Four Four South Village is now open on 7th Street

Four Four South Village is now open (as of last Thursday) at 11 E. Seventh St. just east of Cooper Square...

... this is the first NYC outpost for the chain that specializes in Taiwanese beef noodles. (Find their menu here.) 

They are open for dining indoors and out...

The previous tenant, Le Sia, which served a Chinese crawfish boil, was not able to survive the downturn during the pandemic. Le Sia debuted in January 2018. 

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

Catch a wave at this incoming Asian restaurant on 6th Street

Signage went up last evening for a new restaurant coming soon to 328 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... here's Asian Wave...

While we don't not anything about the new venture (the sign mentions pho) ... we can say what this replaced: Lovenburg, an outpost of a restaurant based in Turkey serving burgers and a variety of Mediterranean cuisine. 

They opened in February 2020 and had about six weeks in business before the PAUSE went into effect, and the Lovenburg feeling was lost.

Openings: Mi Salsa Kitchen on Allen and Houston; Davidovich Bagels on Avenue A

Mi Salsa Kitchen opened back on Friday here on the southwest corner of Allen and Houston. 

As previously reported, the restaurant serves Cuban cuisine via chef Mikel Presa ... and offers a modestly priced menu... with meat and chicken dishes, served with two sides and a salad, starting at $11. 

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Find them on Instagram here ... or at the other of a phone: (646) 649-4929.

Also... ICYMI from Friday ... Davidovich Bagels is now in soft-open mode at 36 Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street...

Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Website here. Phone here: (646) 559-2553.

Four Four South Village bringing Taiwanese beef noodles (and curbside dining) to 7th Street

We received a tip last month that the Four Four South Village chain was opening an outpost at 11 E. Seventh St. just east of Cooper Square.

That has since been confirmed ... and as the top photo shows, workers have been building curbside dining for the restaurant that specializes in Taiwanese beef noodles. (Find their menu here.) No word on an opening date. 

For now, the for-lease signs remain up in the window... as well as the banner for the previous tenant, Le Sia. The restaurant that served a Chinese crawfish boil was not able to survive the downturn during the pandemic. Le Sia debuted in January 2018. 

As previously noted, No. 11 was home to Surma Books & Music for 98 years until June 2016. Third-generation owner Markian Surmach cited a decline in business and the expense of property tax and other charges related to owning the building. Public records show that the Surmach family sold the property to Icon Realty for $5.75 million at the time.

H/T Steven and Upper West Sider!

Village Cafe & Grill debuts on 4th Street

Village Cafe & Grill opened back on Friday here at 128 E. Fourth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue... EVG correspondent Stacie Joy stopped by for a quick look...

As previously noted, the cafe (no indoor seating — takeout and delivery only) has an extensive menu featuring everything from bagels to burritos to burgers... not to mention a variety of wraps, sandwiches, salads and desserts.... breakfast, lunch and dinner... looks reasonably priced — you could get out with two eggs on a roll and a small coffee for less than $5... 

They are open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Find their website here. They are also on also the usual third-party delivery platforms. Phone: (917) 388-2249.

Village Cafe & Grill takes over the space from Bali Kitchen, which closed this past Aug. 1 after business dropped during the pandemic. The Indonesian restaurant opened in September 2017. Owners Jazz Pasay and David Prettyman were looking to continue a catering business as well as other pop-up ventures. 

Kyuramen debuts on 14th Street

Kyuramen had its soft opening last week here at 210 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

As previously reported, this is the second NYC outpost for the fast-expanding global chain that has 120 locations in Asia. (Four more Kyuramens are slated for the metropolitan area, per its website.) 

Kyuramen is open daily starting at 11 a.m. for takeout and delivery. You can find their menu here. There's also a dedicated Instagram account for the 14th Street shop. 

Chickpea was the last tenant at No. 210, closing in April 2018.

Tamam is now open on 14th Street

The plant-based Tamam Falafel (first reported here) is now open on 14th Street at Third Avenue right next to Joe's Pizza. (Thanks to Pinch and Nick Solares for the tip!)

Tamam is operated by Simon Oren, whose credits include 5 Napkin Burger. 

Here's part of a review of the UES location when it opened last summer via The Beet:

The name, Tamam, which is Arabic and Hebrew slang for "thumbs up," definitely elicits that kind of response for all sampling its tasty — and affordable — fare and Oren clearly hasn't lost his edge in the falafel-verse. The short menu has several standouts. 

First, the Eggplant Sabich Plate ($11.50) is a must, with the crispy eggplant savory and crunchy, and the perfect complement to a drizzle of amba sauce, a piquant condiment made of pickled mangoes and spices. Served on a bed of quinoa with a side of Israeli salad or cabbage salad with delectable hummus—extra creamy and mild — and warm chickpeas, along with freshly baked fluffy pita, the generous portions mean you may just have late-night leftovers to anticipate.

Tamam replaced the 5 Napkin Burger Express outpost. Find their menu here.

