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Grub Street

Edited by Josh Ozersky with Daniel Maurer

All Posts Tagged: ‘little italy’

Neighborhood Watch 

7/14/08

3:00 PM

Patsy’s Pizza for 60 Cents in Harlem This August; Fresher Isn’t Always Better in Sushi

Astoria: Winegasm has some tasty bites, but the Gasm Dip has sort of a strange taste that might even have more to do with licorice flavoring than the bean spread's unfortunate name. [Joey in Astoria]
Clinton Hill: A beautiful fresh produce stop called Atlantic Tropics has opened on Atlantic Avenue near Grand, and it's not going to get much foot traffic so you'll have to search it out. [Clinton Hill Blog]
East Harlem: Patsy's will sell pizza for 60 cents all day on August 19 to celebrate its 75th anniversary. [Slice]
Flatiron: A surprising addition to this mostly ho-hum list of where to find the city's best cocktails is Craftbar, which serves a house margarita with fresh-squeezed grapefruit and orange juice, and a kumquat mimosa. [Restaurant Girl]
Little Italy: The reborn Randolph seems to be faring well since its speakeasy makeover: "The crowd is a good mix of creative hipster and young urbanite, with minimal bankers tossed in for good measure." [Bottomless Dish/Citysearch]
Midtown East: Sushi Yasuda chef Naomichi Yasuda explains how his restaurant is a rare peek at "old Japan. Big cuts are seen as a positive thing in this new sushi world, which is not necessarily true. Also, people think that the fresher a fish is the better it is. This is generally true, but some fish are actually better after a day or two." [Zagat Buzz] Frank Bruni's compiled a list of the city's most attractive restaurants, and in the era of designer spaces, the Four Seasons holds its own for being "conventionally elegant." [NYT]
Park Slope: The last old-school butcher in the hood, A&S Pork Store, might be pushed out of its space in the next three months partly because of a family feud, according to a real estate blogger: "[T]he daughter of the former owner (still all family) is jacking their rent up b/c she knows she can get more money for that space and doesn’t care that the family business won’t be able to afford it." [Adventures of a Gal via Gowanus Lounge]
West Village: It's Bastille Day, and Paris Commune is one of many French restaurants around town promising festivities including live jazz and a cabaret act. [Grub Street]

More: Neighborhood Watch  »a and s pork store, astoria, clinton hill, craftbar, east harlem, flatiron, four seasons, little italy, midtown east, paris commune, park slope, patsy's, sushi yasuda, west village, winegasm

NewsFeed 

7/ 7/08

3:30 PM

DiPalo’s Will Expand, Open Wine Shop

dipalos dairy

DiPalo's today; the shop will expand on the left of the photo.Photo: Everett Bogue

Most of Little Italy is a shadow of its former self, but as anyone who ever stood in line for half an hour to buy a pound of milky mozzarella will tell you, DiPalo Dairy is going strong. The store will annex the adjacent space to double in size, with the new section opening in September. “Now people will be able to come in, see more products, get waited on faster,” says owner Lou DiPalo. “We’ll be able to explain to people about our products. Now, we’re too busy to do that.” In mid-August, the family will open DiPalo Wine Shop next door to the cheese store. “Now after you get some Italian cheese, maybe you want some Italian wine to go with it,” says DiPalo. Sounds like a plan.
More: NewsFeed  »dipalo dairy, little italy

