By Gus Saltonstall
An imposing sidewalk shed came down in recent days that had covered multiple popular Upper West Side restaurants, but it unfortunately appears to be only short-term relief.
Also significantly, the shed’s removal revealed a surprise from bygone times.
The sidewalk shed came down on Broadway, between West 90th and 91st streets. The block is home to the Mediterranean restaurant Dagon, which was named the best new restaurant in New York City by the New York Post in 2021, and the longtime popular spot, Carmine’s. Tal’s Bagels is also on the block directly next to Carmine’s.
A sidewalk shed has covered all three restaurants since at least 2019, according to Google Maps imagery.
The removal of the sidewalk shed on the Upper West Side block led to an unexpected discovery. The old sign for Big Daddy’s, a once-popular burger spot, never came down.
Big Daddy’s closed at the Upper West Side storefront seven years ago in 2019. But the signage for the burger joint never was fully removed, possibly due to the long-term sidewalk shed.
Here’s what the front of Dagon now looks like.
Dagon does not sell burgers, shakes, or tots.
The removal of the sidewalk shed also means unobstructed views of Carmine’s.
Unfortunately, it appears that the removal of the sidewalk shed is only temporary.
Permits were filed on July 31, 2026, at both 2450 Broadway (Carmine’s) and 2454 Broadway (Dagon) for the “proposed installation of a heavy-duty sidewalk shed.” Then, on August 11, permits were filed at the addresses for the “installation of temporary wiring and lighting for sidewalk shed.”
This means a sidewalk shed will most likely return to the block in the near future.
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Dagon does sell a burger and has some excellent potatoes, but alas, no fries.
Fries yes. Alas, no shakes
I miss Big Daddy’s. I know all the food snobs here will disagree but it added a more unique presence to the neighborhood than Dagon – plenty of other restaurants like Dagon (which I actually like, though I think it is very expensive). There is not much like Big Daddy’s, which was particularly good for families. It is nice to have a diverse mix of restaurants, particularly given that there are a lot of families on the UWS.
Can someone please recommend a good place on the UWS that is NOT closed that would be good for kids? I have visitors coming soon with twin 6-year old boys and I have no idea where to take them!
Dive Bar on 96 and Amsterdam is kid-friendly! We have fish tanks that kids tend to really like and a very kid-friendly menu (mac n cheese, chicken fingers, etc). 🙂
Dagon is busy all the time. Why does it need to be a “unique presence” if people like it? What other places are you comparing it to? Prices seem pretty average .
And what would make a themed diner “more unique”? There are plenty of diners and kid friendly places in the area .
I think that both styles have a place in the neighborhood but one is doing well while the other went bust.
It was great once you got your food but the service and wait times even with the place being relatively empty were disappointing.
It was definitely quite family friendly, but the food was not all that good. I cannot recall what restaurant was there before Big Daddy’s?
Mary Anne’s I believe.
Oh man, yes. I like them
Mediocre diner food made for children (and childish adults) does not bring a “more unique presence” to the neighborhood. It homogenizes it.
Proving my point. Don’t be a snob. The food was fine for what it was. Where do you take your children to eat – Jean Georges? So many pseudo-pretentious self-impressed snobs who take themselves too seriously around here. Lighten up.
So much more I want to say but I’m sure it will be censored.
Thank you thank you!
You’re the hero we’ve been waiting for. Someone needed to say that.
Snobbery has nothing to do with it. It was mediocre diner food for kids. Accept reality and move on.
“Seek pleasure in simplicity.” –Epicurus
So kids don’t have a right to have food targeted for them? Everything should be for adults? Were you ever a kid? Do you have kids? Does everything have to be for you? Are you empathetic? Based on the number of likes I got vs. you, I think you are alone on this…
Ironic that you don’t want restaurants for kids when your tone is very childish.
But I’m sure you will have a rude, snarky, self-interested response to this as well…
Counting “likes” here is cute in a Millennial kind of way, but the fact that Big Daddy’s has closed shows who’s really “alone” in their positive opinion of the place.
Given how quick WSR is to censor I am shocked they are letting this kind of nastiness stay posted.
And the fact that this has become so controversial is amazing to me.
I actually like Dagon. I am supportive of its existence. Just staying that in an ideal world we could have had both. The childish, nasty hatred towards places some people don’t like is really pathetic and scary.
Don’t yuck my yum.
Big Daddy’s had their chance. The neighborhood rejected it, and rightfully so. It was mediocre food for children. And even the children rejected it, which should tell you something. Time to move on.
In other countries kids don’t eat different food from adults. They learn to eat what everyone else eats from the start.
cool story. kids here also don’t eat different food from adults. its just priced accordingly and things kids prefer are emphasized.
Totally agree with neighbor.
Exactly. Over here, people think that kids only eat bland, processed junk. So they only feed their kids bland, processed junk and then the kids get a taste for bland, processed junk and will refuse to eat anything else.
