🚕 Multiple Notable NYC Restaurant Closures

Good Morning NY!

Today, we’re tracking another wave of notable restaurant closures as longtime neighborhood staples continue to disappear across the city.

We’re also rounding up the newest restaurants generating major buzz right now, from cozy neighborhood gems to high-profile openings.

A new city-backed dining initiative tied to the upcoming World Cup is set to bring special deals to hundreds of restaurants this summer.

Plus, new details have emerged surrounding the sudden closure of a beloved century-old Brooklyn bakery.

And finally, we’re looking at how congestion pricing is creating new challenges for many of NYC’s street food vendors and small operators.

Multiple Notable NYC Restaurant Closures

Eater NY has updated its guide tracking restaurants, bars, and cafes that closed in May 2026.

Inday’s Bar & Restaurant in Williamsburg is closing on Sunday, May 10 after five years.

The cozy Indian American spot was known for tandoori-roasted breads, curries, and a tight wine and cocktail list.

Larry’s Cà Phê is shutting both of its Brooklyn locations this month.

The Vietnamese coffee shop will close its Park Slope location on May 3 and Williamsburg on May 10.

Route 66 Cafe in Hell’s Kitchen closed on May 3 after 20 years.

Sea by Jungsik in Koreatown is closing on May 9 after less than two years.

Mah-Ze-Dahr closed its last storefront in Brookfield Place on April 30.

Caputo Bakery, the iconic five-generation Italian bakery in Carroll Gardens, closed on April 27 after 120 years.

These closures reflect ongoing pressures facing many independent and long-standing establishments in New York City.

Infatuation’s Hit List: Best New NYC Restaurants Right Now

The Infatuation has updated its Hit List with the 19 best new restaurants in New York City as of May 1, 2026.

This monthly guide features places that opened within the past several months and continue to generate strong buzz.

Marcel in the Upper East Side is a dramatic French restaurant inside the former Frick Collection building.

Bar Bruno in Carroll Gardens now offers flavorful enchiladas and chile rellenos under new management.

Cote 550 in Midtown is a clubby, high-energy Korean BBQ spot with a Butcher’s Feast.

Kunafa Bites in Astoria specializes in hot, honey-soaked kunafa and fresh Palestinian desserts.

Cleo Downtown in the West Village focuses on rotisserie chicken with excellent sauces and sides.

Bar Ferdinando in Carroll Gardens revives the historic Ferdinando’s space as an all-day Italian cafe and bar.

Arthur in Greenpoint is a warm neighborhood bistro with dishes like beef tartare.

Malvan in Cobble Hill serves coastal Indian food with strong coconut and spice flavors.

Dean’s in Soho is a British pub offering stargazy pie and fish and chips with mostly walk-in seating.

These spots represent some of the most exciting new dining options across the city.

The Hit List helps diners track the best recent openings generating strong buzz right now.

NYC Restaurants Roll Out $26 World Cup Specials

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has launched a six-week program offering $26 specials at hundreds of NYC restaurants this summer.

The initiative is called Five Boroughs Winners Specials and runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

It coincides with the World Cup, with many matches at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The program aims to help working New Yorkers and visitors find reliably priced places to eat and drink.

It also seeks to drive business into neighborhoods across the five boroughs.

Participating restaurants can offer $26 prix fixe meals, food and drink combinations, or special drink deals.

Nearly 300 restaurants have already signed up, including spots like Red Rooster in Harlem and Naro in Rockefeller Center.

The full list of participating restaurants will be published on the city’s website soon.

Restaurants can also opt to offer a special World Cup-themed cup designed for each borough.

This program ties into Mamdani’s neighborhood passport initiative, encouraging exploration across the city.

Caputo’s Bake Shop Closes Amid Health Violations

Caputo’s Bake Shop, the 124-year-old Italian bakery in Carroll Gardens, suddenly closed last month.

Owner James Caputo initially told local news he was closing to spend more time with family and because he couldn’t afford to fix the oven.

State records later revealed the bakery’s license was revoked in January due to multiple health-code violations.

Inspectors found mold, mouse droppings, a live mouse near exposed breads, dusty shelves, a soiled walk-in cooler, and broken equipment.

Caputo admitted he did not mention the violations in earlier statements because he “didn’t want to be cast in that light.”

He said he had submitted an action plan and believed the shop would have passed re-inspection.

Caputo cited serious medical issues, mental stress of running the business 24/7 for 25 years, and financial pressures as key reasons for not reapplying.

The bakery closed on April 27, 2026.

Neighbors turned the shop’s doorstep into a shrine with signs of gratitude and sadness.

Congestion Pricing Adds Pressure to NYC Street Vendors

NYC street vendors are facing increased financial strain due to the city’s congestion pricing tolls.

Vendors like Benjamin Li now wake up at 3:45 a.m. to drive their carts from Brooklyn or Queens into lower Manhattan before rush-hour pricing begins.

Drivers pay between $9 and $22 per trip to enter the congestion zone south of 60th Street during daytime hours.

The revenue from these tolls funds the MTA’s subways and buses.

Many vendors already operate with thin profit margins due to rising food and gas costs, permitting fees, and fewer customers from remote work and reduced tourism.

Some report netting less than $200 a day from sales, making the daily toll a significant burden.

Abdelhafeez Aly noted that everything is getting more expensive and he is not making money like before.

Vendors say they cannot easily raise prices without losing regular customers.

The policy has reduced traffic by 11% and improved crossing speeds by up to 51% in its first year.

It has generated upwards of $550 million in net revenue.

Mamdani’s Street Vendor Reform agenda aims to help by increasing permits and addressing housing and food costs.

Thanks

Thanks for reading NYC Bites today! If you found something useful, please share it with someone who loves food and NYC.

Want to advertise in our newsletter? Fill out this form here and we will be in touch shortly!

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign-up to get it.

Have a question or need support? Contact us.