NewsFeed 

7/ 7/08

11:00 AM

Grub Street Alums Made Good Last Weekend

joey chestnut and takeru kobayashi

Salami and cheese lover.Photo: Melissa Hom

A few Grub Street alums made the weekend papers — Recent New York Diet subject Crazy Legs Conti, in case you were wondering, placed 11th in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest by downing twenty-four dogs (a personal best). Mark Ibold, former member of Pavement and bartender at Great Jones Café, rocked out with Sonic Youth at Battery Park. Santogold, who is playing SummerStage on July 20 and touring with Coldplay, spent an evening with the Times at Castro’s, the Fort Greene cantina known for its garden that she praised in her New York Diet. Donatella Arpaia, another New York Diet alum (you’ll recall her Hot Pocket habit), tells the Sunday Post about “her New York.” The feature isn’t online, but, food-wise, she singles out her dad’s place Fiorino, Bouchon Bakery’s quiche (“it’s like 1,000 calories and if you want to cheat on your diet it’s so worthwhile”) and the cheese and salami at Di Palo’s Fine Foods (she’s saddened by how much Little Italy has changed but still loves the family operation). And finally, we were amused to see Kobe Club waiter Jeremy Sullivan mentioned in the Times Magazine’s profile of Rush Limbaugh — reporter Zev Chafets leaves the tip after dining with Rush and later, upon reading our Ask A Waiter, is stricken with guilt when he realizes he might have deprived the server of Rush’s customary $5,000 gratuity. Cheap journalists!
More: NewsFeed  »castro's, crazy legs conti, di palo's, donatella arpaia, jeremy sullivan, kobe club, little italy, mark ibold, nathan's hot dog eating contest, pavement sonic youth, rush limbaugh, santogold

NewsFeed 

6/25/08

5:00 PM

Swiss Watch: Café Select at Least a Month Away

cafe select

Note the Rolex clock.Photo: Daniel Maurer

Café Select, the Swiss restaurant that the guys from Touch of Class are opening with the help of Serge Becker, held its first party a couple of weeks ago, and another one on Monday, but we’re hearing from one partygoer, who talked to insiders, that it won’t fully open for another four to six weeks. Our mole says he enjoyed a “Ski Water” (vodka lemonade with grenadine and soda), and some “very, very good bratwurst.” The kitchen, we’re told, is large — almost the size of the seating area — and the most memorable design aspect, aside from the Rolex clock we told you about earlier, is the ceiling: “It looks like a close-up version of a drop ceiling, with the holes magnified to about the size of a quarter,” says our spy. “Also, there are large industrial-looking circular vents built into it.” Can’t wait to see.

Swiss Watch: Serge Becker's Café Select Soft-Opens Across From La Esquina

More: NewsFeed  »a touch of class, cafe select, little italy, nightlife, serge becker, swiss

Ask a Waiter 

6/24/08

5:00 PM

Giovanni Terzulli of Florio’s Doesn’t Mind If You Smoke

gold coast dogs

"I'm 66. Very soon I'll be three sixes and I'll be the devil!"Photo: Melissa Hom

Giovanni Terzulli has worked as a waiter in Little Italy since arriving from his native Bari more than 40 years ago. In the mid-sixties he briefly worked at Florio’s Grill and Cigar Bar, under its namesake owner — seven years ago he returned to work for current owner Ralph Amoruso, who, along with his son Larry, operates an anachronistic cigar bar in the front of the restaurant, despite the city’s efforts to crack down. We were hoping Terzulli would tell us about the upstairs humidor and custom-knife club that can be reached via an apartment-building hallway, but his lips were zipped about it (membership is about $350, in case you’re curious, and you have to either befriend one of the owners or be referred by another member to so much as set your eyes on it). He did, however, tell us a little bit about the movie and military memorabilia gracing his "fame wall."

Read more»

More: Ask a Waiter  »brooke shields, eva longoria, florio's grill and cigar bar, johnny depp, larry amoruso, little italy, smoking ban, tiki barber

NewsFeed 

6/20/08

12:05 PM

Todd English Out at 98 Kenmare, Sfoglia Likely In

marco pierre white

Photo: Daniel Maurer

Recently, a commenter asked for the details of the feud between Steve Lewis and Todd English and wanted to know what would become of the restaurant they were working on together at 98 Kenmare. Now we can reveal that, according to a source close to the deal, the space has just been acquired by the owners of Sfoglia.

