Below, witness the demise of a gluten-free restaurant and the rise of a new coffee shop.
Risotteria, the gluten-free Italian restaurant, had a very short stay on 78th street and Amsterdam Avenue. It closed this weekend after about six months. The restaurant’s downtown location remains open. One tipster says he was mystified when he went to the restaurant and learned they didn’t offer high chairs to people with babies: “A very strange decision on the Upper West Side.” Thanks to Kate, Mike, for Lisa and Robert for the tips.
Playa Betty’s, the restaurant opening in the former home of Citrus on 75th and Amsterdam is planning to open next week, Alicia Clarke tells us: “Spoke with Wendy – she said they will initially be open for dinner starting on Monday 12/21 then adding lunch and brunch – there will be a small takeout section/area to sit and eat – a large center bar – and dining room/waitress service. I can’t wait for this restaurant to open!” We last wrote about the California-style eatery here. Thanks to Tyler, Gretchen and others for the tip.
A new UPS opened at 2472 Broadway (91st-92nd). That was where Dr. Stuart Blankman’s optometry office was located for 48 years until it closed earlier this year. Thanks to Mark for the photo.
Women’s boutique Montmartre closed its location at 71st and Broadway. They also closed the 73rd street location earlier this year. Lisa tells us they’re concentrating on their Time Warner store.
A coffee shop called Coffee Break recently opened at 929 Amsterdam Avenue (105th-106th). It’s currently in soft opening mode, but starting on Dec. 18 it will be open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m., an employee told us. The restaurant has a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, from pancakes to stir fry, with lots of cakes and cookies too. They’re also going to offer delivery service. Thanks to Daren for the tip and photo.
A gift shop called Botanica La Madama also just opened on 106th and Columbus. Thanks again to Daren.
A Chucky Cheese would do very well in the W70s on this the new suburban UWS.
Yuck!!!!!!! No way!! Wayyyy too “cheesy” ????
I meant !!!!! Not ????
SO excited for Playa Betty’s to open! I emailed them to ask about their vegan options (SO MANY) and they were super quick to respond and really friendly. Can’t wait for them to open (including their email to me below):
“So aside from some great vegetarian and vegan tacos and appetizers we are going to feature “Dharma Bowls” on our menu. Choose a whole grain that you like (we don’t even serve white rice). Choose greens (like kale dressed in lime juice with a little garlic, for ex). Choose a protein (like black beans, red beans, or tofu). Choose a dressing (like habenero “cream” made with spicy peppers and avocado purée instead of dairy). Maybe sprinkle some soy jack cheese on top?
The bowls will always come with grilled zucchini and slices of roasted sweet potato and they will be available to-go as well so if you get addicted to them you can grab one for lunch a few times a week instead of a salad so you can have a tasty hot meal in winter! If this all sounds good we’ll see you in a few weeks–“
“We don’t even serve white rice.”
In other words, “We are pretentious and will tell you what’s good for you based on what the cool people are eating. If you want white rice please go somewhere else but don’t even ask us because we will turn our noses up at you. But we do have tofu and kale as appetizers, entrees, and dessert.”
To be clear, they do serve meat and dairy as well, these were just their vegan options which I asked about. But just because it’s vegan doesn’t mean it’s healthy. I agree the “we don’t even serve white rice” was a little silly (vegans totally eat white rice, but I won’t turn my nose up at it brown rice either). Kale and tofu are also pretty darn yummy, but to each their own… I don’t think anyone would force you to eat it.
Please don’t use the word “yummy” in adult company. And I beg to disagree anyhow, tofu is the epitome of tasteless. And about kale… I think I’ve had enough to last the decade. But please enjoy.
I don’t think this restaurant got the message that kale has run its course (even in Brooklyn!).
I’m a little bummed that the “pick your grain, pick your green, pick your protein” is exactly the same as Sweet Green across the street.
I just hope they have a decent bar with a happy hour.
Why are people beating up on MJ for posting information she has? I don’t care where it comes from. It’s information that can’t be found anywhere else right now, to my knowledge. Thanks, MJ. (Be nicer, people.)
Looks super trashy. Welcome to the hood loud drunk 20-somethings!!
https://www.facebook.com/playabettys/timeline?ref=page_internal
and their sista restaurant aint so healthy….
