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— After more than 21 years in business, Soho/Little Italy restaurant Mexican Radio has called it quits. The taqueria at 19 Cleveland Place originally opened on Mulberry Street in 1996. The owners blamed the rising cost of doing business in New York for the closure, including rent and labor. The restaurant still has an outpost in upstate New York. See their full statement here.
— Trendy West Village bar The Happiest Hour has banned baseball caps after a Trump supporter sued the bar for refusing service when he wore a “Make America Great Again” hat. Earlier this year, the Philadelphia man claimed that the bar’s bartenders called him a “terrible” person for wearing the hat and would not serve him.
— In case you needed more signs that the cupcake trend is dead, a shell of giant cupcake purveyor Crumbs Bake Shop on University Place is now up for rent. The chain shut down its stores earlier this year. It’s the second time that the bakery company has flamed out. All the stores closed in 2014, only to be revived by CNBC TV personality Marcus Lemonis. He sold his stake shortly after, and now it seems that the cupcake chain has died yet again.
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— Smorgasburg vendor Tramezzini is planning a brick-and-mortar location on Houston Street. It’s not to be confused with recent Roman import Trapizzino, but it too is an Italian food restaurant. Tramezzini serves Venetian sandwiches, with bread imported from Italy.
— Adam Platt finds that Chicago restaurateur Brendan Sodikoff’s tiny West Village steakhouse 4 Charles Prime is “Dude Cave” that excels at the burger, a shaved beef sandwich, and red meat items. Other items, like the brick chicken and cacio pepe carbonara, did not fare as well.
— Some monster-sized brownies from Rare Bird, grilled french toast sandwiches from Stuf’d, and barbecue restaurant Miss Holly’s Smokehouse are among new vendors at the LIC Flea and Food that are worth trying, according to Gothamist. It’s the fifth year for the outdoor market at 5-25 46th Avenue. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.
— Actress Linda Lavin — known for playing the titular waitress character on sitcom “Alice” — is now a real-life restaurateur. Lavin and her husband Steve Bakunas will be opening Joe’s Roadhouse Lounge in Claverack, New York later this year. She might even walk in and sing sometimes.
— Chef Jeremy Salamon, formerly a sous at The Eddy, is now cooking Hungarian food as part of a pop-up called Fond. He plans to cook three dinners at three different restaurants in New York, modern dinners based on his Hungarian roots. Dishes like a cake with crispy chicken skin, cauliflower wonton dumplings, and cucumber salad with candied egg yolk will be available. Look at the menus and venues here.
— One of New York’s most diverse Asian dining neighborhoods, Elmhurst, is having its own restaurant week, with tons of discounts and deals.
— Finally, see how the Tapas Bar at La Sirena turns foie gras into a dessert: