By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava
A Jet’s Pizza franchise, serving “Detroit style” square pizza, is opening at 728 Amsterdam between 95th and 96th Streets. On Wednesday, August 3, they are giving out free “4 Corner Pizza” with up to three toppings or a specialty pizza to walk-ins from 5-8 pm. The next day, August 4, the official opening, they will offer 20% off all regular priced pizza when ordered by text (646-861-1605). The UWS location isn’t big enough to have seating, so it’s available only for take-away and delivery.
“I talk to a lot of people and they’re like, ‘Oh my God, you’re up in New York City, there’s pizza everywhere,’” said Scott Gregerson, who runs Jet’s franchises downtown and on the Upper East Side. But he has found that people who grew up with Jet’s in their hometown are excited to see it in the city. “There’s a great, diverse audience on the Upper West Side [with] Harlem and Columbia, so we’re going to do our best to deliver to all those folks.” The same recipes are used as when the original Jet’s opened in 1978. (Thanks to Avi for the tip.)
The Chelsea House, a seafood restaurant, is opening on Amsterdam between 94th and 95th Streets, replacing The Boilery restaurant. Chelsea House’s existing location on 9th Avenue between 24th and 25th Street has a night-club vibe, decorated with a neon sign that says “Real Bosses Eat Together.” There’s also a “casual elegant” dress code, according to the website. The menu features a raw bar, seafood sandwiches and boils, as well as mixed cocktails and even bottle service.
Reamir & Co. Barber Shop at 303 Columbus between 73rd and 74th Streets is closed temporarily for renovation – custom furniture is being installed – and is slated to re-open in September. In the meantime, customers can go across the street to the Museum Barber Shop, which is under the same ownership. Arthur Rubinoff, a fourth generation barber, runs the business and opened 303 Columbus in 1999 as the first Reamir & Co. location. There has been a barber shop where the Museum is since 1939, said Arthur, who was close with the previous owner. “I’m proud to be in this part of history,” he said. Arthur grew up in Uzbekistan and his father, Rubin, was the first stylist to introduce the “wash, cut and blowdry” to the country, then part of the Soviet Union, in 1974.
Spaghetti Tavern, the Western-themed saloon on Amsterdam between 80th and 81st Streets, has closed its kitchen, but the bar remains open. The menu is down from the website and a sign out front says “BYO snacks.” The tavern, which replaced Frank Mac’s in March 2021, hosts various live events throughout the week like trivia, open mics and karaoke. (Thanks to Rachel for the tip.)
Kirsh Bakery & Kitchen at 591 Amsterdam Ave at 85th Street is “temporarily closed,” according to a sign on the window. The sign says “We are working on a new opening date, so please look out for us in the future.” It also thanked its customers. Kirsh opened in April 2016 with the goal of becoming “a staple in the UWS neighborhood as a place for New Yorkers to come for a quick coffee and pastry or a full meal, morning, noon or night.” WSR tried to reach Kirsh and will post an update when we have more information. (Thanks to Jack for the tip.)
Sad to see that from Spaghetti Tavern and hope the kitchen comes back, it was wonderful food
Spaghetty Tavern sold their pasta entrees in a paper bag. They took out some of the TV’s and replaced them with animal trophy heads. Talk about not understanding a locale.
Judging by its logo, Spaghetti Tavern clearly understands that it’s, ahem, nuts to sell noodles with large sacks.
We love the Spaghetti Tavern. The food was really good –esp the big a* salad and pastas finished in bags and the open mike night was a lot of fun.
That thank you note from Kirsh doesn’t sound like a place that’s reopening.
I’m sad about Kirsch. It had such potential as a “neighborhood staple,” the dependable kind of place you fall into for a good, quiet dinner after a long workday, or a stress-free place to meet a friend for lunch. But the room always seemed cold to me, the menu just at the edge of pretentious, and the service disinterested. What I will miss dearly, however, is the bakery’s incredibly tasty sourdough bread, whose crunchy exterior was thickly encrusted with a mixture of seeds. I hope the owner can bring Kirsch back as a brighter, friendlier go-to place for the neighborhood.
We will miss that bread very very much.
Agree with all this (as someone who adored Popover’s) It just never seemed inviting with the weird neon light and often pretty empty, so I feel kind of bad but not too surprised
Kirsh is actually at 87th Street, not 85th Street.
Doesn’t shock me about spaghetti or kirsh.
Spaghetti Tavern was so average with a dumb theme.
Kirsh I live near and while they had great specials, often times I walked in and nobody would be at the door. I literally waited 5 mins at door for a table once with nobody there.
I hope both get replaced with something more consistent, I’d love a Cava close by or Smith.
Or a Westville. They would do gangbusters on the UWS.
The Boilery was dreadful-atmosphere, service, and food—all dreadful.
Are you sure it was dreadful? Asking for a friend?
Kirsch has been a disappointment from the beginning. Service is terrible. People and manager are useless and mean at times.
Was just about to say the same thing about the manager…really not friendly! I met the owner a few times, he was nice….but that Manager…..
Bring back Frank Mac’s
Not surprised about Kirsh at all. I found their pastries subpar and their staff terrible. The last time I was there, after waiting more than 10 minutes and witnessing the counter person being very rude to other patrons, I walked out when he told me he was charging me for half and half for my coffee. I could understand if I wanted soy or oat milk, but half and half? That’s absurd. They were a bit too hipster-y for the UWS. I had high hopes for them but was consistently disappointed every time I went in there. I can’t say they will be missed.
Kirsch was a no go for us from the start. Food was terrible; service worse. A true neighborhood place was its predecessor-Popovers, which we miss terribly.
Bring back Popover Cafe!
Chelsea House really thinks very highly of itself. From its website, to go along with their $325 bottle service:
“We require a credit card to secure a reservation. No-shows or cancellations less than 1 day in advance will be subject to a charge of $25 per person!”
Ain’t it the truth? I’d love to see a good unpretentious seafood restaurant in the neighborhood — something like the old Moby Dick at 84th and Madison, or the fish emporia on City Island. But “Real Bosses Eat Together” has a wiseass mobster vibe that turns off this seafood fan, as does the emphasis on booze and the reservation policy. I want to eat the fishes, not worry about swimming with them.
I’m so disappointed that Kirsh is closed. I loved their omelets, swiss cheese sticks and apple crisp. I do hope they will reopen soon.
Another opening: It looks as though the late lamented Matsu restaurant space on Columbus near 84th, will be filled by something called Exotic Smoke Shop. A big garish plastic sign, similar to those of the other smoke shops springing up like mushrooms in the neighborhood, just went up. Just what we need directly across from a school complex.
It’s going to be awesome right beside the new gelato store. Gross.
The Noi Due gelateria is a bright spot on the block. Stopped in for the first time last week and thought I was in Rome. All the great Italian flavors. Stracciatella! Fior di Latte! Melograno! Cioccolato, of course. I asked the pleasant gelaterista what smelled so good and she said “We’re baking our own cones.” Delizioso! But the smoke shop – there goes the block.
So now Spaghetti Tavern is just Tavern?