The East Village gets two new sidewalk cafes

Also on the CB3/SLA agenda last night — two applications for sidewalk cafes..... First up, Penny Farthing on Third Avenue and 13th Street.... The former restaurant here, Cafe DeVille, had a sidewalk cafe...In addition to nine tables (18 seats) on Third Avenue, Penny Farthing will have four tables (eight seats) on 13th Street.... The hours: Noon to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursdays; to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Not much discussion... People seem to like this place... and it was quickly approved....

Then! Team DBGB took the stand, the lawyers with by far the best-looking suits in the audience. (Actually only one lawyer took the stand; the other two sat in the back.) Head DBGBer Daniel Boulud was not in attendance, by the way... So the DBGB sidewalk cafe plans to have 15 tables (30 seats) on the Bowery... with some kind of self-supporting grates as barriers... Hours of operation: Noon to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday; till midnight on Friday and Saturday; and 10 p.m. on Sunday.

The committee quickly gave their approval, with someone even throwing in a gratuitous Daniel Boulud compliment...

So far so good at The Penny Farthing, but how about the possible not-actually-secret secret downstairs lounge?

EV Grieve reader Margaret decided to stop by The Penny Farthing last evening ... it's new place on the southeast corner of 13th Street and Third Avenue....it was the former Cafe DeVille, who never returned from vacation last summer.

Here's what she had to say:

"[T]hey've definitely reimagined the space. In the old cafe, the bar seemed pretty secondary, but it seems pretty front and center now.

Right in the middle is a large table, and it looks like they've partitioned off some tables for diners over on the left. The old
bicycle wheels are definitely up, as is a decent draft/bottled beer list.

The hostess said the downstairs area is not open yet, as it's more for the Thursday through Saturday night crowd. My fingers are crossed that a "Thursday night crowd" does not mean frat-tactic. The people there tonight definitely seemed a little more mature, so maybe there is hope! And there are 4ish large TVs up in the space. Interesting mix of bar and restaurant, that's for sure.

And the menu....



And what about that "downstairs area?"

"There's now a sign on the door to it on 13th that says 'PF 13,' which makes me think it's going to try to be the new not-actually-secret secret place.'"

(Updated) A Penny Farthing for your thoughts

[Apologies for that headline!] Next door to Cosmic Cantina we have Penny Farthing (named for an old-timey bicycle) in the former Cafe DeVille space looking very ready for action...





As Grub Street reported, it will have a "very industrial but comfortable atmosphere" courtesy of the folks behind Phebe's. How many times did someone proofread those signs to make sure that no one wrote Penny Farting?

The signs went up on Friday... and I spotted a bread delivery out front on Sunday morning... perhaps Opening Day is imminent.



Eater reports that Penny Farting opens tonight... and they'll be serving Appletinis and stuff.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Here's Penny-farthing on Third Avenue, not a sports bar

At the former Cafe DeVille, the black plastic goes up, the dead potted plants go out

Here's Penny-farthing on Third Avenue, not a sports bar

Over on 13th Street and Third Avenue, work continues at the former Cafe DeVille space... EV Grieve reader Margaret passed along this shot from the weekend...



Grub Street had many more details on what will be going in here... the space, which the Phebe's folks took over, will be called Penny-farthing (a type of bicycle also known as a high wheeler). Brass Monkey designer Ben Kay is doing this space... Per Grub Street:

A year ago, it was said the space would get a sports bar, but Kay says that Penny-farthing ... will have no more than a few television sets for World Cup games and the like. Kay is giving that bi-level venue a “very industrial but comfortable atmosphere”— upstairs there’ll be a 45-foot-long bar made of “ancient-looking” wood, banquette seating, and high-top tables, as well as antique wheels, pulleys, and prints to fit the bar’s name ... Downstairs there’ll be a lounge boasting exposed stone and another bar. A full kitchen will turn out “American-English-Irish” bar food “in the same vein as Phoebe’s” (think shepherd’s pie). The owners are hoping to open in the second week of May.

I got a look myself at all this on Saturday...



