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OPENINGS & CLOSINGS: MOORE FOOD & DRINK, PIZZERIA GESTO, NEW CRAFT BEER SPOT, MORE

September 20, 2015 | 9:43 AM
in FOOD, NEWS, OPEN/CLOSED
56

moore

Comfort food, beer, fish, pizza and more will satiate your appetite this fall.

Moore Food & Drink has replaced Ed’s Chowder House on the second floor of the Empire Hotel building at 44 West 63rd street. They’re owned by the same company. Moore, run by chef Harold Moore, has some similar seafood dishes to Ed’s, with a few twists. It seems tilted to more American comfort food of both the land and sea variety. “Moore’s making dishes like roasted chicken for two, New England clam chowder, a lobster roll, deviled eggs, and macaroni and cheese. Desserts, like chocolate cake, peach pie, and banana pudding, are similarly nostalgic and comforting,” GrubStreet reports. See the menu here. Editor’s note: I loved the bar at Ed’s. I assume Moore kept it, right? If anyone’s been to the new spot, let us know in the comments.

Mermaid Inn has moved into the space next door at 570 Amsterdam Avenue (between 87th and 88th), formerly occupied by Mamajuana Cafe. It’s got a larger bar and dining room, and lotsa sea creatures, as always.

As for Mermaid Inn’s former location at 568 Amsterdam Avenue, Eater reports: “The Mermaid Inn owner and JG Melon partner Danny Abrams, and former Raoul’s managing partner Cindy Smith are gearing up to open Pizzeria Gesto this November in the space at 568 Amsterdam that housed one of The Mermaid Inn locations. The restaurant will serve individual Neapolitan style pizzas, as well as four or five pastas, four or five meat and fish dishes, and an Italian wine list. ‘We will also have a wide range of appetizers and antipasti,’ assures Abrams. ‘I live on the Upper West Side and there are a lot of pizza places, but I don’t think there are a lot of great pizza places.'” Hey, weren’t people just talking about the dearth of pizza spots in the neighborhood?

beer shop

A new craft beer shop is set to open at 424 Amsterdam Avenue (between 80th and 81st), the former home of Cafe Con Leche, with a tasting table and to-go beers. Here’s the website so far (there wasn’t much on it last we checked). Thanks to Dan Jewel for the photo.

Mitchell’s Liquors on 86th street has reopened, Jeff tells us. They must have gotten that whole licensing issue figured out.

Jewelry store Links of London is coming to the first floor of the Time Warner Center this fall. Here’s the website. Thanks to D.R. for the tip.

A 7-Eleven is set to open at the corner of 100th street and Amsterdam, workers told our tipster Alex.

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Mike and Leslie
Mike and Leslie
9 years ago

Same bar and same great bartenders. And we loved the new food items on the menu. Try the salmon BLT!

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Linda
Linda
9 years ago

I ate at Moore’s last Sunday with a large group. Everything was delicious although the lobster roll was better when it was Ed’s. Among our group the salmon, mac & cheese, and sea bass crudo got high marks. Same bar, and even nice enough to turn on the football game we wanted to watch.

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ScooterStan
ScooterStan
9 years ago

Re: “…the former home of Cafe Con Leche”

Well, good riddance to ‘El Cheapo’!

They seemed to think that “Arroz Con Pollo” (rice with chicken) meant 90% rice and 10% chicken.

Sorry, Will (Shakespere, you’ve probably heard of him), but in THIS case Arroz by ANY name did not smell too SWEET!

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Monk Monkstein
Monk Monkstein
9 years ago
Reply to  ScooterStan

Ya Know Scooter,

I dont know what your deal is. You write these angry, silly comments…I think you are trying to be funny but it just comes off as some confused old man who thinks he’s writing monologue jokes for Carson or commentary for Andy Rooney. You must kill at Thanksgiving, that is if anyone will have you over for the holidays anymore.

Anyway, you are neither amusing nor insightful and I think you might be better served with a different audience…maybe try the Catskills….like 50 years ago. Ba dum Ba…Tiss

Now THAT is insightful humerous commentary….:)

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Independent
Independent
9 years ago
Reply to  Monk Monkstein

I take exception to your smug disdain for the Borscht Belt in its prime.

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Independent
Independent
9 years ago
Reply to  Monk Monkstein

Too harsh. Scooter certainly has exhibited his share of faults but his posts can also be fun and help to lighten things up around here.

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D.R.
D.R.
9 years ago
Reply to  Monk Monkstein

Johnny Carson – his Tonight Show ran for over 29 years. I would have been proud to be compared with any one of his writers.
Sometimes I would stay up just to watch his monologue.
Also, I loved Carnac the Magnificent and The Question Man — and that backwoods character that he played, with the red and black checker jacket and the undersize cap. Don’t remember his name.

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Sean
Sean
9 years ago
Reply to  D.R.

It was Carnac.

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RK
RK
9 years ago
Reply to  Monk Monkstein

Plus, Cafe con Leche was pretty good. And by the way, Arroz con Pollo is supposed to be 90% rice.

