Outdoor Seating At Roosevelt Island Riverwalk Restaurants During NYC Local Law 11 Building Facade Work Discussed By RIOC Operations Advisory Committee Yesterday - What's The Deal?

As previously reported, the Roosevelt Island Riverwalk Building are surrounding by scaffolding to protect passerbys from falling debris as Local Law 11 facade work is done on the exterior of the buildings.

Image Of Riverwalk 455 Main Street Facade Work

According to Habitat Magazine:

New York City's Façade Inspection Safety Program (FISP), also called Local Law 11, requires that owners of buildings with more than six stories undergo an exterior inspection every five years....

and the Department of Buildings:

... created and implemented the law in 1980 — then called Local Law 10 — in response to the 1979 death of Barnard College student Grace Gold when she was struck by masonry falling from a building façade in Manhattan. More recently, on August 1, 2013, Jennifer Rosoff fell to her death from her 17th-floor condominium at 400 East 57th Street after the 78-year-old aluminum railing on her balcony gave way. The railing was installed in 1931 without welded rivets, and the non-welded rivets popped out....

The facade work has meant that outdoor seating at Riverwalk restaurants

is not available or limited to certain times upsetting some residents.

Who @RelatedRentals closed @Rooseveltisland park/patio cafes during Spring? #dumb @HPSLiving @NYDNRealEstate @nypost pic.twitter.com/xxBwrB0r7H

— Billy Mark (@HighonHillcrest) May 19, 2015

The NY Times reported yesterday on a tragic incident Local Law 11 facade work is intended to prevent. According to the NY Times:

... On Sunday morning, Susan Frierson, 60, was outside the building with her granddaughter, Greta Greene, 2, when a piece of decorative terra-cotta windowsill broke free eight stories above. Both were struck, Greta most seriously. After hours on the operating table at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, doctors could not save her. She was pronounced dead on Monday.

New York has a strict facade-inspection law, but Greta’s death was a reminder of that law’s limits,...

During yesterday's (May 18) Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Operations Advisory Committee (full audio web cast of meeting), RIOC Director Margie Smith asked about the status of Riverwalk restaurants outdoor seating during the local law 11 facade work.. RIOC President Charlene Indelicato said that she was told by a Hudson Related Representative that for safety reasons outdoor seating would not be available at Riverwalk restaurants under the scaffolding

 Image of Riverwalk Bar & Grill Seating Under Scaffolding From Several Weeks Ago

during the time facade work is being done but can be available after 4:30 on weekdays and on weekends.

Here's the discussion.



Recently, I have noticed that the seating is not available under the scaffolding.

Roosevelt Island Main Street Retail Update On Vacant Storefront Windows, Pop Up Art, Urgent Care Facility Opening, Newstand Status And Trellis Construction - Also Goodbye Nonno's, Hello New Pizza From Piccolo Trattoria

During last night's March 19 meeting of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors Real Estate Advisory Committee (full audio web cast here and here), RIOC Director Howard Polivy provided this update from Main Street Retail Master Leaseholder Hudson Related.



According to Hudson Related:

• The new vinyl in vacant windows should be installed by the end of the week and should add to the attractiveness of the corridor experience.
• The new art work in the old hardware store is getting installed this month and should also add to the attractiveness of the arcade area storefront windows. We are talking with RIVAA about changing the art work monthly, to keep it active and engaging as long as the installation runs.
• We are looking into potentially getting another pop up art installation in one of the other vacant spaces, something that a resident brought up at the last meeting. This is in very early stages.
• We should be done with our work at the Urgent Care space by the end of this month and turning over possession to the tenant who will be moving forward with the renovation work. We expect the Urgent Care to open this summer.
• We are working on a renewal with Island Newsstand. We will know if they are staying or leaving by the end of this month. They are working out business plans before getting back to us.
• Trellis is in the process of redesigning their bar area so they do not need to remove the structural wall they were previously proposing to remove. We are waiting to hear back from them when they will restart their work.

Also, as reported March 3, Nonno's Pizzeria was sold to long time employee Oscar and a partner. Yesterday the Nonno's Pizzeria sign was removed and up went

the sign for Piccolo  Trattoria.

I spoke with Oscar last night who promises a new menu in the next couple of weeks.

Good Luck to Oscar and Piccolo Trattoria.

Roosevelt Island Retail Update - New Ownership Coming For Nonno's Focacceria Says Main Street Retail Master Leaseholder Hudson Related

There will soon be a new owner of the Roosevelt Island Nonno's Focacceria.

