Spirito Closing

I passed by this evening on my way to eat at another restaurant. There were 2 people in there at 8;30pm on Thurs. nite. Trust me those people didn't go in there for their "last meal"... that is typical of this place.... NO CUSTOMERS.
They have never been open for lunch; they have had nothing to do with establishing a take-out business. As the observer.. It sems they have done everything to make sure this business failed. Bottom line if this particular restaurant has failed... I get it!! I live on the block (ID, ID!..Lol!!) and I have been a sad witness to a good start that rapidly lead to the failure of another business. The other bottom line... I am not suprised!

Wow - they only made it for about 6 months right? Didn't they open around May? Went only once, loved the bucatini all’amatriciana, loved the fact that 3 Italians actually owned the place, loved the very reasonable prices, and loved it's look. But I always though the location wasn't the greatest for what they were attempting.

Too bad for sure - but part of the ridiculously tough go that any restaurant has in this town.

reader wrote:
The negative for me was the volume of the music, which was not negotiable with the owners, and seemed to get louder each time I went. The last time I went with a group of people a while ago, we were all hoarse from shouting at yet other before we ordered dessert.

I understand that one of the owners is a DJ and music was his thing but a nice dinner to me should be accompanied by conversation in a normal tone of voice.

This place is closing from multiple self inflicted wounds.

Exactly, and I'm afraid I have no sympathy. Based on recommendations here, hubby and I got a babysitter and headed out for one of our very rare "grown up" dinners, only to find the place empty and music blasting. The full report is in this earlier Spirito thread.

If you want to run a restaurant as your own vanity thing, and the hell with what diners want, that's fair enough. Just plan to be independently wealthy, because you won't generate enough revenue to pay the bills. Geez, where's Gordon Ramsay when you need him?

"You seriously mean to tell me you're serving white-tablecloth Italian and accompanying it with blaring techno music? F--k me!"

Brooke Lynn Knight wrote: Geez, where's Gordon Ramsaywhen you need him?

"You seriously mean to tell me you're serving white-tablecloth Italian and accompanying it with blaring techno music? F--k me!"

HA! that was brilliant, BLK!!!

Just walked by at 11pm and there were diners in this place. I was returning dvd's to Hollywood video around the corner. Lord help me... I am watching the back seasons of Gray's Anatomy.... does this mean I have no life? Well it is more of a life than eating in Spirito.
Now wondering if this is a a rumor or is this place really closing.

Brooke Lynn Knight wrote: Went by last night, and where there menu used to be was a sign saying they're remodeling, and will open in January.

I can only assume they're making room for the tower speakers and subwoofers of a new 10,000 watt sound system, the better to techno-ize the aging bourgeoisie of Park Slope. :shock:

OR simply Another One Bites the Dust and in Jan the new leaseholder will open up under a different name.

Piero, glad to hear something is opening up there again....

I like Manu Chao, but Piero, not everyone likes the same kind of music. It's not right to say everyone will love him too just because you do. It's clear the owners of Spirito thought their taste in music would win everyone over, and it just drove everyone away.

I hope you don't mind me giving you these thoughts, because I really do hope you succeed. I live very nearby and I pass the old Spirito twice a day, and I would love a good local restaurant.

Also, it's not just the music -- it's more the volume. If you're running a club, obviously the music should be LOUD. If you're running a restaurant, no. Think about this: In a club, do you see people dancing while they're holding a sandwich? Do they sit at the bar eating soup and salad? Do they hold a turkey leg in one hand and a buttered biscuit in the other while they work the dance floor? No! Why? Because dance music is for dancing, not for eating. Music that's great for partying gives me agita if I try to eat to it. When you eat, you want to relax. You want to talk to friends. I like Manu Chao, but if I'm eating with friends, I want to focus on them, not on him or on any other musician on the PA system. I want him to be groovin' away, but in the background. When I want to focus all my attention on music, I listen to it at home, and I certainly don't eat while I'm doing it.

Just recently, we had to walk out of another restaurant because of the loud music. My husband and I were walking up 7th looking for a brunch place on Sunday, and Beet, the Thai place near 10th, was nearly empty. We'd never been, so we walked in. The music was loud techno but I sat down and told myself I could tolerate it. I couldn't. I couldn't even focus on reading the menu. We walked out.

Do other patrons love the music? Well, the last couple in the place was settling their bill when we came in, and it was 1:00 on Sunday, so I don't think it's bringing in many customers.

I know restaurant owners want to show off their fabulous tastes in music. It so happens that there's a lot of club-oriented music that lends itself to eating. Downtempo, dub, chillout, lounge, exotica, trip-hop -- those are kinds of music that get you relaxed, not hyped-up.

Anyway, sorry to go on a rant, Piero. I'm just frustrated at how often I read a menu, get all ready to eat, enter a restaurant, and it sounds like a club at 2AM, and I have to walk out. I'm sure you won't be that kind of DJ/restaurant owner. I look forward to eating some of that "deep South American" street food on a nice comfy sofa!

Subject: Techo killed the restaurant bar

Just recently, we had to walk out of another restaurant because of the loud music. My husband and I were walking up 7th looking for a brunch place on Sunday, and Beet, the Thai place near 10th, was nearly empty. We'd never been, so we walked in. The music was loud techno but I sat down and told myself I could tolerate it. I couldn't. I couldn't even focus on reading the menu. We walked out.

