The neighborhood just got more pizza, wine and coffee, but lost some delicious baked goods.
Kosher pizzeria Saba’s Pizza just opened its doors on Amsterdam between 79th and 80th, and they say they’re offering 15% off for the next few days. Saba’s replaced Pizza by La Grolla. Here’s the menu of their east side location.
80 Riverside Cafe, the small cafe at 80th and Riverside Drive that opened last year, has closed, according to Gretchen and others. It won some raves for its baked goods, homemade by three sisters.
Manhattan Brew & Vine, a new wine bar, is getting set to open at 109th street and Columbus in a space that formerly housed a deli and 99-cent store. The wood-paneled interior and leather chairs look very inviting. Thanks to Christina for the photo.
A new Starbucks opened on the ground floor of a new condo on 110th street and Manhattan Avenue, according to KDH.
Two popular spots are now being listed as For Rent: Communal on 72nd street between Columbus and Amsterdam (listing here) and Cafe Noi on Amsterdam between 78th and 79th (listing here). Reps for the restaurants didn’t respond to our requests for comment.
Mermaid Inn posted the sign below next to the window of their new location on Amsterdam between 87th and 88th listing reasons why they’re moving to the bigger space (right next to their current space).
No wonder 80 Riverside Café closed. Was never able to figure out its hours (post AM). Most of the time I passed by it had a “Closed” sign in the door. (And I live on 85th between WEA & RSD!)
It was charming and the coffee and baked goods were very good but the scheduled hours? A mystery. I would happily walked the two blocks from my home to this cafe in the evening (7-9pm) and enjoyed a coffee and dessert but they closed everyday before I even get home from work. I think the foot traffic would have been less of an issue had they marketed the place more.
I chalk it up more to their terrible location. I also live nearby on 83rd and thought their baked goods were some of the best around, but with such little foot traffic there I saw this coming from a mile away. It’s too bad though.
I agree with the others on this one–I think the combination of limited hours + zero street traffic probably did them in. I run in Riverside Park almost every morning and often ran by thinking, “hey, I should stop there sometime,” but they always seemed to be closed.
Yeah, we live right nearby, and it seemed like an adorable spot for a cup of coffee and and muffin…but it didn’t open until 8:30 or 9, which was after I had to be at work. Bizarre.
we only went to Mamajuana once and had a soso meal, so a bigger Mermaid feels like a win for the neighborhood. But I never had a problem with their old bathrooms, bathrooms.
80 Riverside Cafe probably should not have opened. I believe the city says no commerce on Riverside Drive. It probably would have been OK had the entrance been inside the hotel.
i love cafe noi! It has wonderful food and coffee along with Israeli frozen lemonade with mint!! So good!!
80 riverside cafe closed because their mom passed away and to open again was not going to work out for the sisters. I miss them terribly.
The Mermaid Inn will be moving next door, and replacing the current restaurant will be a new Italian concept restaurant by the same folks that own Mermaid. Not only does an immensely popular restaurant get a bigger space, but we’re getting another one to take its place. A real win-win for the neighborhood!
Communal was not a popular spot–it was usually empty or sparsely populated whenever I passed by (my office is on that block).
Tolani reopened – yay! I haven’t been in yet though. Look forward to going back.
Too bad about Cafe Noi. Nice place for quick or leisurely coffee and fresh salad and/or bureka. Not like Sugar & Plum (too sweet, limited self-serve seating) or Irving Cafe (great coffee but no internet and staff is a bit portentous). I hope another coffee joint takes Noi’s place.
Love Irving Cafe. Staff is friendly as can be. (And I think you meant to call them pretentious, not portentous, which means “ominously significant.” Either way, you’re wrong.)
I agree with Christine as well.. I’ve have met some great staff but one-two people who work there look absolutely miserable every time I go in. God forbid I ever ask a question, they hardly give you an answer and won’t even look at you when they do! I’ve been there when it’s busy and when it’s slow, but always get SUCH attitude from a few. They really bring the whole place down.. I hardly go in anymore because i’d rather spend my money elsewhere and receive friendly service.
We live on West End and absolutely loved 80 Riverside Cafe and its charming owners.It was a true asset to those of us on and near WEA. Our sincere condolences to Suzy, Margaret, Cindy and their father on the loss of their dear mother.
Jim and Linda
Actually- I agree with Christine E – Great coffee at Irving but the staff if potentious and pretentious .. Worse at the Irving Place location
I managed to find 80 Riverside open once and went in for coffee. I felt so pampered I couldn’t stand it! Prefer the “attitude” at Irving Pl. Just kidding of course. It’s nice when some places have their own character. How long has Cafe Noi been there? I came across it only recently and had looked forward to returning. The coffee was good and under $2 — I think $1.75?
Loved Cafe Noi. Got a gift card for the shop and sought it out even though it was 20+ blocks south of my apt. Was very impressed and would make a point of stopping in when I’d walk to work (from 102 to mid town) on a nice day.
Tolani hasn’t reopened. In fact, they’re closing in about 3 weeks. The embezzlement from one of the partners made it unsustainable, not to mention their keeping Verna, the woman who was at the helm when the embezzlement occurred.
Did Saba already close? There is brown paper over the doors today (7/25/15).
No Sabas is open and quite good from what i ordered so far.
They are kosher so they are closed from Friday evening until Sunday. A sign says starting September they will open Saturday night after sundown.