By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava
Regional, the longtime Italian restaurant at 2607 Broadway (between 98th and 99th) is closing this week. “As we prepare to close this chapter, we want to express our deepest gratitude for your unwavering support and loyalty throughout the years,” the restaurant posted on Instagram. “Join us throughout the week for a farewell celebration and for The Last Supper on Sunday, May 28th.” Regional opened in 2006 and serves “cuisine of the many different districts of the Italian peninsula,” according to the website. A favorite dish, pappardelle al ragu’ di carne, was recently covered by the West Side Rag. “Regional is a warm, delightful place that makes the neighborhood feel like a neighborhood,” wrote tipster Phil in an email to the Rag. (Thanks to Phil and Oksana for the tips.)
Satori Laser, a laser hair removal center, has signage saying they are opening at 696 Columbus (94th Street). The space was formerly Crystal Cleaners, a tailor and dry cleaner. Satori Laser has 18 locations and this will be the second one on the Upper West Side – there’s an existing salon at 131 West 72nd Street. Other locations are on the Upper East Side, midtown, downtown and in Long Island and Philadelphia. Satori Laser offers online consultations. (Thanks to Mark, Victor and Gary for the tips.)
Dunkin’ (formerly Dunkin’ Donuts) is opening at 2264 Broadway between 81st and 82nd Streets. The space used to be The Eye Man, the longtime optometry store which moved to the other side of the avenue (2261 Broadway) last year. (Thanks to David for the tip.)
Amsterdam’s Finest & Freshest Deli is opening at 706 Amsterdam between 94th and 95th streets. The new awning advertises soda, snacks, salads, hot/cold sandwiches, coffee and juice. It takes the place of the longtime Indian restaurant, Ayurveda Cafe, which closed last May. (Thanks to Ian and Mark for the tips.)
The Restaurant at Gilder has opened inside the new Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education and Innovation at the American Museum of Natural History (Columbus and 79th). The restaurant, located on the second floor, is open for lunch daily beginning at 11am with the last seating at 3pm. Both walk-ins and reservations via Resy are accepted, but museum admission is required to dine at the restaurant. The Restaurant at Gilder serves locally sourced, contemporary American cuisine and has views that overlook the Kenneth C. Griffin Atrium, the central space of the new Gilder Center.
The Migrant Kitchen is having a soft opening of its new outpost just north of the Heckscher Ballfields in Central Park (65th Street) on May 26th. The location will operate out of the historic Ballfields Cafe building, serving traditional ballpark food as well as selections from The Migrant Kitchen’s Middle Eastern and Latin-inspired menu. There is outdoor seating. The Migrant Kitchen plans to be open seasonally. The hours listed on the website are 11am to 7pm fro Thursday to Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday).
That’s too bad about Regional!
Sad another closing in the 90’s.
There are 2-3 openings upcoming in the high 90s, but I’m unsure what they are.
Has anyone heard anything about Ayrveda Cafe? It was one of our favorite restaurants and we heard they might open elsewhere.
I think it is absolutely abhorrent and dishonest that they took green space away from the community, claiming it was for an educational center, and used it to open a restaurant. AMNH is no friend of the community.
It’s a small restaurant in a huge beautiful building dedicated to make visitors excited about about nature and science. Museum entrance is practically free to NY area residents. It’s abhorrant and dishonest to complain about such a small section of the new wonderful building where visitors can eat in peace.
Why and how is entry to the Museum of Natural History “practically free” to NY area residents? I’ve never heard that, but I’m interested in knowing more. What does “practically free” mean?
If you live in NY, NJ, or CT, you can pay whatever you want for entry. Even one cent per person.
It means the tickets you buy are for the entire natural history museum, and the Gilder’s special exhibits are extra — e.g., my Senior ticket for Invisible Worlds (which includes the eye-popping Immersive Room) was $4.
Jack – I suspect you haven’t visited the new wing, it’s a gem and greatly enhances the greenspace of the neighborhood + adds an entrance to the AMNH on Columbus!
Say what? The AMNH took as little green space as possible and planted MORE trees and added MANY MORE benches. Moreover it re-landscaped the eastern end of Theodore Roosevelt Park from 78th to 81st and made it all the more inviting. Go see for yourself!
There’s not enough green space remaining in the area?
Right. I guess the 840 acres across the street from the museum aren’t enough.
You can even walk your dogs (on a leash) there.
And $25 for a burger!
Don’t all of the big museums have restaurants?
Jack, all top museums (especially those whose guests often stay from 2-5 hours) has some type of restaurant and AMNH was smart to add that to a tiny portion of its addition. The community will be going to the museum and the community will (potentially) go to the restaurant. You have to get over the loss of a small, barely used space to enhance a worldwide amazing museum.
Too bad about Regional. If only they could’ve lasted a few more months for the movie theater open up. (I’m joking–that movie theater is never going to open)
LOL!
Go get this REGIONAL dish while you can:
https://www.westsiderag.com/2023/05/06/heres-the-dish-regionals-pappardelle-al-ragu-di-carne
I will be mourning the loss of Regional for a long time. I’ve had quite a few memorable nights there, and their food was great even when it went through the ordeal of delivery!