Last soup night for Ciao for Now

From the tip line ... word of the very last soup night over at Ciao for Now at 523 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

In an Instagram post, the CFN family notes that the Citizens Cafe Group is taking over moving forward. Will have more about this development later...

Meanwhile, in summation, the cafe shut down its dining room after 17 years at the end of January 2018. However, ownership was continuing on with the catering business ... and in March 2018, they announced the Tuesday evening dinner service with a variety of soups and salads.

Ciao for Now is open from 5 to 10 p.m. today.

After a late-summer hiatus, Tuesday Soup Night is back on at Ciao for Now

The soup is back on at Ciao for Now on Tuesday evenings at 523 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B following a late summer hiatus.

Here's what to expect tonight (Oct. 1) ...



The family-owned cafe shut down its dining room after 17 years at the end of January 2018. However, ownership was continuing on with the catering business ... and in March 2018, they announced a Tuesday evening dinner service with a variety of soups and salads.

Ciao for Now is open Tuesdays from 5 to 9 p.m.

Classic Film Night returns to Ciao for Now tomorrow with 'Charade'

Ciao For Now is continuing with its free classic film series this month.

Tomorrow (Thursday!) night, the cafe screens "Charade" from 1963 with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant...



The doors open at 6 p.m. ... and the movie starts at 7 p.m. Food and beverages are available for purchase to stay or to go.

As noted before, the 17-year-old family-owned and operated catering company is also open for Soup Night every Tuesday evening from 5 to 10. Hit this link for more info.

Here's what will be playing in the dining room at 523 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B in the coming months:

• Nov. 15 "His Girl Friday" (1940)

• Dec. 20 "The Little Princess" (1939)

Classic films at 7: Ciao for Now Presents 'Third Thursdays' this fall

This fall, Ciao For Now is screening free classic films on the third Thursday of every month.

Here's what will be playing in the dining room at 523 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B:

• Sept. 20 "A Star Is Born" (1937)

• Oct. 18 "Charade" (1963)

• Nov. 15 "His Girl Friday" (1940)

• Dec. 20 "The Little Princess" (1939)

The doors open at 6 p.m. ... and the movies start at 7 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase to stay or to go.

The 17-year-old family-owned and operated catering company is also open for Soup Night every Tuesday evening from 5 to 10. Hit this link for more info.

Tuesday evenings at Ciao For Now

A reminder for anyone who may not recall that Ciao For Now is open Tuesday from 5-10 p.m. for a light dinner service over at 523 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The owners post their Tuesday offerings each week on Instagram... so tonight...

It’s Soup Night!!! We will have all your favorites: Turkey Chili (GF), Summer Veggie (GF & V) & Red Lentil in Coconut Curry Milk (GF & V) ➕Raw Kale Salad, Heart of Palm Salad, Focaccia Pizzas, Flourless Chocolate Cakes & wait for it... HOMEMADE PEACH PIE! 🥧😊 Get it before it’s gone! Every Tuesday from 5-10pm #familyowned #thelodown #eastvillagegrieve #evgrieve #healthyeating #healthy #organic #healthycomfortfood #eastvillage #eastvillagecafe #nyccoffee #caffeinefix #treatyourself #NYC #comfortfood  #local #healthyliving #nutritious #photooftheday #eeeeeats #nyceats #organicbakery #pastries

A post shared by Ciao For Now (@ciaofornowny) on Jul 17, 2018 at 9:12am PDT

The cafe shut down its dining room after 17 years at the end of January. However, ownership was continuing on with their catering business as well as using the space for community events.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ciao For Now is closing after 17 years on 12th Street; will continue with catering business

Souper Tuesday

As previously noted, Ciao for Now at 523 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B now offers a soup service (along with a few other menu items) — to stay or to go — on Tuesday evenings from 5-10.

And tonight...

Yes we're open! Every Tuesday 5-10pm because it's soup night at Ciao. Today soups are, Veggie chili (Gluten free) Red lentil in coconut milk curry (Gluten free and vegan) Poblano chicken chowder (Gluten free) We will also offer Raw kale salad (Gluten free) Focaccia pizzas, Homemade vanilla ice cream, Flourless chocolate cakes (Gluten free)  #soupnight #familyowned #thelodown #eastvillagegrieve #evgrieve #healthyeating #healthy #organic #healthycomfortfood #eastvillage #eastvillagecafe #nyccoffee #caffeinefix #treatyourself #NYC #comfortfood  #local #healthyliving #nutritious #photooftheday #eeeeeats #nyceats #organicbakery #pastries #nyccatering

A post shared by Ciao For Now (@ciaofornowny) on Apr 17, 2018 at 6:36am PDT

The cafe shut down its dining room after 17 years at the end of January. However, ownership was continuing on with their catering business as well as using the space for community events.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ciao For Now is closing after 17 years on 12th Street; will continue with catering business

Soup's on tonight at Ciao for Now

[Image via @ciaofornowny]

As noted last week, Ciao for Now at 523 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B is offering a soup service — to stay or to go — on Tuesday evenings from 5-10.

