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OPENINGS & CLOSINGS: APRIL BLOOMFIELD’S DINER, COUTURE KIDS, SUNFLOWER CAFE, SZECHUAN GARDEN

March 1, 2016 | 7:31 AM
in FOOD, NEWS, OPEN/CLOSED
26

risotteria3

For those who say there’s nowhere to eat on the Upper West Side, we beg to differ. And we will be begging to differ even more if our first bit of news turns out to be true.

Famed chef April Bloomfield of The Spotted Pig is opening a hip new diner at 78th street and Amsterdam Avenue, the former home of Risotteria, according to the Post. “‘She really wanted to open on the West Side and looked for a long time before finding this space,’ a source said. The diner, which will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, will also have a retail butcher shop on site.” Eater first heard a rumor about this a few weeks ago. “Word on the street is that Friedman and Bloomfield are teaming with Jocelyn Guest, the butcher at their new Salvation Burger. Says an insider, ‘It’s a butcher shop/ diner concept.””

couture kids

Couture Kids, featuring designer children’s clothes, has opened its new shop at 324 Columbus between 75th and 76th.

sunflower cafe

The sign is up for Sunflower Cafe on 93rd and Amsterdam Avenue. Here’s more about the cafe chain, which has locations in Brooklyn and Long Island. “Sunflower Cafe has a large variety of Salads, from the well known, full-flavored and refreshing Israeli salad to the classic Caesar Salad, and many more. Sunflower Cafe has no meat dishes, but our meals are big and filling. You can enjoy a healthy low-cost meal with a rich taste, and feel satisfied and full. From our Salads to Panini Toast, Sandwiches, Pasta dishes, Fish dishes, Wraps – all are made with our special Israeli touch in our kitchen, and all are fully Kosher.” Thanks to Philip for the photo.

luxcucina4

A new store called Luxcucina is opening at 452 Columbus Avenue between 81st and 82nd street, Meredith says. Given that cucina means kitchen, we presume it sells food, or maybe kitchen goods, but we can’t read the sign in her photo to say exactly what it is. If you walk by, send a new photo pronto! Update: It will sell kitchen and bath supplies. Thanks to Eugenia for the updated photo!

The shoe repair shop on Amsterdam between 92nd and 93rd street has closed, Marjorie tells us.

szechuan3

Szechuan Garden has opened in the former home of Hunan Balcony at 98th street and Broadway, Naomi says. “The guy inside said that it’s a branch of the Szechuan Garden on 105th Street. He also said that the owner is the same one who ran the Hunan Balcony, and all the others subsequent restaurants in the space.” See shots of the menu below.

szechuan2

szechuan1

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whatsupduck
whatsupduck
7 years ago

You’re probably right about Luxcucina, at least if “the Google” has anything to say about it:
https://trademarks.justia.com/866/16/luxcucina-86616386.html

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lmr
lmr
7 years ago

Unfortunately Luxcucina will not sell gourmet food, but rather high end kitchen cabinetry.

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Chuck D
Chuck D
7 years ago

“…the owner is the same one who ran the Hunan Balcony, and all the others subsequent restaurants in the space.”

No doubt this one will close in a month or so as well.

Could someone in the restaurant business explain why these guys do this? Chico Julio was the same way. My guess is they run up debt to suppliers, close, reopen with a new name and a new credit line, rinse, and repeat.

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WombatNYC
WombatNYC
7 years ago

Hunan Szechuan Balcony Garden or whatever you want to call it now would make a perfect location for WESTVILLE . Please read this and open in the neighborhood !

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anon
anon
7 years ago

yay! an April Bloomfield eatery…good news for the UWS. Hope it comes to fruition.

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EMC
EMC
7 years ago

What happened to Liana???

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Steven
Steven
7 years ago

Oh man, not another butcher shop/diner. I’m so sick of them.

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Stuart
Stuart
7 years ago

Is Szechuan Garden opening in the same space as the “Human Balcony” that was discussed in the “Openings and Closings” article from two weeks ago?

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Michael Milken
Michael Milken
7 years ago

That bagel shop didn’t last long. It didn’t help that it was closed on Saturday (yes, I know why).

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Lynn
Lynn
7 years ago

Can’t wait for Ollie’s to open. That corner, 98th and Bdwy is now a “bad Luck Corner”.

I can’t imagine if the same owner continues to try to reinvent his restaurant and they keep closing maybe that’s an omen.

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sam
sam
7 years ago

UNTRUE!!!!! The restaurant on 98th and Broadway-
It is the same owner as the last 4 restaurants that have failed there. They just keep changing the name.
The kitchen is filthy and there are rats.
They failed the last NYC code for restaurants, so they just re-open….bad.

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Izzu
Izzu
7 years ago

YES! I AGREE AGREE AGREE!!

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maryjane
maryjane
7 years ago

I cant make up my mind between the smoky wok tossed frogs w. roasted chili Asian celery or the chicken feet w. pickled turnips in spicy sauce

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Debbie D.
Debbie D.
7 years ago

Withhold judgement just yet on the new “diner”/”butcher”.

The Spotted Pig is phenomenal. She knows her stuff.

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lpskip
lpskip
7 years ago

Did something happen to Liana?! Haven’t been by there in a bit.

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Glen
Glen
7 years ago

Any clue as to when/if New York Brats is going to open on 106/Amsterdam? The sign has been up for months.

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Beth
Beth
7 years ago

The shoe repair shop moved up the street. It’s now around the corner from the bakery on Broadway.

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Chuck D
Chuck D
7 years ago

Michael M,

It also didn’t help that those bagels tasted like stale socks.

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ls
ls
7 years ago

Understand April Bloomfield’s interest in doing a West Side restaurant…

But hard to believe that there is a huge market for a butcher?

In terms of current demographics, many more UWS residents these days who don’t cook and/or don’t eat meat. Don’t see this demographics flocking to a butcher?

Not to mention that Citarella/butcher is close by.
And of course “over the counter” meat etc available at Fairway, TJ, Whole Foods and via Fresh Direct etc

Curious

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Sue
Sue
7 years ago

I had lunch ($7.25) at Szechuan Garden (formerly known as Hunan Balcony and Sugarcane) today. The food was good (better than in the past), and – possibly since my friend and I were among very few in the restaurant so far, the service was excellent.

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bgeorge
bgeorge
7 years ago

Liana is still there. Couture Kids has opened in the space vacated by Think Closet, a few doors south.

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Nat
Nat
7 years ago

Have both, MJ! One’s an appetizer, one’s an entrée.
Yum!

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adami
adami
7 years ago

Hey, let’s stay positive people! Hunan was there for a loooong time and the Szechuan Garden on 105th is better than average – we were still learning what to order since it doesn’t have a generic menu like very other Chinese place around here. Maybe 3rd time is the charm! (Fourth time?)

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Maria
Maria
7 years ago

YESSS!!! Westville!!!

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Wayne Parsons
Wayne Parsons
7 years ago

Hunan Balcony was a neighborhood standby for decades. A shame it closed. Unfortunately none of the several subsequent restaurants in the space has succeeded. Let’s hope this one does.

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Nyxbee
Nyxbee
7 years ago

Tried Szechuan Garden last night. Never again. Greasy inedible. Where is good Chinese on the UWS?

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