Popular LA Tonkotsu Ramen Shop Opens in NYC

An opening and two closings

In East Village, LA-based ramen shop Tatsu Ramen opened its first NYC outpost at 167 First Ave. For now, it’s only open for dinner and late-night, but it will soon start opening at 11 a.m. All orders are placed on iPads. Debuting in 2012, Tatsu has two locations in LA.

Meanwhile, French restaurant Brigitte, located at 37 Canal St., has temporarily closed for renovations. Nearby, the neighborhood candy shop at 63 Hester St., the Sweet Life, permanently closed after over three decades.

Gabriel Kreuther will oversee the food at the Baccarat Hotel New York

In addition to continuing to operate his eponymous Midtown restaurant, Gabriel Kreuther has been tapped to run the food programs at Baccarat Hotel New York, including French-leaning menus in the Midtown hotel’s all-day lounge and bar as well as room service. There is no full-time restaurant at the hotel anymore.

Brooklyn pizza guy detained by ICE has been released

Pablo Villavicencio, the NYC pizza deliveryman who has been detained by ICE since early June, has been released from detention. Villavicencio was detained after he delivered a pizza to Brooklyn’s Army base Fort Hamilton and could not provide identification. He was in the process of applying for citizenship alongside his American wife and daughters, who have been pleading for his release. Villavicencio was previously granted a stay of deportation, and yesterday his counsel won a habeas corpus motion that freed Villavicencio from detention, extends his stay, and allows him to continue pursuing his immigration status.

FiDi has a new casual Chinese breakfast option

Tomorrow, the cozy Chinese take-out joint from the MáLà Project team, now serves breakfast combos in addition to lunch. Breakfast dishes include you tiao (fried dough), congee, and various Chinese pastries. The combos include two iteams for $5 or three for $7, and breakfast is served from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.