats ... and a five-seat service bar. The applicant, listed as David Kurtanidze, is proposing hours of 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, including for the outdoor seating.



The previous tenant here, Ballaro, which served Italian coffee and pastries during the day, and beer, wine and small plates in the evening hours, closed after seven years in February 2016. (Ballaro made headlines after drunken Taylor Swift fans apparently terrorized the staff by demanding they play more of the pop star's music on the house stereo in August 2015.)

The CB3-SLA meeting is Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the Thelma Burdick Community Room, 10 Stanton St. (corner of the Bowery).

Thanks to Steven for the photos!