Dumbo Food News – Closings, Openings, and Rumors


(Photo from Governor)

There have been lots of restaurant and food related news in Dumbo Brooklyn lately. Talking to residents, restaurants, chefs, and people who work in Dumbo all agree that while we still need some choices (like a good Chinese or Vietnamese place), we’re getting better options.

Thanks to the arrival of both Gran Electrica and Governor to Dumbo, they’ve raised the food quality standard in Brooklyn and NYC. Governor has caught the attention of many food critics, including NY Times’ Pete Wells, who praised them with two stars last month. Chef Brad McDonald, who co-owns Colonie, along with Governor and Gran Electrica brings to us in Dumbo food ingredients on the level of Per Se, Daniel, and Grammercy Tavern in an unstuffy, cool Brooklyn aesthetic. Each visit to these restaurants will bring new surprises and consistently good food. Gran Electrica also gets better with new dishes and great cocktails. Chef Sam Richman recently started serving brunch on the weekends.

The summer food truck season is over, but with Smorgasburg Dumbo on Sundays (through November 18) and new food trucks coming to the neighborhood, there’s something new to try everyday. Food trucks continue to serve the lunch crowd in Dumbo include:

Follow their Twitter for the latest location or @dumbofoodtrucks on the latest on who is in Dumbo.

Bubby's Dumbo is closing on October 27, 2012 after 9 years in this location.

Rice Dumbo closed

On to the closings:

  1. Bubby’s is closing on October 27, 2012, after 9 years in the Dumbo location. This has been rumored for a while, as well as several rumors about which restaurant will take over the space. We can’t speculate on who is moving in, but we’re betting that it will be good.
  2. Rice has closed on September 30, as rumors suggested in July, after 10 years there. Rumors from multiple people say that a burger place will take over the lease.

And the openings (or re-openings):

  1. Little Muenster has opened a small takeout location at 145 Front Street. They serve grilled cheese, soup, and sides.
  2. 66 Water Street Restaurant has re-branded and reopened. They have remodeled and bought in Executive Chef Jonathan Lemon, from The Linc restaurant and Zigolinis to create a new contemporary American cuisine menu that includes entrees such as poached artic char, fettuccine zucchini, and a “Pat La Frieda” burger.
  3. Juliana’s Pizza will open in “a few weeks”, according to the Grimaldi’s family. They started working on the new restaurant after Grimaldi’s pizza moved to 1 Front St.
  4. Wild Rise pizza is now open 6 days a week (closed on Sat). They opened in September 2011 for 3 days a week, so this is great news for many pizza lovers.
  5. reBar has a new fall menu.

Other food tidbits – The L Mag recently tried Hillside on Hudson Avenue in Vinegar Hill and called the food and wine exceptional. Almar has new specials and getting known for their street chalkboard art (really, check their Facebook page). Dumbo Kitchen and Superfine are solid lunch and dinner options as usual, according to residents. And reBarnacle stall is still serving seasonal taco and ceviches.

If you’re into alternative dining events, there’s Underground Eats, and many food artisans/creators such as Fatty Sundays, Happy Baby Food, and Baby Mash, all based in Dumbo are involved with the community.

Whew, that’s a lot going on in the Dumbo food world, but expect more changes in the coming months. If you have others we missed, let us know (DumboNYC@gmail.com).

24 Comment

  • With the artist and software dev culture in Dumbo, I imagine Im not the only Vegan? Dumbo is very unfriendly to us Vegan/Vegetarian’s. Gran Electra can make accommodations (and they have) but Governor is pretty meat oriented. Rice had pretty good Vegan options and now they are gone. Would love to see a full vegetarian restaurant open in Dumbo.

  • With the artist and software dev culture in Dumbo, I imagine Im not the only Vegan? Dumbo is very unfriendly to us Vegan/Vegetarian’s. Gran Electra can make accommodations (and they have) but Governor is pretty meat oriented. Rice had pretty good Vegan options and now they are gone. Would love to see a full vegetarian restaurant open in Dumbo.

  • Hey Emery,

    We are currently developing a vegetable-based tasting menu @governordumbo. Stay tuned, but don’t count us out – some of our best dishes are vegetable based and we love vegetables. More to come we promise.

    Brad McDonald

  • Hey Emery,

    We are currently developing a vegetable-based tasting menu @governordumbo. Stay tuned, but don’t count us out – some of our best dishes are vegetable based and we love vegetables. More to come we promise.

    Brad McDonald

  • I’ve found that the Governor vegetable options are varied and accommodates non-meat eaters.
    Brad, thank you for bringing your food to Dumbo. I was beginning to wonder if the good chefs were ever coming. Looking forward to other vegetarian dishes.

  • I’ve found that the Governor vegetable options are varied and accommodates non-meat eaters.
    Brad, thank you for bringing your food to Dumbo. I was beginning to wonder if the good chefs were ever coming. Looking forward to other vegetarian dishes.

  • I am also a vegetarian, so I too have been frustrated with the vegetarian options here in Dumbo. Thank you Governor for adding more vegetable stuff to your menu! Although Hillside & Vinegar Hill House have lovely environments, everything on their menus is highly meat heavy.

