Kosher-NY has confirmed that a new Sushi Restaurant “Cafe 11″ is slated to open up next week in the lobby of 11 Broadway. While the new cafe will be physically under the OU’s offices, it will be supervised by the Star-K.
The new restaurant is primarily going to offer sushi, servicing the many kosher consumers who work in the Downtown/Wall Street area
Kosher-NY has been hearing talk that the proprietor of Manhattan’s Prime Grill will be opening a bistro-style restaurant on the UWS.
Stay tuned for more details as they become available.
Earlier in the week we reported that the Kof-K no longer certifies the Tasti-D-Lite franchise.
Kosher-NY has confirmed that the reason the franchise will no longer be certified is because of a mandate from the corporate offices that all Tasti-D-Lite establishments must offer several different types of fruit, such as strawberries and blueberries, at each establishment. These fruits create a problem in terms of the hashgachah due to the bugs that are commonly found among them.
While researching the Hashgachah information for Tasi-D-Lite, we also noticed another matter which should be brought to your attention. Some of the Tasti locations have been displaying a certificaiton from the OK stating that the Chocolate and Vanilla mixes are kosher and certified by the OK.
We have confirmed with the OK that this kosher certification only applies to the Chocolate and Vanilla base powder mixes which are used for the frozem treats and once these base powder mixes are opened, they are no longer certified by the OK.
The certificate from the OK in no way constitutes a hashgachah on the Tasti establishment, just on the powder base mixes.
We have gotten word that two new restaurants will be opening on the UWS. One is Cocofe, which will be a cafe/coffee joint. They should be opening in a few weeks in the vicinity of 72nd Street and Broadway. They are in the process of finding a Barista to server their coffee…
There is another West Side establishment that is planning to open. We will release more details as opening gets closer and details are ironed out.
Stay tuned for more information.
Olympic Pita (in Manhattan) has changed its name to Restaurant Baraka. This name change has sparked a few changes in the menu, but don’t worry, you can still get your Olympic Pita shwarma there.
A new Vegan restaurant named Peacefood Cafe has opened its doors on the UWS. Peacefood Cafe is located at 460 Amsterdam Avenue, between 82nd and 83rd Street, and is under the hashgachah of Rabbi Andre Malek.
Peacefood Cafe offers a variety of vegan soups, salads, sandwiches, paninis, pizza and desserts. Their selection of food looks both healhty and appetizing.
Not too long ago, Little Lad’s, a recently kosherized vegan restaurant changed its hashgachah. The new supervising Rabbi is Rabbi Daniel Kronengold of the Yound Israel of Baychester.
We know this may be a big blow to many Manhattanites but we are sorry to report that the following Tasti-D-Lite locations are no longer certified as kosher by the Kof-K, effective immediately:
1654 3rd Avenue, Between 92nd and 93rd Street
1115 Lexington Avenue, Between 77th and 78th Street
222 East 86th Street, Between 2nd and 3rd Avenue
We are monitoring the situation and will definitely report any changes. Until then we may have to get our yogurt elsewhere.
Deepam Indian restaurant which was located at 106 Lexington Avenue, Between 27th and 28th Street has closed its doors. It seems that they closed almost as fast as they had opened.
Kosher-NY spoke with management and were told that they are closing for about a week to get things in order so that they can open a “non-veg” restaurant, as they put it.
Unfortunately, the new non-veg restaurant will not be certified kosher and so Deepam has been removed from the Kosher-NY database.
Baguette Express, located at 25 West 37th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenue, recently opened. They are, as the name implies, a baguette shop that offers a wide variety of subs including schnitzel, falafel, cold cuts, fresh salads.
