Openings: Virgil’s Real BBQ, Vanessa’s Dumpling House
Virgil’s Real BBQ, which has a popular Times Square location, has opened at 2452 Broadway (91st). Virgil’s is a takeout and delivery spot that serves barbeque and other comfort food. The meats are smoked in-house, and they serve various types of barbeque, including Memphis pork spare ribs and Texas beef brisket. Desserts like banana pudding are popular too. People can order online or by calling 646-887-3754.
Vanessa’s Dumpling House, a popular Chinese spot with four locations around the city, is getting closer to opening at 452 Amsterdam Ave (between 81st and 82nd). We first heard about Vanessa’s renting the space in 2019, and it has finally put up its sign. But the restaurant still has some hurdles to get through before opening, they tell us. It still needs city permits, so it doesn’t yet have an opening date. Once it does open, however, Upper West Siders can look forward to a wide variety of Asian food. Other locations offer noodles, soup, buns, sandwiches, bubble tea, and more. Check out the menus at the various locations here. Thanks to Xico for the tip.
Looking forward to Vanessa’s Dumpling House. The UWS, certainly below 96th, lacks proper Chinese food spots, apart from a couple places.
which are the couple places?
I love Virgil’s . . . and I love BBQ!
I know the 44th Street location, regularly dine there (during normal times!)
Wonderful that they are coming to UWS!
Have been to Virgil’s in Times Square a handful of times and liked it.
Have been to Vanessa’s in Long Island City a handful of times and didn’t like it.
Your results may vary.
wow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope Vanessa’s is as good or similar to the original one on Eldrige St. The dumplings and pancakes are the real deal with pricing to match. Please don’t gentrify it for the new neighborhood and give us some watered down version with high prices. It will save me a lot of travel time.
I’m curious; generally speaking, in a situation like this where it looks like a business will soon open, but doesn’t for some reason, permits or whatever, is there rent being paid in the meantime, as the months (or even the years) pass on by?
I’ve often seen that happen; I was wondering if there was a rule of thumb?
Isn’t there something similar going on, where a restaurant keeps promising to open, at 2233 Broadway (I think) where Ikinari Steak gave up the ghost a year or so ago??
Who’s taking the hit, the landlord or the prospective business?
Thanks.
The business typically pays rent during the buildout with often times concessions from the LL.
Landlord typically gives between 2 and 6 months free rent during for a new tenant build out.
Hi Lawrence, I am Carol Braverman and 77 years old, I live on the UWS – My father’s name is/was Louis – are we related.
So excited to have Virgils in the nabe! Great ribs and fabulous onion strings!
The Upper Meat Side continues it’s trend of meat heavy, vegetarian hostile, over priced junk food options.
No thanks
Can vegans eat bugs? Just curious.
You say no thanks, but I say thank you!
Why don’t you open up a vegetarian restaurant then? There would be more vegetarian restaurants if there were more demand. Sorry you don’t approve of someone else taking risk with there own money.
I guess if customers didn’t want this stuff, these places wouldn’t be here.
Is there any neighborhood that has more whiners than the Upper West Side? No matter what good happens they complain.
Be happy a new eatery wants to open in the neighborhood
I’d like a good middle/high end vegetarian restaurant or at least some restaurants that serve real vegetarian foods especially using legumes. Many cuisines have lots of tasty foods, but the stuff they have served here on the UWS has been middle-American tasteless food.
I started taking out from the original Vanessa’s ages ago when I worked nearby and it was takeout only. The food was great: fresh and cheap. I haven’t been there recently but I have eaten at the 14th St location and the quality wasn’t as good. I don’t know about the other locations, but I’ll surely try the new one.
Are we talking about the same UWS with 2 McDonald’s and no other tasty fast food at all? Some normal folks appreciate Wendy’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, etc every once in a while, but this neighborhood has done a great job of keeping the plebian food out.
Always good news hearing about new restaurants opening!
Couldn’t agree more!
re: only in NYC
Vanessa’s Dumpling House will be in between two Thai restaurants
Was excited to hear Virgils coming to our backyard, as we loved the Times Square restaurant, and even held our family brunch there the morning after our wedding.
Tried to order around 6:00 PM tonight, a Saturday night and discovered that they’re operating out of Carmines, but they were unable to deliver tonight? “Call back tomorrow.” How about call me when you have it together and are actually fully functioning!
The Virgils is a disaster. We ordered from there tonight.
Our pickup time was 7:05. They told us it’ll be another 10 mins. Came back 10 mins later…another 10 mins
7:45, 40 mins AFTER our pickup time the food was ready.
No thanks. Too many other restaurants in the area.
I like more restaurants coming to the UWS but an $18 pulled pork sandwich at Virgils? Meanwhile, you can get one for much less at Texas Rotisserie on 97th street or Mighty Quinns on the east side for much less.
Got take-out from Virgils last night and it was beyond terrible. The pulled pork sandwich was just an entire glob of fat with no edible meat on it and the “grilled” chicken sandwich was fried. No BBQ sauce in sight, either. Will not be going back….ever!!
Looking at the website it looks like Virgil’s isn’t the actual restaurant but an “outpost” within Carmine’s (they have the same owners, it seems). It’s just a small selection of their menu, unfortunately, and none of my favorites, but YMMV.
Carmine’s parent co owns Virgil’s
https://www.alicart.com/