Harrumph

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dannyboy
dannyboy
9 years ago
Reply to  Monk Monkstein

Not.

Your ‘insight’ into the Catskills of 50 years ago is off. Way, way off.

Just helpin’

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pub
pub
9 years ago

7-11???? dangit.
Why don’t we ever get something useful, like a Duanne Reade or CVS? You know, something that’s not all too common and we can use many more of #eyeroll

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Tom D.
Tom D.
9 years ago
Reply to  pub

As uninteresting as it is to se a 7-11 appear in the neighborhood, at least _something_ is finally moving into that space. It’s been empty for what, two years now?

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John Marsden
John Marsden
9 years ago

No more craft beer places please. If I wanted to live in Williamsburg, I’d move there. Bring back the budweiser, darts and tvs for football season (for adults, not college kids).

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Joe
Joe
9 years ago
Reply to  John Marsden

Your comment is a joke… Right?

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uwsssside
uwsssside
9 years ago
Reply to  John Marsden

name one craft beer store on uws. Guess what times they are a changing. If you want bud and darts the midwest has all that too.

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Dale
Dale
9 years ago

try naming a decent pizzeria anywhere between 59th and 96th streets on the uws. bufala brothers on 76th was okay for a while when it first opened, but that place was very poorly run and the quality went down steadily over time.

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kippervasser
kippervasser
9 years ago
Reply to  Dale

In addition to its Mediterranean/Turkish fare, Bodrum (on Amsterdam between 88th and 89th) serves up delicious whole, thin crust pizzas made to order and cooked in its wood-burning brick oven. Here’s link to menu: https://bodrumnyc.com/menus/brick-oven-pizza/

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D.R.
D.R.
9 years ago
Reply to  Dale

Dale, you may be getting one soon at Amsterdam between 72nd and 73rd Street.

Farinella’s Bakery is now saying that they “should” open for business on Thursday. Be mindful though that they have already missed two past predicted opening dates.

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DMH
DMH
9 years ago
Reply to  Dale

Have you tried Celeste? it’s on Amsterdam between 84 and 85.

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Joel
Joel
9 years ago
Reply to  Dale

I think Daniello’s at 95/Columbus is pretty damn good–their sausage and peppers slice is fantastic, my favorite in Manhattan. Apparently their delivery sucks, though.

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Independent
Independent
9 years ago
Reply to  Joel

Nobody over twenty-one or under fifteen should be allowed to use “sucks” as a pejorative.

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Joel
Joel
9 years ago
Reply to  Independent

Don’t get the vapors.

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Eddie
Eddie
9 years ago
Reply to  Dale

There are two schools of pizza eaters. Those who like NY-style pizza by the slice for $2.50-3 a slice. There are plenty of good places on the UWS that serve this. Then there are the frou-frou individual pizza places where you are paying twice as much for half as much food. I don’t traffic in such places, so I cannot opine on whether there are many around.

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pub
pub
9 years ago
Reply to  Eddie

^^ This being said, the newest place to find a NY Slice is the Little Italy shop recently (maybe 1 yr old?) opened on Bwy 91 (or 90?)

Prob best in the neighborhood.

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Sprinkles
Sprinkles
9 years ago
Reply to  pub

Seconded. They’re delicious and reasonably priced. Southeast corner of 92nd and Broadway.

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Bruce
Bruce
9 years ago
Reply to  pub

Corner of w 92.

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Cato
Cato
9 years ago
Reply to  Eddie

I completely agree.

The problem with by-the-slice pizza is that there is too little turnover, so that virtually anywhere you go will have to re-heat a slice that has been sitting cold. However good that pizza was when it came out of the oven, once it solidified at room temperature nothing will bring it back to anywhere near the same quality.

Some of the $1/slice places (2Brothers, 99cent) can be pretty good, if only because the low prices draw in enough people to allow for quick turnover. But there aren’t any anywhere near the UWS.

Bottom line: I think that the rise in price to $2.50 or $3.00 a slice has ended up lowering the quality of the product. I’m sure that the owners have to charge that much to cover their expenses, so I’m not yelling “greed” at all — but I do think they might profit by *lowering* their prices to increase demand. That’s risky, but that’s how businesses succeed.

And I would *love* to have a fresh slice of pizza.

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dannyboy
dannyboy
9 years ago
Reply to  Cato

“Real Estate Interest Kill the NYC Slice”

…tomorrow’s Rag lede.

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CTP
CTP
9 years ago
Reply to  Dale

Mamas on bway and 86th has really good pizza

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dannyboy
dannyboy
9 years ago
Reply to  CTP

Mama’s has surfaced on this blog a few times recently. That’s good enough for me to give them a try. I hope it’s GREAT!

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pub
pub
9 years ago
Reply to  Dale

“try naming a decent pizzeria anywhere between 59th and 96th streets on the uws”

Caesar’s is “decent” albeit not the best, but indeed very decent.