Per their Instagram feed last night:

We will be open from 5-10 pm serving not just soups but also our ginger green tea as well as cookies, some wine and beer. We will be serving Grass Fed Beef Stew. Very Veggie (GF,V) and Red Lentil in Coconut Milk Curry (GF,V)

The family-owned cafe shut down its dining room after 17 years at the end of January. However, ownership was continuing on with their catering business as well as using the space for community events... and now with souper Tuesday.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ciao For Now is closing after 17 years on 12th Street; will continue with catering business

Ciao for Now starting a Tuesday evening soup service

Ciao for Now at 523 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B is returning to service every Tuesday evening from 5-10 p.m. — starting tonight.

The family-owned cafe shut down its dining room after 17 years at the end of January. However, ownership was continuing on with their catering business as well as using the space for community events.

Here's part of Ciao for Now's message yesterday via Instagram:

We are hoping to create a place to gather and enjoy a casual cup of soup together to promote community engagement (and deliciousness). We will have our ginger green tea, wine and beer available along with turkey chili, lemon chickpea leek and tomato bisque soup for sale. You can take a container to go or sit and enjoy your soup here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ciao For Now is closing after 17 years on 12th Street; will continue with catering business

Last day for Ciao For Now

[Image via Instagram]

In case you missed this post from Friday... Ciao For Now, the cafe-bakery at 523 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, is closing after 17 years in business.

Today is the last day. Ciao For Now is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for breakfast and lunch.

Moving forward, the Miceli family will continue on with their online catering business.

Here's part of Ciao For Now's farewell note:

It is difficult to put into words all of the emotions we are feeling. We feel like we gave it everything we’ve got but as we are seeing all over NYC, the retail small business model has become nearly impossible to sustain. We have met so many incredible people along the way.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ciao For Now is closing after 17 years on 12th Street; will continue with catering business

Ciao For Now is closing after 17 years on 12th Street; will continue with catering business

[Photo via Instagram]

Ciao For Now, the homespun cafe at 523 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, is closing after 17 years in business. They will serve their last meal next Wednesday (Jan. 31).

However, the owners will continue on with their catering business as well as use the space for community events.

Here's a letter than they shared with me last night...

Dear East Village Community,

It is with heavy hearts that after 17 years, we close our cafe doors on February 1.

Moving forward, our primary focus will be our catering business and hosting community events.

We look forward to continuing to serve delicious handmade food to you by way of our online catering store at ciaofornow.nyc where you can order catering platters, cakes, pies, pastries and beverages...and yes...that includes our ginger green tea with lemon and honey :)

It is difficult to put into words all of the emotions we are feeling. We feel like we gave it everything we’ve got but as we are seeing all over NYC, the retail small business model has become nearly impossible to sustain. We have met so many incredible people along the way.

Raising our children in the cafe has been a great joy for our family. Ciao for Now has been a second home to many, and we couldn’t have made it this far without our amazing staff and all of your love and support. Thank you for your friendship and loyalty. Our family will always cherish all of the beautiful memories made here.

With much love & gratitude,

Ciao for Now
The Miceli Family

From 2008-2015 Ciao For Now had an outpost in the West Village. (Read about that here.) They closed that spot to focus on the original East Village location. As Amy Miceli said at that time: "It is brutal running a business in the city. I love it and hate it every day."

Ciao For Now will be open per usual for brunch this weekend 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

'It's a Wonderful Life' at Ciao for Now on Dec. 15

Ciao for Now is hosting a free holiday screening of "It’s a Wonderful Life" next Friday, Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m.

Via the EVG inbox...

We will be collecting unwrapped toy donations at the door for the NYPD 9th Precinct’s Annual Toy Drive. Seating is limited so we strongly recommend reserving your seat by calling 212-677- 2616 to RSVP. There will be delicious food and beverage available for purchase and plenty of holiday cheer!

The family-owned restaurant is at 523 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. This is the latest film screening for Ciao for Now, who earlier this year showed "Carnival of Souls" and "What About Me?"

Ciao for Now hosting cult classic 'Carnival of Souls'

This is happening at Ciao for Now on 12th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B on Wednesday night at 7...

Ciao for Now is hosting a special Halloween screening of "Carnival of Souls" (1962). The film follows a young woman (Candace Hilligoss) who is drawn to a mysterious abandoned carnival after a traumatic accident. Entry is $5 and all ticket proceeds will benefit the Apple Village Arts after-school program. Entry also includes a mystery raffle ticket! Spine-chilling refreshments will be available for purchase. Seating is limited so RSVP at 212-677-2616 to reserve your seat.

Ciao For Now now open on Tuesdays starting today (Tuesday!)

With the arrival of fall, Ciao For Now, the cafe-bakery on 12th Street between and Avenue A and Avenue B, will now open on Tuesdays — starting today.

Ciao For Now's hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Ciao for Now screening 1993 East Village indie 'What About Me' on Thursday night

On Thursday night, Ciao For Now on 12th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B is hosting a screening of "What About Me," a film shot around the neighborhood in the early 1990s and released in 1993.

