The space once occupied by failed business Hibachi Tiki Hut has been taken over by an Ecuadoran dress shop, as the Poblano restaurant next door expands. Photo by Lucy Butcher for BushwickBK
After just one year of operation, the Hibachi Tiki Hut has turned off its grill after struggling to gain a solid following with its smoky interior, cramped booths, and confusing bathroom. Atmosphere matters, and Tiki Hut’s just didn’t cut it for locals. A new retail store, G&D Women’s Ware, stocked with inexpensive women’s clothing, as well as "artesanía ecuatoriana" — woolen ponchos, sweaters, woven bracelets, bags, and beanies handmade in Ecuador — has popped up in its place.
While the doors have closed for Tiki Hut, two popular eateries on Broadway have expanded.
The family-run Mexican restaurant Cholulita, next door to the former Hut, is busier than ever. Owner Antonio Aponte has knocked down a wall and doubled the size of the space, allowing for a handful of extra dining tables and more room for the shelves of Mexican grocery items. Cholulita may have fluorescent lights, but that’s okay because takeout/delivery is the main deal here, and the food is good, the prices are a bargain, and Aponte and his wife Isabel, who works the counter, are friendly.
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Cholulita’s extensive menu includes everything from beef, chicken, pork and chorizo tacos and tostadas ($2), burritos served with fries ($7), and quesadillas and huaraches ($4) to Philly Cheese Steaks ($5), grilled chicken wraps ($6), and cheeseburger and veggie burger deluxes ($5). For the hungrier, there are platillos featuring steaks, grilled chicken, and fish filets served with salad, rice and beans, which range in price from $8 to $10. As for breakfast, eggs with ham, bacon or sausage, served with home fries and toast, will set you back $5, and an egg and cheese sandwich is $2.50. Other offerings include guacamole with tortilla chips ($4.50), avocado salad ($5.50), and fruit smoothies ($3).
Further down on Broadway, there’s more space to sit and chill out and savor your baguette at Bushwick’s favorite French café, Athom, where affable owner Jerome Douay has renovated the back area into a warmly lit dining room.
The new room, equipped with a restroom much-anticipated by regulars, features the building’s original decorative tin trim and paneling, prettied up with a coat of deep red paint, peach walls, and a new wooden floor. With more tables and chairs, and even a comfy orange couch and coffee table with a chess board, there’s no more need to jockey for a seat in the café’s tiny front room.
In the coming months, a bar will be created in the new room where pastries and coffee will be served to allow for more working space in the kitchen.
Douay plans to introduce a dinner menu down the track, but for now, Athom Café continues to serve its popular danishes and other baked goods (including croissants with fillings like nutella with pear, banana, or strawberry), baguette sandwiches, omelettes and egg sandwiches, salads, and soup for the winter. Douay also custom makes a range of delicious cakes on request (try the red velvet).
The new room at Athom currently features an exhibition of recent photographs of industrial decay and DIY art projects in Brooklyn by photographer Rachel Eisley.
miguel December 11th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
cool, thats what they get for tryin to slander cholulita here on bushwickbk. i remember they said something about them not having their health inspections….
try try again, take your tiki hut to park slope
t.3 December 11th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
“If we’re too expensive for you, there is always the Mexican place next door that doesn’t even have permits or a food handlers license, but you can get a taco there for $2. Knock yourself out.”
Dresden December 14th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Can we do another article on how much Life Cafe is a full of shit about “helping the artists with cheap eats”?