We can’t say for sure, but New York State Liquor Authority records from March 16 list “The Cottage Restaurant” at 2199 Broadway (corner of 78th Street), and state that a liquor license is pending. The previous tenant at 2199 Broadway was La Caridad. (Thanks to ‘Upper West Sider’ for the tip).
The Cottage had been operating at 360 Amsterdam Avenue, on the corner of 77th Street, since the early 1980s. It was during April 2020 when a reader informed us it had shut down for good, citing the building’s new owner refusing to renew the restaurant’s lease.
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La Caridad closed its doors several months later. The Cuban and Chinese restaurant had been operating out of its space (which has an alternate address of 250 West 78th Street) since the late 1960s.
The Cottage Reopens at 2199 Broadway
The closing of The Cottage and La Caridad were both massive losses to the neighborhood, among the biggest of 2020. But only the closing of La Caridad seemed final, as a “For Lease” sign was clearly plastered in the storefront’s window.
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The future of The Cottage, on the other hand, has been a question floating around the neighborhood since the closing of its Amsterdam Avenue location last year. Many have been speculating as to the fate of The Cottage’s future, with rumors that its owner had been seeking out alternative commercial spaces in the neighborhood.
While the “For Lease” sign previously posted in La Caridad’s window has been removed, we’ve called the number it listed to leave a voicemail for more details … and to find out if the entity in the filing document is in fact THE Cottage. We’ll provide an update as soon as we know more.
Anyone recall the name of the Spanish restaurant formerly at 360 Amsterdam before The Cottage moved there in 1982? I’d sure love to identify the place where I first had huevos rancheros!
Flor de Mayo? No, … that’s not it. “Sol” something? Argh! I know where you mean, I went there for years! I’ll keep thinking 🙂
I remembered! It was Cafe Con Leche but that was at the corner of W. 80th Street x Amsterdam. Likely not the one you mean. Oh well!
Thanks, Gerry. I have fond memories of Cafe Con Leche, too, but you’re right — that wasn’t the place.
I did more Internet excavating (https://www.nytimes.com/1973/07/12/archives/17-food-spots-cited-for-failing-to-keep-to-cityhealth-code.html) and found a mention of a place named Ernesto’s at the right address. That sounds vaguely familiar, but I could find no further trace of it and other evidence suggests it might not have still been around in 1979-82, the period from which I’d recall it. So, back to square one.
Wasn’t it called Cafe Central? And I think Bruce Willis tended bar there at some point.
Thanks, Francesca, but Café Central was down at 75th Street for one thing, and for another was far too hip to have been the place I mean — which no doubt accounts for the presence of Mr. Willis and a long list of other famous folks who frequented it, so I hear. The vibe of the place I’m talking about was more to the tune of Flor de Mayo: distinctly less than upscale. But great huevos rancheros!
Any other long-timers (I won’t say old-timers) out there hear any bells? Again, the period in question was from late 1979, when I discovered it, to 1982, when The Cottage moved in — when Gitlitz was still with us, a block to the west at Broadway.
Would be WONDERFUL to have The Cottage back!
Great, simple, Chinese, great prices
(Though they had moved up from ridiculously low . . . )
Wonderful scallion pancakes with peanut sauce had become my perennial appetizer there.
The only liquor they had served was white wine included gratis with the food.
My recollection from earlier reporting was that they’d lost the lease because the building changed hands and was being renovated for whatever future the new owner intended. They definitely did not close for lack of business! It was always full with a serious delivery business as well.
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It would be so great if The Cottage came back. The owner and staff were always so nice, the food tasty, and a bargain, too. It really hurt to see them become a victim of landlord greed.
Yes Yes Yes. the owner and staff of the cottage were wonderful – I wonder if someone could figure out a way to contact the owner of the cottage and maybe if we could send them some love and appreciation it might encourage them to take the plunge if they are on the fence deciding to reopen or not
If only Silk Road Palace would come back!!! Boy, do I miss that place!
