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Openings & Closings: Poulet Sans Tête; The Drilling Company; Robofun; Nuts Factory; Blossom Jewelry

March 29, 2023 | 6:40 PM
in FOOD, NEWS, OPEN/CLOSED
36
Photograph by Scott Etkin.

By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava

Poulet Sans Tête, a rotisserie chicken restaurant, is opening at 590 Amsterdam between 88th and 89th Streets on March 31st. It’s a homecoming of sorts for chef and co-owner Laurence Edelman, who spent time as a kid with family in the neighborhood, and in 2011 helped open The Mermaid Inn restaurant on 88th Street. The original Poulet Sans Tête in the West Village is takeout only, whereas the UWS location will have counter seating for about 20 people and serve both lunch and dinner.

The centerpiece of the menu is a three-and-a-half-pound roast chicken, which is good for five meals, Edelman said. “There’s no better neighborhood for this kind of food than the Upper West Side,” he told the Rag on a phone call. “It’s good for families. It’s good for somebody who wants to plan for a few days out of the week – you can get a whole chicken on Monday and you’re still eating it a few days later.” The space, which used to be One Stop Laundromat, required a gut renovation. “My general contractor keeps telling me he thinks we went too far, but I disagree,” he said.

Photograph by Lisa Kava.

The Drilling Company, a theatrical production company, has moved into a vacant space at 463 Amsterdam between 82nd and 83rd Street, where KES clothing store used to be. Hamilton Clancy, the company’s founder, said it had been itinerant and was fortunate to find a landlord, George Beane, who was willing to make a generous arrangement to repurpose the storefront as a performance space. Best known for its “Shakespeare in the Parking Lot” series, The Drilling Company also puts on shows in Bryant Park. The UWS space will house experimental works, including music and storytelling. All of its events are free – “the magic word,” said Clancy. (Thanks to Adam for the tip.)

Photograph by Jill.

Robofun, a program that teaches STEAM education for children in pre-K through 8th grade is opening a location on West End Avenue between 64th and 65th streets. Laura Hart, the program’s CEO, had the idea to start Robofun while she was at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. The progam is organized around the principle that “children learn best when they are having fun and create personally meaningful projects,” according to the company’ website. Signage says they will be open July 17th for summer camp. (Thanks to Jill for the tip.)

Photograph by Scott Etkin.

Nuts Factory, a snack food chain with colorful displays of dried nuts, fruit and candy, is opening on Columbus between 73rd and 74th streets, not far from the store they opened last year on 80th Street and Broadway. Nuts Factory does “on the spot” dry roasting, which allows for fresher products. A representative at the 80th Street location said the new store should be open in a few weeks and will be the same as the others in the chain. The third generation family-owned business has more than 150 branches across the country. It is replacing Really Great Things, a boutique clothing store. 

Photograph by Scott Etkin.

Blossom Jewelry at 2206 Broadway between 78th and 79th Street is closing in May at the end of its lease, and moving the business online. It is offering 50% off jewelry, watches, handbags, hats and accessories.

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36 Comments
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Juan
Juan
1 month ago

Poulet Sans Tete looks great except the prices seem a little steep.

12
Reply
Robert
Robert
1 month ago
Reply to  Juan

A little steep? Zabar whole chicken is very good & only costs $9 so is Poulet 3 times as good ?

2
Reply
Bob
Bob
1 month ago
Reply to  Robert

In my experience, Poulet is really incredible, yes.

1
Reply
Westender
Westender
1 month ago

Broadway Pizza is reopening after a renovation, and is serving pizza again while they finish construction.

7
Reply
Mark Moore
Mark Moore
1 month ago

That chicken is going to have to be really good for me to keep buying it at three times the price of a Whole Foods chicken. But I’ll try.

8
Reply
CardiZ
CardiZ
1 month ago
Reply to  Mark Moore

WF chicken is not so good. Any chicken that goes hot into a plastic container gets a weird aftertaste. Best rotisserie chickens I’ve had in the UWS are from Malecon and Cafe du Soleil.

8
Reply
Robert
Robert
1 month ago
Reply to  CardiZ

Cafe du Soleil has very good food but continues to have the worst service year after year for over 20 years.

2
Reply
NYYgirl
NYYgirl
1 month ago
Reply to  Robert

Lol still, yes. Will never forget the time my friend invited me to join her as she was going to stop off for a glass of wine there, not being sure yet if she would order an appetizer as well, and when she asked for a table in the practically empty restaurant, they said the tables were only for customers who were eating, and pointed us to the bar. Literally, like three tables had people seated. Weird.

1
Reply
Rachel
Rachel
1 month ago

I live alone and did get rotisserie chicken on Monday… it was $9.99 at wholefoods… For $27, it better be organic, pasture raised and at this price, it shouldn’t even be chicken.

10
Reply
Keely
Keely
1 month ago

Speaking of Mermaid Inn, are there any updates about when/where the UWS spot may reopen?

8
Reply
Eric1
Eric1
1 month ago

Speaking of Mermaid Inn – any word on an UWS reopening? When they closed, they said they would be seeking a new space.

