Bomboloni - New Store (UWS)

[nativeNYer]

A place called Bombolini is scheduled to replace Haagan Daz this spring on Columbus near W70th St. As most of you probably know, bombolini are fried Italian donuts. The sign states they will be selling latte, gelato and, I think, pizzelle. So, we'll have to keep an eye on this one. I spotted this sign a week or two ago but, it wasn't until I read Miss Needle's comment today about the bombolini served at Alto (great review, btw, thanks!), that I remembered.

[guttergourmet]

http://www.alwayshungryny.com/thought...

[stormrunner]

All hype

[coasts]

i'm amazed that we're still talking about it.

[FattyDumplin]

why? curious to hear your thoughts.

[uwsister]

Yes! I will have to visit soon. Thanks for posting!

[nativeNYer]

Thanks for posting this, guttergourmet. Very interesting and very glad to hear this. Will stop by over the weekend.

[mahler5]

see http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/697660

[daffyduck]

i just got an email today from tastingtablenyc that this place is open now.

[owlwoman]

Just walked by on the way back from the bank, delay of opening until tomorrow (March 19) due to Con Ed woes.

[ElissaS.]

They were giving out coupons for a free bomboloni though! And they're going to be serving breakfast paninis.

[nativeNYer]

thanks. gotta grab one tomorrow if they are open before work.

[empty plate]

Actually opened today. And they look GOOD: http://westsideindependent.com/2010/0...

[nativeNYer]

they taste amazing! i am not at all a fan of donuts (and I know these are not exactly donuts) and other related desserts but i have to say that these are amazing. i tried the traditional (custard filling) straight out of the oven and the chocolate one. crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. they also have panini; the bread (which they make themselves) looks amazing.

[FattyDumplin]

agree. they are not light, but just the right amount of soft inside and crunchy exterior, texture in between a traditional yeast and cake donut, skewing more to the yeast side. i had had the pistachio creme and the jam. i can't eat them all the time, because they are greasy, but as a snack, yum! it's such a pretty storefront. well worth the 1year wait for this to open.

[nativeNYer]

i didn't at all like the one i tasted cold so that's a good thing b/c i definitely don't want to eat this all the time. will try their panini though.

[FattyDumplin]

just went back today. uh, they size of their donuts has shrunk by 50%+ from the first week they were open. the first donuts i had were the size of dunkin donuts, huge and a great deal for $1. These were much smaller, but still very delicious. not as great a deal as before, but still reasonably priced. had the chocolate one today which my 2-year old and I devoured. Still have a passion fruit filled with cocunut sprinkles left for tonight.

[nativeNYer]

very, very interesting. i'll have to take a peak tomorrow. not sure if i had the small or large ones. try to snag a hot one next time. the reviews are actually horrible.

[FattyDumplin]

wow, just read the other thread. weird. i thought they were pretty good. i enjoy the fillings. and i like that it's not as light as a true yeast donut. fresh out of the fryer, i thought they were excellent.

[empty plate]

Looks like it's opening Friday or Saturday! And supposedly giving away donuts: http://westsideindependent.com/2010/0...

[nativeNYer]

thanks. glad i live in the nabe. will keep an eye out so i can try and report back. i am not at all a donut lover but i'm curious about these.

[uwsgrazer]

Still not open but definitely seeing signs of progress. There were workers around today and the doors were open (for them, not for customers). Looks like they will offer more than bombolini. I think the menu included a daily soup, panini, various coffee offerings. Bombolini were priced at a buck each, or six for five dollars.

[coasts]

http://i.imgur.com/z0gHW.jpg

real progress.

[nativeNYer]

woooooooooh. that's a living, breathing person in there and the signs are down. yup, that sure is progress... just in case we've forgotten how to measure it. guess we'll be writing about these really soon. good work, coasts, good work!!

[nativeNYer]

This is real close, guys. The boards around the storefront are finally down (must have just happened a day or two ago) revealing new windows and a door with a Bombolini sign. Place basically looks close to opening from the inside. Some plaster buckets and other stuff but I see counters and it looks painted with finished floors. Granted it was late at night when I passed (so my description may be less than perfect) but this is clear progress.

[uwsister]

Yes! Thanks for the report. I look forward to this place opening!

[FattyDumplin]

i'm not getting my hopes up...

show me the donuts.

[nativeNYer]

lol. with good reason. based on my first post above, i just noticed that they took just over a year to get themselves up and running.

