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

The culinary world never took a summer vacation — and a lot of these movers and shakers are highly caffeinated.

If you’d like to catch up on the previous months, check out our March 2016 edition, April 2016 edition, May 2016 edition, June 2016 edition, July 2016 edition, and August 2016 edition.

What’s Open

La Cerveteca Cafe and Juice Bar (641 President Street between 4th and 5th Avenues)
Owner Joe Komforti has owned 641 President Street since 1991, but the brand new cafe and juice bar opened up on July 12. The segafredo zanetti coffee is “not something you’re going to find in many cafes around here,” he says. You can read more about our first visit, and learn about the movie theater which used to be in the building, and the “legend” of a cuckholded man stabbing Al Capone in the neck during a flick.

Il Sogno Secondo (310 5th Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets)
This new Italian place opened on August 3, replacing the Indian restaurant Baluchi’s, which closed in March 2015. In addition to the Italian fusion meals on the main menu, the restaurant is also open for bunch.

What’s Closed:

Fiat Café (80 6th Avenue at St. Marks Avenue)
The Italian Bistro began serving up antipasto, pastas, and paninis on April 7, and lasted four months. We enjoyed our sun-splashed lunch when it first opened. Owner Stephan Iacovelli’s first Fiat Café is still alive and well after doing swift business on Mott Street in Manhattan (203 Mott Street at Spring Street) for almost six years. We’ve reached out for comment as to why they closed so soon, but the owner is currently out of the country. This bistro took the place of Cubana Cafe, which shut down in January 2016.

Tea & Tea (427 7th Avenue between 14th and 15th Streets)
The bubble teas, char siu ramen and low mein noodles are no longer, as Tea & Tea shuttered in early August. Previous to the quick bite/takeout spot, the space was home to Parco, a coffee shop which closed after beloved owner Alex Pozzan passed away.

What’s Opening Soon (or not so soon)

Blue Bottle (203 7th Avenue, at the corner of 3rd Street)
Blue Bottle may be finally be unseated for the Samuel Beckett award for making the neighborhood wait, because progression is being made on the space. Workers are building out the interior and the counter has been installed. That said, we do not have an opening date as of now. However, a spokesperson told us the company is “aiming” for an opening in the next few months.

The Douglass (149 4th Avenue at Douglass Street)
The Australian pub Sheep Station closed just a month ago, but there are already plans for a new digs, and the mahogany bar has already been constructed. DNAinfo reported that neighbor Pete Cavanaugh will co-own The Douglass, which is slated to have a soft opening on September 20. The Douglass has a lot of company — both new and established. The elegant Korean barbecue and karaoke restaurant Insa opens across the street at 328 Douglass Street back in December. HENRI’s Backyard opened last month at 256 4th Avenue (between President and Carroll Streets). And Threes Brewing/Ninth Street Espresso are just across 4th Avenue at 333 Douglass Street.

Everyman Espresso (162 5th Avenue near Degraw Street)
About six weeks after the closing of Venticinque Cafe, Everyman Espresso has begun preparations to for its first location in Brooklyn. According to Sprudge, the interior will get a significant redesign, courtesy of architect Jane Kim. Owner Sam Penix told Park Slope Stoop he “literally just got the keys.” They plan to open in early November.

Kindest Deli (561 5th Avenue between 15th and 16th Streets)
A late April fire shuffled around a series of businesses on 5th Avenue, and a damaged storefront is coming to life. While next door Excelsior Bar quickly re-opened the next day, La Nacional, a money transfer service, set up shop at Judy Unisex Salon at 521 5th Avenue (between 13th and 14th Streets). Kindest Deli is readying to open, replacing La Nacional. From all appearances, the place looks to be a relatively standard deli selling sandwiches, soda, coffee, and other items.

Kingston 12 (81 5th Avenue at Prospect Place)
This restaurant — next door to Miriam — has been in the works since 2013, back when we spoke with owner Winsome Thompson.  We’ll be serving “authentic, classic Jamaican and Caribbean food,” she told us at the time. Thomas Conklin — also of Kingston — put in their application for a liquor license in the Spring. Construction activity has increased as of late, however we don’t have an opening date just yet.