Taiwanese noodles for 7th Street?

11 E. Seventh St. looks to have a new tenant. 

There's a filing now for Four Four Taipei Noodles Inc. at the address. (H/T Upper West Sider!) No word yet if it is related to Four Four South Village, which sells similar Taiwanese noodles in Flushing. 

The space was previously home to Le Sia. The restaurant that served a Chinese crawfish boil was not able to survive the downturn during the pandemic. 

Le Sia debuted in January 2018 here just east of Cooper Square. 

As previously noted, No. 11 was home to Surma Books & Music for 98 years until June 2016. Third-generation owner Markian Surmach cited a decline in business and the expense of property tax and other charges related to owning the building. Public records show that the Surmach family sold the property to Icon Realty for $5.75 million at the time.

Tio Pio debuts on 14th Street with quick-serve Latin cuisine

Tio Pio debuted on Sunday here at 250 E. 14th St. just west of Second Avenue... we first spotted this signage back in February 2020. The pandemic put the brakes on the opening plans for last year. 

The quick-serve Latin-American restaurant offers inexpensive comfort foods like roasted pork and rotisserie chicken with sides of rice, beans and plantains. You can find their menu here. 

Tio Pio, which also has a location in downtown Brooklyn, took over the space from Mi Casa Latina, which closed in the fall of 2019 after 10 months in business.

Thanks to Steven for the photo yesterday! 

ICYMI: Medan Pasar is now open and serving Malaysian cuisine from this 7th Street space

Another ICYMI recap from Dec. 24: Medan Pasar is now serving Malaysian cuisine from 102 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

They are currently open for takeout or delivery starting at 11:30 a.m. Find their menu here. Or call them at (646) 756-4006.

The Instagram account @eastvillagefoodfinds highlighted their Nasi Lemak with Beef Rendang in a post last week: "Full of flavor, some nice kick and a stick-to-your ribs meal overall — perfect for keeping you warm in these cold months." 

Medan Pasar now serving Malaysian cuisine on 7th Street

Medan Pasar debuted this week at 102 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue... 

They are currently open for takeout or delivery starting at 11:30 a.m. Find their menu here. Or call them at (646) 756-4006. 

The Instagram account @eastvillagefoodfinds highlighted their Nasi Lemak with Beef Rendang (pictured below): "Full of flavor, some nice kick and a stick-to-your ribs meal overall — perfect for keeping you warm in these cold months."

 

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This space on Seventh Street was previously Comparti New York — a catering and events business.

Nón Lá debuts on 4th Street

Nón Lá Vietnamese Kitchen opened yesterday at 128 E. Fourth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue (we've mentioned this new venture a few times, dating to late October). 

Ronny Nguyen, who runs the very solid Sao Mai on First Avenue, is behind this family-run venture along with his son Tommy. 

You can check out their menu of Vietnamese staples below... or visit this link.

Here's the number for some takeout: (917) 388-3321

New restaurants for this stretch of 4th Street

In late October we told you that Nón Lá Vietnamese Kitchen is coming soon to 128 E. Fourth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. A new sign now hangs over the doorway.

This venture is from Ronny Nguyen, who runs Sao Mai on First Avenue. We were told that his son will be operating Nón Lá. 

The space was home to Lui's Thai Food. As previously reported, chef-owner Pimnapa "Lek" Sunthatkolkarn had to retire her business after being hospitalized late in the summer.

Meanwhile... right next door... at the former Bali Kitchen space...

... new lettering on the door reads Village Cafe & Grill. There's a menu posted for the establishment at Seamless, and it's extensive, featuring everything from bagels to burritos to burgers... not to mention a variety of wraps, sandwiches and salads. Not sure who's behind the venture at this moment.

The excellent Bali Kitchen closed on Aug. 1 after business plummeted during the pandemic. The Indonesian restaurant opened in September 2017. Owners Jazz Pasay and David Prettyman were hoping to continue a catering business as well as other pop-up ventures. 

 

Signage arrives for Cadence, the latest Ravi DeRossi venture on 7th Street

The sign is now up for Cadence at 122 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue ... this latest vegan restaurant venture from the East Village-based Ravi DeRossi will be a take on southern soul food via chef Shenarri Freeman.

And this is one of several new restaurants that DeRossi's revamped Overthrow Hospitality group has planned in the coming months, a list that includes the pasta bar Soda Club on Avenue B and the Mexican-themed Spider in the Garden on Fifth Street.

He also recently expanded Amor y Amargo on Avenue A at Sixth Street, including opening a cocktail-general store in the corner retail space.

As Eater previously reported, each of his new restaurants is being led by "senior employees within the company who agreed to launch their own projects under DeRossi's new hospitality group."

Here's more from Eater:

Moving forward, DeRossi and [director of operations Drew] Brady wanted to shift the company to add more employee-first initiatives — like seeking out in-house talent first to launch new projects — and encourage more community involvement. 