The swankification of Hell’s Kitchen continues with today’s opening of Réunion Surf Bar, a beach-themed, quasi-Tiki spot from partners Thomas Wilson, Eugene Ashe, and Five Napkin Burger’s Robert Guarino. The restaurant takes its name from Réunion Island, a French-owned island off the coast of Madagascar, which also loaned the spot its signature dish: a hollowed-out baguette packed with Chinese meatballs, French fries, caramelized onions and Gruyere, which is appropriately named Le Americain.
I thought everybody around W75 St. was either old or middle aged with kids. You get people from the Beacon Theater looking for the old Bear Bar.
OMG!! I remember the Bear Bar with that CRAZY bear outside! where was it again? do you recall?
Before it was Bear Bar, it was McGowan’s.. one of the only bars on the UWS which allowed underage drinkers in the early 80’s. It became THE hangout for private school preppies (myself included), even though it was a horrible Irish bar with permanent ancient Christmas decorations in the back.
OMG — I forgot about the Bear bar…big circa 1990
LOL next time just post your menu MJ. Or buy a real ad.
Thanks for posting their marketing copy.
I wouldn’t recommend the new UPS store, they charge $2 for tape.
I wouldn’t recommend the new Botanica La Madama. They charge for merchandise.
I had the UPS store on 86th charge me $2 just to put a strip of tape on a box. Seems to be company policy, but still annoying.
If you don’t want to be charges for tape, Staples provides shipping services
Buy your own tape. There is no free lunch in America.
No, no — I think the poster wanted the tape for a package, not to eat. UPS doesn’t serve lunch.
Yes. The malling of our expensive, trendy UWS intensifies. But what else can pay the huge rents now. Maybe a Wal-Mart SuperCenter, Ihop, Applebee’s, etc. soon. And tear down all those tiny UWS buildings and build more boring tall steel/glass towers. Maybe it really is time to get of “Dodge”!
The malling of NYC began when the crime rate dropped enough for national retailers (Gap was first) to have confidence their managers and employees wouldn’t be robbed or murdered or steal too much. So, Dodge has gotten out of NYC, and good good riddance! Unless of course you are the type that misses the old 40-deuce.
C’mon — we need more 7-11’s and Dunkin Donuts and Subways and Chipotles or else all those empty storefronts will never be filled. What will the landlords do?
I can’t think of a more played-out comment.
Kae Lee Cleaners, which has been on Columbus between 85th and 86th for decades, is closed. My husband went by this morning to retrieve a shirt and found the shop locked and empty. I’d heard they were having trouble, but this was sudden.
Very sad – it’s always had kind, competent staff and the tailoring, especially, was reasonably priced.
But did your husband get the shirt? Inquiring minds want to know.
He did not get the shirt. Luckily it was not a fancy one.
Good riddance to Risotteria. We ate there once and the food was terrible, the service was horrible and it was very expensive. It is a concept restaurant with no concept of how to run a restaurant. Really not surprised.
I always liked Risotteria. The food was always good, as was the service. Wine prices were a tad high, but that’s the norm on the UWS. I’ll really miss thei red velvet cupcakes!
Really? I thought the service was good at Risottteria – good waitresses, very kid friendly.
That said, I ate there once and probably would’ve gone once a year if that… who is that much of a risotto fan?
Now when are Crave fishbar and Beer Shop opening?? I can’t be the only one who keeps hopefully checking out their papered-over windows.
Anyone have info on the status of the Orwasher Bakery that was ‘scheduled’ to open last month on Amsterdam? Thanks
I was wondering the same.
According to their staff at the UES location, they said they thought it would be open in January. I can’t wait.
DNAinfo says March: https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20151215/upper-west-side/caviar-bar-challah-bakery-among-slew-of-eateries-opening-on-uws
What is happening with the 3 empty stores on Columbus that were Purdy Girl, that children’s store, and that vegan restaurant between 83rd and 82nd?
They’re empty
I thought H & H (not the original) from the east side were going to be opening a place here. I can’t remember if they had a location in mind or not.
I live around the corner. They have been working for months now. It looks like they finished the cement work, now they are bringing in big crates of something.
The H&H is supposedly going on Columbus between 85 and 85 where the laundromat used to be (RIP old laundromat)
Warique, the Peruvian restaurant on Amsterdam between 101 and 102, has a sign up that they are moving locations, but it doesn’t say where.