Coming attractions: House of Pasta on 12th Street

Photo and reporting by Stacie Joy 

House of Pasta is set to debut at 511 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Owner Andres Dominguez is also active at several establishments, including Sofia's on Mulberry Street in Little Italy, Sofia's Bagels & Kitchen and Sofia's Gelateria in the West Village.

Dominguez will appear before CB3's SLA committee tonight for a liquor license for the address. (You can find the questionnaire and a sample menu online here.)

He plans to open and offer his variety of pasta dishes without a liquor license at first. (Plans only call for a 3-seat bar.)

The previous tenant here, the well-liked Caffe Corretto, had little chance after a gas leak in the building ultimately forced them to close.  

Openings: Yawning Cobra, Potbelly, Love Mi

A few recent openings from the past month or so to note...

Yawning Cobra is now open downstairs at 356 Bowery between Bond and Great Jones.

The cocktail lounge (enter via a serpent-shaped door knob) is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., with a midnight close on Sundays.

King's Cross was the last tenant in the subterranean space.

A Potbelly Sandwich Shop opened last Tuesday at 740 Broadway at Astor Place... in a storefront that was previously a &pizza outpost...

Since last month, on the SE corner of Fourth Avenue and 13th Street, Love Mi has been selling bubble tea, fruit tea, and various yogurt drinks... in the former Liquiteria space.

UWS hotspot Bánh Vietnamese Shop House opening a new restaurant in the East Village

The owners of the popular (and well-reviewed) UWS establishment Bánh Vietnamese Shop House are opening a sibling restaurant at 99 Third Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street. 

Signage arrived for Bánh Anh Em on Thursday. (Thanks to EVG reader Seth Treiman for the photo and tip!) 

The folks behind Bánh Vietnamese Shop House, which started as a pop-up during the pandemic "showcasing hard-to-find Vietnamese dishes in NYC," shared more details on Instagram: 

Bánh Anh Em is Chef Nhu Ton’s love letter to our culture, our country, our families and all the brothers and sisters we've met along the way. It's a reflection of the journeys Chef Nhu has taken, traveling countless times across Vietnam by motorbike, rediscovering and re-inventing herself, and deeply immersing in the craftsmanship of Vietnamese cuisine. 

We are profoundly grateful to the generations, the restaurants and the chefs who paved the way for us to be here today, and we hope to honor their spirit through every dish we craft... 

No word yet on a potential opening date.

No. 99 was previously home for two-plus years to Cutlets.

Openings: SourAji on Avenue B

Photo by Stacie Joy

SourAji has debuted at 23 Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street. 

According to its Resy page, the restaurant offers a $98 omakase set "along with unlimited add-on sushi, sake, and Japanese beer!" 

There are multiple seatings per evening, from 5 to 9:30. SourAji is closed on Sundays. 

SourAji takes over the space from an unrelated omakase joint called Domakase.

Openings: Pasta de Pasta on 1st Avenue

Photo by Lola Sáenz 

Pasta de Pasta debuted at 192 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street earlier this month. (Previously.) 

The quick-serve pasta shop offers a simple menu, starting with a base of homemade pasta and cheese for $9.90 and many add-on options. (The menu is at the bottom of the site here.) 

The pasta is tossed in a Parmesan wheel before being served for one of the tables in the back or to go.

Daily hours: Noon to 11 p.m. 

The space was most recently Koko Wings, which closed in early 2024 after four-plus years in service. 

Openings: Sunday Dreamin on 2nd Avenue

Photos by Stacie Joy

Sunday Dreamin opened its doors at 80 Second Ave. back on May 16.

The cafe between Fourth Street and Fifth Street offers a variety of burgers and pasta dishes. It also serves coffee and tea and has a beer-wine license. 

EVG reader Danimal shared this assessment: "Had dinner here with the missus, and it was delicious. Got a burger and a pasta dish, and both were great. It's pretty much a bistro/cafe with reasonable prices. Casual vibe, could do without the neon signs but great otherwise. Something the block really needed!"

