7th Avenue Culinary Spring Training: Sir D’s Lounge Opens (Soon), Moim Closes, And An Izakaya On Deck

Sir D’s Lounge is scheduled to have a soft opening by the end of this week. (Photo by Donny Levit / Park Slope Stoop)

Coffee’s brewing. Tea’s steeping. Bi Bim Bop is out. Japanese whiskey is in.

Just off of 7th Avenue, and a mere few blocks away from each other, some significant comings and goings are happening. For the baseball fans, think of it as a bit of culinary Spring Training.

The long-awaited (shall we say very long-awaited) Sir D’s Lounge (837 Union Street, near 7th Avenue) will be opening in the former Tea Lounge space. The new cafe has been dropping hints about their opening on Facebook and Twitter for quite some time.

Until closing in December 2014, Tea Lounge had become — as we wrote upon learning the news — “the busiest spot in Park Slope for strollers, freelancers, and anyone looking for a cozy place to start out drinking coffee and end up with a glass of wine.” The cafe had been open for almost 14 years.

Sir D’s Lounge co-owner Chris Dixon told us today that they expect a “soft opening” to take place by the end of this week. While the furniture was still stacked in a corner, the lighting seems a bit brighter than that of Tea Lounge.

Chris and David Dixon also own Dixons Bike Shop (792 Union Street) right across the street.

And for those of you looking for work, a help wanted sign is posted outside Sir D’s:

“Help Wanted: Barista/Counterperson. Experienced only. Weekends a must. Call 718-636-0135.”

On the other side of 7th Avenue and a few blocks down, the Korean restaurant Moim (206 Garfield Place near 7th Avenue) served its last Bi Bim Bop on January 30.

Chef/owner Saeri Yoo Park told us that she had “many, many great years” in Park Slope. Moim had been in operation since 2007. “Currently I’m in Korea on sabbatical leave,” she added.

Park announced on a Facebook post that Yami-Ichi — an authentic Japanese izakaya — will soon open in its place. Park writes:

“An izakaya is a Japanese drinking establishment serving tapas-style food that is meant to be shared among friends and family. Yami-Ichi’s drink menu will offer premium Japanese whiskies, a carefully curated selection of sake and wines, as well as an exciting variety of Japanese and local beers.”

Chef Yoshi Haramoto will be opening Yami-Ichi after “making soba and udon in his mother’s Tokyo restaurant nearly 40 years ago,” says Park.

In addition to the soba and udon, there will be a curated menu of sushi and sashimi.

A date has not yet been set for the opening, so you have some time to brush up on your Japanese whiskies.

Meanwhile, “また会いましょう (Mata aimashou), Yami-Ichi.” (See you soon, Yami-Ichi.)