By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava
Gnocchi on 9th, a counter-service pasta restaurant, has signage up at 228 Columbus Avenue (between West 70th and 71st streets), the former home of Kee’s Chocolates. Gnocchi on 9th has two existing locations in the East Village and on the Lower East Side, which opened earlier this year and have gotten particular attention for serving the gnocchi in Chinese food takeout boxes. “The idea was to have something you could hold in your hand, walk with, and have the ability to take with you on the go,” said Mike Salzano, one of the co-founders, on a call with West Side Rag. Now opening their third restaurant in just a few months, Salzano said they chose the UWS to see how the restaurant does in a market with more families. “We had no idea we would take off like this,” he said. To start, the new UWS location will serve Gnocchi Al Pomodoro and Gnocchi Alla Vodka before expanding the menu, based on demand, Salzano said. The space should be ready to open in the next week or so, depending on how the construction progresses.
UPDATE: Gnocchi on 9th opened its Upper West Side location on Thursday.
Clara and Cafe 77, the dining options located in the New-York Historical Society (170 Central Park West at 77th Street), closed on August 11th. “We are committed to providing our visitors with this important amenity and look forward to upcoming offerings,” a representative of the Historical Society wrote to the Rag. “We are hopeful for reopening in the fall.” Clara, which served contemporary takes on classic New York dishes using locally sourced ingredients, opened last October. It was named after Clara Driscoll, who designed dozens of the lamps in the museum’s Gallery of Tiffany Lamps. Cafe 77, a coffee shop with pastries, breakfast, lunch, and grab-and-go snacks, opened last November. We’ll post an update when we have more information. (Thanks to Glenn for the tip.)
Epilogue Books, the pop-up used bookshop at 2305 Broadway (between West 83rd and 84th streets), will be closing on Sunday, August 25th. The bookshop opened in June and just planned to run through the summer. “Everyone has been generous with their words and their books! We want to thank the community immensely for making our experience so positive and for helping to keep the stories going,” a representative wrote to WSR. “Whether it was the ‘regulars’ who donated books weekly or searched daily for a new treasure, or the children who were excited to find new favorites, or people finding books they had previously lost, or local authors donating copies of their own work, it was all such a pleasure to witness and be a part of.” A portion of its proceeds are being donated to the nonprofit One Tree Planted. Blue Mercury, the cosmetics store, was previously in the space.
Rudraks, an Indian restaurant, opened last week at 706 Amsterdam Avenue (between West 94th and 95th streets). The restaurant’s name refers to the beads used by the Hindu deity Shiva to meditate and recite mantras, owner Gauri Shankar explained on a call with WSR. So far the restaurant has received a “wonderful response” from the neighborhood, he said. This location was most recently a deli, and before that, it was home to Ayurveda Cafe, the longtime Indian restaurant that closed in 2022.
Consignment on 72nd, the secondhand clothing store at 133 West 72nd Street (between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues), is rebranding to Tanya Luxury Fashion Boutique on September 7th (a new website will be up and running on this date as well). “The rebranding is necessary because consignment means different things to different people,” owner and Upper West Sider Tanya Young Williams said in a press release. “We are not a vintage store. We are not a thrift store. We are a luxury fashion boutique. Our targeted customer base and community appreciates new, luxury designer pieces at discounted prices. Style conscious shoppers are also on the Upper West Side.” The boutique carries luxury designer brands such as Valentino, Dolce Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, and many others at 40-60% off retail prices. The boutique will continue to have a luxury consignment section for clothing and purses. Consignment of high-end luxury items will remain by appointment only by contacting the boutique. Consignment on 72nd opened in February this year.
Pildes Optical, at 2165 Broadway (between West 76th and West 77th streets), has changed its name to West Side Vision Care. The store is under the same ownership and same management, a representative told West Side Rag. West Side Vision Care has a staff of optometrists, opticians, frame stylists, and technicians. They offer eye exams and contact lens evaluation and fittings by appointment. They carry a wide variety of eyeglass and sunglass brands. (Thanks to Sue for the tip.)