At Overthrow Hospitality, employees will each be allotted 10 paid hours per month to take part in protests or volunteer at various community organizations. For those who participate, the logged hours convert into wellness credits that the employees can put towards things like buying a new bike or getting a gym membership.

The new direction comes as the group is still weathering the pandemic along with the rest of the city. DeRossi was able to negotiate favorable rent deals on the places that are opening, and he says that launching more vegan restaurants led by veteran team members at a time when environmental and economic crises are colliding is the right way to go.

Cadence will be DeRossi's fourth establishment on the block, joining Saramsam, a Filipino restaurant at 111 E. Seventh St. that opened in September, and Ladybird and Avant Garden. 

Desnuda, the 18-seat ceviche bar, was the previous tenant at 122 E. Seventh St, closing in January after 11-plus years. 

Amor Y Amargo photo last month by Vinny & O

AO Bowl softly opens on St. Mark's Place

The Japanese health-food cafe AO Bowl is expected to (softly) open today at 82 St. Mark's Place on the southwest corner of First Avenue. 

A rep for the quick-serve establishment says that this is the "first-ever cafe in the U.S. to use vacuum blenders to create vacuum-pressed smoothies and juice on premise."

And more via the EVG inbox...

Using Blendtec technology, which prevents the oxidation of fruits and vegetables, AO Bowl juices retain over 90 percent juice compared to about 60-70 percent in standard juicing. Vacuum blending removes the air from ingredients within the blender, allowing juices to retain the majority of their original vitamin and mineral content. 

A fully plant-based menu with keto and paleo-friendly options features locally sourced or homegrown items including oat milk, bean sprouts, acai, granola, and market bowls like Adzuki Rice with Kombu and Grilled Pineapple Yams.

Workers gutted this single-level structure on the corner ... dividing the storefront into several spaces. The other new tenant here will be the Brooklyn Dumpling Shop one of these days.

The previous single occupant, Foot Gear Plus, closed in July 2018 after 40 years in business.

Smoothie images via AO Bowl

J-Spec, specializing in waygu beef, opening this evening on 5th Street

At the end of October we mentioned that J-Spec, which specializes in wagyu beef, is opening at 239 E. Fifth St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square.

Well, today is J-Spec's opening day.... and a rep shared more info about the owners and what to expect here:

We will be offering A5 rank wagyu at a more-affordable price point. J-Spec is the abbreviation for "Japan-Specification," a unique phrase created by the team.

This marks the first restaurant venture for Tomoe Food Services  a New York-based wholesale Japanese meat distributor that has been in business since 2014.
 
When the pandemic hit and many of their clients were forced to suspend services, the team decided to open their own restaurant so they could offer guests different varieties and cuts of Japanese beef at affordable prices, served and cooked by specialists who have studied the art and intricacies of these meats... 

For now, the restaurant will be open for dinner only with indoor dining (at 25 percent) and curbside seating available; take-out for lunch and dinner will be offered soon.

A few other things: the beer-wine license is pending. Hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 5-10 p.m. You can find the menus here ... and the website here. 

This space was previously Jewel Bako, the sushi restaurant that maintained a Michelin star for the last 15 years. The Jewel Bako closure was made official in May.

MIN Sushi coming to St. Mark's Place

Coming soon signs are up for MIN Sushi at 32 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

This is a new venture from Kelly Cho, who runs the (recently relocated) well-liked Suki Japanese curry shop at 111 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

No word on a menu yet. You can keep tabs via their Instagram account.

Thanks to Steven for the photo!

Opening and/or coming soon: The Dolar Shop, Kyuramen

The Dolar Shop, a global hot pot chain with 50-plus locations, is looking very close to opening the doors at their new outpost on the southeast coast of Third Avenue and 11th Street... this will be the second NYC location for the Dolar Shop, joining the one out in Flushing. (Previously)

Meanwhile...

.... the coming soon signage recently arrived for Kyuramen, a Taiwan-based ramen chain with 120 locations worldwide, at 210 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (Previously) 

Waygu spot J-Spec taking over Jewel Bako space on 5th Street

J-Spec, which will specialize in Wagyu beef, is opening soon at 239 E. Fifth St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square. (Thanks to @unitof for the tip and photos!)

The signage went up this week... as did the under-construction curbside seating...

This space was previously Jewel Bako, the celebrated sushi restaurant that maintained a Michelin star for the last 15 years. The Jewel Bako closure was made official in May.

As for J-Spec, you can check out their menu that's already up on Seamless.

Nón Lá bringing Vietnamese cuisine to 4th Street

Nón Lá Vietnamese Kitchen is coming soon to 128 E. Fourth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

This new venture is from Ronny Nguyen, who runs the very solid Sao Mai on First Avenue. As we understand it, his son will be operating Nón Lá. 

The space was home to Lui's Thai Food. As previously reported, chef-owner Pimnapa "Lek" Sunthatkolkarn had to retire her business after being hospitalized late in the summer.

Thanks to Stacie Joy for the photos and tip!