I asked Hudson Related Main Street Retail Leaseholder representative Arriana Sacks Rosenberg:

I am told that Nonno's Focacceria is changing ownership. Alphonse is selling to one of the employees. The change in ownership is pending Hudson Related's approval and a lease extension.

Is that true?

Ms Rosenberg replied today:

Yes, Nonno’s is changing ownership, not to one of his employees. The ownership and assignment has been approved and we are finishing up the documents.

I followed up:

Is the new owner of Nonno's an experienced pizza store owner with NYC stores?

I was told the new owner has a store in Philadelphia but not NYC.

Can you tell us anything about the new owner?

Ms Rosenberg said:

They don’t own any stores in New York right now, but the new owner and his partner have experience in this market in New York.

Nonno's first opened on Roosevelt Island January 2, 2008. As reported at the time:

Image Of Nonno's Focacceria Grand Opening

I never in my life thought I would write these words but here goes.

I tried to get into a Roosevelt Island restaurant this afternoon for lunch but it was too crowded. Every seat was occupied and there was a long line at the counter for the opening of the much anticipated and long awaited Nonno's Focacceria at 455 Main Street (212-753-2300 or 2307).

I look forward to going back later today.

A great big WELCOME to Roosevelt Island for Nonno's!!

Regarding the Card & Gift Shop, Ms. Rosenberg noted:

As I mentioned in the meeting at RIOC, we are working on a deal with Island Newsstand for a new lease. Nothing has been finalized yet.

and whether M&D Deli has changed ownership, she added:

It has not changed yet, but we are working with the owners on this. With any assignment, there will be a major renovation of the store.

More information on Roosevelt Island retail from Ms. Rosenberg available at this previous post from the January 29 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Real Estate Advisory Committee meeting.

Yesterday's Spring Temperature and Sunshine Brings Return To Outdoor Seating At Roosevelt Island Restaurants

The spring like weather yesterday brought the outdoor seating back to Roosevelt Island restaurants at Nonno's,

Starbucks

and the Riverwalk Bar & Grill.

Not much of a chance to enjoy the outdoor seating with today's dreary weather or freezing temperatures expected to return tomorrow. However, spring will soon be here with sunshine, warmer weather and the opportunity to eat and drink outdoors.

Looking forward to that.

Dining Al Fresco Returns To Roosevelt Island At The Riverwalk Bar & Grill & Nonno's Focacceria - Spring Is Getting Closer With Outdoor Restaurant Seating

I may have been a bit premature in declaring the arrival of Roosevelt Island spring with last week's return of the Subway Fruit Stand and the weather the last couple of days has been nothing to shout out about with joy but another sign of the upcoming spring has shown itself. Yesterday, the Riveralk Bar & Grill

and Nonno's Focacceria

put out their outdoor tables and chairs.

Roosevelt Island dining al fresco will soon be here.

Guys, how about some heating lamps for eating and drinking outside when the weather is not quite warm enough?

No Major Health Code Violations At Roosevelt Island Restaurants - 4 Have Even Received Letter A Grade From Health Department - Others Not Yet Received Grade

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council Delegate from Southtown Dave Evans forwards this AMNY article on New York City Restaurant Health Inspections and notes that Roosevelt Island restaurants come out pretty good on the Health Inspection ratings regarding major health violations. Mr. Evans writes:

ROOSEVELT ISLAND RESTAURANTS ARE NOT THE WORST--AREA CODE 10044 RATED BEST?

While in attendance at a RIRA-Common Council Committee meeting, a colleague (I think it was Lynne) asked if I'd taken note of the NY Health Department's ratings posted in windows of some of our Roosevelt Island eateries.  Well, I checked out an  "am New York" article on 9 February and was duly impressed just as she was.  Look, we are better than many others in NYC, with eight of ours having ZERO, NADA major violations right alongside restaurants found in Battery Park.  OK, maybe there is aesthetic work to be done and this could happen with anticipated and hopefully forthcoming updates to Main Street businesses.  So, in the meantime, perhaps we shouldn't knock our on-Island eateries too much, just occasionally give 'em some business.

Click on image above to enlarge and note on chart near bottom of page that restaurants in zip code 10044 (Roosevelt Island) had zero major health code violations. Major health code violations are defined as having 16 or more points as determined by the Health Department.

To date, four Roosevelt Island restaurant have received Restaurant Inspection letter grades of A from the Health Department. They are the two Subway Restaurants, the Trellis Diner  and Starbucks. Nonnos, Riverwalk Bar & Grill, China One and Fuji East have not yet received a letter grade.

