UWS OPENINGS & CLOSINGS: HAN DYNASTY, BONMI, RISOTERRIA, BARBARA GEE DANSKIN
Dan Dan Noodles at Han Dynasty. Photo by Tom Ipri.
We’ve got several updates on new Upper West Side restaurants and a longtime clothing store that just closed.
Han Dynasty is just days away from opening at 215 West 85th street in the former home of Bocca di Bacco, company rep June Kwan said at a community board meeting on Wednesday, DNAinfo reported. The hotly anticipated Chinese restaurant will have 175 seats and will have a private dining room that people can rent out. “The West 85th Street spot will have delivery and will be open for lunch and until 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, as well as midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, she said.”
Han Dynasty, which has another location in the East Village, tends to draw long lines and many critics have praised the restaurant — New York mag’s Adam Platt wrote of the noodles “the impeccably balanced sauces and the freshness of the ingredients give the cooking a vibrant, home-style feel.” But the Times’ Pete Wells was perplexed by its popularity. “I’m mystified by the popularity of Han Dynasty in Manhattan, where there are far better Sichuan restaurants. Han Dynasty’s translation of the cuisine has a thick American accent. Many main courses are heavy on sugar, bell peppers and especially MSG, which is often used in great, slashing doses.”
BONMi has opened its doors at 150 West 62nd street, at Fordham College. The shop specializes in the Vietnamese sandwiches known as Bánh Mì and is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12 to 8 on weekends. On April 14, the shop will have a grand opening, with free food for the first 200 guests who show up at different time periods, as explained here.
Risoterria, which was expected to open on 78th and Amsterdam on March 23, now plans to open in a couple of weeks. It received a permit to operate a sidewalk cafe with 10 tables.
Barbara Gee Danskin Center, a clothing on Broadway between 82nd and 83rd street, has closed its doors for good after being in business since 1975.
One of our readers wrote about Barbara Gee a couple of years ago when we asked for descriptions of favorite UWS stores: “I love this store because it is cramped, you can’t really be private in the make-shift dressing room and they don’t have a HUGE selection. But It is perfect; just the right amount of stuff and EXACTLY the way it was when I was in high school. The women who work there are exceedingly patient and accommodating and will climb on a ladder to find your size in little boxes piled on the high shelves. The store is a reminder to slow down the pace long enough to have a nice memory.”
Elizabeth Shelton made the video below (and took the photo above).
So sad to see Barbara Gee gone!
I remember the store Mike’s brother Alan ran at 94th and Broadway.
From ballet class to underwear, even it if something I needed wasn’t in the store, Alan was able to get it for me.
Another “mom and pop” store leaving the UWS….what a shame.
Nicest guy as well…sad to see them leave
Trying to figure out how Pete Wells senses “great, slashing doses” of MSG…
ESP, maybe?
Maybe by getting a good old-fashioned slashing MSG headache afterwards?
You can taste it.
When you start to vibrate and your eyes bug out of their sockets, you’ll know. Try Googling “Chinese restaurant syndrome”.
Just googled it. Top result is from the NIH stating that
“There have been many studies since then that have failed to show a connection between MSG and the symptoms some people describe.”
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001126.htm
And by the way, you can’t taste MSG directly.
Bonmi opening is APRIL 14
Thanks, fixed. WSR
Any word on the Chopt that was supposed to open on Amsterdam & 75/76? It was announced back in November, I think, but those buildings are just as empty as ever, and no work seems to be going on. Was really looking forward to having a Chopt close to home.
I’ve been wondering the same thing!
I grew up with Barbara Gee! So sad!
Ummm…
“sad” that you grew up? or “sad” that you grew up with Barbara Gee ??
just curious
😉
Bring back The Bagel Nosh.
eesh- that review by Pete Wells is enough to keep me away from Han Dynasty. I wonder if they would abide by requests to take out the MSG of any dishes?
Sad to see Barbara Gee gone.