    Thanks Dumbonyc for reporting on the Dumbo food scene. Unfortunately, none of the changes seem that exciting. Sad that Rice closed. There need to me more casual dining options with good food–places with quaint atmospheres, not large restaurant chain atmospheres (like dumbo kitchen). A good Vietnamese & Chinese place would be wonderful. And a Thai place too! I love the atmosphere at Pedro’s, but I’m really sick of eating Mexican food.

    We basically need everything here in Dumbo/Vinegar Hill. There really are no options at all. That is because the rents here are ridiculously high so no small restaurant can afford to open/stay open. Would love if Hudson Street in Vinegar Hill opened more & more restaurants. Hey restaurants, please come to the neighborhood!

    But I’m not against large businesses moving into the area either. As much as I love Bridge Apothecary, a 24-hour CVS/Duane Reade type place would be very very ideal (sorry going off topic)

  • I am also a vegetarian, so I too have been frustrated with the vegetarian options here in Dumbo. Thank you Governor for adding more vegetable stuff to your menu! Although Hillside & Vinegar Hill House have lovely environments, everything on their menus is highly meat heavy.

    Thanks Dumbonyc for reporting on the Dumbo food scene. Unfortunately, none of the changes seem that exciting. Sad that Rice closed. There need to me more casual dining options with good food–places with quaint atmospheres, not large restaurant chain atmospheres (like dumbo kitchen). A good Vietnamese & Chinese place would be wonderful. And a Thai place too! I love the atmosphere at Pedro’s, but I’m really sick of eating Mexican food.

    We basically need everything here in Dumbo/Vinegar Hill. There really are no options at all. That is because the rents here are ridiculously high so no small restaurant can afford to open/stay open. Would love if Hudson Street in Vinegar Hill opened more & more restaurants. Hey restaurants, please come to the neighborhood!

    But I’m not against large businesses moving into the area either. As much as I love Bridge Apothecary, a 24-hour CVS/Duane Reade type place would be very very ideal (sorry going off topic)

  • Thanks Brad, I’ll definitely check out the menu again.

  • Thanks Brad, I’ll definitely check out the menu again.

  • I’m assuming the Chipotle rumors were just wishful thinking?

  • I’m assuming the Chipotle rumors were just wishful thinking?

  • Vegaans et all:

    If you order through seamless web, Wild Ginger will deliver to dumbo. They don’t ever seem to want to if you call however.

  • Vegaans et all:

    If you order through seamless web, Wild Ginger will deliver to dumbo. They don’t ever seem to want to if you call however.

  • @MJ, I definitely order from Wild Ginger. Siggy’s (just up the hill in Brooklyn Heights) also has good Vegan options. I want to think an all vegan or vegetarian restaurant along the lines of a Bliss (in Williamsburg) would do really well in Dumbo. The type of people who tend to be vegan seem to be the type of people that work in Dumbo (maybe not so much the people that live in Dumbo) but Im really just making an educated guess.

    @Perry, the Chipotle rumors seemed to be just that, rumors. The space they were rumored to be eyeing will now be occupied by Nos clothing store and West Elm Market.

  • @MJ, I definitely order from Wild Ginger. Siggy’s (just up the hill in Brooklyn Heights) also has good Vegan options. I want to think an all vegan or vegetarian restaurant along the lines of a Bliss (in Williamsburg) would do really well in Dumbo. The type of people who tend to be vegan seem to be the type of people that work in Dumbo (maybe not so much the people that live in Dumbo) but Im really just making an educated guess.

    @Perry, the Chipotle rumors seemed to be just that, rumors. The space they were rumored to be eyeing will now be occupied by Nos clothing store and West Elm Market.

  • Another vegetarian (well, pesco-veg, but married to a strict vegetarian) chiming in here. Big, big thanks to Brad at Governor for actually taking us into consideration, as many fine dining establishments fail to do so. We have not been to Governor yet as we were afraid we wouldn’t have much on the menu to choose from, but we will be eating there very soon now that we know there are options.

    Siggy’s is a great option up in the Heights, but would love another sort of organic/healthy food option in DUMBO – everything we have seems to be quite indulgent, no?

  • Another vegetarian (well, pesco-veg, but married to a strict vegetarian) chiming in here. Big, big thanks to Brad at Governor for actually taking us into consideration, as many fine dining establishments fail to do so. We have not been to Governor yet as we were afraid we wouldn’t have much on the menu to choose from, but we will be eating there very soon now that we know there are options.

    Siggy’s is a great option up in the Heights, but would love another sort of organic/healthy food option in DUMBO – everything we have seems to be quite indulgent, no?

  • Agree! Bring a “Bliss” to Dumbo please.

  • Agree! Bring a “Bliss” to Dumbo please.

  • Pingback: Dumbo NYC, Brooklyn » Archive » 66 Water Street Restaurant (Events in March) (DumboNYC.com)

  • Pingback: Dumbo NYC, Brooklyn » Archive » 66 Water Street Restaurant (Events in March) (DumboNYC.com)

  • Pingback: Dumbo NYC, Brooklyn » Archive » Gran Electrica Happy Hours Starts Today (DumboNYC.com)

  • Pingback: Dumbo NYC, Brooklyn » Archive » Gran Electrica Happy Hours Starts Today (DumboNYC.com)