More on Roosevelt Island restaurant health inspections as well as an explanation as to how the restaurant letter grades are determined from this earlier post.

The most recent Roosevelt Island Restaurant Inspection Information Reports are here. Just plug in the 10044 zip code for results and explanations.

Outdoor Eating & Drinking Returns To Roosevelt Island At Riverwalk Bar & Grill, Nonno's Focacerria and Starbucks - Enjoy The Nice Weather

Image from tiedyes

My mood has certainly improved the last few days with this beautiful sunny weather. A sure sign of spring's arrival and the summer to come is that outdoor eating and drinking has returned to Roosevelt Island around the Riverwalk Commons in Southtown just behind the F Train subway stop.

Nonno's Focacceria is serving Pizza and Italian specialities along with some good stories from owner Alphonse,

the Starbucks Patio is open for coffee, Fraps and other drinks, some reading, relaxing, socializing with friends and neighbors



as well as taking in these fantastic New York City waterfront and East Side views



and the new kid on the block, the Riverwalk Bar & Grill, is serving their excellent food menu and drinks outside.




They even got my Ginger Beer!!!!

I am indeed a happy man now.

Let's not forget that the Trellis Diner will have outdoor seating too.

Happy Spring.

The Recession As Seen Through Eyes Of Roosevelt Island's Nonno's And Riverwalk Bar & Grill Owner - Less Work, More Babies

Nonno's Crowded Opening Day January 2, 2008

Remember this picture of a crowded, standing room only opening day for Nonno's Focacceria? Well, that was before the recession hit and times have changed a bit economically on Roosevelt Island and the rest of the United States as illustrated in New York On Less from The NY Times City Room blog. The article examines how the recession has impacted Roosevelt Island through the eyes of Nonno's Focacceria and Riverwalk Bar & Grill Owner Alphonso DiCioccio.

... At first, business thrived as roughly 200 construction workers came in daily for lunch. After construction work on the island slowed and residents cut back on eating out, he laid off two workers.

In the two months since he opened the Riverwalk Bar and Grill in another building, Mr. DiCioccio has hustled to attract new customers by offering senior citizen breakfast discounts and half-price happy hour drinks. From his perch behind these two counters, Mr. DiCioccio measures how the recession has played out across the island in pizza slices and how often he sees customers...

What has Alphonso noticed on Roosevelt Island since the start of the Recession - more people out of work and more babies too.

... It’s like a baby boom. I see a lot more people having babies here. About three or four women said: “I lost my job. I’m having a baby.”...

UPDATE 6:45 PM - More City Room Blog New York On Less stories from other neighborhoods.

No Fourth Of July Fireworks Viewing From Roosevelt Island This Year - But Here's What It Looked Like In 2008

You Tube Video of July 4 2008 Fireworks at Southpoint Park Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island is normally a friendly and welcoming community, but please, if you are planning on visiting Roosevelt Island on Saturday to view the traditional Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration - DON'T COME!!!

I write this not because I want to hog the great views just for those of us who live here but because the fireworks have been moved from the East to the Hudson River in honor of the 400 anniversary of Henry Hudson's exploration of the river that now bears his name. So there will be no traditional Fireworks viewing from Southpoint Park as in prior years. As reported in the Queens Gazette:

...NYPD Queens North Borough Commander Diana Pizzuti is telling residents that in recognition of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's exploration of the Hudson River, Macy's officials have moved the 2009 July 4 fireworks extravaganza from the East River to the Hudson River.

In past years, crowds gathered at locations along the waterfront for a bird's eye-view of the fireworks, Pizzuti said. This year, the fireworks will be set off from barges located between 24th and 30th Streets on the Hudson River, completely removing any view from the Long Island City waterfront or Roosevelt Island.

Deputy Inspector Paul Vorbeck said, "Your local 114th Precinct would like to inform its residents that the annual Macy's fireworks display is moving across town in 2009. There will be no view from Roosevelt Island."...

New York Magazine reports on the best spots on the West Side to watch the Hudson River Fouth of July Fireworks.

Although there will be no Roosevelt Island Fireworks Spectacular Celebration at Southpoint Park this year, there will be the Nonno's 4th Of July Festival held on Roosevelt Island's Riverwalk Commons with Kid's Rides, Dunk Tank, Burgers, Hot Dogs and other Fun Stuff.

