'White Maize' Will Soon Offer Authentic Venezuelan Arepas On Smith Street

"White Maize", a new Venezuelan eatery, will be opening at 277 Smith Street soon. According to its web site, it will be "the home of the best authentic Venezuelan arepas in New York City."
That sounds promising and may just succeed on Smith Street, which is in dire need of some simple,  inexpensive, tasty food options.

Arepa is a patty made of ground corn which is traditionally stuffed with meat, grilled cheese, beans avocado and other tasty fillings.
White Maize posted this 'teaser' photo of  some of their food trials on their Facebook page. Obviously, the menu will include more than arepa.

photo credit: www.whitemaize.com

Previously, 277 Smith Street was home to the much loved Savoia and, more recently, the short lived Ravioli Wine Bar.

Let's hope White Maize will stick around for a while.
Looking forward to the opening?


Read more

Teafee Suddenly Closes On Court Street And More Neighborhood Closures

PMFA received several emails in the past few days reporting that Teafee at 517 Court Street has closed its doors. Started by brothers Meno and David Fernandez in April 2013, the place offered 'the best of both brews' in any variation from steamed to iced. The prices were reasonable and Teafee served a stretch of Court Street that still is a bit underserved.

Dan, a reader, wrote in to say:
"I'm sad to report that it looks like Teafee on Court/9th has shut down for good -- there was a goodbye note posted on the front door as of last night.
It's a shame as I went there all the time to read or write, and they had a very friendly vibe, and there are few other casual hangout spots that are not full-time restaurants/bars nearby.
That block seems cursed! Same thing happened to Treats Truck last year…"

An anonymous reader had this to say about the closure:
"I was just informed that Teaffee is also suddenly out of business. It was always crowded and seemed to be the only prosperous store on the corner of the Smith/9th area. The owners are so nice and friendly, so it's a big loss to our neighborhood. It also looks like they went out with a bang, as the inside is littered with empty bottles of booze and scattered cups."

Teafee is not the only coffee place on Court Street that shuttered recently.  Ana and Sophie's, a small breakfast, lunch and coffee spot had only opened at 194 Court Street in June 2015.

On Smith Street, the closings continues at an alarming rate.  Bruiser, a juice bar which opened in March 2015 at 251 Smith Street, has now called it quits on restaurant row. Even OMG Taco has been closed every time I walked past in the last few weeks.

Baluchi's, an outpost of the Indian restaurant chain which had just recently taken over Ramna/ Bombay Dreams at 257 Smith Street, has also just bid farewell. Incidentally, this location was the chain's second attempt on Smith Street. About ten years ago,  owner Rakesh Aggarwal once operated another Baluchi's just a few doors down at 263 Smith Street, where Provence en Boîte currently resides.

Ravioli Wine Bar,  which took over the two storefronts once occupied by Italian Eatery Savoia at 277 and 279 Smith Street back in September 2015, is already giving up its private event space at #279.
The restaurant is, however, still very much open next door, though its web site  at www. ravioliwinebar.com at seems to be currently suspended.

Read more

Ravioli Wine Bar On Smith Street Slated To Open In September

Back in June 2015, Ravioli Wine Bar announced that it would be opening at 277 Smith Street
between DeGraw Street and Sackett Street in Carroll Gardens later this summer. Big red posters in the storefront advised to 'starve yourself' in preparation for its arrival.
Obviously, the opening has been slightly delayed and, according to its website, Ravioli Wine Bar will now be opening sometime this month.

According to the owners, they are "working diligently to open our Ravioli Wine Bar and become part of the culinary fabric that has come to define Smith Street. Presenting Brooklyn made Ravioli by Papa Pasquale and Alberto Longo Wines from Italy with a rotating cast of Italian cooks."


For many years, the storefront at 277 Smith Street was home to Savoia, the much loved neighborhood Italian eatery which closed earlier this year.



Read more

Savoia On Smith Street To Be Replaced By "Ravioli Wine Bar"

Ravioli Wine Bar has taking the space occupied by the former Italian restaurant Savoia at 277 Smith Street.  Big red posters announcing the opening have been posted in the windows along with mentions of 'grandmas at work' and advise to 'starve yourself' in preparation for its arrival later this summer.
According to its web site, the eatery will be serving raviolis from Papa Pasquale, who has produced pasta in Brooklyn for the past 60 years.
According to its owners:  "We’re working diligently to open our first Ravioli Wine Bar and become part of the culinary fabric that has come to define Smith Street."

Think a ravioli wine bar will do well on Smith Street?




Read more

After Closing And Re-Opening, Savoia On Smith Seems Closed Again

Back in April 2014, Savoia, the popular Italian eatery and wine bar at 277-279 Smith Street here in Carroll Gardens, closed its doors. Many in the neighborhood said that they would miss the restaurant's casual atmosphere, brick oven pizza, focaccia and great wine list.
So, when Savoia re-opened two months later, local residents seemed thrilled. However,  after the re-opening, the restaurant downsized into the storefront at number 277 Smith Street and vacated # 279. The owner explained to a PMFA reader that the rent was too high to continue leasing both spaces.
The restaurant also seemed to have undergone a name change to 'Re Savoia'. At least that was the name taped on the windows.

Sadly, it appears as though Savoia may have closed again. There is been no sign of activity either for lunch or for dinner these past few days.
Does anyone have information? Is this finally it for this once popular eatery?


Read more

Savoia, Downsized But Open Once More On Smith Street

When Savoia, the Italian eatery and wine bar on Smith Street closed its doors this past April, many in the neighborhood considered it a real loss. The restaurant was knows for its relaxed atmosphere, great brick oven pizza, and wonderful wine list.

When Savoia first opened a few years back, it occupied the storefront at 277 Smith Street. The business proved so popular that the owners quickly expanded into the commercial space next door at Number 279 Smith Street. But lately,  the place looked less busy, and when the doors closed in April, it appeared as though it was the end for the eatery.

I am happy to report that Savoia just recently re-opened, though the restaurant was downsized back into its original space. I stopped by on Saturday and confirmed that the owner is still the same.  The fire was lit in the brick oven, and the staff was ready to serve brunch.

Glad to see that it's back.  How about you?

Read more