Here's more info via Ciao For Now:

The film follows a young woman (played by Amodeo, herself) who wanders homeless in the East Village. “I took a walk around Tompkins Square Park to come up with an idea”, says Amodeo, “it was during the homeless encampment, where there were a lot of shanty houses at the time. I struck up a conversation with a few of the residents there and came to find out that a lot of people there had a series of breaks through uncontrollable circumstances. My idea was to make a story about a homeless couple who get swept up into the drama of living on the streets.”

The screening will be followed by a Q-&-A with Amodeo and her partner Henry Jones, an animator and artist who collaborated on it with her, and both of whom remain part of the nucleus of the old East Village art scene. The film stars Amodeo, Richard Edson, Nick Zedd, Rockets Redglare, Judy Carne, Richard Hell, Johnny Thunders, Dee Dee Ramone, and Gregory Corso; with cameo appearances by Jerry Nolan, Patti Palladin, Mariann Bracken, amongst others.

The cafe's doors open at 6:30 p.m. before the screening at 7:30 p.m. The cost is $5 per person, which includes complimentary popcorn and the Q-&-A after the film. Wine, beer, coffee and a light menu of items will be available for purchase throughout the night. Seating is limited so please call the cafe to make reservations in advance at 212-677-2616.

You can read more about the film in this old EVG post from 2008.

Ciao for Now extending their hours now into the evenings

[Image via]

Ciao for Now launches their evening service tonight... moving forward, the cafe at 523 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The menu will feature a variety of soups, salads, stews, cheeses and desserts on a rotating basis.

And via the EVG inbox...

Co-owner Amy Miceli says that the decision to add evening hours with home-cooked meals was based on a desire to fill the void left in the community’s changing restaurant landscape.

“We miss Old Devil Moon and Back 40, places to enjoy a quiet drink and a casual, calm meal with friends; not breaking the bank, not crowded out by folks yapping into their cell phones.

Our regulars miss those places too so we are making the food we like to eat, serving it with the wines we like to drink, in an atmosphere we would like to relax in.”

The new hours are as follows:

Monday: Breakfast/Lunch: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Tuesday - Friday: Breakfast/Lunch 8 a.m. - 5 p.m./Dinner 5 - 10 p.m.
Saturday: Brunch 9 a.m. - 4 p.m./Dinner 5 - 10 p.m.
Sunday Brunch: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Ciao for Now closing West Village location

[Image of East 12th Street location via Facebook]

Amy Miceli, who has operated Ciao for Now in the East Village the past 14 years with her husband Kevin and three kids, passed along news that they are closing their West Village branch tomorrow.

The cafe at 523 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B will continue on, she said.

"It is brutal running a business in the city," she said. "I love it and hate it every day."

Here's part of the closure notice for the space on West 10th Street between Sixth Avenue and Greenwich Avenue:

We would like to say thank you to all of the wonderful customers we have had over the past seven years. We have enjoyed serving you.

Kevin and I would like to let everyone know that we are NOT closing due to a huge rent increase from a greedy landlord. We are closing so that we can focus our energy on our family and our main location at 523 East 12th Street. In fact we have had a very reasonable landlord that has treated us with respect and patience throughout our seven years and many challenges.

Ciao moved into this beautiful spot in June of 2008. We managed to survive a Con Edison explosion that closed us down for three months in 2009, Hurricane Sandy that closed us down for a week, but destroyed our entire inventory at our main location in 2011. Those were some really tough times that took a lot of our resources and patience.

It has been the water main repair of 2014/2015 that has really put a strain on our business and ultimately caused us to say no more. We wish this was not the case. We love our west location and will miss it very much.

If you're in the anti-Valentine's Day mood

Ciao For Now, 523 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, is hosting its second-annual Anti-Valentine's celebration. This Saturday's dinner celebrates "a masquerade of heartbroken lovers from throughout history," per a Ciao For Now rep.

There are details on the flyer above... and on the Ciao For Now Facebook page...

Here's the Feb. 14 menu...

Your chance for an anti-Valentine's celebration at Ciao for Now

From the EVG inbox...

Ciao For Now Restaurant/Bakery is offering an unconventional gift idea for this upcoming Valentine’s Day. It is a unique twist on the traditional and much beloved Sweethearts® candies.

Give that special someone in your life a box of freshly baked Sweethearts® cakes with personalized messages. Each gift box is comprised of 4 mini, heart-shaped, layered, buttercream cakes including: Chocolate Ganache, Passion Fruit, Vanilla Raspberry Swirl with Chambord Buttercream, and Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Ciao For Now is also hosting an Anti-Valentine’s Day dinner celebration at their East 12th Street location on Friday, Feb. 14. Enjoy the many perks of singlehood alongside friends by indulging in a delicious Anti-Valentine’s Day themed dinner menu followed by complimentary chair massages, palm readings and broken-hearted cookies.

Ciao For Now is accepting Anti-Valentine’s Day dinner reservations at 212-677-2616.

Sayonara Sandy at Ciao for Now tomorrow night

From the EV Grieve inbox... Ciao For Now on East 12th Street was one of the many East Village restaurants to suffer significant damage during Hurricane Sandy... they will be holding an event Friday to help them recover and to thank their neighbors...