It is open daily for lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and dinner until 10 p.m. It is also Open for weekend brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

If you're on Instagram, you can find their account here. The website is at this link.

No. 80 was recently Cacio e Vino, which went dark in late November.

Openings: Sunflower Cafe on 2nd Avenue

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Sunflower debuted last week at 88 Second Ave. at Fifth Street. 

This is a sibling to the cafe of the same name on Third Avenue in Gramercy Park with the Instagram slogan "Let’s Brunch baby!" 

They serve some breakfast staples, lunch, and various coffee and drinks (menu here). 

Daily hours for now: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunflower is owned and operated by the same folks as the previous tenant here, Eros, the Greek restaurant that quietly closed in August 2022. Eros took over for their diner concept, The Kitchen Sink, in September 2021.

Previously

Signage alert: Bungalow from restaurateur Jimmy Rizvi on 1st Avenue

Signage arrived last week for Bungalow, a new Indian concept from restaurateur Jimmy Rizvi, whose portfolio includes GupShup in Gramercy Park. 

CB3 approved a liquor license for the space in May 2023. (Find the original questionnaire here.) 

Vikas Khanna is serving as chef and partner for Bungalow, which is expected to open on March 23. 

In an Instagram post, Khanna said March 23 would have been his sister Radhika's 50th birthday. "We open Bungalow on the auspicious day as a tribute to her life and also to honor millions of kitchens, chefs, cook book writers, street vendors, home cooks across India — and most importantly to our MOTHERS who have nurtured our souls forever." 

The signage's arrival coincided with a recent refresh of the First Avenue storefront just south of Second Street  ... in the retail portion of the 101 Condominium (the residential entrance is on Second Street).

Two addresses — 24 First Ave. and its property mate 99-101 E. Second St. — were demolished several years ago to make room for the new residential building.

No. 24 's previous occupants included the cabaret Lucky Cheng's (1993-2012) and Club Baths, the first openly gay-owned bathhouse (1971-1983)... and Cave Canem and La Nouvelle Justine in between.

What's coming to the former Mochinut space on 2nd Avenue

Photos by Steven 

Renovations continue at 124 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place, where we're told an udon noodle restaurant is opening soon. 

The operators are also behind Okiboru House of Tsukemen on Orchard Street. 

The new establishment takes over the space from Mochinut, the quickly expanding California-born chain known for its mochi doughnuts and Korean-style hot dogs. The business opened here in August 2021 and closed the following year.

H/T Stacie Joy

Don Ceviche debuts today on 1st Avenue

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

After some friends-and-family meals, Don Ceviche debuts today at 57 First Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street. 

Owner Lenin Costas said that the Peruvian restaurant will be open daily for lunch (with lunch specials, see below) and dinner...

You can find the website and menu here. 

Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with an 11 p.m. close Friday and Saturday.

Don Ceviche also has an outpost at the Essex Market. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

Inside Don Ceviche, opening soon on 1st Avenue

Openings: Red Onion on 10th Street

Red Onion debuted at 277 E 10th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue last Thursday. 

A longtime EVG reader shared a quickie review about the Indian restaurant: "Very tasty — best I've had in some time." They have an extensive menu, which you can find here. 

Red Onion is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., with a 10:30 p.m. close on Friday and Saturday... for dining in or to go.

The previous two establishments here, Chichen Itzá and Tompkins Village Cafe, enjoyed a few weeks in service before quickly closing in late 2021. This address was previously home for 11 years to the Brindle Room, which moved to 11th Street.

Openings: Ayat on Avenue C

Photos by Stacie Joy

Ayat made its soft-opening debut on Oct. 13 on the NW corner of Avenue C and Seventh Street. (We had the scoop on this arrival back in April.)

The Palestinian bistro has several Brooklyn outposts, including the original in Bay Ridge, and one in Pennsylvania. This is their first restaurant in Manhattan.

