HAGS is reopening on 1st Avenue

Photos by Steven 

After nearly a three-month closure, HAGS returns to service this evening at 163 First Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street.

As previously reported, the well-regarded restaurant had to close "due to long-standing inherited, unsafe structural damage and plumbing issues in our building." 

Owners Telly Justice and Camille Lindsley shared the news in an Insagram post earlier this month...

 

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On New Year's Day at noon, HAGS will start accepting reservations for the month of February. 

Justice and Lindsley opened HAGS — described as a restaurant "for Queers and everyone else" — this past July. 

The retail space had been vacant since Fuku closed in the spring of 2018.

Building issues temporarily KOs HAGS on 1st Avenue

Photos by Steven

Two-plus months after opening at 163 First Ave., HAGS has temporarily closed due to some issues in the building between 10th Street and 11th Street. 

Owners Telly Justice and Camille Lindsley explained the situation in an Instagram post from Friday: 

We're so grateful for the outpouring of love and support we’ve received in the short time since HAGS opened its doors. Our team and our guests truly mean the world to us. 

Because it's in our nature to be as transparent as humanly possible, we must share the sad news that due to long-standing inherited, unsafe structural damage and plumbing issues in our building, we are temporarily closing HAGS until further notice. Our team and our guests' safety is our utmost priority, so we'll be working with the support of our new landlord to rebuild what needs fixing as quickly as possible. Send us speedy vibes! 

HAGS, described as a restaurant "for Queers and everyone else," opened on July 20 with a variety of tasting menus, including a "pay what you can" option on Sundays. 

You can follow the HAGS Instagram account for updates.

The address is notable to some food aficionados for being where David Chang's Momofuku empire got its start .... first as the home of Noodle Bar (2004) before it moved a few storefronts away... later becoming Momofuku Ko for six years (2008-2014), which moved to a larger space on Extra Place ... and then the first outpost of his Fuku fried chicken sandwich chain (2015-2018).

The retail space had been vacant since Fuku closed in the spring of 2018.

HAGS sets July 20 opening date on 1st Avenue

HAGS, described as a restaurant "for Queers and everyone else," is opening on July 20.

The owners, chef Telly Justice and sommelier Camille Lindsley (partners in business and life), made the announcement on Instagram last week... and the first round of reservations for the tiny space at 163 First Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street went live on Friday.

For now, HAGS, an acronym for Have A Good Summer, offers several options for tasting menus (vegan AND omnivore). And on Sundays, HAGS will offer a "pay what you can" menu (no reservations on Sundays — first come, first served).

In addition to some quality food and drink, the HAGS website states: "we serve radical luxury, unapologetic joy, community and optimistic change."

You can follow the HAGS Instagram account for updates. 

Our previous post has a roundup of some of the positive press HAGS has received this year.

Thanks to Steven for the photo.

What to know about HAGS, a queer and trans-led dining destination opening on 1st Avenue

From the outside, there doesn't appear to be much happening on the plywood-covered storefront at 163 First Ave. just north of 10th Street.

Inside the small space is a whole other story, where HAGS, one of the most anticipated restaurant openings of this spring, is preparing to debut in the weeks ahead. 

HAGS describes itself as "an intimate restaurant in NYC by queer people for all people." In addition to some quality food and drink, the HAGS website states: "we serve radical luxury, unapologetic joy, community and optimistic change."

The restaurant via chef Telly Justice and sommelier Camille Lindsley (partners in business and in life) has received a good deal of press this year... here's a sampling to bring you up to date:

• HAGS Will Be Queer First, and a Restaurant Second (Eater)

• HAGS Wants to Be NYC’s Best Version of a Queer Potluck (The Infatuation)

• This Intimate East Village Restaurant Opening Soon Is By Queer People, For All People (SecretNYC) 

You can follow the HAGS Instagram account for updates. 

This space was last home to David Chang's Fuku.