On 2nd Avenue, Moonstruck Diner is now The Kitchen Sink

So we're told the sign/name switcheroo happened in the middle of last week here on Second Avenue at East Fifth Street ... goodbye Moonstruck Diner, hello The Kitchen Sink...



As we understand it, the ownership is the same... and while the diner standbys (burgers, omelettes, sandwiches, etc.) remain, the menu has been glammed up a bit, which would explain the cringeworthy arrival of Punk Rock Shrimp...



The owners revamped the space back in January ... this was on top of the fall 2014 revamp that ushered in the arrival of a new bar, draft beer and multiple flat-screen TVs ... (and — mason jars!)... running a diner in NYC is a tough business these days with rising costs and changing tastes.

Anyway, we've stopped by several times in recent months for dinner ... and the food was always solid, and the service friendly… we'll give The Kitchen Sink a whirl one of these days too, though the thought of saying We're going to eat at The Kitchen Sink doesn't sound so appealing…

Moonstruck Eatery is now open on Avenue A

A reader passed along word that the restaurant opened this week at 167 Avenue A between East 10th Street and East 11th Street … as we've been noting, the owners of Moonstruck Diner were going back to a diner concept after trying Ethos Meze East Village in the space.

We haven't seen the menu ourselves… the reader said there was standard fare, such as omelets, sandwiches and burgers, among other items…

Another sign of the new Moonstruck Eatery on Avenue A

The conversion of the former Ethos Meze East Village continues at 167 Avenue A between East 10th Street and East 11th Street … the owners of Moonstruck Diner were said to be opening another diner concept here… we await to hear more about what this will entail… and we remain hopeful…

Moonstruck Eatery makes an appearance at 167 Avenue A

[Photo from May]

About six weeks ago we heard a rumor that Moonstruck Diner would be opening another location in the neighborhood, this time at 167 Avenue A between East 10th Street and East 11th Street.

The previous tenant, Ethos Meze East Village, is owned by the same folks who run the Moonstruck Diner chainlet in the city.

While we were never able to nail down that rumor, a new sign has appeared above the space — for Moonstruck Eatery.





Previously on EV Grieve:
Rumor: Moonstruck Diner opening location on Avenue A

Rumor: Moonstruck Diner opening location on Avenue A

Ethos Meze East Village closed for renovations at 167 Avenue A back in late March... and there hasn't been much activity in the space here between East 10th Street and East 11th Street ... except for someone removing the Ethos Meze sign.

The restaurant is owned by the same folks who run the Moonstruck Diner chainlet in the city. Now comes word via the rumor mill that the owners will convert the space into another Moonstruck, similar to the one on Second Avenue and East Fifth Street.

The space remains on the market, however.

Moonstruck Diner reopens today after another revamp

The diner's dining room on Second Avenue at East Fifth Street has been closed the past few days (though they were making deliveries) ...

They are expected to be back open today...



Not sure exactly what management had revamped. (New floor? New tables and chairs? New bamboo motif?) Slum Goddess took this photo on Wednesday night...



This will be the second renovation in recent months. Back in September, EVG regular ~evilsugar25 noted the new bar, draft beer and multiple flat-screen TVs… (and mason jars!). "I walked in and my jaw dropped," ~evilsugar25 said.





It's still Moonstruck. Same menus, though there's a "$15 cocktails brunch."

Anyway, we haven't been here in some time. Any regulars want to share their thoughts on the recent changes?

Moonstruck Diner temporarily closed for 'operating illegally'

[Photo by @EdenBrower]

The city closed the Moonstruck Diner yesterday over on Second Avenue and East Fifth Street... no one was around the diner to ask about the infraction ... as we've seen along here, the infractions are typically quite minor...

Season's greetings from the Moonstruck Diner

So you probably saw the trucks lined up on parts of First Avenue and Second Avenue yesterday ... crews were there to film scenes for "Damages" ...

[Photo via Pedro]

At the Moonstruck Diner on Second Avenue and Fifth Street, crews decked out for the diner as if it was the December holidays....

[Top two photos via Bobby Williams]

While we personally didn't spot any of the cast members, Pedro reports seeing lead Glenn Close in the window of Moonstruck, typing away on her laptop (not a Mac person!). We can't confirm whether the Moonstruck staff served her boiled bunny rabbit ...

And in the evening...

Moonstruck Diner closed for a variety of reasons

EV Grieve regular Goggla noted last night that the Moonstruck Diner on Second Avenue at Fifth Street was closed... As she said:

A sign on the door says they have plumbing problems, but a DOH sign says there will be a court hearing to decide whether or not they'll re-open, which is odd...the kitchen windows have been papered, so you can't see what's going on in there, but it looks like someone is doing some work.

Indeed, we walked by ourselves and saw the following...






Previously on EV Grieve:
Neighbors call for a boycott of the Moonstruck Diner