By Alex Israel
Two new restaurants and some neighborhood favorites received liquor license and sidewalk café approvals during a recent meeting of Community Board 7’s Business & Consumer Issues Committee. Liquor license applications will also need to be reviewed by the State Liquor Authority for final approval.
As reported earlier this month, Bluestone Lane, a chain that started in Australia, is planning to take over the space at 417 Amsterdam Avenue (on the southeast corner of 80th) left behind by Pretto. While they have become known for their coffee shops, this location will serve as their ninth café in the U.S. According to their site, Bluestone Lane Cafes offer a “seasonal menu of progressive cafe fare along with full table service for all-day breakfast, lunch and early evening appetizers.” They were approved for a liquor license unanimously, and are aiming to open in September.
The beer hall at 2756 Broadway (West 106th Street), currently called West End Hall, is going through an ownership shift and changing its corporate entity to Clinton Hall. According to its owners, the menu and method of operations will be similar to West End Hall, operating primarily as a restaurant with a “unique beer menu” of over 20 draft beers. This location will be the sixth in New York City, and was approved for a liquor license despite some committee debate about its interior courtyard and late hours.
A number of renewals and new applications for sidewalk cafés passed unanimously, including:
- AG Kitchen at 269 Columbus Avenue (West 73rd Street)
- Beer Shop NYC at 422 Amsterdam Avenue (West 80th Street)
- VAI at 429 Amsterdam Avenue (West 80th – 81st Streets)
- Acqua at 718 Amsterdam Avenue (West 95th Street)
- PJ Clarke’s at 44 West 63rd Street (Columbus Avenue)
- Joe & The Juice at 247 Columbus Avenue (West 71st – 72nd Streets)
- Dive 106 at 938 Amsterdam Avenue (West 106th Street)
All committee approvals will be up for a vote during the next full board meeting on July 17, 2018.
Does anyone know whether this Bluestone Lane will take money, or will it (like at least one other Bluestone Lane I know) require you to use a credit card to buy a cup of coffee?
You remind me of the late Joe Franklin (Memory Lane) who I once heard enumerate a list of things he’s never done/had, one of which was having a credit card.
Gato Nero was closed on Sunday night. Any idea what is up?
As of 10 minutes ago, Gato Nero was open and serving customers.
I was in there once, thought it was a far cry from Macchina, and based on the paucity of customers I see there on a regular basis, suspect plenty of others agree with me. Hate to see local restaurants fail, but if they can’t execute their mission well…
We tried to spend some money there a couple weekends ago. The bartender ignored us for a while (there were no other customers needing service at the time) and then when he finally acknowledged us, they were out of everything we wanted. So we left. Macchina was so much better.
I thought the same – definitely sub-par.
We tried eating there a month ago and they got our order wrong 4 times in one night. The couple next to us said the same thing had happened to them as well.
We finally gave up and left before the correct dishes came out.
Mark:
What is your avatar from?
I (unfortunately) have to agree. Was sorry to see Machina go.
I wonder what is taking so long for the sidewalk cafe approval for Viand on Columbus?
— “I wonder what is taking so long for the sidewalk cafe approval for Viand on Columbus?”
It must Viand-er consideration.
😂 GOOD ONE!
Or, maybe the proposal was not VIA(nd)BLE 😳
UGH!
Surprised AG Kitchen’s sidewalk permit got approved again. I love the burgers but it is a busy sidewalk that gets narrowed down to 3 or 4 feet by the structure.
Is Hale and Hearty on 82nd and Broadway still open? The location is no longer listed on Hale’s website.
Hale & Hearty has closed, says West Side Rag.