Nonno's and Riverwalk Bar Owners with 4th Of July Festival flyer. Probably another two weeks until the opening of Roosevelt Island's new sports bar and bagel/deli shop.

New Sports Bar and Bagel/Deli Opening On Roosevelt Island - Riverwalk Bar & Grill To Debut This Month

Image from Roosevelt Island's Riverwalk Bar & Grill

Another small step for civilization on Roosevelt Island. The folks who brought us Nonno's Focacceria are almost ready to open up a new Roosevelt Island sports bar and deli/bagel shop - the Riverwalk Sports Bar & Grill - at 425 Main Street adjacent to the Duane Reade in Southtown. They expect to open before the end of June.

The Bar

The owners plan is to create a family friendly Applebees or Friday's type of restaurant with a 30 foot bar and 14 large flat panel television screens. Roosevelt Islanders will soon be able to watch their favorite sporting events or just have a relaxing night out without having to get on the Tram, the subway or trudge over the 36th Avenue Bridge to Queens. There will also be outdoor seating. An added bonus will be an adjacent bagel and deli store that will open in the early mornings as well.

Bagel & Deli Place

Riverwalk Bar & Grill has a web site as well and describe their restaurant this way:

A new era of dining and socialization is coming to Roosevelt Island. Get ready to meet your neighbors! This Spring River Walk Bar & Grill Express will be opening at 425 main Street. Situated across the courtyard from Nonno’s Foccaceria & Fiji East, it will be a nice complement to the restaurants currently in place on the island. A dual purpose space that should leave even those with the most voracious appetites sated, Riverwalk Bar & Grill Express will have a deli express side which will feature bagels, breakfast, salads and Boar’s Head cold cuts as well as a sit down table service side with a full kitchen and bar.

Let’s attack the two parts that make River Walk Bar & Grill Express up individually for a second. The deli side will be open early, offer a casual eat-in counter and have salads, cold cuts and spreads to go as well as a complete menu of sandwiches. For the early risers, bagels, egg sandwiches, pancakes & French toast will be available to starting at 6am. Grab your breakfast BEFORE heading into the city and save yourself a buck! Eating lunch on the island? No problem there either. Italian heroes? Got them. Turkey Clubs? Got them too. Potato Salad. Yes. Cole Slaw. Yes. More other delicious choices than could possibly be list here…yes, yes, yes!

The Yin to the Deli Express side’s yang will be the Bar & Grill Side. Open at 11am daily and 10am on Sundays for brunch, the sit down lunch will consist of soups, burgers, wraps, specialty salads and a large variety of sharable apps. Chicken Fingers, Wings, Nachos, Quesadillas…you get the idea. Comparable to a T.G.I. Fridays or Applebee’s, the dinner menu at River Walk seems like it doubles the amount food choices available on the island! Steak, Chops, Ribs & Pastas are all present here with all the sides to match. Parents shouldn’t feel daunted though. They also offer a Kid’s Menu that should satisfy even the fussiest of children. Everything on dine-in menu will also be offered on the delivery menu and the kitchen will be open until midnight!

After dinner, it’s not time to leave this BAR & Grill just yet! With over 20 tap & bottled beers as well as all the shots your heart could desire, River Walk will be your home away from home if you are a sports fan. With 14 flat screen TV’s, they will be carrying all major sporting events. It’s about time a place like River Walk opened here! It is long overdue and will allow the residents and workers of Roosevelt Island more dining choices than they have ever had as well as a beautiful space to socialize. With something for everybody, River Walk Bar & Grill Express will undoubtedly become a Roosevelt Island staple.

The Riverwalk Bar & Grill menu is posted online as well as their drink list and Martini list. They also are soliciting suggestions from Roosevelt Islanders for inclusion in their menu. As a start I vote for a good, spicy Ginger Beer!

A couple of the owners playing Whiffle Ball on the Riverwalk Commons in front of Bar

Now if we can only get RIOC out of the retail real estate business with a private sector Master Leaseholder taking over, maybe Roosevelt Island's Main Street will finally have some decent stores

Roosevelt Island Restaurant Report - New Sports Bar & Bagel Shop, Starbucks Status Unknown And RIOC's Vacant Main Street Shops Forever Empty

Location of New Roosevelt Island Riverbank Bar & Grill

Starting this coming June, if everything goes according to schedule, Roosevelt Islanders will be able to enjoy what most other NYC neighborhoods take for granted, a friendly local sports bar and grill. The one year old Nonno's Focacceria owners are opening the approximately 3400 square foot Riverbank Bar & Grill in the space next to Duane Reade at Riverwalk's 425 Main Street.