Ki Sushi (282 Flatbush Avenue near Prospect Place)
More sushi is coming, as this new place will be the second outpost of the Boerum Hill original, according to DNAinfo. “Excellent sashimi ranges from dark sea eel to octopus tako. For rolls, the Ki is an exceptionally good combo of fish, crunch, spice, and avocado topped with two kinds of caviar and edible gold leaf,” writes New York Magazine. We will get back to you with an opening date when it becomes available.

Former Space of Jumble Juice (322 5th Avenue, between 2nd and 3rd Streets)
Jumble Juice opened up a little over a year ago, and always lacked much of an internet presence. A Yelp reviewer gave the space five stars during her visit on May 30, so the closing happened rather fast. The neighborhood is not lacking in juice bar options, so it’s possible that the competition thinned out the customer base. When we stopped by last weekend, construction has progressed, but workers would not tell us (or simply didn’t know about) what new place was coming into the space.

Oggi Pizza Bar (217 Prospect Park West (between 16th Street and Windsor Place)
The butcher paper is up and and this new pizza spot has replaced long-time Enzo’s Brick Oven pizza, which dates back to 2008. Neighbor Janice Fryer says, “Enzo‘s sautéed broccoli rabe will be sorely missed.” However, Janice should not worry — a neighbor tells us the owners will be the same.

Pastificio Flora (1021 8th Avenue at 11th Street)
Pastificio Flora has been in a holding pattern for almost a year, and it doesn’t look as if they’ll be ready to open soon. In an article by DNAinfo, co-owner Emiliano Cammardella said that the majority of Italian restaurants in New York “are just ‘Italian sounding restaurants’ with an outdated stereotyped menu and interiors made of wood, red-checked tablecloth, wine bottles, barrels, wagon wheels, fishing nets and the statue of ‘the dear old little man’ with [an]enormous moustache holding a sad looking pizza.” Hmm, confident words. We wonder if Cammardella has heard about al di la Trattoria, which has won many an award, as well as the hearts and stomachs of the neighborhood who consider it a benchmark for Italian food here, and in New York City. Cammardella has set the bar rather high for himself.

South Slope Public House (426 7th Avenue between 14th and 15th Streets)
This brick oven and pizza tavern looks to be opening any day now. A quick look inside the replace reveals plenty of flat screen televisions on both walls, and a fully stocked bar. The previous tenant was Windsor Roast House, a meat-based menu which didn’t last for long. That place opened back in September and closed less than six months later. The backyard is spacious, however we have not toured the new layout since the roast house opened.

Starbucks Coffee (444 9th Street at 7th Avenue)
We had a chance to peer inside the new Starbucks a last week, and the familiar look and feel is shaping up. Three construction and electrician workers in the space confirmed that they are getting relatively close to completing their assignment, headed up by New York Design Architects LLP, according to building records. The new outpost will join nearby franchises 166 7th Avenue (at 1st Street) and 164 Park Place (at Flatbush Avenue).

Uptown Roasters  (355 7th Avenue between 10th and 11th Streets [EDIT]
Coffee and espresso drinks will be on the menu at the new Uptown Roasters, which has a planned opening this Fall, DNAinfo reported. The company opened its East Harlem venue in June 2015 at 135 East 11th Street. The company “works to get better prices for Peruvian coffee farmers” and “community-building goals,” wrote DNAinfo. Former tenant Pepper Mill Deli and Grocery shuttered in 2013 and the space has been vacant since.

Wild (148 5th Avenue at Douglass Street)
Construction is progressing for a restaurant which will soon become Wild, a gluten-free, farm-to-table restaurant specializing in pizza. The new culinary neighbor will also serve a full menu — including gluten-free chicken parmesan and a “dessert pizza” as well. Owner Marina Charny plans to open the third Wild in early June. This restaurant is a franchise, and includes two other locations. The West Village spot is at 535 Hudson Street, and the other Brooklyn outpost is in Williamsburg (340 Bedford Avenue). We will get back to you with an opening date when it becomes available.

The Yet-to-be-named 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-three punch of sushi when you factor in last year’s 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.