Raclette reopens on June 29

Say cheese: Raclette lives on at 511 E. 12th St. 

Earlier this month, a closed sign appeared on the door here between Avenue A and Avenue B. Owner Edgar Villongco also confirmed the closing news with Eater.

However, a new sign now notes a temporary closure... with a reopening on Wednesday, July June 29. There isn't any further explanation about the closure at the moment. (Updated: Villongco told Eater it was insurance-related.) 

The restaurant, which serves French and Swiss Raclette, Croques and Tartine, opened in a 14-seat space on Avenue A in February 2015... before moving to these larger confines in September 2016.

Thanks to the folks at the East Village Community Coalition for the photo!

Updated: Raclette will reopen on July 29

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Updated 6/26: Signage at the restaurant states they will now reopen on July 29.

Raclette has closed at 511 E. 12th St. 

Multiple readers told us about the "closed" sign on the door here between Avenue A and Avenue B. Owner Edgar Villongco also confirmed the news to Eater. There isn't any mention of the closure yet on the restaurant's social media properties. 

The restaurant, which served French and Swiss Raclette, Croques and Tartine, opened in a 14-seat space on Avenue A in February 2015... before moving to these larger confines in September 2016...

No. 511 was previously home to Northern Spy (2010-2016).

Raclette moves from Avenue A to East 12th Street

Raclette has left its 14-seat home at 195 Avenue A at 12th Street and moved around the corner to the larger confines of 511 E. 12th St., the former Northern Spy space.



The restaurant, which serves French and Swiss Raclette, Croques and Tartine, opened to some fanfare in February 2015.

Northern Spy closed this past February after six years in business.

Raclette now serving croques and tartines on Avenue A

Raclette is now open at 195 Avenue A just north of East 12th Street.

The quick-serve restaurant is the creation of East Village resident Edgar Villongco, who originally tried to open the cafe in 2012 on East 12th Street.

At the time, he was seeking a beer-wine license. After a handful of residents spoke out against another liquor license for the block between Avenue A and Avenue B, Villongco — who lives nearby — dropped the plans rather than pursuing the matter directly with State Liquor Authority. (You can read all the background in this article published in The Local from June 2012.)

Instead of the cafe, he opened a scooter shop, Urban Motion, at 508 E. 12th St.

However, after nearly three years, he recently closed Urban Motion to put his focus back on launching Raclette (without a beer-wine license still).

Villongco shared a little more about the cafe.

"It's got both French and Swiss Raclette dishes, but the croques and tartines are mainly French influenced with some twists. For example we have a Cubano with dijon mustard, and a tartine with that comes on naan with curried cauliflower and hummus," he said.

And here's a look at the menu...





Updated: Yes, they do serve racelettes…