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I used Pildes for several years and found them totally satisfactory.
Sadly my insurance changed and without naming the new provider I have to use I can say that I miss them.
Gnocchi on 9th downtown is basic, but gets the job done. I’m only surprised they aren’t further north for the Columbia kids.
We had dinner at Rudraks last night. The food was truly delicious, the ambiance very pleasant and the service very friendly. This place should receive attention, it’s a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
We went to Rudraks last night. I am so thrilled to have such a great Indian
restaurant in the neighborhood. The ambience is lovely, Gauri is an amazing host and the staff is so very attentive and extremely polite.
Now to the food….DELICIOUS!!
We started out with vegetable simosas, light, not greasy and perfectly seasoned. Then we shared the Lamb Korma, so yummy, and again, perfectly seasoned. It was actually large enough for the two of us to share. To compliment the meal, my husband ordered the Poori,, a massive balloon of a bread, which was just the right touch. It was all followed by a complimentary sweet dessert.
I’m not sure if or when they will be getting a liquor license, but presently it is BYOB. Gauri graciously took our bottle, uncorked it, presented, wrapped it, and poured.
May I suggest to my neighbors, go there, you will thank me.
I’m so sorry to see Epilogue Books closing on August 25th. It was such a great addition to the hood. I go there before venturing to Barnes & Noble to see if I can find the book I am planning to buy. I so wish they would pass the store on to another bibliophile, but not surprisingly, the rent is the dealbreaker. I know there are other used bookstores in the area, but something about Epilogue made it feel like going on a treasure hunt.
There is also a great used bookshop on the East Side the Book Cellar at the NYPL Webster branch – volunteer-run to benefit the NYPL
My wife and I had dinner at Rudraks Wednesday night and had a wonderful time. The food was excellent! We shared lamb vindaloo and saag, accompanied by raita and aloo paratha, with mulligatawny for a starter. Everything was top-notch. My wife and I were regulars at Ashoka, Gauri’s former establishment, so we know him well and think highly of him and his family. Our first experience at Rudraks was terrific….we look forward to many more. :-)
We did takeout from Rudraks last night and it was great. Chicken shahi korma, murg malai kebab, roasted eggplant bharta, and garlic naan. The kebab and naan were especially delicious. We’ll definitely be back.
Gnocchi doesn’t even make their own gnocchi, which is remarkable.
How you gonna call yourself gnocchi and have one product you don’t even make
Perfect for the TikTok line people.
“We are not a vintage store. We are not a thrift store.“ That’s a darn shame. The neighborhood could use more of those. There was a great vintage clothing store on Columbus and 75th (?) street in the ‘70s and ‘80s run by a guy called Jeffrey … the name of the place has gone out of my head… maybe some other neighborhood old-timers will remember it.
I remember. Thanks for the memories, too! It was there for three or four decades before it closed! But I shopped at Tanya’s when she was on West 66 Street and she has nice clothing at good prices and I have found quite a few pieces, as well as consigned. I am looking forward to getting to her new location.
I’ll give Gnocchi on 9th a try, but I’m always skeptical about places that want to turn pasta dishes into ambulatory fast food. Nobody has been able to get the formula down without serious deterioration in quality. Not even Mark Ladner’s Pasta Flyer, and Ladner is a talented pasta savant. Like a previous poster said, this seems more for the college crowd.
By any name Pildes is the best. Their optometrist David Hyde takes real time and care in doing exams and writing prescriptions. My own ophthalmologist zips through this part of the yearly eye exam and wrote an incorrect prescriptions that cost me $$ to have redone, so I never use him for this part of the exam. The Pildes optometrist has always gotten it right and has also spotted things my eye doctor missed. They are also really patient and helpful when trying on endless pairs of eyeglasses.
Pildes is now Westside Vision Care, is still run and owned by Jay. He has been in our neighborhood for over 30 years. Jay runs a fantastic business, and always has a great selection of frames and sunglasses. Don’t let the name change confuse you, it’s still Jay! Support local businesses.