Read more»

More: NewsFeed  »98 kenmare, joe vicari, little italy, sfoglia, steve lewis, todd english

Openings 

6/13/08

12:30 AM

Swiss Watch: Serge Becker's Café Select Soft-Opens Across From La Esquina

cafe select

Note the Rolex clock.Photo: Daniel Maurer

Serge Becker’s new place with A Touch of Class D.J.'s Oliver Stumm and Dominique Clausen, which we can now tell you will be called Café Select (Website coming soon) hosted its first private party last night. We happened to be stalking the place strolling by during its first hour of existence, and a peek inside revealed a sleek marble bar with pastry display, glasses of bubbly, and a Rolex clock hanging from the ceiling. The joint looks almost like a museum café, but again, we were looking in from the outside — and we’re guessing you will be too, for the immediate future. The food was catered, so the kitchen probably isn’t quite there yet, but it’s not too early to say this much: Start freaking. The ef. Out.

Swiss Watch: Serge Becker’s New Venture Blessed By Community Board

More: Openings  »a touch of class, cafe select, Dominique Clausen, la esquina, little italy, Oliver Stumm, serge becker

Neighborhood Watch 

6/ 5/08

3:00 PM

Sam Talbot Finds His Groove in Montauk; Whole Foods Unpacking in Tribeca

Astoria: Tonight at Mojave (and every other Thursday), you get a free margarita and tequila tasting with dinner. [Joey in Astoria]
Clinton Hill: The owners aren't out at Los Pollitos (now called La Stalla), but they did take a new business partner. Il Torchio, however, has changed hands. [Clinton Hill Blog]
Dumbo: Farmers-market season starts June 15 at the Main Street entrance of Brooklyn Bridge Park. [Dumbo NYC]
Little Italy: La Esquina has changed its secret reservation line. [Eater]
Montauk: Sam Talbot seems to be off to a running start at Surf Lodge, which looks like a "throwback to seventies surf culture and Bruce Brown’s iconic Endless Summer movie." The summer-style food and sophisticated cocktails are serious, and the spot's already hosting after-parties. [Mouthing Off/Food & Wine]
Tribeca: Workers have already started unloading products at the new Whole Foods opening on Warren Street by the West Side Highway. [Grub Street]

More: Neighborhood Watch  »astoria, clinton hill, dumbo, la esquina, little italy, mojave, montauk, sam talbot, the surf lodge, tribeca, whole foods

NewsFeed 

5/19/08

11:00 AM

U.S. Pizza Team's ‘Dough Acrobats’ Coming to Town

Williamsburg’s Air Pizza has closed, and we’ll miss its logo of a chef slam-dunking a pie. Turns out “dough acrobats” aren’t just the stuff of hilarious signage— there actually is a U.S. Pizza Team, the pie-slinging equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters, and they’re on tour. A press release tells us to expect “pizza athletes performing jumps, flips, rolls and passes while keeping their dough spinning and often accompanied by music, costumes and theatrical props.” From May 24 to May 26 in Little Italy, the team’s fifteen members will be showing off the chops that have won them titles like Best Pizza Maker, Largest Dough Stretch, Best Freestyle Dough Tosser, and Fastest Pizza Maker. The above video of trainer Chris Green is easily the craziest thing we’ve seen since those dudes who jump into each other’s jeans.

U.S. Pizza Team Announces U.S. Tour Schedule [NY NewsWire]

More: NewsFeed  »harlem globetrotters, little italy, pizza, U.S. Pizza Team

NewsFeed 

4/ 1/08

12:30 PM

Stimulus Indeed: 10-Cent Cappuccinos on Tax Day

For those who stay up all night crunching numbers, Sambuca Café at 105 Mulberry Street, near Canal, is offering 5-cent espressos and 10-cent cappuccinos on Tax Day, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sure, coffee at work is free, but we’re guessing this stuff is a step up. We hope you won’t have to fill out three separate forms to get it.

More: NewsFeed  »coffee, little italy, sambuca cafe

Openings 

3/21/08

3:00 PM

Da Domenico's Gives Way to Dolce Vita

Quercy

Before and after.Photo: Melissa Hom

The space that housed Da Domenico's until it was seized by the city is now home to Dolce Vita. According to chef Tyler Cyre (a Montreal native who was previously a sous-chef at Brasserie and before that Zucca in L.A.), it’s not just another Little Italy red-sauce joint. “I feel it’s kind of a disadvantage for us, being so close to so much bad Italian food,” he says.

