Manhattan: Nolita Archives
The Curious Case of 19 Kenmare
Keith McNally's new project isn't the only thing on the new Community Board 2 Agenda to pique our interest. It looks like the (perhaps cursed?) 19 Kenmare space is on the docket once again, this time as Compas New York. The space first made it on the radar when LA and Vegas club king Ivan Kane made plans to open Forty Deuce there last May. He was, natch, negged by the community in September. The new tenant, Barmarche's born again Christian owner Chris Eddy, didn't have a much easier time when he tried to open a noodle house there. CB2 skewered him at his initial meetings in February but eventually approved his liquor license with a string of stipulations. Now either this new agenda item is Eddy, coming back as Compas for some reason, or this is a whole other operator. Whoever it is, be prepared for a fight.
· CB2 Has Their Way with Chris Eddy, Rejects Liquor License [~E~]
EaterWire AM Edition: McNally Opening on the Bowery!
Are you already picturing the outdoor tables, the groups of ladies sipping rose?
THE BOWERY— According to the July Community Board 2 agenda, Keith McNally is adding the East Village/Nolita area to his portfolio of conquered downtown neighborhoods. The restaurateur will be turning the Adams Restaurant Supply Store at 282 Bowery into a restaurant should all go well with the powers that be in the community over the next month. The storefront, which sits at the southwest corner of Bowery and East Houston (just down the street from Whole Foods) and was once rumored to be taken over by Starbucks, is, like all McNally operations, sizable but may require renovation to make it restaurant-ready. If you're just tuning in, please note that the man is currently revamping Minetta Tavern, to reopen this fall with a "classic French bistro menu," so he's dealt with the same CB committee very recently. He got unanimous approval for Minetta; we'll see if the same thing happens with the Bowery. More details to come.
· First Word: McNally Getting Closer to Minetta Deal [~E~]
EaterWire: Sfoglia Downtown, Eleven Madison Park to Close Sundays, Beer Kitchen, and More!
NOLITA— Cutlets finds out what's actually going to happen at 98 Kenmare, a spot once meant for a Todd English owned/Steve Lewis designed venture that eventually fell through. "Now we can reveal that, according to a source close to the deal, the space has just been acquired by the owners of Sfoglia...Who knew a pasta joint coming to Little Italy could be so exciting?" [Cutlets]
EAST VILLAGE— S'MAC's East Village location turns two on June 24th. In honor of the occasion they'll be selling their mac 'n' cheese for $1. [EaterWire]
MADISON SQ PARK— Eleven Madison Park is scaling things back, changing up their hours: "We’d like to inform you of our new hours: Lunch: Monday - Friday, 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.; Dinner: Monday - Thursday, 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., Friday - Saturday, 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Please Note: Effective July 19th, we will discontinue serving Saturday brunch and will be closed on Sundays." [EaterWire]
Beer Kitchen, New Amsterdam Market, coming up.>>The Worst Table in New York: Nolita, Gramercy, Soho Edition
In April we asked for candidates for the worst table in New York, and you answered the call. Each day during Shitshow Week, we will pit three despicable tables against one another culminating in the big Friday showdown. Vote early. Vote often.
Today's poll: Nolita, Gramercy, Soho
To vote for the previous contests, they're here and here.
The Shutter Notice: The Decline and Fall of The Tasting Room
Nolita: When the well loved East Village hole in the wall, The Tasting Room, expanded into bigger digs in Nolita a year and a half ago, its fans in both neighborhoods anxiously awaited a bigger kitchen and dining room. Yet things quickly went downhill, starting with a tepid one star review from the Brunz, who called the space ugly, the service, terrible. More recently, we've heard neighborhood reports that the place wasn't as busy as it should have been. In April, we received an announcement for "Eating Their Words," a dinner theater event at the restaurant "wedding a seasoned chef with prominent playwrights for an integrated evening of new cuisine and new theater." Not a good sign. And now this. Renovating. No explanation, and no sign of when they'll reopen. Everyone back to the barracks on East 1st Street. Stay tuned for an official shutter.
· The Shutter: Brick Oven Bar B Que Already Doneski? [~E~]
The Worst Table in New York: East Village Edition
In April we asked for candidates for the worst table in New York, and you answered the call. Each day during Shitshow Week, we will pit three despicable tables against one another culminating in the big Friday showdown. Vote early. Vote often.
