Here's a feel-good story to kick off 2008: Roosevelt Island—an island so devoid of restaurants in mid-2007 that residents termed it "Soviet-like," wailing, "We have nothing here... my kids want pizza, and I have to go to Queens or wait 2 hours to get it delivered"—is fully on the rebound. Check out the crowd above at just-opened Plywood vet Nonno's, and this report from the scene by blogger Roosevelt Islander:
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... 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.· Customers Throng Opening of Roosevelt Island's New Restaurant [Roosevelt Islander]
· Roosevelt Island Resto Scene Hits Rock Bottom: Nosh [~E~]
· Plymania Roosevelt Island Rejoice Edition: Pizza! [~E~]
