Amid the cheer of the holiday season, a bittersweet reality is taking shape across the bustling eateries of New York City. In what has become an alarming trend of closures, several renowned restaurants, including the beloved Thai spot Ugly Baby in Carroll Gardens, have announced their final days.
Ugly Baby, after a vibrant seven-year run that earned it acclaim for dishes like its fiery duck salad, is set to shut its doors on December 22. The neighborhood hotspot revealed the news through an Instagram post, lamenting the journey's end but also celebrating the legacy it leaves behind, as reported by Hungry Onion. The restaurant once navigated the changing dining scene by adapting its service methods, including a brief foray into Instagram DM pre-orders before eliminating reservations entirely in 2023.
Similarly, the Japanese gem En Brasserie, found at the heart of the West Village, marked its twentieth anniversary by closing its doors. According to Eater, owner Reika Alexander cited a landlord's decision to refrain from lease renewal as the reason for the closure, marking December 22 as its last day. The finality of it all was punctuated by a grand closing party graced by the likes of Martha Stewart.
Buttermilk Channel, another staple in Carroll Gardens known for its fried chicken, also delivered its adieu, setting December 31 as its conclusion date. While the American bistro says goodbye to its Brooklyn location, its presence will still be felt abroad with two outposts in Japan. "We keep reinventing ourselves, better ourselves every day. All is just to impress you. It’s been ups and downs. It’s been really hard. It’s been a long long time, our friends," Ugly Baby reflected on its arduous but rewarding journey, as detailed by Eater.
Strikingly, these closures aren't the only ones shaking the restaurant scene. Notable eateries such as For All Things Good and Zooba also shared their imminent shutdowns. The Williamsburg outpost of the former will close, making room for a new project by owner Matt Diaz dubbed Disco Birdies, while Zooba, despite its featured cameos and media attention, could not overcome financial pitfalls deepened by the pandemic. Echoing the shifts in the culinary landscape, owners are exploring alternate avenues, like En Brasserie's Alexander, who's extending the brand's reach through a food label named Kasé, promising a bottled ginger ale as a memoir of the beloved restaurant, as noted by Eater.
