West Side Rag
  • TOP NEWS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • ABOUT US
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTRIBUTORS
    • CONTACT
West Side Rag
No Result
View All Result
SUPPORT THE RAG

Search the site

No Result
View All Result
Get WSR FREE in your inbox
SUPPORT THE RAG

RESTAURANT OPENINGS: EARTH CAFE, SUGARCANE

November 16, 2014 | 2:07 AM
in FOOD, NEWS, OPEN/CLOSED
14

earth cafe2

Earth Cafe opened a couple of days ago in the former home of Blimpie’s on 97th street and Broadway. The cafe gets a lot of light and has a laid-back (almost Brooklyn!) vibe. The owners are also affiliated with a bistro called Why Not in the Village, a barista told us. There are baked goods and various kinds of coffee drinks, as you can see in the menu below (click on photos to enlarge).

Menu at Earth Cafe
View from Broadway

The space previously occupied by Szechuan Gourmet on 98th and Broadway is now being transformed into a Vietnamese restaurant called Sugarcane. Construction appears to be going on inside. On the front door, there are two signs — one directing people to the other Szechuan Gourmet and another criticizing Szechuan Gourmet’s food. That second one appears to be a nasty prank. Thanks to Greg for the tip about the opening.

Sugarcane entrance
Sign1 on door of Sugarcane
Sign2 on door of Sugarcane
Share this article:
SUPPORT THE RAG
guest

guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

14 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Jeff
Jeff
10 years ago

Oh wow this is funny – my wife was looking at the Szechuan Gourmet menu the other day and specifically said, ‘Um, stir-fried frogs?” Obviously a translation issue where what’s actually being served (frogs’ legs) would sound fine but the idea of entire frogs is repulsive.

0
Reply
A
A
10 years ago

here’s hoping we get a place with a killer bahn mi

0
Reply
Jioe
Jioe
10 years ago

We already have a place with killer Vietnamese food – saiguette. Can’t compete with the best..

0
Reply
A
A
10 years ago
Reply to  Jioe

Guess I’ll have to check it out then, if it’s really that great…Thanks for the tip!

0
Reply
Eric
Eric
10 years ago
Reply to  Jioe

sadly not enough seating at Saiguette though

0
Reply
Sami Beth
Sami Beth
10 years ago
Reply to  Jioe

Amen!!!

0
Reply
webot
webot
10 years ago

Earth Cafe looks great.

and replaces a not so great franchise operation (chain).

Best of luck an may I suggest all you pining for the way it used to be, head up there and support them.

0
Reply
Michael
Michael
10 years ago
Reply to  webot

Just found out that the Earth owner is also affiliated with Cibo e Vino on bway/89th. Now two wonderful establishments owned by some very lovely neighborhood locals!!!! Hope it’s a trend.

0
Reply
Ms UWS
Ms UWS
10 years ago

Is “a laid-back (almost Brooklyn!) vibe” supposed to be a good thing? When I want a Brooklyn vibe, I go to Brooklyn. When I want UWS friendliness, I stay in my own neighborhood.

0
Reply
Bill
Bill
10 years ago

I walked by Sugarcane today and found out they had just opened. I was excited to see that there was Vietnamese now a block from me. When I opened the takeout menu I realized the menu had the same graphics and most of the same dishes that the now defunct Saigon Grill had on 91 and Amsterdam. When I asked about that they smiled knowingly and indicated there was some overlap of ownership or management. However, it appears that a lot, if not most of the staff is Chinese. I asked if the chef was Vietnamese, and the hostess said “yes.” I’m hopeful that whatever the overlap is between Saigon Grill’s ownership or management they will have learned from the mess they had with the delivery team’s union and will survive and thrive. I’m very hopeful the food will be just as good as Saigon Grill was. I share Jioe’s enthusiam for Saiguette, but this place has a larger menu with all the terrific lunch specials Saigon Grill had, and you can eat in. This is the space formerly occupied for decades by Hunan Balcony.

0
Reply
Bill
Bill
10 years ago
Reply to  Bill

Yesterday I spoke to a manager there, and he said it is a different company that owns this restaurant, but the chef is the same one they had at Saigon Grill. Their takeout menu appeared under my door this afternoon.

0
Reply
SK
SK
10 years ago

Any intel on what’s going on with Academy Florist? There’s been a for rent sign in the window and a seizure notice on the door.

0
Reply
Marcos Hardy
Marcos Hardy
10 years ago

Since Earth Café opened two blocks from where I live, I have been in it twice. The first time was uneventful, with good espresso and attentive and polite baristas.
The second time was very unfortunate. There was only one gloomy barista and no clients at the counter. I ordered a double espresso for myself and a chai latte for my sitting companion. While the man was preparing my espresso a woman came and was greeted with smiles by the barista. He served me the espresso and told me I had to wait because “I will take care of her request before I prepare your chai.” I asked why. Both he and the woman looked at each other and sighed in unison. He prepared my chai and put it on the other side of the counter, well away from me, and in a very dismissive tone he said “here you are, you have to come and get it.” I asked why he was behaving in such an uncouth way and he said “this is where we serve the drinks, not directly to the client.” This in spite that he had served my espresso directly in front of me and he then served the drink of the woman directly in front of her.
The espresso and the chai were fine and invited to return while the attitude of the surly barista said “stay away.” My only regret was that I tipped him before he displayed his disgraceful attitude.
Two experiences, a normal one and a horrible one only says to me “return as long as the churlish barista is not there.” In the meantime I’ll continue to frequent Filicori, just a block away and with graceful baristas.

0
Reply
joey castro
joey castro
9 years ago

I did not like the treatment that I got from your place. On the menu, the price of coffee is 2.15 or 2.50, but yet, I was charged 2.75. The coffee was not given to me; I had to walk around the counter to get it…not good hospitable treatment; I will never go to your inhospitable café again and I will warn others of your services!

0
Reply

YOU MIGHT LIKE...

‘Rebel With a Clause’ Is a Love Letter—to Grammar and the Upper West Side
ART

‘Rebel With a Clause’ Is a Love Letter—to Grammar and the Upper West Side

June 16, 2025 | 1:53 PM
Here’s the UWS Dish: Raenu Thai’s Beef Salad
COLUMNS

Here’s the UWS Dish: Raenu Thai’s Beef Salad

June 16, 2025 | 8:15 AM
Previous Post

CENTRAL PARK ICE RINK ANNOUNCES IT WILL CLOSE FOR ENTIRE WINTER; CITY LOOKS TO SAVE SEASON

Next Post

FALL HITS A STUNNING CRESCENDO

this week's events image
Next Post
FALL HITS A STUNNING CRESCENDO

FALL HITS A STUNNING CRESCENDO

PLAN FOR LUXURY CONDOS IN HISTORIC CHURCH IS ARCHITECTURAL SACRILEGE, NEIGHBORS CLAIM

PLAN FOR LUXURY CONDOS IN HISTORIC CHURCH IS ARCHITECTURAL SACRILEGE, NEIGHBORS CLAIM

POLICE: ROBBER TARGETING YOUNG WOMEN ON UWS

POLICE: ROBBER TARGETING YOUNG WOMEN ON UWS

  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • NEWSLETTER
  • WSR MERCH!
  • ADVERTISE
  • EVENTS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • SITE MAP
Site design by RLDGROUP

© 2025 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • TOP NEWS
  • THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • ABOUT
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTRIBUTORS
    • CONTACT US
  • WSR SHOP

© 2025 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.