Read more»

More: Openings  »da domenico's, dolce vita, little italy

Neighborhood Watch 

2/13/08

3:00 PM

Pies-N-Thighs Will Survive in Williamsburg; Pastrami Queen Extends Reign to Chelsea

Astoria: Last-minute Valentine’s Day options from Joey. [Joey in Astoria] The Foodista's include JJ’s Asian Fusion and Sushi Bar, which isn't trying to do anything special for the holiday. [Foodista]
Brooklyn Heights: The bartender at Jack the Horse Tavern, Maxwell Britten, created a timely cocktail called Love Lane, which combines Prosecco, harvest syrup, house-made brandy, poached cherries, and rose water. Ladies on the town tomorrow take note: It's a sexy drink, and he’s pretty cute. [Vittles Vamp via Brooklyn Heights Blog]
Chelsea: The owners of Pastrami Queen have opened a delicatessen in Chelsea Market called Friedman’s. [NYT]
Clinton Hill: June reopens tonight after dealing with multiple break-ins. [Clinton Hill Blog]
Little Italy: Gimme! Coffee has opened its first Manhattan outlet at 228 Mott Street between Prince and Spring streets. [NYS]
Upper West Side: Ruby Foo’s new lunch plan includes free wi-fi. [Zagat]
Williamsburg: Pies-N-Thighs seems to have already found a new home at 166 South 4th Street. [Eater]

More: Neighborhood Watch  »astoria, brooklyn heights, chelsea, chelsea market, clinton hill, friedman's delicatessen, gimme coffee, jack the horse tavern, jj's asian fusion, little italy, love lane, maxwell bitten, pastrami queen, pies-n-thighs, ruby foo's, upper west side, valentine's day dining, williamsburg

Neighborhood Watch 

2/ 1/08

3:00 PM

Don’t Be an Ass, You’ll Be Made to Wait; Park Slope Gets Its Beer Table Saturday

Clinton Hill: John's Donut Shop & Restaurant looks like an unassuming diner, but a recent visit revealed an actual wait. Do people know something we don't know? [Clinton Hill Blog]
Dumbo: Water Street Restaurant is promoting $3 Draft Beers and a 2-for-1 Cheeseburger Special on Sunday. [Dumbo NYC]
Flatiron: If you get to Hill Country at 8 p.m. on a Saturday and come 9 p.m. you’re still waiting for a table, you’ve now struck "Shot o’clock," according to GM John Shaw, "gratis shots for all at the bar." [Eater]
Little Italy: This is proof that the city’s nightlife is still hot: "Degenerates of nyc in full swing at gold bar. 19 yr old Brazilians having makeshift photo shoots as the party floods into the D.J. booth to play with the new mac computers." Only Bangkok could be hotter than that! [Down by the Hipster]
Park Slope: Beer Table, whose SLA woes were chronicled by the Times this week, will open Saturday. [Eat for Victory/VV]
Tribeca: A bit of diner rudeness has been spotted around town lately — stool-swiping, line-cutting, table-hogging — but there’s a bit of consolation (and warning to offenders): Nobu co-owner Richie Notar revealed "they get secretly punished with extra-long waits." [Mouthing Off/Food & Wine]

More: Neighborhood Watch  »beer table, clinton hill, dumbo, flatiron, goldbar, hill country, john shaw, john's donut shop, little italy, nobu, park slope, richie notar, superbowl specials, tribeca, water street restaurant

Neighborhood Watch 

1/29/08

3:05 PM

Edible Jewelry for ‘Commitmentphobes’; Midtown East Welcomes Adour

East Village: TKettle owner Andy Pan is still waiting for his partner BBQ Chicken to open, but “it’s killing me softly,” he says.
[Eat for Victory/VV]
Little Italy: Send a mixed signal to your love this Valentine’s Day with a candy ring from Papabubble. [TONY]
Lower East Side: Tomorrow night at Suba is a pata negra feast, which includes dishes made with “Ossabaw Island hogs, the ‘long lost cousin of the Pata Negra’” paired with Spanish wines. [Bottomless Dish/Citysearch]
Midtown East: Initial reactions to Adour are already mostly positive, but no one else has noticed the specially reserved handbag seating, yet. [Eater]
Rockefeller Center: On Friday from 3:30 to 6 p.m., Morrell is hosting a tasting of La Caravelle Grand Cru to celebrate the Champagne’s ten-year anniversary. [Snack]

