Eden Wok Manhattan not planing on closing

Despite reports from another website that Eden Wok in New York City was closing, we have spoken with ownership who have confirmed that the story of their decision to close was a false report. This is an unfortunate situation where misreporting has actually hurt their business with companies hesitant to book their holiday parties with them and negatively hurting their reputation. We urge that site (despite multiple requests from the owner) to send out a retraction to their readers.
 

We broke this story on our Facebook page a month ago, but over a dozen Dunkin' Donuts in New York City now have select kosher donuts and bagels available under the kosher supervision of Rabbi Aaron Mehlman. The stores themselves are NOT kosher; however, their bakery items are produced at a strictly kosher commissary. A current and laminated certificate (click here) must be displayed before purchasing products. Click here for a listing of the 18 new kosher Dunkin' Donuts throughout downtown, midtown and the East side of Manhattan.

 

Lox Cafe in The Jewish Museum on the UES closes

While their website has them closed for renovations until early 2015, 
we have learned that Lox Cafe on the Upper East Side will no longer be opening.  After U Cafe closed earlier in the year, this leaves the area with very few dairy options.
 

 

We have known this for some time, but we can finally and officially announce that Amsterdam Burger Co., the popular gourmet burger restaurant owned by Mike Gershkovich and Marty Katz on the Upper West Side, has acquired the Mother Kelly space at 490 Chestnut Street in Cedarhurst (across from LIRR) and will be open by the beginning of 2015.  Stay tuned.

 

 

 

Brooklyn on Rye opens on Kings Highway    
Don't count out the delicatessen just yet. We stopped in to Brooklyn On Rye which recently opened at 543 Kings Highway (off East 4th) as owner Yaron Harazi is bucking the trend of sushi and fusion style restaurants. Yaron has been in the meat and deli business for almost two decades and is excited to be bringing his "Brooklyn on Rye" to the neighborhood. Besides all your deli favorites, they also offer a salad bar, schawarma, schnitzel, burgers and more. Click here for photos.
 

 

Breadsmith coming to Avenue M in November

In what can only be called a bizarro situation, a food establishment is actually REPLACING a bank on Avenue M. 
Breadsmith will be opening at 1817 Avenue M in early November, coincidentally next door to Kaff's Bakery. "Great Kosher Restaurants" spoke to the owner Chaim Lieff and he is very excited about his place and believes this will revolutionize the bread industry, especially kosher, in New York. Breadsmith, founded in 1993, has over 30 independently owned retail bakeries, with this being the first location in New York. Chaim grew in Minnesota, where there is a kosher Breadsmith (there are others kosher ones, including Chicago) but when he moved to New York 5 years ago he felt there was nothing like this here. 
Chaim is quick to point out that this is not a bakery and it will not have birthday cakes. 
Breadsmith specializes in handcrafted artisan breads made fresh from scratch using the highest quality ingredients with no additives or preservatives. They say their dough is never frozen and their breads are baked in six-ton, stone-hearth ovens imported from Europe (the Brooklyn location is getting their oven from Italy). They also make specialty breads and a wide range of challah, cookies, muffins and sweets. Breadsmith has received accolades for their European-style breads including top honors from Bon Appétit magazine, Modern Baking, International Culinary Salon, National Restaurant Association and "Best of" awards throughout the country. On their website, they state they are not just another chain store but a neighborhood store. The website goes on to say that they are "focused on being community-based by taking part in local events and causes on a regular basis. We not only sell an affordable luxury, but we also donate our time and products to those who are in need of it. Each location donates day-old bread to shelters and soup kitchens, as well as generous gift certificates and bread orders to assist local fundraisers." 

 

 

The last time we checked in with Sruli Eidelman of Izzy's BBQ Addiction, he was looking for a name for his not-yet-opened restaurant. Well, he's got that and a new logo.  Sruli tell us he will be up and running for any catering right before Succos and that the official grand opening will probably be right after the holidays. His location will be at 397 Troy Avenue in Crown Heights with seating for about 25-30 people. 