[guttergourmet]

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/526647

[trixareforkids]

Guess I'll walk up tp Grom for a gelato instead! Thanks all.

[FattyDumplin]

any updates on this store??? Hoping, but still no change on the sign.

[nativeNYer]

nothin'. i walked by yesterday. same sign but no signs of progress.

[FattyDumplin]

thanks... i'm throwing in the towel. will have to satisfy my bomboloni fix at bouchon on the weekends.

[nativeNYer]

Update: Well, throwing in the towel was a good call. Since the paper fell off the window, I got a peek tonight. The place is completely gutted inside with absolutely no sign of progress whatsoever. Looks like it will follow a similar fate as the former Penang location at Columbus and W70th. BTW, I love Bouchon, and their croissants aren't half bad.

[FattyDumplin]

really sad... kind of depressing how many empty storefronts are in prime UWS. crazy how landlords haven't woken up and smelled the economic reality.

[nativeNYer]

i couldn't agree with you more.

[uwsgrazer]

Well, while I didn't witness it myself, my understanding is that some workmen were actually inside the premises today. Apparently the interior is pretty much gutted. By the end of the day, the storefront was covered back up with paper. There's a sign out front from the Landmark Commission granting permission to alter the space in some fashion. Unclear exactly what is going on, but there is some movement ...

[FattyDumplin]

walked by today. tried to peep in through a hole in the paper but couldn't see anything. but there is a work permit dated august 12 to lay down flooring for an icecream shop converting to an ice cream / donut shop. ___^___^___^___^... looks like there's still a pulse.

gotta happen soon though. went to bouchon to get donut holes. but stopped first to have brunch at landmarc. after croque madame, i couldn't look at food, so passed up the donuts. need them to be accessible within a block or two, which bomboloni would be, so i can just walk out to satisfy cravings.

[Fritz]

any update on Bomboloni or still no progress?

[uwsgrazer]

Now that you mention it, I think the doors were open at one point when I walked by this weekend, but the interior was still under construction. Couldn't really make out much of anything.

[nativeNYer]

they are definitely working on it. instead of paper on the windows, the place has recently been boxed in by wooden walls.

[FattyDumplin]

haha, so going back to your original post, you actually meant spring 2010!

[nativeNYer]

exactly. haha.

[uwsgrazer]

I give up on this place! It seemed as if the grand opening was imminent a couple of months ago... but then I noticed this past weekend that the place was all boarded up again! I have no idea what's going on but whatever progress was made appears non-existent now. Alas.

[nativeNYer]

i know. uggh. i pass by all the time. when i saw your post,i thought for a second you were announcing an opening although i had just passed by a day or two ago. lots of red tape involved i'm sure.

worse yet is the old panang location that has been boarded up forever.

[uwsgrazer]

Oy. Let's just hope Trader Joe's opens soon at 72nd & Broadway. I haven't heard any news of late to suggest things aren't on track. But then again I also haven't read anything about an imminent opening. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed TJ's will come to the neighborhood soon ...

[coasts]

pretty sure Trader Joe's in UWS was only ever rumor. i read a better article elsewhere some time ago, but only found this now when searching:

http://westsideindependent.com/2009/0...

the bombolini place is hopeless. anyone been to Gina's yet - 73rd and Amsterdam?

[nativeNYer]

tj w72 has now been confirmed:

http://westsideindependent.com/2009/1...

i tried gina's UES during the summer on one of the hottest days of the year. at the time, i didn't think it was anything special but i will definitely try the UWS location with the hope i was just cranky that day.btw, gina was there the day i had stopped by at the UES location as it was opening day. she chatted with me for a bit and seemed genuinely pleased that i had recognized her from recent ads. she was extremely nice.

[empty plate]

Gina's is also now open. Sounds like it has been for a couple of weeks. Looking forward to going in: http://westsideindependent.com/2010/0...

[coasts]

great news! thanks for the correction.

[trixareforkids]

Did this place ever open??? I have to go to that neighborhood and want to check it out.

[nativeNYer]

not yet open. it still looks exactly the same as it did back in january. paper over the windows with the same sign announcing a sprung opening. i just walked by an hour ago.

[uwsgrazer]

Exact location is east side of Columbus Avenue, between 68th and 69th. But I can confirm nativeNYer's description, the storefront hasn't changed for months now.

[FattyDumplin]

my wife and i love bomboloni. was so excited about this. but i'm guessing this one is never going to open.

[Miss Needle]

Ooh! Thanks for mentioning Bomboloni. I love that stuff, and am looking forward to trying that store.