The owners say their plan is to create a family friendly Applebees or Friday's type of restaurant with a 30 foot bar and 14 large flat panel television screens. Roosevelt Islanders will soon be able to watch their favorite sporting events or just have a relaxing night out without having to get on the Tram, the subway or trudge over the 36th Avenue Bridge to Queens. An added bonus is that there will also be an adjacent bagel and deli store that will open in the mornings as well. Now, if the Starbucks remains open, Roosevelt Island may be starting to shape up. Please slap me so I know that I am not dreaming.

Of course, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) controlled vacant Main Street retail stores remain empty as they have for several years (3+?). RIOC's solution is to undertake yet another study and survey . As explained in this except of a letter to the 1/17/09 Main Street WIRE by RIOC Director and Real Estate Committee Chair Charlee Miller:

... The committee had the opportunity to interview two consultants with extensive experience in community development, urban planning and design, Main Street revitalization, preservation, and much more. The committee is in the process of selecting the consultant.

Once the consultant is on board, the next steps will be rolled out in phases. Residents, workers, visitors, vendors, and various other groups will be asked to participate in public workshops and focus groups. These groups will contribute to the fact-finding mission about the attitudes, needs, and interests of the community. Some of the surveys will include the following:

* Resident shopping/dining patterns and preferences
* Worker shopping/dining patterns and preferences
* Tourist/visitor spending patterns and preferences

The study is a waste of time and resources. RIOC, or any other governmental entity, should not be in the retail real estate business. RIOC should issue a Request For Proposal for private developers to take over over RIOC's retail properties as a Master Leaseholder as first proposed by RIRA representative and now RIOC Director Jon Kalkin in this 6/16/07 Main Street WIRE article:

Our solution is simple: We lease the commercial space to a master leaseholder who then sublets the individual storefronts.

I know of several developers who have expressed interest in the Master Leaseholder concept for the Main Street stores. Why not issue an RFP for a Master Retail leaseholder now instead of waiting months if not years for yet another study or if the governmental bureaucratic process requires a new study, do it simultaneously with the RFP.

UPDATE - 5/19 - Construction is still going on at Roosevelt Island's new bar/restaurant/breakfast shop. The owners tell me they hope to be open in Mid June and they have changed their name to the much more appropriate Riverwalk Bar & Grill.

Searching For the Great Buffalo Chicken Wing Recipe at Nonno's On Roosevelt Island!

You Tube Video of Great Chicken Wing Hunt Trailer

A reader of this post sends along a review of Nonnos and the following suggestion for Roosevelt Island Buffalo Wings:

The delivery service is good when there is a manager or owner taking the calls. Otherwise the delivery service is near poor.

The pizza is ok, not great, but ok.

The wings are NOT good. They bread the wings which makes them soggy. Here is my suggestion for original buffalo chicken wings (I'm from Buffalo)
-deep fry the wings until medium-dark golden crisp(don't mess them up with breading or seasoning before frying etc.)

-when finished frying toss the wings in a mixture of 1/2 butter and 1/2 Durkee Brand- Frank's Red Hot Sauce (this is the only sauce used in making original wings).

note: increase the amount of frank's sauce to turn up the heat! Offer mild, medium or hot. Don't just fry the wings and serve the sauce on the side. That's lame and not how it is done.

-deliver in cardboard packaging NOT plastic. Plastic packaging will make the wings soggy.

-please offer straight blue cheese dressing not the "hidden valley ranch" style that is really ranch dressing with a few chunks of blue cheese in it-that's crap!

Practice a few batches and you'll have the hang of it in no time.

PS. I'm hoping that the owner's of Nonno's will read this.

The owners of Nonno's have read your suggestion. I spoke with Jack who told me that when they first opened last January, cardboard packaging was used for their food delivery and they would prefer to continue doing so again even though it is much more expensive. However, their distributor no longer carries cardboard packaging and they have been unable to find any other source.

As for your sauce, I think they will experiment with it. Next time your in Nonno's, say Hi to Jack and ask about your chicken wing recipe.

Time Out NYC Top Picnic Spots Include Roosevelt Island's Southpoint Park!