 

Remy's Vegetarian Cuisine at 3021 Fort Hamilton Pkwy has closed 

The Grill and Bar on Union Turnpike and 185th is the first American location for the popular Tel Aviv restaurant. They offer a variety of Middle Eastern appetizers and mains as well as burgers, steaks and chops. Click here for their full menu. A fully stocked bar will also be available in the coming weeks. Of course, Meatos replaces the less than year old Chateau Steakhouse, which closed almost before it opened.  Loation: 185-01 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows, NY 11366
718-454-3600 / 718-454-3618 (Under Vaad Harabomin of Queens)

 

 

Sushi Tokyo opening in Flushing 
We were recently informed that Sushi Tokyo, with locations already on Kings Highway and Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn as well another location in Lawrence, will soon be opening up in Queens on Main Street, next to Carlos and Gabby's. The restaurant will be casual in nature and will feature all of their popular and renowned sushi rolls and dishes. Expect the opening to be in a few months. Sushi lovers will say there can never be enough sushi restaurants and we couldn't agree more.
 

 

NEW: De E Sushi at 73-01 Main Street in Flushing opened 2 weeks ago, specializing in Thai and Japanese Food. Under Vaad of Queens.
Phone: (718) 268-1818

 

 

 

Turquoise  

goes from non-kosher to Kosher

We love these stories. The long-standing Mediterranean Great Neck fish restaurant, is now kosher and under the Vaad of Queens. Turquoise Kosher Restaurant first opened across the street from the Great Neck LIRR station in 1999. It was purchased in 2010 by Erica Bushkin, who moved the restaurant in 2012 to its current location at 76 Middle Neck Road. In making Turquoise kosher, Bushkin was responding to Great Neck's growing kosher clientele. "The town is becoming more religious," she told Newsday. "You have to change with the times." What hadn't changed, she added, was the kitchen crew. Please note: This establishment is not to be confused with the Turquoise on Union Turnpike in Fresh Meadows.

 

"Doghouse Sports Restaurant" Opening Today in Teaneck! 
The Doghouse has arrived and it certainly is a one-of-a-kind eatery in Bergen county. It serves as the only KOSHER Sports Restaurant that also offers alcohol. They have 28 TVs (including 2 in the bathroom) and the ability to show all sporting games and events in a family friendly sports viewing environment. They will be open from 11am until 1am or later, in order to show west coast games in their entirety. The Teaneck Doghouse is a place where the whole family can come, eat, drink, and have fun watching a game and hang out. So join them - family, friends, and town officials at 3:30pm for their ribbon cutting ceremony, with the opening immediately following at 4:00pm. Then stay around for the NFL Season Opener Green Bay Packers vs Seattle Seahawks. Coverage begins at 7:30pm and Kickoff is at 8:30pm. Ask about their wing special during the game and all NFL Games this season. 
Click here for a picture of their dining room and bar. They are located at 1415 Palisade Avenue (201-530-7733) and are under the supervision of Rabbi Zushe Blech of Monsey.

 

 

A letter was emailed last week to the community from the owners of Kosher Experience that after 11 years of serving the Bergen County area, they are closing the retail section of the restaurant (they closed Wednesday night August 27). They are moving to Clifton where they will have both Dairy & Meat Kitchens, so that they can continue to service all of their school programs, after school programs, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and any other simcha. You can reach them at 201.692.7722. Their new location offers a party room that can seat up to 140 people and is located at 306 Main Ave, Clifton NJ.  They thank all of their customers and friends for the "many years of loyalty and business."

HoC founders, Ruthie and Ron Bzdewka were the big winners of Food Network's Cupcake Wars and now you can finally have them. They have turned kosher and with so many flavor combinations and themes from which to choose you can now order cupcakes for any occasion. Kids love having these individual cakes for their birthdays but the latest trend has been serving cupcakes for more formal occasions like showers and weddings. They offer over 30 flavors of cupcakes as well as other sweet indulgences. This location has a kosher ice cream store and at present, only THIS LOCATION is certified kosher. Wayne, NJ is just a short drive from other Jewish areas like Passaic, West Orange and Teaneck. Brentwood Plaza Shopping Center, 1655 Route 23 South - Unit 17A, Wayne, New Jersey 07470. (973) 832-7285. Under the supervision of Rabbi Aaron Mehlman.