Today's poll: East Village
If you have any more candidates, kindly let us know.
EaterWire: Tom Valenti at Aix Space, Summer in the City, The Randolph, and Mad 46
UPPER WEST SIDE— We have some exciting rumormongering coming in from the tipline: "The spot on Broadway that used to house Aix is currently being renovated/remodeled. Tom Valenti (of Ouest) has been spotted inside on one occasion and just outside the space on another. Not sure why." Oh we can think of a few reasons. [EaterWire]
CHELSEA— Attention foodie philanthropists: City Harvest has come up with another chef-studded event to throw your money at. This one is called Summer in the City, costs $125-$200 and includes tastes from Broadway East, Butter, Ed’s Lobster Bar, Four Seasons, Landmarc, Stanton Social, The Dessert Truck and Toloache, among others. [EaterWire]
The Menu at The Randolph and another rooftop bar??>>Thursday Opening Report: Jack's Nolita, Yorganic, Vino Certified Open, Eden Tonight
This is the Thursday Opening Report, a regular feature that provides the precise status of venues. As per standard operating procedure around here, your contributions are so very welcome.
1) Nolita: As reported earlier, West Village stroller and doggie depot, Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee, is opening up a third outpost on Elizabeth Street inside Rice. TONY shared some info yesterday on the new location: “Owner Jack Mazzola’s stirbrewer—a contraption of his own patented design— mixes a house blend of Central American, Peruvian and Sumatran beans while they’re being brewed to remove bitterness and evenly extract their flavor." Status: Certified Open. 292 Elizabeth Street; 212-226-5775. [TONY]
2) Upper East Side: Both TONY and Lady Strongbuzz reports on the opening of Vino, an Italian wine bar with an outdoor café. Here’s the deets: “Mediterraneo owners Massimo Stocchi and Vito Mezzatesta joined with wine director Massimiliano Caldini, once a server at Da Silvano, to open this elegant wine bar outfitted in marble and brown leather banquettes. Their collection of 60 bottles is sourced exclusively from Italy; among the 20 by-the-glass selections is a sparkling lambrusco, available for just $4.” Status: Certified Open. 1268 Second Avenue, 212-744-5370. [TONY; Strongbuzz]
Midtown, up ahead>>EaterWire: Jimmy's No. 43 Shuttered by DOB, Randolph's on Broome Expanding, Wolfgang Responds to Wolfgang, and More!
EAST VILLAGE— It was only a matter of time before this happened: "I just went by Jimmy's 43 on 7th Street for their "Beer and Bacon" special and it's shuttered. There's a sign from the Building Department (NOT DOH), dated May 12th, saying the building is unfit for occupancy. There's a few other buildings on the block with the same sign." [EaterWire]
NOLITA— Bottomless Dish is reporting that Randolph's on Broome is getting a makeover: "Co-owner Hari Kalyan tells us he's brought esteemed Milk & Honey mixologist Matty Gee on board as his new partner, and together they'll roll out a new and improved version of the bar that features a pro pianist churning out bebop and ragtime tunes, new seating and other interior renovations. Oh yeah, they'll also be serving up a new menu..." [Bottomless Dish]
News in the case of Wolfgang v. Wolfgang, Chestnut expands.>>First Word: CB2 vs. Boqueria, Scuderia Gallo at 10 Downing, Turks & Frogs, and More!
Welcome to First Word, wherein Eater and its correspondents sit for hours at steamy community board meetings to bring back the first word of new establishments and what they're up to. Your reports from the field always encouraged to tips@eater.com.
Last night's raucous CB2 Business Committee Meeting was packed with noise-hating neighbors and a slew of restaurant owners begging to serve booze. Though the committee was tough, a few restaurant owners squeaked by, especially if they offered to abide by the committee's "suggested" 2 am closing time. All restaurants will still have to go before the full board later this month.
1) Boqueria got the green light for liquor in its second location, slated to open this fall at 171 Spring Street in the former Kin Khao space. A 12 am closing time pleased the committee, and a neighbor actually came to speak in favor of the restaurant because of its commitment to fix the exhaust system.