Image of Southpoint Park Picnic from Time Out New York

Roosevelt Island residents know what a great waterfront spot Southpoint Park is to relax on a hot summer day or evening but now the rest of NYC may be learning that as well. According to Time Out NY, Southpoint Park is one of the Best Places for group outings and picnics:

You won’t have to jockey for blanket space on the expansive land that curves around the southern tip of Roosevelt Island. Bring a crew (and a Frisbee) and take in the stunning vistas: Behind you, the Renwick Ruins—the remnants of a 19th-century hospital—and to the west, a view of the midtown skyline.

Time Out recommends stopping off at Nonnos for pizza and subs (don't they mean a hero?).

There’s also an on-island option: Subs can be procured at Nonno’s Focacceria (455 Main St, 212-753-2300), or order a pizza—they will deliver it to the park.

Image of what I think is Nonnos Gramma's pizza (my favorite) is from Time Out New York

For all you first time visitors to Southpoint Park, be aware that these stunning and beautiful panoramic views of the NYC waterfront skyline are in danger of being ruined forever if what some refer to as the Louis Kahn Death Box (others refer to it incorrectly as the FDR memorial) is ever built.

Nonno's Focacceria - Not DiFara's or No. 28, But Italy and Roosevelt Islander Still Think It's Pretty Good!

You Tube video of Di Fara's Pizza in Midwood Brooklyn

Our Italian correspondent Alain chimes in on off-Island pizza by highly recommending No.28 on Carmine Street.

N.28 is at the very top of the Pizza rankings. I go there often.
But still I go to Nonno Pizza as well... And so do all the Italians I know.
Very very far away from N.28's level, but not below the average Pizza quality you can find around Manhattan.

I haven't been there since last summer but my personal favorite is DiFara's in Brooklyn, though as does Alain, I also like Roosevelt Island's six month old Nonno's. Nonno's square Grandma's Pie with meatballs is excellent. Try it, the cheese is very good. Of course, it does not compare to DiFara's. Very few do.

On a hot July day last year, my niece and I waited over an hour for a DiFara's pizza pie. As we were waiting, we felt kind of silly standing around in a hushed, almost cult-like atmosphere of hungry pizza fanatics watching Dom make each pie. But just as we were about to give up and leave, our pizza was done. It was great, unbelievable and worth the wait - at least once a year. Here's a round up of news about DiFara's from Slice and Gridskipper's 2007 top ten New York pizza places.

Chopstick Challenged? Don't Let That Stop You From Trying Roosevelt Island's New Japanese Restaurant - Fuji East Bistro

You Tube video of The Japanese Tradition - Chopsticks:Subtitled

Roosevelt Island's newest eatery, the Fuji East Japanese Bistro has been open for a little more than a month now and has become a favorite of many residents. The food is good, staff friendly and accommodating with pleasant decor (except for the music videos) and the place always seems busy. One long time Roosevelt Island resident told me she and others happily trek down from Manhattan Park to Fuji East several times a week for lunch. Long time restaurant deprived Roosevelt Island is finally getting some more dining options!

With Fuji East, Nonnos Focacceria and Starbucks all open in the Riverwalk building at 455 Main Street, Southtown is starting to become a real community with places for neighbors to congregate, meet and chat with each other as well as with other Roosevelt Island residents. Good job by these owners. Let's hope it continues. I am particularly looking forward to some warm weather so we can enjoy the outdoor seating that will be available at Nonnos and Starbucks. Don't know if Fuji East will have outdoor seating.

And for those who are hesitant to try Fuji East because of any difficulty with chopsticks, and I know you are out there, try the Chork:

This is perfect for those times when you want to use chopsticks but don't really know how, but still want the luxury of wood pressing against your lips as you shovel food into your mouth. That was always my problem with chopsticks. I'm American, I like to eat my meals in 2 minutes or less, and that's just not possible with chopsticks. These are perfect though. (Via Gadling and Slashfood)

Chork Image from Slashfood

Take Out Available at Night ... On Roosevelt Island... After 10 PM

Take out Food Delivery Image from New York Magazine

Roosevelt Islanders have long known the feeling of coming home at night tired, hungry and in no mood to cook or heat up leftovers only to be resigned to the fact that no decent take out was available nearby but desperately hoping that some pizza place in Astoria or Long Island City would consider delivering to Roosevelt Island in less than an hour. I'm not even talking about late at night but at 9 or 10 PM when nothing was open and you were out of luck unless one had the foresight to pick something up prior to getting on the Tram or Subway. Of course, commuting on the Tram or Subway with food is not a particularly pleasant experience although less objectionable on the Tram than the F Train.

