Burgers Bar on Central Ave. in Cedarhurst, NY has closed.

While this is sad for us BB lovers in the area, I can’t say that I didn’t see it coming.

My last 2 experiences there, the food was not up to par. Additionally, with some newer options in the area, including Carlos & Gabby’s (who make some of the same cuisine, and often better), as well as 2 schnitzel places, there was too much competition.

A lesson to all restaurant owners: don’t become complacent with your restaurant. Keep it fresh, up do date, clean, and always give reasons for people to keep coming. If you don’t, you will close. It’s only a manner of when.

The world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, has thousands of kosher keeping fans attending its Knicks (well maybe not this year) and Rangers games, yet has yet to offer any sort of kosher fare in the arena … until now.

It has been confirmed that Carlos & Gabby’s will be operating Kosher stands within the stadium for both basketball and hockey games throughout the season (minus Shabbat and Yom Tovim I’m sure).

From Matzav.com:

In addition to Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, kosher food is available at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, Prudential Center in Newark, NJ (New Jersey Devils – Hockey – NHL), Keyspan Park in Brooklyn, (Brooklyn Cyclones) , Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ (New Jersey Nets – Basketball – NBA), and Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ (New York Giants / New York Jets – Football – NFL).

Kosher food is also available in major sports arenas in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, Miami, Toronto, and Boston.

For those of us Knicks & Rangers fans (like me) this is an exciting development, especially since I also enjoy Carlos & Gabby’s! This means no more heading to Kosher Delight or Mr. Broadway 2 hours before a game to eat (not that they’re bad – it’s just inconvenient), and actually being able to eat real food during the game like all the other attendees.

So to my fellow New York sports fans … come to the games hungry!

Click the Deal to purchase.

$15 for $25 worth of food and drinks at Carlos and Gabby’s of Riverdale

Deal expires 4pm Wed., Eastern Time.

www.carlosandgabbysbronx.com
5685 Riverdale Avenue
Riverdale, NY 10471
(718) 543-8226

This may be the most exciting Kosher deal I have seen lately, not the percentage off, but mainly just because I love Carlos & Gabby’s. It’s become my go-to comfort food.

DEAL: Pay $16, Get $25 worth of Food (36% off)
NO LIMIT – Buy and use as many coupons as you’d like!

Deal expires on Sunday. You can use the coupon until 5/31/11 at 3 of their locations: Brooklyn, Queens, and 5 Towns. (Not applicable at Riverdale location)

–
5 TOWNS
143 Washington Avenue
Lawrence, NY 11559
(516) 239-TACO

FLATBUSH
1376 Coney Island Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
(718) 337-TACO

KEW GARDENS HILLS
67-11 Main Street
Queens, NY 11367
(718) 575-TACO

It’s been quite a busy summer in the kosher world. Restaurants opening and closing all around.
If you know about any recent closures or openings that we missed in this post, please comment below.

New York

• Mr. Broadway reopens. After being shut down by the NY Dept. of Health (DOH) a week ago, the famous deli reopens its doors to us NYers.
  
  Mr. Broadway is located at 1372 Broadway off of W38th st. You can order from their website: http://www.mrbroadwaykosher.com
• NY Lunchbox opened this past Monday on W36th st. between 7th & 8th Avenues. The restaurant has a classy modern decor and a great menu, offering great focaccia and panini sandwiches, delicious soups (try the French Onion!), and fresh sushi (they make basically every roll right in front of you). The prices are also quite reasonable: A panini sandwich, soup, and soda for $7.99 – great deal. I had the opportunity to meet some of the owners, the mashgiach, and the chef on the day it opened. I definitely think it will steal some regular clients away from J2, Circa, and Vegetable Garden (especially since it is the closest kosher place to B&H on 9th Ave). I definitely recommend trying it out.

I’ve been following, tracking and reporting the following locations on Twitter for the past few weeks:

• Schnitzel Express opened last week on W39th right off Broadway & 6th Avenue. They are a knockoff of the better known Schnitzi in Brooklyn and originally from Israel. They offer 8 flavored Schnitzels – sandwich style.
• Today, Colbeh in Midtown is opening a 2nd location down the block from its existing location on W39th st. between 5th & 6th Avenues. The new Colbeh will offer a somewhat different menu, and be available for catered events.
• Maoz Vegetarian, an Israeli falafel joint, with 3 existing NY locations, is in process of opening a 4th, near Times Square, on the corner of W40th & 7th Avenue. They make a mighty fine falafel ball.

Brooklyn, NY

• Mendy’s on Coney has replaced the old Essex on Coney, on Coney Island Ave. off of Ave. J. We lost one deli, and got an equally good one in its place.
• Essex on Coney moved to Avenue M, and is now known as Essex on Coney / Caraville Glatt (it took over a non kosher restaurant named Caraville). The space is large and spacious for catered events. 1910 Avenue M.
• Benny’s Pizzeria Ristorante opened over the past few months and has been doing well. It serves real mozzarella pizza, paninis, pasta, and other Italian dishes. The food was really good, and the place was packed mid-Summer when we came on a Motzei Shabbat – even when other places in Brooklyn refuse to open over the summer. 1418 Avenue J.

Bronx, NY

• Kosher Mexican cuisine, Carlos & Gabby’s will be opening in Riverdale, NY. It will be replacing the kosher Chinese takeout place Dumplings. 5685 Riverdale Ave.

Washington, DC

• The JCC Cafe in DC was forced to close this week after non-kosher meat was found on premises, and their hasgacha pulled out. It is unclear whether they will reopen or not. For now, it seems that Eli’s is one of the only options left for a quality kosher meal in DC. See: http://yeahthatskosher.com/2008/07/washington-dc/