More: Neighborhood Watch  »adour, bagatelle, bbq chicken, bobo, east village, la caravelle, little italy, lower east side, meatpacking district, midtown east, morrell wine, nicolas cantrel, papabubble, pata negra, rockefeller center, suba, tkettle

Openings 

1/25/08

1:15 PM

Little Chitaly Bakery and Bar Is Not As Gentrifying As It Seems

That's a gold bar, but this isn't GoldBar.Photo: Melissa Hom

The transformation of a Broome Street herbal-medicine shop into a twenty-seat daytime café and nighttime wine bar, Oro Bakery and Bar, might strike some as a sign of gentrification — especially with Papabubble across the street — but owner Dorina Yuen is actually a Chinese-American with deep neighborhood roots. She’s showing a commitment to proximity by using locally sourced ingredients for savory quiches and French country-inspired sandwiches including a jumbo shrimp rémoulade tartine, and a baguette of country ham with cornichons, butter, and fresh chive. During nighttime hours, the focus shifts from organic coffee to beers, sparkling sake, and ten wines by the glass. A bar menu coming later this month will soon include charcuterie, cheese plates, and pâté toast points.

Oro Bakery and Bar, 375 Broome St., nr. Mott St.; 212-941-6368.

More: Openings  »little italy, oro

NewsFeed 

1/16/08

3:30 PM

Chris Eddy of Barmarché and industry (food) Goes After Forty Deuce Space

We’re hearing that Chris Eddy, partner in industry (food) and creator of Barmarché is seeking to open a sushi-fusion restaurant in the beleaguered Forty Deuce space. There was apparently no resolution about the liquor-license application at last week’s community-board meeting, but it seems neighborhood activists are wary. Since they're already nervous about a 270-room Mondrian hotel with a “glamorous restaurant” going up at 150 Lafayette Street and perhaps leery of Eddy’s background “managing Manhattan’s well-known nightspots and high-profile restaurants such as Mercer Kitchen, Bond St., Lotus, and Bungalow 8” (per his bio), they weren’t all that happy about high-end sushi coming to the nabe. For our part, we think Eddy has proven himself to the neighborhood with Barmarché, a reliable, relatively low-key destination for great cocktails.

More: NewsFeed  »barmarche, chris eddy, industry (food), little italy, the mondrian

NewsFeed 

12/14/07

1:48 PM

Cha Cha, Maker of World's No. 1 Cannoli, in Juicing Shocker

Cha Cha and Pastore

We surmise Cha Cha started juicing sometime after
seeing this photo in 2004.Photo: Getty Images

We’ve been known to stop into Cha Cha’s In Bocca Al Lupo for a Leonardo DiCaprio Frozen Titanic in a souvenir glass, though we’ve never actually seen Leo as the Website says we might. We do often see proprietor Cha Cha — friend of the Sopranos, former promoter of Tony Danza’s boxing career, and the “Unofficial Mayor of Little Italy.” In addition to the “#1 cannoli in the world” (natch), Cha Cha peddles gutbusters like a Mt. Vesuvius Tort consisting of three layers of brownies, cheesecake, and chocolate mousse — which is why we were shocked to hear, on WOR's Joey Reynolds Show, that Cha Cha has become a health nut and a juicing fanatic and takes most of his meals through a straw. Basta! This is way more disheartening than yesterday’s revelations that Clemens juiced — Cha Cha, say it ain’t so!

