March 2016 Slope Eats & Drinks: What Opened, What Closed, And What’s Coming Soon

It may be just a few months into 2016, but there have been some changes when it comes to food and drink options in our neighborhood. And while turnover can be surprisingly fast for some restaurants, other spaces sit for a long time while we scratch our heads.

And sometimes it really does break our hearts to see a favorite go.

What’s Open

Fusion Latino (364 Prospect Avenue at 7th Avenue)
Fusion Latino is a new Latin fusion restaurant serving up paella, pineapple-infused tequila, and more that opened on February 21. Tavares is aware of the previous ownership — which did not fare well.Tavares tells us he’s originally from the Dominican Republic, “but I was born and raised here in New York City.” While there will be Dominican dishes served, the menu will span Latino-style food from many part of the world. Neither the most recent Sips N’ Bites — which only lasted a year — nor Fellucio’s lasted very long. The shuttered restaurant sat dormant since last Spring.

Prawn Shop (669 Union Street near 4th Avenue)
Prawn Shop is having its official opening this weekend but has been in soft opening mode since February. The new seafood spot replaces the taqueria Taco Santo, which closed up in September 2015. There’s a fantastic mix of sophistication and down-home quality to the food, and the design and usage of the space works very well. Read our dining review to learn more.

Sir D’s Lounge (837 Union Street, near 7th Avenue)
Sir D’s put up its sandwich board on February 18 to welcome us in. The spacious, comfy, eclectic sofas and tables were already filling up. The new cafe and music spot (which they’ll be hosting soon) takes the place of Tea Lounge. Until closing in December 2014, the former cafe 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.

What’s Closed:

Applewood (501 11th Street)
Owners Laura and David Shea announced just a few days ago that their restaurant has closed after 12 years. “For the most part we had an excellent and dedicated group running the kitchen,” says Laura. “Applewood is at its best when Dave and I are on premises. When people who have invested in the business are present, things run a certain way. But it hasn’t been quite what we wanted it to be as of late. We’ve come to the end of our ability to manage it from afar.” Applewood has been very much part of the Slow Food movement, which champions serving food from sustainable farms and only offering antibiotic- and hormonal-free meats. And while the term “sustainable” is de rigueur in this day and age — cue Season 1, Episode 1 of Portlandia — the Sheas preceded a lot of the hype.

Juventino (370 5th Avenue)
The popular brunch spot and farm-to-table restaurant closed after 8 years. While a direct connection has not been proven, Juventino was embroiled in an intense controversy, as nearly two dozen employees, past and present, accused Chef Juventino Avila of sexual harassment.  Avila and owner Rebecca Uberti (Avila’s live-in partner at the time) denied the allegations to many news organizations, including our own, as well as Jezebel, who wrote about the allegations extensively.

Moim (206 Garfield Place near 7th Avenue)
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. The place closed on January 30. Moim will be replaced by a Japanese izakaya called Yami-Ichi (an izakaya is a Japanese drinking establishment serving tapas-style food that is meant to be shared among friends and family).

Pickle Shack (256 4th Avenue)
The beloved Gowanus gastropub closed its doors last weekend. The shack has been serving pickles, sandwiches, beer, and ale, much to the delight of even those who aren’t usually connoisseurs of all things vegetarian. Unfortunately, we had to kiss our pickle goodbye.

What’s Opening Soon (or not so soon):

Blue Bottle (203 7th Avenue, at the corner of 3rd Street)
Blue Bottle still touts its tradition of getting coffee to customers 48 hours after being roasted. We’ve been waiting for some time for the cafe to open, and we still don’t have a definitive date. They are known for their New Orleans-style iced coffee, with chicory in the blend.

Brewshot Cafe (291 5th Avenue between 1st and 2nd Streets).
This self-described gourmet coffee place plans to open this Spring. Many were not happy to see Beygl close down in October 2015. But Brewshot promises coffees and teas, pastries as well as “frozen yogurt topped with espresso.”

Chipotle (185 7th Avenue, between 1st and 2nd Streets)
You probably don’t need us to tell you about the massive burritos that will come with the opening of Chipotle. Rumors of the Mexican chain coming to 7th Avenue skipped around a bit, but it seems solid now, and we’ll let you know when the opening takes place. Meanwhile, you can familiarize yourself with their nutrition calculator to count those calories.

Seed (242 5th Avenue, between President and Carroll Streets).
Without much online presence for Seed, we can only go from the new signage that has popped up on the storefront. We should expect this cafe to serve breakfast all day, as well as pastries, and vegan salads. Seed replaces Ollie & Ry, which shuttered in July 2015, after lasting for roughly six months.

Juice Press (207 7th Avenue at 3rd Street)
Juice Press is New York-based chain that’s moving into the corner storefront. Brooklyn already has locations in Brooklyn Heights and Williamsburg. Along with juices, the place offers up smoothies, cleanses, “super foods,” and … the “Guru smoothie.” According to DNAinfo, “the $15 Guru smoothie is a 510-calorie, 16-ounce ‘meal replacement’ made of frozen fruit and ‘superfoods.’ It initially sold for $18, but Juice Press founder Marcus Antebi lowered the price in 2011.” Juice Press replaces Yogurtland, which closed May 2015.

Yami-Ichi (206 Garfield Place near 7th Avenue)
A new izakaya will take the place of the recently closed Moim. Chef Yoshi Haramoto will be opening Yami-Ichi after making soba and udon in his mother’s Tokyo restaurant nearly 40 years ago. An izakaya is a Japanese drinking establishment serving tapas-style food that is meant to be shared among friends and family.

The Unnamed Sushi Bar 166 Flatbush Avenue, between 5th Avenue and Pacific Street
So intriguing that it doesn’t yet have a name, this new restaurant is being billed as a “speakeasy sushi bar” by the owners of the Michelin-starred Sushi Azabu in TriBeCa. The Barclays Center area is about to get quite a one-two punch of sushi with the opening of Wasan (440 Bergen Street, between 5th and Flatbush Avenues).

If you notice anything we missed, let us know in the comments below. And as always, if you see some changes in businesses in the neighborhood, shoot us tips at editor@bklyner.com.