Here's a look inside the space, the longtime home until February 2020 of Zum Schneider...

The manager, Eli, shared the menu with us (which you can find online) and pointed out some popular dishes...

... such as the Mezze Filistini Plate with hummus, baba ganoush, muhammara, tabbouleh, salata tahina and labneh...

... and the Flatbread Zaatar Margarita ...

They don't serve alcohol ... though you can BYOB — there's no corkage fee.

Hours right now: Daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m., depending on the night.

Hateful remarks and negative reviews

Ayat has been in the national headlines since war broke out between Israel and Hamas. 

Co-owner Abdul Eleanani was featured in an ABC News piece on the challenges facing Palestinian businesses in the U.S. and Canada.

Eleanani, who is of Egyptian descent, said that "the company has faced hateful remarks made to company staff face-to-face and over the phone, as well as an onslaught of negative Google reviews." Someone also reportedly walked into the East Village location and yelled, "'You guys are terrorists,' while adding an expletive."

Eleanani told the Associated Press that Ayat "was forced to disconnect its phone after receiving 'nonstop' threatening voicemails."

Still, the hostile reception was overshadowed by the support he has received from his neighbors, many of whom are Jewish and share his views about minimizing civilian deaths, he said.

"In New York, we all live together, we work together, we grow together," Elenani said. "And we all want this violence to stop."

As Eater reported, the negative response was due to, in part, "the restaurant's outspoken identity and its 'call to end apartheid'" on social media.

Eleanani and co-owner Ayat Masoud told Eater that "they do not support Hamas and simply want Palestinians to be treated fairly."

Openings: Cantina Cubana on Avenue B

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Cantina Cubana debuts today (Sept 15) at 4 p.m. at 17 Avenue B and Second Street. 

Ricardo Arias and Patricia Valencia, the husband-and-wife owners, were happy that ConEd finally turned on the gas for the restaurant.

The couple previously operated Café Cortadito at 210 E. Third St., just east of Avenue B. They closed at the end of January after 18 years in business after the landlord increased the rent from $8,000 to $15,000 monthly. 

Cantina Cubana is opening with a full menu with a similar lineup as Cafe Cortadito. Ricardo says it's 99% the same menu, with some new additions such as tacos and guacamole, plus a smash taco burger made with tortillas. 

Here's a look inside...

Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. breakfast hours are possible in the future. 

You can find the Cantina Cubana website here.

A new Indian restaurant for the former Little India on 6th Street

Photo by Goggla 

A coming soon sign for a restaurant serving Indian cuisine has arrived outside 324 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue... and next door to the shuttered Raj Mahal. 

And just last week, we noted that the block was down to one Indian restaurant, Malai Marke, when there were more than 25 at one point in its Little India heyday.

We don't know at the moment who's behind the new establishment.

Koo'k just closed at No. 324 after eight years in service.

Openings: Seasoned Vegan Real Quick on 2nd Avenue

Seasoned Vegan Real Quick opens today at 128 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. (First mentioned here.) 

The spot is a new vegan concept from mother and son restaurateurs Brenda "Chef B" Beener and Aaron Beener, who closed their Harlem restaurant Seasoned Vegan this spring after nine years in service.

According to a restaurant rep, they decided to relaunch as quick service takeout and delivery with a few of their most popular dishes offered as sandwiches.

Per the rep: 

The offerings draw on the family's New Orleans roots and feature three sandwiches, including two made with their unique signature grilled burdock root "crawfish" — Craw Pretzel Boy with remoulade sauce, a vegan take on the crawfish po-boy on a pretzel bun, and BBQ Craw Sandwich in bayou BBQ sauce. 

SV Nugget Sandwich and Lemon Crusted Nuggets (soy protein) will be available as well, along with fries tossed with Cajun seasoning and housemade organic desserts: Raw Cheesecake made from cashews, walnuts and dates; Salted Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies and cupcakes. Beverages include fair trade Maine Root organic sodas. 

