This week, we got word of a new seafood restaurant and a Kosher burger joint opening on the Upper West Side.
Flex Mussels, a seafood restaurant with locations in the West Village and Upper East Side, is set to open in the next few months on Columbus Avenue between 84th and 85th streets in the home of Spanish restaurant Casa Pomona. DNAinfo says it’s expected to seat 100 people, have a large raw bar and hold happy hour every day. Its menu includes several kinds of mussels, as well as other seafood dishes like crab cakes and a variety of salads. Check out the whole menu here.
It’s sad to see Casa Pomona go after that restaurant bounced back from problems in its building. An employee at the restaurant didn’t have information about the closing.
Kosher burger restaurant Prime Burger opened this week in the basement level of Kosher Japanese steakhouse Prime KO on 85th street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. Prime Burger will serve Angus beef burgers and a wide array of appetizers and finger foods. The grand opening is set for April 23, after Passover. Here are some specials:
o Appetizers: Mini Corn Dogs, Stuffed Quinoa Cakes, Beef Chorizo Sausages
o Burgers: Bulldog Burger with fried egg and “bacon.” Jardiniere Burger with vegetables and a Spicy Lamb Burger
o Hotdogs: Mexican Hotdog wrapped in a crisp tortilla, BB Beef Hotdog and Italian Hotdog served with roasted peppers
o 130 Seats
o No reservations
o Lunch, Brunch and Dinner will be served (lunch will start being served after Passover)
when is casa pomona closing??
It’s not clear.
I’m sorry to see Casa Pomona go, and sorrier it was never open for lunch when I could get there.
Why do all new restaurants open between 82nd – 85th street on colombus ave.. Why not move to Broadway in the 90’s .. plenty of stores to fill .
One of the reasons in addition to rents could be that many of the restaurants on Columbus and Amsterdam have outdoor seating which is a pretty popular feature in good weather. Although there are places on Broadway with outdoor seating, they aren’t as appealing, at least from my point of view, as Broadway is a lot dirtier. I would much rather sit outdoors at Elizabeth’s or Gabriela’s than anywhere on Broadway in the 90’s.
#WombatNYC, Rents are generally much higher on Broadway than Columbus Ave. It’s quite difficult for a new restaurant to open and stay in business on Broadway. Cibo I Vino seems to be doing well, however.
I find it curious when these restaurants that serve mostly one thing open up right near another place that serves the same thing…. i.e. this new Flex Mussels, which is opening right near the Belgian mussel place on Amst. between 87th and 88th. Maybe they’re not aware of what else is in the neighborhood?
WombatNYC – Totally agree with you. A friend and I were talking about the types of restaurants that could open in the mid 90s – 92-96th Street & Broadway.
Our belief is that due to the Shelter activities on West End and Broadway, “finer” restaurants are afraid to open. There are numerous “Asian” restaurants on Amsterdam, and Elizabeth’s and Gabriela’s are packing them in on 93rd & Columbus.
On Broadway, there are the Eurpoa and Cafe 94 – deli/type places. These are often packed… with tourists who stay at the Days Hotel. I actually think that’s great. I’ll be interested to see how the new upscale coffee place works on 94th & Broadway. Will it draw in the Symphony Space crowd?
We do need a neighborhood “establishment.” My favorite, by far, is Dive Bar on 96th & Amsterdam. Delicious (surprisingly) food, and characters waitresses and bartenders. The place is always packed (and they have very strong WiFi!) Bar’s may not be moneymakers like they used to be, but a strong pub like Dive Bar (which really is a family place) could be interesting. Between the Blockbuster and Payless empty storefronts, there’s opportunity (and chances are Radio Shack will be gone soon enough).
Anyone willing to take that chance?
Hear, hear, David.
One other thought starter. Corner of 96th & Broadway. Where Rite Aid used to be.
What type of store do you think should go in there? What makes most sense?
Would a (“gasp”) chain restaurant like a an Applebee’s or Ruby Tuesday take a chance? Or even a smaller NY restaurant – like a Blondie’s or Brother Jimmy’s or SHAKE SHACK!
Or is it a non-restaurant – clothing store. Would The Gap give it a try?
Am I grasping at straws? Let’s here what you think should go there.
Anything BUT a bank.
If Casa Pomona closed for lack of business, that’s a real shame – probably the best tapas on the UWS, but its crowds disappeared when Kefi reopened.