Thai Hit Uncle Boons Sister Is Going Delivery-Only

The team behind Michelin-starred Uncle Boons is getting into the delivery-only restaurant game. After Monday, chef and owners Ann Redding and Matt Danzer are closing their more casual Thai spinoff, Uncle Boons Sister, to all dine-in and take-out customers — making dishes like the popular phat thai and phat bai horapha (basil stir-fry) available only by delivery from Caviar and, eventually, Seamless.

It’s the second time that the couple’s Nolita space at 203 Mott Street is pivoting; it originally opened as the American-ish Mr. Donahue’s in 2016. After a renovation, Uncle Boons Sister debuted in September 2017, offering the acclaimed chefs’ version of Thai takeout dishes like pad thai and green curry in a counter-service setting. It became known as a more affordable and accessible way to sample Redding and Danzer’s style, which people still wait hours for over at Uncle Boons.

But with room for only 12 seats, Uncle Boons Sister’s strategy was always to focus on takeout and delivery orders. And the team is now also gearing up to open nearby Thai Diner, where some of the most-ordered Uncle Boons Sister menu items will land, according to the chefs’ announcement.

Delivery-only restaurants in general are on the rise across the city. More and more so-called “ghost kitchens” are opening, restaurants that show up on online delivery platforms but do not have dining rooms open to the public. As the demand for delivery grows, many restaurant operators say it’s a way to cut down on costs.

Eater has reached out to Redding and Danzer for more details. Stay tuned.

Jean Schwarzwalder/Eater