Previously on EV Grieve:
At the former Cafe DeVille, the black plastic goes up, the dead potted plants go out

At the former Cafe DeVille, the black plastic goes up, the dead potted plants go out

EV Grieve reader Margaret noted some activity at the shuttered Cafe DeVille space at 13th Street and Third Avenue:

The windows in Cafe Deville were covered with black plastic on Friday. Dead potted palms from inside were also put out on the curb. There wasn't any sort of notice on the door, so it doesn't look a permit has been filed with the city. Intrigued as to what's going on in there.

As Eater reported last September: "The folks applying for a transfer for the Cafe Deville space received approval. The only stipulations proposed by the board do not allow for live music and set that the establishment must be run similar to the owners' other establishment Phebe's, the tavern/sports bar on 4th and Bowery."

I used to go to Phebe's a long time ago... in recent years it has become as fratty as a Murray Hill sports bar...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Cafe DeVille's holiday appears rather permanent

Looking at Phebe's... and Bowery and Fourth Street

So the folks behind Phebe's, the tavern/sports bar on Bowery and Fourth Street, are taking over the old Cafe DeVille space on Third Avenue at 13th Street... When I went to the Phebe's Web site, I found these great photos and a history of the Bowery and Fourth Street corner...

Before it was Phebe's...

it was the "Old Landmark Restaurant & Bar." This establishment existed on the Bowery over 100 years ago. It was owned and operated by J&S Princiotto. Not too long ago the Princiotto family stopped into Phebe's for a burger and a beer and shared stories from the good old days. We thank Matty Princotto for the photos above. If you look closely at the photo on the bottom right you will see the "Business Mens Lunch: for 40 cents you get tomato juice, soup and a roast."

See you Hea

Sorry, that headline is a little flip...But Hea, the newish Japanese place that spent a fortune renovating the former bodega/nail salon on Third Avenue and 13th Street, has closed...





It seemed doomed, really, since closing in April for "renovations" just seven months after opening.

Doomed intersection? Cafe DeVille across the street has also closed.

Thanks to our friend Hunter-Gatherer for confirming this closure for us...

Cafe DeVille's holiday appears rather permanent

In early August, the signs went up at Cafe DeVille on Third Avenue at 13th Street announcing its closure for a holiday through Aug. 30.



As of last night, the eatery had yet to reopen...



There's a transfer between Cafe DeVille and something called East County Louth Inc. (an Irish theme?) on Monday's SLA & DCA Licensing docket.

I never had reason to visit the Cafe DeVille Web site. But I looked last night.

Spoil yourself with one of our hand made cocktails, give in to a scrumptious Chocolate Volcano. Whether joining us for our decadent brunch, a luxurious dinner, our heavenly desserts, or lively happy hour, Cafe Deville's wait staff is warm and attentive and ready to treat you to a marvelous experience. The French doors open in good weather to spill tables out onto the sidewalk. The atmosphere is comfortable, pampered, sexy, fun and relaxed no matter if you sit outside, in the dining room, or at the bar. A seductive feast for the senses!

Uh-huh.

The reality there for so long,though...



In the spring of 2008, Cafe Deville was named one of the worst outdoor tables at Eater. (Photo via Eater.)

Previously on EV Grieve:
Cafe DeVille closed for the rest of the month

Scaffolding finally comes down at Third Avenue and 13th Street

Cafe DeVille closed for the rest of the month

And keeping this restaurant theme going...Cafe DeVille on Third Avenue at 13th Street is closed for a holiday the rest of the month.



Hmm, OK...it's one thing for a mom-and-pop shop to close for a few weeks, but a fairly large place like this that employs so many people...?

On the liquor license agenda in July: Iggy's and others...

Here's what's on tap for the next Community Board 3's SLA & DCA Licensing Committee meeting on July 20:



Butter Lane is back on docket. (It was scratched from last month's agenda.)Iggy's, which is taking over the Five Rose's space, is applying for a license. A few interesting transfers (maybe!) at 40C and Cafe DeVille...

Scaffolding finally comes down at Third Avenue and 13th Street

This scaffolding was up for at least two years.





Last spring, Cafe Deville and Cosmic Cantina were named two of the worst outdoor tables at Eater. (Be sure to read comment No. 11.)

(Bottom photo via Eater)

Previously on EV Grieve:
But of course!