You can find the menu and more info here. Hours are daily from 11 a.m. to midnight. You can follow them on Instagram here. 

Photo courtesy of  Seasoned Vegan Real Quick

Updated: 

Several readers noted that the previous business signage for Tony's Pizza remains up temporarily ... with an important addition — the NOT ... (thanks to Steven for the photo!)

Openings: Memphis Seoul on 1st Avenue

Photo by Steven

Memphis Seoul debuted on Wednesday here at 123 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. 

The quick-serve establishment describes it as "Southern cookin' with a Korean kick!" ... offering the comfort food of the South with the spices and sauces familiar to Korean food. So expect items like ramen mac n' cheese, bulgogi meatloaf and Korean cornbread. Find the menu here.

Founder Bart Hubbuch opened the first Memphis Seoul in Crown Heights. 

Per Grub Street: "Originally from Dallas, Hubbuch was a career sportswriter who’d spent 27 in the business before getting fired from the New York Post for a tweet about Donald Trump winning the 2016 presidential election." 

Grub Street also states that "Hubbuch had always been a home cook... and had long been interested in running his own business." 

Current hours: 

Monday-Thursday: 5-9 p.m., with a 10 p.m. close on Friday... and on Saturday-Sunday: noon-9 p.m.

Previously 

Openings: Dora's Restaurant on Avenue B; Rynn's on 5th Street

Top photo by Stacie Joy

Dora's Restaurant debuted on Friday at 40 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street.

Siblings Dora and Oskar Morales are behind this establishment. (Their mother is also named Dora.) 

They serve 10 kinds of ceviche, plus wine, beer and sangria. 

No sign of a website or social media just yet.

Hours: Daily from 3-11 p.m.

Rynn recently debuted at 309 E. Fifth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

The restaurant offers a variety of Thai dishes, from starters (the crispy lotus root looks solid) to main courses. Rynn doesn't have a liquor license, so they offer free spirit-free concoctions and Thai iced tea and coffee. 

Like Dora's, they don't have a website or social media. (They are on Yelp.) Hours: Daily from 4-10 p.m.

Let us know if you try either place!

The 1st Manhattan outpost of Ayat shapes up on 7th Street and Avenue C

Renovations continue inside the storefront on the NW corner of Seventh Street and Avenue C ...

As we first reported in April, Ayat, a Palestinian bistro with several Brooklyn outposts, including the original in Bay Ridge, is opening its first Manhattan outpost here later this year.

The East Village location will offer Middle Eastern/Palestinian food — and no alcohol.

No word just yet on an exact opening date... though the space is shaping up nicely.

Zum Schneider, the popular biergarten and restaurant, closed here after 20 years in late February 2020. 

(H/T Jill Woodward for the initial renovation tip!)

Openings: Caffe Corretto on 12th Street

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Caffe Corretto debuted at 511 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B last Wednesday. 

East Village residents Colin Vickery and Leah Blewett, partners in business and life, are behind this project that they say is inspired by the all-day cafes of Rome.

Caffe Corretto serves breakfast, lunch and dinner six days a week, Wednesday through Monday (closed on Tuesdays).

Chef Nicole Dakwar prepares the breakfast pastries and lunchtime pizza al taglio ... while the evening menu features a variety of pasta dishes, seasonal salads, and other entrees via Chef Alessandro Urbisci. You can find menus here.

Hours: 8 a.m. to midnight. You can keep tabs on Caffe Corretto via Instagram.

A Tacombi takeover on 12th Street

Brandage and signage has arrived for the new outpost of Tacombi at 139 E. 12th St. at Third Avenue. 

This is the latest location for the fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain that has 15 outposts in NYC, Miami and Washington, D.C. 

Dario Wolos reportedly started the business from a van in the Mexican beach town Playa del Carmen back in 2006. 

Oh, and those Vista Hermosa Totopos tortilla chips are quite good and have been on sale at Key. 

The previous tenant here, iSouvlaki, closed last summer after a two-year run.