7
Reply
Lizzy
Lizzy
1 month ago
Reply to  Eric1

they are opened with a similar name in Times Sq,

1
Reply
Huh
Huh
1 month ago

I have no idea if the chicken is that great at Poulet Sans Tete. But it’s funny that people are complaining about the cost when a single portion to eat in is that high at many local places. And people rave about Pio Pio where a whole chicken for takeout is $24.
I never bought a whole chicken at Whole Foods so it may be a great bargain . I’m not sure it’s fair to compare supermarket versus restaurant prices. I hope the restaurant finds its customers and succeeds. We still have too many vacancies in the neighborhood.

18
Reply
Molly
Molly
1 month ago

“Chicken Without A Head” no thank you.

3
Reply
UWS Karen
UWS Karen
1 month ago

Texas BBQ is still the best bargain and quality chicken in the hood. I was a devotee of Chirping Chicken for years but the quality and flavor is not what it used to be. So it’s still Texas BBQ for me.

1
Reply
Pat Weich
Pat Weich
1 month ago

I’m sure the restaurant will be a welcome addition on the UWS but the name is so off-putting — Poulet sans Tete. Doesn’t leave a great image in one’s mind!

2
Reply
Steve B
Steve B
1 month ago
Reply to  Pat Weich

Would you be less off-put if the chicken were served with the head still attached? 🙂

7
Reply
Lynn
Lynn
1 month ago

Funny that I walked past Poulet Sans Tete today, and was amused by the name, Chicken without a Head, and not certain I would want to eat there. On the other hand, if one is having friends for dinner, it sounds like a good deal; certainly less expensive than Citarella or Zabar’s.

1
Reply
Billy Amato
Billy Amato
1 month ago

New Yorkers love their on the spot dry roasting nuts that’s for sure!

1
Reply
Lillie
Lillie
1 month ago
Reply to  Billy Amato

I love the nut store because they let you use your own containers, eliminating plastic trash … and they even give a discount for it.

0
Reply
Sam Katz
Sam Katz
1 month ago
Reply to  Billy Amato

Fantastic store. Cannot wait for it to be closer to me!

1
Reply
Cathy Bernstein
Cathy Bernstein
1 month ago
Reply to  Billy Amato

Highly recommend the nut store on Broadway. Great place to pick up a hostess gift also. Last time I brought some boxes and was pleasantly surprised at how fast it went before dinner.

3
Reply
Ken
Ken
1 month ago
Reply to  Cathy Bernstein

Funny, I walk past this store at least a couple of times each week & have since its opening day. I haven’t been inside b/c everything they have in their windows is candy. Maybe you can buy actual nuts in the place but to my mind this is just a candy store.

0
Reply
Jeff
Jeff
1 month ago

I second the vote for Malecon, Amsterdam 97-98

3
Reply
El Jack
El Jack
1 month ago

So sad to lose Really Great Things, old-school, independent shop, whose owners really liked to dress their customers. Bye bye Blossom, too. Another indie bites the UWS dust.

3
Reply
Nancy
Nancy
1 month ago
Reply to  El Jack

I couldn’t afford what they sold, but loved to admire annd dream! Even the windows were works of art. They will really be missed.

2
Reply
Marie
Marie
1 month ago
Reply to  El Jack

Very sad. My favorite UWS boutique. Indie shop with Unique, beautiful, creative clothes and accessories.
End of an era.

2
Reply
Wendy
Wendy
1 month ago

You could buy an entire chicken (albeit not as large) with two sides for a lot less at Zabar’s, Fairway etc. Not sure who’s going to go there except except someone buying for a family. Or you could take the subway and bus to Costco on E 116th and get their ginormous delicious roast chicken for $5.

4
Reply
Leslie
Leslie
1 month ago

If Nuts Factory that is opening on Columbus Avenue is the same ownership as the store on 80th and Broadway it’s is relevant to note the entire produce is certified kosher. Everything is marked. It is wonderful with very usual dried fruits and vegetables all from Israel. Halvah like you have never seen or tasted better same for its version of babka.

5
Reply
Susan
Susan
1 month ago

Robofun teaches “STEAM” education? What’s that? Do you mean STEM, science, technology engineering , mathematics? When did this become STEAM?

2
Reply
rteplow
rteplow
1 month ago
Reply to  Susan

The “A” stands for arts.

3
Reply
Kirk
Kirk
1 month ago

Just came home with our first takeout order from Poulet Sans Tête. It is spectacular! As are the side dishes—we got Brussels sprouts and the roasted corn and squash salad. It’s so good we’re speechless. Would have been a great value at 50% more. Seriously. Best roast chicken on the UWS.

4
Reply
10024er
10024er
1 month ago

Best chicken was from Williams BBQ on 86th Street.

2
Reply
Westie-Mom
Westie-Mom
1 month ago
Reply to  10024er

Oh my! Williams!!! That was the best ever!!!

1
Reply
Mike
Mike
1 month ago

Robofun is a move of locations from their existing place on Broadway and 102/101 . Our son (2nd grade) took a coding class there and loved it. They also do great birthday parties

0
Reply
Dominic Frigosi
Dominic Frigosi
1 month ago

“There’s no better neighborhood for this kind of food than the Upper West Side,” Really? Poulette didn’t last, and it was the same type of place. The food was quite good, but the UWS wants cheap mediocrity. Sadly, that’s what tends to endure in this neighborhood. I hope Poulet Sans Tête does better. Bon chance!

0
Reply

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