Cha Cha's In Bocca Al Lupo [Official site]

More: NewsFeed  »cha cha's in bocca al lupo, little italy

The Underground Gourmet 

11/28/07

9:00 AM

Steve Schirripa Has No Problem With Little Italy, Steaks

Steve Schirripa

Steve Schirripa eats his way through New York, and your
computer.Photo Courtesy Lifeskool

In his new cable cooking show, Steve Schirripa’s Hungry (Lifeskool network, debuting December 6), Uncle June’s faithful manservant Bobby Baccalieri tours his favorite New York Italian kitchens and takes some sauce-splattered pointers from pals like Rao’s Frank Pellegrino and Peasant’s Frank De Carlo. Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld asked the man Tony Soprano immortalized as a “calzone with legs” to expound on his favorite pastime — eating on and off the set.

There are a lot of cooking shows out there these days. What distinguishes yours from the competition?
This is a real guy going into a real kitchen; I think after you watch this, you’re really going to learn how to make the meatballs from Rao’s. It’s a combination of talking, comedy, and how-to.

Who does the cooking at home?
My wife; I eat, she cooks. Which is why I’m doing this new show. They’re teaching me how to cook.

In one episode, you spotlight the Mulberry Street restaurant Il Cortile. Do you think that Little Italy gets a bad rap?
I think it does. First of all, it’s a lot of fun down there. There’s a lot of tourists, but Il Cortile is as good an Italian restaurant as any in the city.

Read more»

More: The Underground Gourmet  »bamontes, don peppe, il cortile, little italy, macelleria, manducatis, park side, peasant, piccola venezia, rao's, spumoni gardens, steve schirripa, the palm

NewsFeed 

11/19/07

4:30 PM

L'asso Ropes in a Full Liquor License

We didn’t think things could get any better at L’asso, the hipster’s go-to pizza place in Nolita. After all: Nutella pies! Marshmallow pies! But after over three years of tossing them into the wood-fired brick oven, L'asso finally has a liquor license. They’re adjusting from wine and beer slowly (last night our server didn’t know what a Dark and Stormy was, though it was on the menu), but once they come around, we’re confident there will never again be a reason to join the line at Lombardi’s.

More: NewsFeed  »l'asso, little italy, lombardis, nolita

Neighborhood Watch 

10/22/07

3:00 PM

Rockabilly Bar in Progress on the LES; Dévi Reopens With a Discount

Astoria: “A lot of people in town are excited” about the 7-Eleven that just opened on 30th Avenue and 30th Street, so much so that the Slurpee machine may have broken from overuse. [Joey in Astoria]
Clinton Hill: No more soft opening! Speakeasy from former Top Cheftestant Josie Malave opens tonight, and photos taken of the menu in the window reveal such inspired dishes as zucchini sticks and fettuccine with spinach and sun-dried tomato. [Clinton Hill Blog]
Flatiron: Dévi reopens tonight, and the dinner menu will be 20 percent off through November 20. [Bottomless Dish/Citysearch]
Little Italy: Papabubble’s grand-opening party went well on Saturday; as you can see from these pics, the “walls were fully stocked with fresh candy, open jars with samples were everywhere, and … stateside Papabubble proprietors, even put on a little candy making show.” [Down by the Hipster]
Lower East Side: Fat Baby and Spitzer’s Corner owners Rob and Will Shamlian seem well on their way to opening a rockabilly bar and restaurant at 133 Essex Street, minus a liquor license and a mechanical bull. [Eater]
Sunset Park: Pepper and salt fish are tiny fish deep-fried in a batter that puffs up like funnel cake; they go well with abundant mini-shots of beer, and conveniently both are served at Ren Ren on Eighth Avenue every day until 3:30 a.m. [Eat for Victory/VV]

More: Neighborhood Watch  »astoria, clinton hill, devi, fat baby, flatiron, josie malave, little italy, lower east side, papabubble, ren ren, rob shamalian, speakeasy, spitzer's corner, sunset park, will shamalian

Openings 

10/22/07

9:00 AM

Taco War Is On: ‘Authentic’ Newcomer Pinche Calls Out La Esquina

Pinche

A new front in the Taco War.Photo: Melissa Hom

We consider Jeffrey Chartier, a partner in Soho Films, a brave man for opening Pinche taqueria a stone’s throw from La Esquina, but he is convinced the authenticity of his product will carry him (and hopes it’ll be the first in a chain). “This is the first real authentic taqueria in New York City,” he boasts, and make no mistake, that includes his neighbor. “La Esquina is nowhere near authentic as far as I’m concerned.” So how is Pinche different?

