'Basquiat Burger' Restaurant PYT Vanishes After Three Months

One of the fall's most anticipated casual restaurants belly flopped in a big way. The stunt burger specialists behind Philadelphia's PYT closed their Bowery restaurant after three months in business. Last week, PYT was dark and a sign in the window explained that the team was "working on the back room." But now a "for rent" banner hangs in the window of the restaurant and the space next door.

PYT had an 80s arcade theme and a menu that included off-the-wall burgers like a patty dressed with pizza toppings, and another served between doughnuts. PYT also served a $64 "Basquiat Burger" made with meat from Japanese Premium Beef around the corner.

Nick Solares

The restaurant also had an awkward symbiotic relationship with Giulio Adriani's Neapolitan pizzeria SRO — the door to the "pizza speakeasy" was hidden behind a video game cabinet in the dining room. PYT shared a storefront with SRO's slice shop, Bowery Pizza, but the counter closed at the beginning of the year.

Hopefully, the next tenant will not be a restaurant, because this space is now officially doomed for dining. Since Giulio Adriani took over the storefront in 2011, it has housed Forcella, SRO, A Slice of Naples, Espoleta, Bowery Pizza, Gia Trattoria, and PYT.