Eateries Hatch on 8th Street
by Vicki Polon
What a shock to see new dining spots erupting like fungi on grim and mangy 8th Street. Once a destination for hookahs, shoe boutiques and body piercing, the block between Fifth and Sixth Avenues is having a welcome spurt of foodiness. BBQ at # 21 leapfrogged three weeks ago from its former digs at University Place
Sadly, there’s another side to this Renaissance. In between the buzz and bang of table saws and renovation, there are more than a half-dozen empty storefronts with “for rent or lease” signs, and two recent closures, Pio Maya, a tiny Mexican joint that served yummy inexpensive homemade grub, and the Vietnamese daBängh. Perhaps this is the usual ebb and flow of the biz. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. C’mon down!
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