Kosher Restaurant News Roundup USA (Dec ’12 – Jan ’13)

Updates for restaurants in NYC, Baltimore, Miami, Memphis, Las Vegas, and Palo Alto.

New York City

• A new upscale steakhouse will be moving into the former home of Le Carne Grill: La Brochette, which is slated to open in Spring 2013 at 340 Lexington Avenue. There are plans for a possible roof deck, and a full renovation.
• The Greeley Square location of Crisp at 32nd st and Broadway has shuttered it’s doors. Those hankering for Crisp will have to check out their nearest location on 40th st between 6th and Broadway.
• Amsterdam Burger Company has been operating for over a month now. A new burger restaurant headed by star kosher chef Michael Gershkovich, that’s a must try. Amsterdam Burger Co. is located at 654 Amsterdam Avenue and under the supervision of Rabbi Avrohom Marmorstein.
• ChoPita has opened at 300 East 45th street at 2nd Avenue. Certified by CupK (however they seen to change their hashgacha often), the restaurant will offer Israeli cuisine, including shnitzel, and falafel. They are offering delivery to local offices with prompt and professional service.
• Soom Soom will be opening their 4th Manhattan Location on Second Avenue between 83rd and 84th streets on the Upper East Side. Soom Soom’s specialties include sabich, falafel, and an Israeli salad bar.
• Pitopia, located on 38th and broadway in the heart of Midtown, is no longer a strictly vegetarian restaurant as they have extended their offerings to include shnitzel, shwarma, and other meat dishes.
• Shang Chai, a veteran Brooklyn kosher institution, closed its doors on New Years Day. No more delicious Sesame chicken or beef eggrolls; instead the location will now be a bank.
• The Prime Grill closed its original location and is moving a few blocks north. The restaurant formerly located at 60 East 49th st has closed it’s doors after 13 years and moved to a larger location at 25 West 56th street.
• Broadway Cafe, a stalwart for kosher keepers working in the financial district has shuttered it’s doors. The restaurant had been struggling to make ends meet since Hurricane Sandy.
• Sushein, a unique kosher sushi restaurant on Broadway north of City Hall which closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy has confirmed that it will not reopen. We reviewed Sushein when they first opened and enjoyed it.

Baltimore, MD

• Easta La Vista, a new mediterranean restaurant has opened in the Baltimore area. It is located at 1330 Reisterstown Road, in Pikesville, MD. The restaurant will offer Israeli, Yemenite, Moroccan, Tunisian, and Persian Cuisine. They are certified Glatt Kosher by The Star K and will be open M-TH from 8AM -10 PM, Fridays till 2-3 hours before shabbat and Motzei Shabbat till after 12 AM.

Miami, FL

• Aderet Grill and Bar has opened up at 2520 NE Miami Gardens Drive in North Miami Beach, the restaurant will serve international cuisine including, Asian stir-frys, American burgers, onion rings, Mexican fajitas, mediterranean dishes, and many other options.
• Lul Cafe Grill has opened at 18288 Collins Avenue in Sunny Isles, FL. The Restaurant will serve Israeli Cuisine, and will have Shabbat Takeout.

Memphis, TN

• East Memphis is getting a new Kosher establishment: Table 613, which will be opening at 5101 Sanderlin Ave., Suite 103. The restaruarant will be open for Lunch and Dinner and offer soups, salads and sandwiches. The Supervision is by Rabbi Nathan Greenblatt of Vaad Hakehiloth of Memphis.

Las Vegas, NV

• Haifa Restaurant and Grill located at 855 E Twain street will now be adding Kosher Sushi and Sashimi to their menu. Previously their cuisine was focused on authentic Israeli Mediterranean Cuisine. The restaurant has also recently added new business hours, a new seating area, hired new staff and added new items to the menu. Haifa is Glatt Kosher certified by both Shaarei Tefilla and the Vaad Hakashrus of Las Vegas.

Palo Alto, CA

• The Bay Area has a new deli, Hardly Strictly Bagels. They’re located 1 block off University Avenue at 565 Bryant St. They will be curing, brining, and smoking in house the pastrami, corned beef and brisket. The restaurant is open for lunch, and dinner and is under the supervision of Sunrise Kosher, Vaad Hakashrus of Norther California, with a Mashgiach Temidi on the premises. They are open 11 a.m. to 8 or 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday; closed Saturday.