A new tapas restaurant from Ravi DeRossi and Overthrow Hospitality opens tonight in the East Village — and everything on the menu, food and drink alike, is $10 or less.
Al-Andalus (511 East Fifth Street, between avenues A and B) is a nod to the historic Iberian region and adds to the group’s collection of locations in the East Village. Like its siblings — Avant Garden, Amor y Amargo, Cadence, Ladybird, Third Kingdom, Soda Club, and Proletariat — it’s entirely vegan.
Amira Gharib leads the kitchen; she is the Bib Gourmand-recognized chef of Soda Club, who brings her Egyptian background to a menu that bridges North African and Iberian flavors. She has teamed up with her sister, Nora Gharib of Gharib Studio for the design: The 40-seat space is dressed in jewel tones, with Moroccan zellige tile and brass lanterns. The menu spans a rotating selection of 30 small plates, including harissa-spiced tortilla, cabbage stuffed with caraway and allspice, Egyptian falafel, pan con tomate with harissa butter, and baladi bread served with za’atar and labneh. Desserts include a knafeh tart with pistachio cream, rice pudding with salted butter caramel ice cream, and saffron and blood orange shaved ice.
Drinks come courtesy of Joe Masse, who has created eight signature draft cocktails like the Cezve Martini — a spin on the espresso martini made with cold-brewed Lebanese coffee and cardamom — and a classic Tinto de Verano, an Andalusian mix of red wine and lemon-lime soda. Beer and wine are picks from partner Drew Brady, who has sourced bottles from Turkey, Lebanon, Spain, and Italy.
A Japanese bakery rises again
Panya, once a staple of affordable dining for college students in the East Village, a part of a larger neighborhood strip known then for its Japanese restaurants, closed in 2022 alongside several other businesses on the block. Now, Panya has returned, only this time in Brooklyn’s Industry City, attached to its Japanese food complex and supermarket Japan Village. Here, find milk bread, katsu sandwiches, and pastries galore.
A South Asian ice cream shop expands
Cobble Hill ice cream shop Malai, which has offshoots in D.C. and Philly, is now doing a pop-up version in the West Village starting today, Friday, July 11, at 9 Christopher Street, at Gay Street. A little birdy tells us that this is a preview for a permanent location in West Village that owner Pooja Bavishi has in the works later this year. Expect flavors like coffee-cardamon, masala chai, and rose-cinnamon.