Funny you should mention Thai in this because you made me remember that Song (should be called LOUD Song) which is (to me - Asian food snob) the only decent Thai place in the North Slope, actually plays annoyingly loud music. The kitchen is open, which makes for a lot of banging, sizzling and shouting, so maybe the music is meant to mask that a bit. . . .

But the fact that the food is great and cheap and the atmosphere is otherwise nice guarantees that the place is packed - at least everytime I've ever been. Of course in the summer you can sit outside and avoid the issue pretty much.

Piero,
We want you to suceed. I live on 9th St and would love to have a nice place I could go to with friends or family for a drink, dinner and dessert.

We are all focusing on the music because that is probably why Spirito failed. Stubborn stupid does not cut it in a service business.

Good food should be about our senses, taste, aroma, texture, presentation, etc. When the music is too loud, it overwhelms the others and the pleasure in the experience is impossible to discover.

You really want to bring your baby to a bar???? The answer is yes.

Subject: Lol

I'm addict to this site already...
Yeahhhh!!!! Good food and good service... You'll have it .
that's why I'm here to read reviews and talk to you guys. Im want it to be a good place for all you guys.
I hope everything comes out right and finally sing the lease.
I like you guys and I don't even know you . That's doesn't mean anything for you ?

Piero - What is South American Street food? I've only been to Venezuela so I assume arepas and empenadas, but that's about as far as my knowledge goes. I hope I'm not asking you to give away secrets.

Also have some caiparinas right? THere is one restaurant down by me on fifth and like St johns - Bogota - which sounds similar to the concept perhaps - might want to see what that's like - and there is some new Peruvian place that supposedly has great chicken on fifth - i havent been and cant tell you exactly where - I want to say near 2nd street . ..

Pisco sours! Excellent. You don't see those around a lot unless you are in Peru or Chile (but I don't want to start that argument about where it got started). FWIW, I had them in Santiago and Lima but the one I had Astrid y Gaston in Lima was the best ever...or maybe I remember it that way because I had three of them.

Subject: spirito

Hi Piero,
When will you be opening and what's the name of the restaurant?

I have afew suggestions and they are largely based on living close to this location and being a customer of the Bocaccio Grill and the later incarnation Bistro Moderno (BM...an unfortunate abbreviation that appeared on the storefront as part of their logo) and finally Spirito.

This restaurant is not located on 5th Ave.. Restaurant row and to pretend it is will lead to glorious failure. Both Bocaccio and Spirito fell in to this trap. Especially when Bocaccio opened the food was excellent but the owner tried to be pretencious in its presentation but missed the mark. It felt like his own private club. He hung out in the back (at that time smoking) and playing cards. The wait staff was terrible and got more so because the business was failing and didn't provide decent tipping for the wait staff. the wine and beer selection was abysmal and over-priced.

The BM place went in the opposite direction.. moved in ratty couches and tried to present itself as an imitation of the comfortable Lounges on 5th Ave. The menu was reduced to spare "bar food" that was terribly prepared. The general ambiance of the place was not welcoming and the owners (who were relatives of the original owner) were absentee.

Spirito opened and raised the bar on the quality of the food but did no advertising to make themselves known, played that terribly chosen techno/dj stuff, kept liquor prices high and again had no beer selection. Those owners also thought they were running some private party and since the place was often empty it sent out the feeling that if no one is in there eating on Fri nite at 8pm.. why would I try this restaurant.

Though the location is such that thousands of people pass it a day the disadvantage is that there are no other restaurants on the strip where it is located. People somehow psychologically want a "choice" in this neighborhood. Hey..it makes us feel powerful to have a choice.

My suggestions would include
1. A large advertising campaign on opening.. flyers, reaching out in whatever way new restaurants do to get early reviews and hope that you can wow the critics.Running 2 for one specials midweek. Serve a complimentary entree. If no one orders dessert at the table bring out a little plate with samples and make it so delicious that people will be impressed and the next time they dine there they will consider dessert.

2. Sure liquor is sold at high profit margin but don't be greedy. Get a good selection of imported beer. Don't display Yellow Tail bottles on the bar and serve shiraz from those bottles at a price that makes it so obvious that your one glass paid for the RETAIL price of the whole bottle.
Get some imported beers in there and I don't mean Stella.

3. Don't open the front of the restaurant to the street. It just reinforces that you are eating next door to McDonalds. There is a lovely deck area at the top of the stairs and it is possible to create a patio in the back if business needs it.

4. Use the fact that you have a bar.. stay open past 11pm or even midnite especially on the weekend. Close the kitchen perhaps but get some music in there.... a nice Jazz duo would create a vibe. Put out some complimentary snack.. not peanuts.

5. Don't waste your money on an expensive renovation. The space is fine. Contact some local artists and allow them to put their work on the walls to be rotated once a month or so. Good exposure for them to sell some art and gives a fresh look to the walls every month. Good gesture to reach out to the community.

6. Get to know the people at Duffy's funeral Home on the block to bring in some lunch business. I am not kidding! They could throw business your way. Family and friends don't all want to eat in Dasiy's diner after they attend a wake or funeral.

There are so many people in the neighborhood who do wish you well. It is so refreshing that you are asking for input to help you get off to a fresh, strong start.