Well, I am happy to report that starving Roosevelt Islanders have at least some desirable night time options now that Nonno's Foccaceria is open until 10 PM, edible chips, ice cream candy and convenience foods are available at Duane Reade through 10 PM on weekdays and Fuji East is open until 11 PM. Holy cow! Last week, I stopped by Fuji East twice after 10:30 and had good take out experiences. It was also pretty crowded.

I am also happy to report that several readers have had good experiences at the recently opened Fuji East. Here's one:

I had a late lunch yesterday and was pleasantly surprised by the the attractive decor, attentive service and pretty good pork donburi, which arrived at the table hot and not oversalted, but a little heavy on the breading.

Let's hope they keep it up! Little by little the Roosevelt Island restaurant options are getting better.

Is The Arrival of More Restaurant Choice on Roosevelt Island Improving the Trelis Diner?

Image of Trellis Portabello and Cheese Challah from NYC Nosh

Image of Trellis Diner from nrvlowdown

Blogger CinDelicious and a friend made a long desired trip on the Roosevelt Island Tram and had dinner at what they incorrectly thought was the Island's only sit down restaurant, The Trellis Diner. (I guess they had not heard of the famous Nonno's Focacceria). They liked it and gave it a very good review. Here is an excerpt:

We landed in RI, hopped on the bus (25 cents to ride) for Trellis, the ONLY sit-down restaurant on Roosevelt Island. It’s modest, more like a diner, but most importantly, no wait at all for us. Dan and I were both craving the California Monte Cristo (served with avocado), but the waiter crushed our dreams when he told us there was no avocado to be had. Instead we settled on pastas (a little skeptically because we were at a diner), and an $18 bottle of Tempranillo (why the heck not)? My capellini in garlic & olive oil with artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, shrimp, and parmesan was a generous portion. The challah bread served with the meal was also unexpected and raised the bar on our RI dining excursion. We were too full to have dessert, I took half my dinner home, all in all it was a decent night of food, friends, and spontaneous (as M would call it) fun, and as we walked back toward the tram the rain had cleared out and the city shone on the other shore.

Maybe the good meal at Trellis had nothing to do with Nonnos and it's soon to open neighboring Japanese restaurant Fuji East. Before Nonnos opened, The Black and White Cookie blogger also had a "wonderful dinner" at the Trellis Diner though they did not care much for the Black and White cookie and NYC Nosh says of Trellis, "solid, hearty diner fare".

There is also a new restaurant that just opened in Long Island City at the foot of the Roosevelt Island/36th Avenue Bridge. A Roosevelt Island couple visited recently and had this to say about it on the Chowhound food blog:

I live on Roosevelt Island. There isn't 5 restaurants within a 10 block area. No, Astoria is MORE than 10 blocks!
A Romanian Restuarant opened on 36th Avenue and Vernon Blvd., within the 10 block criteria. We dined there last night. My meal was OK, my wife's was so-so. Not a place I'd highly recommend. The only saving grace was it's BYOB for now. Caveat: They do not accept CCs

Another new restaurant that opened in the vicinity of Roosevelt Island is the conveniently l0cated Smokin Q Barbecue on 63rd Street between 2nd and 3rd avenues. I had their take out Texas Brisket sandwich. It was OK. I would certainly go back and try it or something else from them again. I usually go to Blue Smoke, Rub BBQ or the Smoke Joint in Fort Greene for BBQ but I would be thrilled if the nearby Smokin Q succeeds

Let's give these newly opened restaurants, as well as Trellis and Nonnos a break and try them for ourselves. The more restaurants that open open on Roosevelt Island and in the vicinity, the better for residents of Roosevelt Island.

Italy Still Loves Roosevelt Island - and Nonno's Foccaceria Too

Our Italian friend/correspondent and six month Roosevelt Island resident still loves Roosevelt Island and says that the Nonno's mozzarella used on its pizza is the best he has tasted yet in NYC. The Board of Italian Residents on Roosevelt Island also agree that Nonno's is very good. On the negative side, he is not happy with the Red Bus system. Here is his update on an Italian living on Roosevelt Island.

I am the Italian guy you wrote about in a couple of your posts.
First of all congratulations for your blog. I read it all the times
and suggest it to all of my friends.

After 6 months of life on R.I. I still believe that this place is the
best place to live in NYC. No doubts about it.