It won’t be the same ol’ Cottage if it has a liquor license. No more free Franzia!
Don’t worry. They still need a license for them to provide anything. And they had one before…it allowed them to provide the wine and sell beer 🙂
I’ve been craving those Szechuan Dumplings for a year now. Even though I’ll actually have to walk a block over now instead of just going across the street….having them back will be totally worth it 🙂
Had been going to THE COTTAGE for over 20+ years. Went there almost every weekend. Kids loved it! Peter (the owner) and the staff are/were amazing (Michelle, Anna, and all the others). So attentive! They knew us by name! Felt like HOME!! Can’t wait to hear they are back!!!!
While we’re reminiscing…..anyone remember Teachers and Teachers Too on Broadway? Both of these places were among the first of the truly Asian-fusion restaurants that would, decades later, pack all of Manhattan (pre-Red Farm, for example)….although many of the cooks were Thai or Malaysian….but all sorts of wonderful fusion-y dishes were offered along with outdoor seating on Broadway, ample portions, decent prices, great food and even better drinks to go with the people-watching. I really was torn apart when those places closed down….without a trace and I could never unearth what happened or where the owners/chefs wound up.
Used to love Cottage but someone or something turned over and the food coming out of the kitchen was just not the same as it once was. Dishes got greasier/oilier, cuts of beef and pork got chewier and there was less offered on the serving plate — just a general decline. Sadly. Red Farm is a little too precious for its own good IMO and way too self-impressed and expensive. Flor de Mayo (great Peruvian whole chicken and best $15 Chinese ribs on the UWS) and La Dinastia on 72nd Street (Chinese/ South American) are what’s left. Broiled pork chops in garlic are also terrific at Flor de Mayo.
I do recall Teacher’s though only there once or twice.
I DO though recall reading a NY Magazine article back in mid-late 70s about a cult group – Sullivanites – that made Teacher’s their regular hangout. That made an impression because a former girlfriend was also a regular (though too self-absorbed to have been part of any cult group) and I knew it was a favorite of hers.
My friends and I were regulars at Teachers and Teachers Too! Perfect little places for the UWS! I remember a popular dish called Chicken Gai Yang (or a name very similar to it!) 😀
Welcome back to The Cottage!, but would love to see its menu a bit more adventurous. (That said, I hope that its Dumplings w/Peanut Sauce REMAIN on the menu! A one-of-a-kind! (I had friends from around the country who insisted we eat there so we could savor those dumplings! YUM!)
This is great news, if it’s true. We’ve missed Cottage so much and so wished for it to return. We’ll be back there every week as usual if it re-opens.
The UWS has blossomed in its Chinese food offerings since the 1970s-80s, try: Yu kitchen_NYC (Chongching chicken, fish dumplings, cucumber salad with garlic, etc), The Tang (still waiting for their full pre-Covid menu to return: Chongqing chili chicken, fried turnip cake, wonton in chili oil, dandan noodles, etc.), 108 Food Dry Hot Pot, Jin Fong, Mimi Cheng’s Dumplings, La Salle Dumpling Room, Red Farm (crispy skin smoked chicken, long-life noodle with mushrooms), etc.
Thanks, Karl, for helping me keep up with the excellent new UWS Chinese eateries. I will also add to your tempting list: Legend 72 – wonderful Sichuan cooking! (Love the Pork Kidneys w/red chili; the Pork Belly w/Chestnuts; the fungus in vinegar; bean curd in chopped green onion; Noodles w. Braised Beef….& lots more.) Their delivery service is impeccable. Call the restaurant directly…they get more of a profit.
YES, “The Cottage” restaurant is coming to this location. Corner of 78th street & Broadway. It’s still under renovation. Still will provide a free glass of wine for dine-in clients.
This is fantastic news, John! My friends and I have been passing by the location to check on progress. We’re very excited! Any idea when the restaurant might open? We’ll be there!