De Luxe Cafe Taking Shape on Seventh, Menu in Place

We first broke the news last month that a new cafe would be opening soon at 410 Seventh Avenue, near the corner of 14th Street, but now we're beginning to see the husband-and-wife run cafe take shape. Along with its coat of red paint, De Luxe has affixed a logo to the front window and door, and they've posted a menu online, which can be found below. Looks like there will be a nice selection of coffee, teas, pastries, and sandwiches.

"My Lucky Lou's Bar and Grill" Coming to Kohzee Cafe Spot

Many thanks to a tipster for forwarding along word that the space previously occupied by the ill-fated Kohzee Cafe, on Sixth Avenue and Seventh Street, has a new tenant: a restaurant called My Lucky Lou's Bar and Grill. No word if the owner is the same as the space's previous owner, but all signs point to a completely new venture.

 A little digging reveals that their website is already up and running, along with a planned menu of bar food like wings, quesadillas, ribs, and nachos, along with an impressive array of Latin-inspired entrees like ropa vieja, paella a la Valenciana, mofongo, and surf and turf tacos.

Goorin Brothers Hat Shop Headed for Fifth Avenue in the North Slope

If you have even a passing interest in hats, have I got some news for you: An outpost of the renowned Goorin Brothers Hat Shop is heading our way, opening this Fall in the space last occupied by home decor shop Extraordinary, at 195 Fifth Avenue, between Union and Berkeley.

The San Francisco-based millinery, family-run since its founding in 1895, has nineten locations across the country, including one in the West Village. According to their website, "When Cassel Goorin began his tradition of hatmaking, friendly neighborhood hat shops were commonplace and visited regularly. We are bringing this piece of history back today with our neighborhood Hat Shops, where buying a hat is as personal and special an experience as it was in Cassel's time."

The "Oates"

These are some seriously fashionable hats, running on average around $60.

Here's their "Coming Soon" message:

"Neighborhood dedication is a mission that we here at Goorin are passionate about. The Park Slope district of Brooklyn, New York is known for its architectural and historical features, along with its diverse mix of residents and local businesses, all of which are supported and preserved by its active and involved citizens. So it made sense for us to open shop in a community that promotes neighborhood gathering spaces such as farmer’s markets, and community gardens, all perfect locations to don your own Goorin original."

And don't forget, this will be right across the street from another renowned institution that has decided to call our neighborhood home: Fleisher's Meats. And they're currently hiring!

Dr. Brendan Mac Repair Shop Coming to Madison Rose Space

Looks like you'll no longer need to schlep over to an Apple Store or Tekserve if your iPhone screen cracks. An Apple repair shop that also specializes in IT training will be opening soon in the space last occupied by maternity shop Madison Rose, at 171 Fifth Avenue, between Lincoln and Berkeley.

The shop, called Dr. Brendan, has two other locations, one on St. Marks Place in the Village and another in Greenwich, Connecticut, and they've been written up by the New York Times, CNN.com, and Thrillist. Run by the self-taught Brendan McElroy, the shop's services will run the gamut from replacing iPhone batteries to installation of new computer screens to data recovery, and they'll also make housecalls. It's not an authorized repair center and could void the product's warranty, but its services are significantly less expensive than places like Tekserve.

A Peek at Chef Mark Simmons' Kiwiana Menu

As first reported on this site back in May, Former Top Chef contestant Mark Simmons will be opening a New Zealand-inspired restaurant in the former Lucas Fine Foods space, on Union Street just east of Seventh, by the second week of August. Zagat caught up with him a few days ago, and has published the first glimpse of his restaurant's menu.

Here it is:

Starters

Smoked and pickled Green Lip mussels with house-churned butter $4

West Coast oysters with champagne mignonette / $2.5 each

Steamed edamame with smoked kelp salt / $5

Pulled pork sliders with cucumber and pickled red cabbage / $3 each

Slow poached baby beets with lavender goats’ milk ricotta / $7

Green leaf salad with garam cashews, grapes and goat cheese / $9

Sweet corn and jalapeño soup with avocado and pop corn / $8

Cauliflower steak and sturgeon eggs, sour cream / $10

Stewart Island salmon ceviche with wasabi avocado puree and lump fish caviar / $10

New Zealand wagyu tartare with pickled cauliflower, egg yolk and crostini / $10

Manuka and marmite braised baby back ribs with squash puree / $11

Artisanal cheese plate with accoutrements / $9

 

Entrees

Linguini pasta with jumbo lump crab, fresh tomato, chili and basil / $16

Steamed Green Lip mussels in Thai yellow curry with hand-cut fries / $15

Boil up: Slow braised beef rib with root vegetables and L&P bread / $17

Homemade pies – braised lamb shank or seafood chowder / $12

Diver scallops with cauliflower and bacon ragout, passion fruit sauce / $18

Seared New Zealand snapper, braised fennel, tomato and chili sauce / $24

Horopito and buttermilk fried chicken with bitter greens and truffled honey / $16

Kiwi Burger – N.Z lamb, fried egg, pickled beet with hand-cut fries / $15

Milo-rubbed venison loin with potato cake, baby leeks, cola-braised cherries / $26

 

Desserts

Wattleseed Pavlova with vanilla whipped cream and fresh berries / $8

Pecan bread pudding with manuka and whisky caramel / $8

Passion fruit and coconut cream caramel with dragon fruit sauce / $8

Milo molten cake with pepper berry cream fraiche / $8

Lavender goats’ milk ricotta cheese cake with roasted golden beets / $8

Kiwi fruit meringue tart / $8

New Zealand cheese plate / $9

House made ice cream selection / $3 each

Raspberry lamington with whipped coconut cream and hokey pokey brittle / $8

Looks good (and authentically Kiwi) to me!