However, one thing that can be improved is the bus service.
Considering that the bus is the only system of transportation
available on the island I believe it is not reliable or powerful
enough.
I often have to walk home from the subway or wait for unpredictable
time especially at night or during weekends. During rush hours,
instead, the bus comes quickly but you will rarely ride seated. Also,
the 25 cents fare is convenient but a bit odd. I don't carry around
much cash and find it annoying having to use coins or 1 dollar bills.
How about a 10/20$ card that one can charge once every while? How
about resident card that one can swipe or blink at some reader?

Now some good news.
I can tell you that the Board of Italian Residents on R.I. have
approved with good remarks Nonno's Pizza.
Nonno's its already on top of favourite food delivery options and I
believe the mozzarella used for their square Margherita is the best I
have tasted so far in Manhattan. I am happy they have opened on the
Island cause they make me feel even more like home.

Last, here is a picture taken from my Manhattan Park window that
shocked and made jealous all my friends back in Italy:

Image is here.

Customers Throng Opening of Roosevelt Island's New Restaurant - Nonno's Focacceria

I never in my life thought I would write these words but here goes.
I tried to get into a Roosevelt Island restaurant this afternoon for lunch but it was too crowded. Every seat was occupied and there was a long line at the counter for the opening of the much anticipated and long awaited Nonno's Focacceria at 455 Main Street (212-753-2300 or 2307).
I look forward to going back later today.
A great big WELCOME to Roosevelt Island for Nonno's!!!
Roosevelt Island's Riverwalk buildings now have a Starbucks, Duane Reade, Italian Restaurant (Nonno's) and a soon to be open Japanese restaurant. Piece by piece Roosevelt Island's Berlin Wall is falling.
Image is of the lunch time crowd at Nonno's.
UPDATE: Returned to Nonno's later in the day. Had a spicy buffalo chicken wrap. It was very good. Will definitely be back for more.

The Berlin Wall is Falling for Roosevelt Island Retail!!!

Slideshow is from Roosevelt Island 360

The December issue of Real Deal highlights the expanding retail services becoming available on Roosevelt Island following the arrival of the Hudson/Related Riverwalk condo and rental developments located in the Southtown area of the Island adjacent to the Tram and Subway. For many years Roosevelt Island suffered from a pitiful lack of retail services that one might have experienced behind the Iron Curtain and in the former Soviet Union , not in a 21st century New York City neighborhood. According to the Real Deal article:

"It looks like East Berlin before the wall fell," said Andrew Oliver, executive vice president of Cushman & Wakefield Sonnenblick Goldman. For years, there was only one chain store, a Gristedes grocery, and much of the remaining retail was service-oriented: a diner, a Chinese takeout joint and a thrift shop, among others.

But now private sector development of the Southtown area has finally brought some small measure of retail services to Roosevelt Island's population of 12,000 residents that will increase to approximately 16,000 when the entire 9 building Riverwalk project is completed. As reported by Real Deal:

As a result of the limited retail options, the arrival of seven store spaces in the new Riverwalk buildings -- Buildings 3 and 4, also known as Riverwalk Place and Riverwalk Landing, respectively -- is a big deal to area residents. David Kramer, a principal with Hudson, noted that the island's location and limited transportation options will never make it a destination for shoppers, but he said that six of the seven retail spaces in the new development have been leased out.

Along with Starbucks and Duane Reade are a salon and a dry cleaner, and two restaurants: Fuji East and Nonno's Focacceria. The seventh space has yet to be filled, but Kramer said the developers are looking to bring a food store into the space.

The retail rents for the new Roosevelt Island buildings have been hovering in the $40 to $45 a square foot range, he said.

With the fall of Roosevelt Island's Berlin Wall, is Riverwalk developer David Kramer Roosevelt Island's Mikhail Gorbachev?

The Real Deal article contains several factual inaccuracies concerning Roosevelt Island including the following:

... below the 59th Street Bridge, is a no-man's-land of old warehouses, currently being debated as the site of future parkland or residential development.

And:

...Riverwalk's fifth building, a 123-unit condominium building known as Riverwalk Court, opened for sales on Oct. 24. The units are priced around $850 a square foot, Kramer said.

There is no "no-man's land of warehouses" on Roosevelt Island below the 59th Street Bridge or anywhere else on Roosevelt Island. Only the south campus of Coler-Goldwater hospital, the Tennis Bubble, Sportspark and Southpoint Park that certainly can't be mistaken for "warehouses". Also, the Riverwalk Court condominium units did not go on sale in October. Sales are just about to begin now in December.

Slideshow is from Roosevelt Island 360. It shows the available retail space at Hudson/Related's Riverwalk development.