El Carnaval coming soon to the former Fonda space on Avenue B

Updated: El Carnaval opened on May 9!

Coming soon signage arrived Monday at 40 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street for El Carnaval, a Panamanian restaurant and bar. 

We're told the new venture is from the folks who run KC Gourmet Empanadas right next door...

... that space looks to become a to-go outpost for El Carnaval...

Fonda, the previous tenant at 40 Avenue B, closed last summer. The Mexican restaurant's other locations in Chelsea and Park Slope remain open. This outpost opened in February 2012, stopping the revolving door of restaurants to come and go here.

Thanks to Stacie Joy for the photos and Vinny & O for the tip!

Fonda permanently closes on Avenue B

[Photo by Stacie Joy]

Fonda is the latest East Village restaurant to close amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The Mexican bar-restaurant at 40 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street shut down after service on Sunday.

A Fonda rep shared this message with us:

Unfortunately, we are closed for good. Just like many other people in our business this crisis left us with no options! It was a very hard decision to make — especially because of our fantastic and incredible staff. We had a good 8-year run in the East Village and we are very thankful to the neighborhood.

Fonda's other locations in Chelsea and Park Slope remain open. This outpost opened in February 2012, stopping the revolving door of restaurants to come and go here.

Reader appreciation: Root & Bone and Fonda

[Photos by Stacie Joy]

Erin shares this two-fer of Avenue B neighbors via the EVG inbox...

I’d like to recommend both Root & Bone and Fonda during this difficult time. So grateful to both for being open and providing delicious food and drinks with safety and cleanliness.

Root & Bone has fed me delicious fried chicken — as well as bottled cocktails — multiple times now. Both were expertly packed with all the trimmings ... Their staff has been extremely friendly and warm in these difficult times, and have really gone the extra mile with customer care. They also have a takeout menu for the time being featuring some very affordable specials.

Fonda is a restaurant I meet friends in fairly regularly ... and the environment from the takeout window is still welcoming. They are continuing to serve all the classics with some special pricing on margaritas and guacamole for walk-up orders. Additionally, they are cleaner than a Swiss lab, making sure to wipe down even pens and the card reader between each use.

Fonda is at 40 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street. They are open for takeout and delivery from 4 to 9 p.m. Root & Bone is at 200 E. Third St. near Avenue B. They are open for takeout and delivery from 5 to 9 p.m.

Want to share an appreciation of an East Village business that remains open? Send us an email here. (We'll see how this goes! So far so good! Thank you for the suggestions!)

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Reader appreciation: Le Fournil Bakery

• Reader appreciation: Abraço

• Reader appreciation: Post

• Reader appreciation: Zaragoza Mexican Deli & Grocery

• Reader appreciation: Barnyard Cheese Shop

Fonda debuts sidewalk cafe

An EVG reader noted that the new sidewalk cafe is now operational outside Fonda, the Mexican restaurant at 40 Avenue B near East Third Street. (The sidewalk section apparently officially opened this past Saturday.)

CB3 signed off on the cafe application during its August meeting.

And this is how the sidewalk seating looks with people…

The wonderful BRUNCH scene at our brand-new outdoor cafe at Fonda East Village! #brunch #nycbrunch #outdoorcafe #fonda #fondaeastvillage #eastvillage #fondanyc #bestbrunch

A photo posted by FONDA (@fondanyc) on Oct 10, 2015 at 1:58pm PDT

Report: Fonda opens at 40 Avenue B next Tuesday

Diner's Journal reports that the second location of the Park Slope-based Mexican eatery Fonda opens next Tuesday, Feb. 21.

Per Diner's Journal, Fonda will have "60 seats and a menu of well-crafted, richly flavored regional dishes, including Yucatean shrimp, a Guajillo-style burger and chicken from the north with Chihuahua cheese. Crowd-pleasers like taquitos, flautas, braised pork in adobo sauce, and enchiladas suizas are also featured."

The address has been a carousel of eateries. Last May, the "Global Jewish" restaurant from "Top Chef" alum Nikki Cascone closed after six months. Chabela's and Russo's have been in and out of here in fairly quick succession in recent years.