East Village Burritos & Bar is now Spicewala Bar Indian Cuisine

[Photo Friday by EVG reader Steph]

On Friday morning, EVG reader Steph wrote in with news of [another] name change for the restaurant on the southwest corner of Sixth Street and First Avenue.

Please welcome Spicewala Bar Indian Cuisine...





So, to recap.

The space that houses East Village Burritos & Bar, on the corner, and Apna Masala next door on the Sixth Street side, have been closed since late September. A sign on the door point to "construction work."

After Banjara left the corner in 2013, Figaro Villaggio, an Italian bar-restaurant, opened in January 2014. They later changed the name to Figaro Cafe Bistro Bar & Grill and, by November 2014, gave up part of the space to an Apna Masala. (All from the same owners, as we understand it.)

Then in March 2015, Figaro Cafe Bistro Bar & Grill changed its names/concepts to La Esquina Bar & Grill ... then the name evolved to La Esquina Burritos and Bar ... and eventually East Village Burritos & Bar. And now, Spicewala Bar Indian Cuisine.

Meanwhile, the Apna Masala signage remains up... for now.

East Village Burritos & Bar and Apna Masala haven't been open lately

It has been dark of late at East Village Burritos & Bar and its sister establishment next door, Apna Masala.



A sign on the restaurants here on First Avenue at Sixth Street mentions a closure for "construction work" — today.



Perhaps connecting the dots, the FDNY responded to a report of a fire at the building, 97 First Ave., on Sept. 25...roughly the last time we saw these places open...





There wasn't any word of damage to the building. (Witnesses said that they smelled smoke, but never saw any actual fire.)

Neither of these places haven't been setting any dining attendance records, save for nice evenings when a few patrons will take advantage of their sidewalk seating (under the sidewalk bridge for a good part of the summer).

After Banjara left the corner in 2013, Figaro Villaggio, an Italian bar-restaurant, opened in January 2014. They later changed the name to Figaro Cafe Bistro Bar & Grill and, by November 2014, gave up part of the space to an Apna Masala. (All from the same owners, as we understand it.)

Then in March 2015, Figaro Cafe Bistro Bar & Grill changed its names/concepts to La Esquina Bar & Grill ... then the name evolved to La Esquina Burritos and Bar ... and eventually East Village Burritos & Bar.

There's nothing on file with the DOB about renovations/construction on the space.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Banjara space yielding to Figaro Bistro Grill, 15 comments

Banjara moving soon to the Haveli space on Second Avenue

Indian cuisine returning to the corner of 1st Avenue and East 6th Street

Figaro Cafe Bistro Bar & Grill is now La Esquina (not that one) Bar & Grill

La Esquina Burritos & Bar signage up on 1st Avenue

6th Street switcharoos: Another name change for La Esquina Burritos and Bar; Spice Cove exits