140 Seventh Ave's Signage Revealed: Da Nonna Rosa

The restaurant that's been under construction for several months on Seventh between Garfield and Carroll now has a name: Da Nonna Rosa. 

As reported last month, it'll be under the same ownership as the much-loved Gino's of Bayside and Port Washington. Considering the amount of time that construction's been going on here, I wouldn't be surprised if they open soon.

Cafe Tapeo Out, Cyprus Avenue In

In what seems like the blink of an eye, Cafe Tapeo has vanished and been replaced by a straight-ahead Irish pub, Cyprus Avenue. 

Cafe Tapeo had gone through a couple different chefs and menus recently and while the food was good, it never really pulled a consistent crowd. The space was bought by the owners of the Black Sheep around the corner, so the competition isn't as heated as it may appear. It looks like a low-key bar with a decent happy hour, and pub grub such as Guinness meat pies and bangers and mash are making their first appearance on this stretch of Fifth Avenue. 

Can't beat $1.50 sliders either. 

A New Sign on Fifth

The Odd Twin Trading Company, a vintage clothing/ decor shop coming to 164 Fifth Ave at Degraw, hung up their sign last weekend. Urban View Realty used to be in this space. 

Friday Foodporn: Scandinavian Grace Kafe, 668 President Street

The Scandinavian Grace Kafe, which opened on President Street between Fifth and Sixth last month, is a specialty store/ café focused on kitchenware and foods imported from (where else?) Scandinavia. It’s small and sleek, and serves some of the best pastries, coffee, and espresso in the neighborhood.

The shelves are lined with products that you’d be hard pressed to find outside of Northern Europe (and their two other shops, located in Williamsburg and the Catskills). Hafi Lingonberry and Elderflower Syrups, Vestlands Lefse Viking Bread, Teema and Origo tableware, and Kippis tea towels are displayed elegantly, like museum pieces.

The Kafe is the real draw here though, and sets it apart from the other two stores, which are only focused on housewares. Owner Fredrik Larsson bakes Swedish cookies and pastries, such as tosca (almond cake) and kladdkaka (chocolate brownies) daily, and the coffee is from Lofbergs Lila, which is slow roasted in Sweden. The pastries are dense and sweet, and the coffee is damn good.

Kladdkaka

Tosca Cake

There isn’t much room to relax at the moment, but there’s a bench out front and plans to spruce up the basement and back garden and expand the menu (Swedish meatballs, anyone?). It's open from 11 AM – 7 PM, 7 days a week.