One thing I don’t like about all the sidewalk sheds is that there is more of an obstructed view of pedestrians on the sidewalk from the other side of the of the street. I personally feel like it’s a security issue. I think we’d all have a better shot at being safe if someone might notice us from across the street while we’re being mugged or something…..
They will definitely notice part of a building facade falling on their heads from across the street!
Literal insanity. Maybe we should all just walk around wearing helmets instead?
Yep – those pesky liberals trying to keep you safe from crumbling infrastructure. Curses!
Right all those liberals in the sidewalk shed / construction industry. Maybe the law was introduced as well-meaning but – boy has it been abused. Curses!
This is terrible. Up since 2019?! Please put a time limit on these sheds and repairs. They absolutely destroy the businesses under them.
I’d buy that sign.
I thought Tal Bagels was closed because of sanitary violations.
Right now at Broadway and 97th St. you could see the old signs for the Wiz
nobody beats the wiz
My favorite was when the bulbs on the sign w et out and it said “Bi Daddy’s “ for the longest time.
Ha! Funniest thing I’ve read all day.
The shed in fact was erected summer 2016! It stood for a full decade before coming down. Unclear if any work was done during that entire time.
I would love to see the day when all sheds obstructing our sidewalks will disappear. Eat inside like civilized people.
Indeed. It’s disgusting – NYC ain’t Par-ee! Uh huh huh!
Eating outside is a delight to many. – Clearly not all — but many – and we’ve civilized.
Funny, I think of Big Daddy’s as a newcomer to the neighborhood. It’s Big Nick’s that I miss.
Big Daddy’s felt like the prototype of a new national brand, really phony.
There needs to be some accountability here. That shed was up for 7 years. Who owns the property and what exactly is the deal?
I’m here to report that Big Daddy’s gave me a free meal on my birthday- do they were ok with me – usual comfort food – tater tots – cheeseburger etc!
I miss Regional.
I really loved going to Big Daddy’s, I always thought the food was good and it was my go-to after the Manhattan Diner closed and the building was torn down for yet another tower on 77/Broadway.
What type of work can they be doing that *still* isn’t complete after ten years? I mean, come on already!
That damn shed was up for so long that it needed it’s own shed to protect us from the pieces falling off it. Meanwhile – what’s up with the never-ending scaffolding on that block?
Why the heck is another shed going up? This is nuts. Repeal local law 11 and come up with something that makes sense!
Why do these sheds come down and go right back up? Is it really because the work is not done yet?
It seems to me that sheds have become hang outs for bicycle delivery people, pot smokers, purse snatchers, and the homeless. I understand the need for putting them up for safety reasons, but work should be done quickly and the sheds removed as soon as possible. On my block, an annoying shed was taken down after being up for over 5 years. We were all so relieved, but then they put up a new shed 2 weeks later and it’s still there.
Living in a building where the shed came down after 2 1/2 years, I wonder how the shed in the article can come down and then go back up since it needs a DOB inspection before it can come down. The other possibility is that it may be time for the next LL11 work to start. What a pain for them!
Big Daddy’s was itself a “rip-off” of a combination of Ed Debevic’s (remember those?) and Johnny Rockets (which still exists in some parts of the country). It had huge portions, but second-rate (often hopelessly greasy) food. Still, it was a fun (if not exactly healthy) place to go with a group or take the kids. If memory serves, it had mini-baskets of Trivial Pursuit cards on every table, as well as activities for children (crayons, placemats with things to color, mazes, etc.).
Can’t say I miss it.
According to WSR and others, within months of opening, Dagon was rated the #1 new restaurant on the UWS, and stayed in that position for quite a while. Not sure if it still holds that spot, given all the new restaurants that have opened since.
I remember for years that the g was burnt out on the Big Daddy’s sign for a number of years and so at night when illuminated it read Bi Daddy’s.
So the shed stood there for almost 10 years (I think) and now it was finally taken down but ANOTHER (and a “heavy duty” = years’ long) will be put up? What have they been doing for TEN years on the building’s facade that still needs doing? They could’ve built a whole new block in that time.
I hate sidewalk sheds and deplore the new law that allows them stay up year-round. How much input did the public have on this decision? Sheds were put up during the pandemic . There is no need for them now.
My gut tells me that the sheds mentioned for Carmine’s & Dagon are for outdoor eating, not for facade work. The facade work on the building has been completed & inspected, which is why the shed came down.
Dagon is fantastic!
So, so weary of the sidewalk shed on Amsterdam spanning West 77th and 76th, running from Tessa, Chopt, Joe the Juice, Blue Mercury all the way around the corner. It is been there since November 2013 !! and there is never, ever a worker in sight. Where are you DOB ?
I remember that the “Big Daddy’s” neon sign once lost its “g” light , making it “Bi Daddy’s”!
Does anyone know what is the oldest continuously standing sidewalk shed on the UWS? In Manhattan?
I just walked by and was told the new shed story is a rumor. Supposedly, a new shed is not going up.