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dannyboy
dannyboy
9 years ago
Reply to  Dale

THANK YOU FOR ASKING THIS QUESTION. If I learn of a great pizza shop, it will justify all the abuse I have endured on this Rag (and all the abuse that I have dished out in equal measure, that I sincerely regret. Well, maybe not ‘all’).

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jezbel
jezbel
9 years ago

I haven’t found a good donut shop yet anywhere between 69th and 80th. Why no Dunkin Donuts or Krispie Kreme here? Too many kids with gluten allergies?

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DMH
DMH
9 years ago
Reply to  jezbel

This is true! In my opinion, some of the best doughnuts in NYC are from Dough Loco, across the park.

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bravo
bravo
9 years ago
Reply to  jezbel

Krispie Kreme on 72nd. It IS within your boundaries, right?

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UWSer
UWSer
9 years ago
Reply to  bravo

No Krispy Kreme on 72nd Street anymore…hasn’t been there for years now…

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Tom
Tom
9 years ago
Reply to  UWSer

Box Kite on 72nd carries a few (expensive) doughnuts from Dough.

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Good neighbor
Good neighbor
9 years ago

Good pizza-Traviata on 68th between Columbus & Broadway.

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Ellen
Ellen
9 years ago

How about a good Chinese restaurant or pizza by the slice restaurant on the UWS? After living in Brooklyn and Long Island I was spoiled by great pizza. I have to go back to my old neighborhoods to satisfy my food cravings. Or I go to Chinatown. Would love to see a Dunkin Donuts instead of Starbucks on every corner.

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LJ
LJ
9 years ago
Reply to  Ellen

Chinese I love Wok City. It’s Amsterdam by 67th (I think )
Pizza by the slice Francesco’s on Columbus and 68th.

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2 Handicap
2 Handicap
9 years ago
Reply to  LJ

Wok City is The Truth

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dannyboy
dannyboy
9 years ago
Reply to  Ellen

A tagalong question: Where do they serve sesame noodles made with peanut butter? That would be another great find if anyone knows.

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Tom
Tom
9 years ago
Reply to  dannyboy

The Cottage does, I think.

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lynn
lynn
9 years ago
Reply to  Tom

Doesn’t anyone here like the Chinese restaurant Legend 72? They definitely have peanut butter on their sesame noodles. That’s where I’ve been eating, but if there’s something better please post it here. I used to get my food delivered from the uptown Hunan Balcony but since they changed owners the food is horrible.

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Sean
Sean
9 years ago
Reply to  lynn

There is a big C hanging in the window.

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drg
drg
9 years ago
Reply to  Ellen

The relatively newly opened Han Dynasty on 85 street is certainly worth a visit

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Cato
Cato
9 years ago
Reply to  drg

Agreed, but unfortunately they don’t deliver (yet). (At least last time I tried….)

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pasta p
pasta p
9 years ago
Reply to  Ellen

The Cottage on 76th or so is pretty good and a regular staple in my time apartment household.

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Mark
Mark
9 years ago
Reply to  pasta p

Agree with you on The Cottage, although I think they have gone down hill a bit.

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WombatNYC
WombatNYC
9 years ago

Never do I feel more financially ripped-off then I do when i leave Ed’s or the Burger Place attached to the hotel. I go once a year and everytime I say.. Neevr again but family brings me back .. I hope Moore is a refreshing change

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Independent
Independent
9 years ago
Reply to  WombatNYC

“Never do I feel more financially ripped-off then I do when”

For me, the end of that sentence would be when I shop at Gristedes.

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keith
keith
9 years ago

Numero 28 has decent pizza. They are actually italian. It may not be american italian pizza, but it is good wood fired thin crust pizza. Pasta dishes are good as well.

Joe’s Burger on Amsterdam has a great burger. They do not sell much else, but the burgers are delicious.

jin Noodle makes really good japanese ramen dishes. Some of the best in the city. The broth is delicious.

Xi’ang famous noodles on broadway makes awesome chinese pork and lamb noodles. people line up for them downtown around meal times.

And of course everyone should be delighted that mermaid expanded here and are investing in another restaurant next door.

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Kindly Dr Dave
Kindly Dr Dave
9 years ago
Reply to  keith

Come on guys, get with the globalization of the West Side. We have a TWO BOOTS. There are no other suppliers of Cajun (yes, shellfish) pizzas here. PLUS the just plain has CORNBREAD in the dough. Go. Try. Come back. Broadway and 96/95

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dannyboy
dannyboy
9 years ago
Reply to  Kindly Dr Dave

Not my taste.

I respect that others enjoy it though.

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Joel
Joel
9 years ago

Any idea what happened to Moore Food & Drink? They went back to the Ed’s Chowder House signage and as far as I can tell, it’s back.

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Joel
Joel
9 years ago
Reply to  Joel

Eater’s on it: https://ny.eater.com/2015/11/2/9659070/harold-moore-china-grill-management-shutter-moore-food-drink-eds

I never even made it in; the prices in that area aren’t great to begin with (I work across from LC) but these were up there with the Bouluds. I can’t really do that for a casual quick lunch during my work day.

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