CityRib, a high-end barbecue restaurant that closed in Jamaica after two years, has been replaced by an American comfort food restaurant, owners said.
Located at Moda — a building constructed several years ago atop of the former Queens Family Courthouse at 89-14 Parsons Blvd. — Moda Grill will offer a variety of old-fashioned eats, like burgers and chicken wings, according to Regan Uriarte, who co-owns the restaurant along with The Dermot Company, the building's developer.
7 comments:
Just turn it into a Kennedy or Crown Chicken joint already. This attempt by Moda is a waste of time. As City Rib unfortunately found out too late ( and was probably tricked into opening by the Jamaica Development Organization ) that you can't have nice things in Jamaica.
As CityRib goes, so goes Jamaica.
Maybe it failed because they are trying to conflate luxury dining with barbeque, it's like those dopes who sell homemade beer in cafes in Williamsburgh. Nobody in Jamaica is going to plunk down 25 dollars for ribs.
Really, that joint was destined to fail.
speaking of skunky craft beers, is there a craft malt liquor?
I am sure this will not be expensive dining.
Realize that the franchise fees are huge for anyone owning a chain restaurant...
As someone who actually went to CityRibs many times since it opened (as opposed to people who did not), it was actually pretty good and really not expensive at all. The problem, I think, they were constantly changing it. In the beginning when they were doing well, they were play jazz music and bringing in live jazz bands and were doing very well. Then they switched to hip-hop, trying to get another type of crowd and that did not work and actually pushed away the jazz people like myself. Also this was the first place like this in the area and the development that the powers that be talked about did not happen yet (but it will). The place was also pretty big, which then you are shelling out big bucks in expenses. When I lived in Long Island City before it looked like it does now, when the development first began, several places tried to jump on the bandwagon and opened some bars/restaurants before the big boom. Many of those establishments closed after a few years, since the boom did not take place and there were not enough people at the time living there.
Also Jamaica's reputation does not help and it needs majorly cleaned up. But you have to start somewhere.
I agree with Mr. Moretti, it is a nice restaurant. THE jazz people, and easy listening music is a nice theme for the restaurant. Add on to the menu the burgers and sandwiches, but do not push out the people who want to dine and have a few drinks. STAY consistent, cook good food (love the chief who cook those smokey ribs). This area (JAMAICA) NEEDS this place and others like it.
They need to include the tip in the check. Or they will never be able to keep their waiters.
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