Read more»

More: Openings  »jeffrey chartier, la esquina, little italy, pinche

Openings 

10/18/07

4:46 PM

Cult Candy Shop Papabubble Introduces Itself to Little Italy

Papabubble

The mad candy laboratory at Papabubble.Photo: Melissa Hom

The first U.S. outpost of Papabubble (which also has locations in Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Tokyo) was originally slated to open today, and though delays mean you’ll have to wait till this weekend for “sugar drops” and other colorful confections made on site, we’re happy to report that the cult candy shop’s sign, at least, has been unveiled. Workers are still puttering around the interior, but we spied weathered dark-wood floors, an elegant subway-tile wall much like Despaña’s down the road, and beakers full of glowing liquids behind the counter. No product in site just yet, but the Marie Belle chocolate store, just one block over on Broome, has to be very nervous about this. Papabubble opens Saturday night with a party, and everyone’s invited.

Papabubble, 380 Broome St., nr. Mott St.; Papabubble.com.

More: Openings  »candy, little italy, papabubble

NewsFeed 

10/15/07

12:34 PM

Is Da Domenico's Down for Good?

Da Domenico

How long will da Domenico's stay dark?Photo: Daniel Maurer

We were saddened to see that signs on the door of sandwich mecca da Domenico’s say it’s “TEMPORARILY CLOSED due to family problems.” Let’s hope the closure isn’t permanent, since Dom’s (as da Domenico’s was called back when it was on Lafayette Street) is one of Little Italy’s beloved institutions. Don’t believe it? Just look at some of the well wishes that about a dozen passersby have scrawled on owner Frank Migliori’s closing note: “I hope everything resolves itself for the good,” “We miss you!,” “Come back soon,” and the like. If only Ivan Kane could get that love from Little Italy residents.

Earlier: Chinatown/Little Italy Deli Dearth Comes to an End

More: NewsFeed  »da domenico, dom's, little italy

Neighborhood Watch 

9/24/07

3:13 PM

Long Island Oyster Boom; North African Bakery Heats Up Astoria

Astoria: Patisserie la Brioche D’Or has just opened on Steinway at 25th Avenue and is baking up some French pastries and delicious North African treats. [Joey in Astoria]
East Village: Leaving the old classic Kiev sign above the new garish American Grill one is like a slap in to old schoolers who remember their old haunt. [Lost City]
Fort Greene: Mo-Bay Caribbean joint has given up the ghost, and a wine bar is taking its place. [Eat for Victory/VV]
Little Italy: San Gennaro’s fast-food frenzy ends today, but there are still a few restaurants in the area where you can eat a normal meal. [NYT]
Midtown East: Shinbashi sushi restaurant helped introduce raw-fish consumption to New York in the seventies. Now it can be found in the former Savannah Steak space on 48th Street. [Restaurant Girl]
Sagaponack: Townline BBQ impresses as being legitimately Texan, at least by Hamptons standards. [NYT]
Southampton: Long Island oysters are plump and sweet and now being sought after by restaurants from the Hamptons to Manhattan. [Newsday]

More: Neighborhood Watch  »american grill, astoria, east village, fort greene, little italy, long island oysters, midtown east, mo-bay, patiserie la brioche d'or, sagaponack, shinbashi, southampton, townline bbq

Neighborhood Watch 

9/10/07

2:54 PM

Boerum Hill Gains Food Cred; Aureole Reopens

Astoria: Spanking-new spot La Dolce Italia Bakery has, ironically, replaced the old Modern Italian Bakery. [Joey in Astoria]
Boerum Hill: Five recent openings have contributed to the neighborhood’s growing food cred. [NYT]
Union Square: The Greenmarket is selling teeny baby peaches that were too sweet and adorable to just get knocked-off their trees. [Mouthing Off/Food & Wine]
Upper East Side: Aureole reopens this Friday and will treat each diner on Friday and Saturday night to a glass of house wine. [Eater]
West Village: Joey Campanaro is hiring staff who will serve and sell Pat LaFrieda ground beef at Market Table. [Eat for Victory/VV] Day-O has been closed for months with no signs of progress on blamed "repairs." [Blog Chelsea]