2) Thirty-three years in the neighborhood was not enough to save Da Silvano owner, Silvano Marchetto, from an intense grilling about his new place, Scuderia Gallo, opening across the street at 10 Downing. This spot will serve lighter fare, like paninis and salads, as well as breakfast. Though he claimed the building owner actually approached him about the restaurant because they knew he was such a good neighbor, multiple tenants of 10 Downing came to complain about noise. A woman from the Bleecker St. Residents Association claimed that more people want to complain about Da Silvano's noise but "are afraid of what might happen to them."
In the end, the restaurant agreed to close at 2 am, shut its windows at 11 pm on weekends, and nix an outdoor alley of tables, which was enough for the committee.
Turks and Frogs and an ugly turn for Vig Bar.>>Adventures in Shilling #27: Volstead, Benoit, Elizabeth, Lelabar
It's time for another edition of Adventures in Shilling, in which we fight shilling the best way we can, by shaming tasteless, unscrupulous shills into submission. Well, that's the plan, at least. Fight shills yourself by dropping offensive links to tips@eater.com.
This week we have shills from the comments, the inbox, and from another blog. Again, we'd like to commend you shillers on your feeble attempts at selling your beloved restaurants. Better luck next time.
There are a couple of suspect comments on Midtown Lunch's post about Volstead's free lunch on Tuesdays. This is tricky however because a) the restaurant is already commenting under its own name in the thread, and b) since the commenters are getting free lunch they are likely to be fans. Here's the shilliest of the bunch: "Just came back with a group of 7….excellent appetizers, very solid lobster roll, and a great experience for the whole group….we have always had a great time there after-work for happy hour but now this just adds another dimension!""Surprised Lelabar hasn't hit the Eater radar", ahead.>>
Shill Probability: 47%Telling people to stay away is a little reverse psychology trick beloved by shillers everywhere, including this one for Ducasse's Benoit: "If you don't like Benoit then stay away because it is already hard enough to get a table at this great place. BTW, the staff was great on my visit. From the host to the waiter, all had welcoming smiles and provided gracious service...Plus it's next to MOMA so it makes for a great lunch place after the museum."
Shill Probability: 55%
Good News/ Bad News: Elizabeth
Elizabeth is the new creation by the owners of defunct Rialto, a sweet but unsuccessful restaurant that shuttered in that Nolita space a few months ago. It's also the newest project of Doug Psaltis, who consulted on the small plates menu. The garden alone will bring in the Nolita crowds, but only if the management works out the service problems mentioned in almost every early report. Luckily, reviews of ex-Country chef John Iconomou's cooking are much kinder. But let's get to the good news and the inevitable bad news:
1) The Bad News: A Chowhounder publishes the first online review of the place and it. is. not. good: "I'm hoping it's just first-week jitters that made our experience with both the service and the food barely mediocre. I'm sad to say the meal was far less than great, despite the pricey check (and we left hungry)...The lamb was our best dish...The burger was mediocre, the fries were soft, and the chicken was on the dry side...We waited forever for the food and for our drinks to come though." [Chowhound]
2) Okay News: The first Yelp reviewer gives Elizabeth the benefit of the doubt and writes off her bad experience to first week jitters: "...all kinds of disorganized from not taking our name from the get go, seating people in an area without heat lamps and the waitress didn't know the menu well...despite all the snafus the food was delicious...beautiful space but there aren't many tables so be prepared to wait. it's a good place, just needs to work out the newbie kinks." [Yelp]
The suspiciously good news, ahead. >>Back to top
Sign up for our email newsletter.
About Eater
From the newest temples of haute cuisine to the oldest dive bars in New York, from Batali to McNally, Eater has you covered. More about Eater...
Tipping Is Customary
Know about a restaurant opening or closing in your neighborhood, or other NYC restaurant gossip? Do let us know.
Restaurant Search
Archives & Feeds
Full-Content FeedContact Us
Email Eater
|
EATER
Editor
Amanda Kludt
Eater Radar Editor
Kelly Dobkin
Photography
Will Femia
Noah Kalina
Daniel Krieger
Interns
Noah Adler
Caitlin Dube
Banner Design
Khoi Uong
Editors-in-Chief
Ben Leventhal
Lockhart Steele