 

 

 

 

Jacksonville exploded onto the kosher scene last night with the grand opening of House of Dog, a Miami-based franchise catering to the hip and hungry. Featuring specialty cuts of meat, chicken, and their proprietary beer-infused sausages, HOD combines your favorite sports bar with your favorite caloric infusions. Conveniently located right off the I-95 (just 2 hours from Savannah or Orlando) the address is 10950-36 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, Florida 32223. Phone: (904) 674-8364. They are under the supervision of the Vaad of Jacksonville, which interestingly enough, was created for the sole purpose of HOD. 
Click here for pictures of their opening and click here for their menu. 

 

 

Fresko is taking over the location of Ike's Diner at 9476 Harding Avenue in Surfside. Ike's, whichwas a retro dairy diner, has been opened for just a year but never really took off in the area, closed this week. After Labor Day, for the months of September and October, the restaurant will be under renovation with a new fresh look that Fresko is known for. They will be open for the season come November time. The new Fresko will feature a similar menu to the one they have in Aventura and will also be waiter service.  This just strengthens Surfside as the dominant area (where the kosher places just stretch over 2 blocks) for upscale kosher dining as 3 new restaurants are opening soon (Baruch Sandhaus' two new restaurants as well as "26" - which took over Lotus). Together with Harbour Grill, Kosh and Cine Citta, you are left with abundance of exceptional restaurants. But wait there is more...Fresko will also be opening a Fresko Express in the Chase Building in the Aventura Mall, also in November, which will feature a lighter version of their menu with sandwiches and sushi.

 

With the success of Grill House in Miami Beach, Chef Shimi Alon proudly announces the grand opening of his newest venture, "Grill House Express" 
in the Somerset Shoppes Plaza. Alon's goal has been to bring his passion for food to the south Florida community and has now brought his inspiration to the fast food industry. Location: 8903 Glades Road (Suite G9), 561-419-8434, Under Kosher Miami.

 

 

Rami's in Brookline got approval from the Board of Selectmen to open "The Place Next Door,"
a kosher vegetarian restaurant right next door to their casual dining Israeli/Middle Eastern restaurant on Harvard Street in Brookline. The Place Next Door will be taking over the former beauty supply shop at 326 Harvard Street. Rami's also hinted onTwitter that they might be launching a food truck serving falafel within the next couple of weeks. Rami's, which has been open for nearly 2 decades under the supervision of KVH, Chabad Rabaanim (Kashruth Commission).

 

 

1406  S. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach (310) 316-4433 
Under the supervision of the RCC - 2 blocks from the Ocean at Avenue F

 

 

Cooked in 90 Seconds PizzaLaurent Masliah is back in LA! The former owner of Cow Jumped over the Moon and La Seine has been busy in New York this past year, opening and running Pizza da Solo, the Neapolitan style pizzeria in the Sony Building owned by Joey Allaham. There Laurent worked with well known chef Giulio Adriani in bringing this very unique pizza to the kosher market. Well, fast forward a year, and Laurent and Giulio have partnered up to open "Cooked in 90 Seconds Pizza" in Los Angeles, which basically tells you how long you will have to wait for your pizza. The pizzeria will offer a very similar menu to Pizza Da Solo, consisting mainly of 10" inch thin crust pizza with fresh homemade mozzarella, cooked in a wood-burning oven at a very high temperature (1000°F).They will be located at 8834 Pico Blvd., next door to MexiKosher. They hope to open soon after the holidays in October.

 

 

 

New kosher cafe in Vancouver, Canada opened a few week ago. They are in the Chabad house on 41st Avenue and Oak Street and are the only Cholov Yisrael option in the city. 

5750 Oak Street, Vancouver, British Columbia. 604-563-4141