Williamsburg's Relish Diner Taken Over by La Esquina Crowd

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Well, there goes the neighborhood! What was once an unassuming neighborhood joint called Relish has been taken over by the flashy scenesters behind the subterranean Manhattan lounge La Esquina. As soon as this place opens, you can bet Williamsburg's going to be overrun with trendy fashionistas and B&T tools in search of the next exclusive hot spot. Next thing you know they'll build a bunch of giant condos, and Duane Reade and Starbucks will drive out all the Mom and Pops. Maybe moving to Ridgewood makes sense after all.

NYC In.tel reports that the beautiful chrome railcar-style diner, which mysteriously closed over the summer, will be turned into a "Mexican beer garden." It's expected to open in the spring. The first commenter on Grub Street declares: "Sohoburg."

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By John Del Signore in Food on November 10, 2010 3:10 PM

Comments [rss]

HEAVY_MERGE

Yonkers/Hastings is the next Ridgewood/Gowanus

Crapola

Do you get a complimentary beating by bouncers like you get at the Soho location ? Otherwise, it's not worth it.

dirty hipster

I do not approve of this

Cannibal

That's not very ironic. I'd say try harder but that is not very hipster.

TuraLura

Relish was okay, but it was hardly an unassuming or cheap Mom & Pop diner; it was as hipster-centric as any place in the 'Burg. I doubt the people at La Esquina will do much beside try and return it to its pre-2008 heyday.

Now, if the Black motorcycle club across the street leaves, that's really the death knell of the old Williamsburg...

jaycjay

"it was hardly an unassuming or cheap Mom & Pop diner"

Agreed. And I present as one piece of evidence: it was called Relish.

Unassuming mom and pop businesses don't use trendy monikers. Once you do so, you are anything but unassuming.

TuraLura

They make it sound like it was always full of truck drivers and old Polish dudes. As I recall, it was usually full of model wannabes and "DJs". All my guy friends dug it for the hot waitresses. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Cannibal

You know what is a nice Mom and Pop diner full of truck drivers and old Polish dudes? Triple Decker.

moocowtoo

Motorcycle shop has been gone for a good while now.

TuraLura

That is so very, very sad. I must admit I don't get over to Wythe Ave often any more.

Cannibal

Last time I checked you still needed a bridge or a tunnel to get to Manhattan from Brooklyn. Or did we just decide to re-define the term B&T? Did the term get gentrified?

You know what Williamsburg could use? A Wal-Mart.

I prefer La Esquina douchebags to Relish douchebags any day of the week. Åt least the food tastes good while you stare at people.

virgilstarkwell

'b&t' really refers to people who take a b or a t to get into manhattan from such a place where it's necessary. they're not really b&t if they never leave their home borough... or if they're engaging in boro-to-boro travel that doesn't involve manhattan.

there needs to be a new name for them.

ProcedureTurn

wow. This is wack.

I used to eat there ALL the time. I really like this place a lot. Although I guess I havent been there in a while as I hadnt known they even closed.

Anyone know why they shut down?