More: Neighborhood Watch  »astoria, aureole, boerum hill, dolce italian bakery, greenmarket, joey campanaro, little italy, m bar, market table, union square, upper east side, west village

NewsFeed 

9/ 5/07

12:20 PM

Neighbors Aren’t Feeling Sting and Bowie’s Burlesque Club

Flyer

NIMBY neighbors don't want David Bowie's dirty club.Photo: Daniel Maurer

In a bit of dog-bites-man news, it seems certain neighbors aren’t digging the idea of Forty Deuce, the burlesque club that’s due to replace Little Charlie’s Clam Bar at 19 Kenmare Street. Screams this flyer we found on Grand and Mott today: “OUR LITTLE ITALY / CHINATOWN / BOWERY / NOLITA COMMUNITY IS NOT GOING TO BE THE NEW ‘TIMES SQUARE’ FOR UPSCALE TRENDY LATE-NIGHT PARTY-GOERS.” Are these the same citizens-on-patrol who are trying to get the Box closed because it wasn’t the “cultural institution” it promised to be? We advise them to tune in here, because we hear something big — bigger even than Double Happiness’ upscale trendy makeover, maybe — is coming to the LitItChiBoNo neighborhood soon.

Earlier: Bowie's Burlesque Club to Give the Box a Run for Its Money
Double Happiness to Get $1 Million Makeover, Reopen to Privileged Few

More: NewsFeed  »double happiness, forty deuce, little italy

Neighborhood Watch 

8/ 7/07

2:56 PM

La Esquina Laying Breakfast Eggs on Little Italy

East Village: If you’re a police officer, a nurse, or another kind of emergency service responder, S’MAC will give you a 15 percent discount on your order now through Labor Day. [S’MAC]
Flatiron: The name of the new Gansevoort coming to Park Avenue will be … Gansevoort Park. [Down by the Hipster]
Harlem: More mega-chain fast food coming soon. [Uptown Flavor]
Little Italy: La Esquina now serves breakfast. [Eat for Victory/VV]
Midtown East: Tonight at the Mercedes Benz showroom, Adirondack Creamery and Chinatown Ice Cream Factory will dole out green-tea, kulfi-pistachio-cardamom, and almond-cookie ice creams (among other flavors) to ticket holders supporting Asian Women in Business. [AWIB]
Midtown West: On August 23, former Maya chef de cuisine Julian Medina is opening his own nouveau Mexican restaurant called Toloache at 251 West 50th Street. [Grub Street]

More: Neighborhood Watch  »adirondack ice cream, asian women in business, chinatown ice cream factory, east village, flatiron, gansevoort hotel, gansevoort park, harlem, julian medina, la esquina, little italy, maya, midtown east, midtown west, smac, toloache

NewsFeed 

7/11/07

4:30 PM

Double Happiness to Get $1 Million Makeover, Reopen to Privileged Few

Smile for the community board, Emma.Photo: Patrick McMullan

Club promoter, artist, and former model Emma Cleary has purchased the bi-level space that currently houses Double Happiness and plans to reopen it, by New Year’s, only to those who can get onto the list. Her partner in the sale, brokered by Karma McDermett of Stevens & Co., is a managing director at JP Morgan. Cleary tells us the upstairs, which currently houses Palais Royale, will revert to its former incarnation as a restaurant (remember Wyanoka?) with Ulrich Sterling of 5 Ninth and SushiSamba turning out a ten-item menu of gourmet bar food. “Places like the Box and 205 are catering to the Lower East Side crowd,” Cleary says. “I’m going for more of the models, investment bankers, and celebrities.” Just how that will sit with the neighbors remains to be seen: At yesterday’s CB2 meeting, there were cries that the area outside of Double Happiness had become “party central,” causing Cleary to pen a missive, reprinted here for anyone who cares, laying out her plans for a $1 million swankification.

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More: NewsFeed  »double happiness, emma cleary, little italy, palais royale