Via Google streetview.
We’ve gotten some more clarity on a bakery opening at a prime corner, and Dunkin’ Donuts continues its expansion throughout the neighborhood.
Orwasher’s Bakery is now set to open at 440 Amsterdam Avenue at the corner of 81st street in April. It’s expected to have 15 seats inside and 15 more outside at a sidewalk cafe, if it gets approval, the Post reports. “The bakery — beloved for ‘New York rye’ and pumpernickel, among others — makes its breads on site and will also offer a ‘highly curated’ menu of seven or eight sandwiches made with fresh-baked baguettes as well as salads, said Keith Cohen, who bought the bakery in 2007 and then went to Paris to learn how to make a proper baguette.”
Chicojulio, the Mexican restaurant on Amsterdam between 96th and 97th streets that opened, closed and reopened all within the span of a few months, appears to be closed again. An answering machine message says: “Thank you for calling Chicojulio. We’re closed for business. See you soon.” The restaurant is listed as for rent.
Another Dunkin Donuts is set to open on Amsterdam near 77th street, the former home of Willow, Taryn tells us. We reported last month that Dunkin’ is opening on 72nd too.
Bra Smyth, which has been in business for about 10 years at the corner of 77th and Broadway, is having a “moving” sale now but has not yet found a place to move in the neighborhood, an employee told us.
Uncle Luo Yang, a Chinese restaurant on Amsterdam Avenue near 106th street owned by the proprietor of a popular food truck near Columbia, has been closed for months. It was shuttered by the Health Department at the end of October. “This location at 928 Amsterdam Ave, has had the gate down for three months,” wrote Tsadik Kaplan, who sent the photo. “For the first two months, there was a notice on the gate ‘temporarily closed due to renovating the kitchen, will re-open soon’, but for the last month that notice has been missing.”
Breads Bakery is opening this Wednesday at 1890 Broadway (62nd-63rd). A release primses “delicious sandwiches & salads, an innovative coffee program, seating inside and outside (starting in the spring) and of course BABKA.
“Additionally, to celebrate this specific location, Breads Bakery is bringing back a version of the iconic Concord Cake from Soutine Bakery. Soutine Bakery was a staple on the UWS for years and its most popular item was the Concord Cake. Gadi Peleg, the owner of Breads Bakery, grew up in the neighborhood and remembers the cake fondly. To pay homage to his old neighborhood and Breads Bakery’s new home, he is bringing it back as a collaboration between Soutine’s owner, Madge Rosenberg, and Breads Bakery, exclusively available at this location.”
With all these baked goods how will I ever fit into my yoga pants? That’s what they are saying all over the UWS.
Well, then you’ll have to join the very expensive Equinox gym. It’s a conspiracy I tell ya! Lol
LOL I was going to say that! What are they doing to us! Worth it though. 🙂
Any news about Amorino? The “For rent” sign seems to be back up at the address mentioned in this last post.
https://www.westsiderag.com/2015/12/08/openings-closings-upper-west-wide-amity-hall-amorino-gelato-and-deli
Amorino appears to still be opening at 414 Amsterdam Avenue. They have a website up and it looks like it’s scheduled to open in March (in fact they say it “opened” in March!): https://amorinoupperwestside.com/
A bakery one block from Zabar’s. I want to meet the gutsy owner.
Breads Bakery was giving out free chocolate Babka last week as a preview to their opening – and it was amazing!
I grew up on Orwasher’s bread (long ago, before the UES was the UES). Love it!
Orwasher’s doesn’t taste the same unless sold by 4’8″ Hungarian women wearing those crazy oopen heell orthopedic shoes.
As for all the babka craze, I just wish we still had the two bakeries on Columbus, one was near Ruskay’s and the other one was on the west side of Columbus above 86th (I think its original bow front windows are still there). Their babkas were like from a long tradition of that traditional baking. I hope the break in the line of bakers isn’t fatal.
Grossinger’s Bakery was at 88th and Columbus and was forced out by the city’s HPD who wanted it for a crony of theirs. The cronies used it for 10+ years as some kind of non-profit and that is why the original bow windows are still in place, they may still have some of the original woodwork and bakery cases inside.
And not only babka but pischingen too
The bakery you refer to was Lichtmans. They were awesome with the best babka and rugelach(which they gave a piece of to children) anywhere, yes, served by the Hungarian ladies you mentioned. They were on the Southwest corner of 86th and Amsterdam.Then there was Cushman’s on 86th and Columbus: the best ever French Cruller.
Zabar’s should worry unless their bread already comes from Orwasher’s. The challah for our wedding came from Orwasher’s and we brought over from the east side for the occasion. We are ready!
Orwashers Bakery will have “highly curated” sandwiches. Isn’t that just a bit precious?
Highly curated sandwiches. The pretentiousness makes me a little nauseated.
Chico Julio wasn’t even there long enough for me to try it…and i live 3 blocks away.
Bring back Pampa!!!
The place was a great cheap bar with really good burritos and not bad tacos.
To bad it closed.
Well, then you’ll have to join the very expensive Equinox gym. It’s a conspiracy I tell ya! Lol
You didn’t miss anything. The original theme was seafood but there were few seafood items on the menu and they weren’t particularly interesting. Then the place became a bar and got even less interesting.
Then you should go someplace less pretentious sounding.
The “bouncer” at Breads tonight could take it a bit easy. Not a very welcoming way to meet the neighbors.
No one I know eats bread or sandwiches anymore. Everyone is off wheat, carbs and gluten.
So I wonder who these restaurants think is going to frequent their high calorie, high carb restaurants?
Even the bakeries I pass don’t have a lot of business. Melissa’s cupcakes never has more than one or 2 customers in there. how many bakery/dessert joints are all along Broadway in the 70’s, for example? Most of these places are not going to last very long.
From your mouth to God’s ear.
Seems carbs are back in style.
Must be nice to have those issues Miss 1%.
I hope Orwasher’s will be affordable. I’m not paying UWS prices..not till my rent is under 70% of my income!!!