We have more this afternoon regarding the closure of Alias, the decade-old Clinton Street restaurant. Last month, Janet Nelson and partners sent out an email to regular customers saying they were preparing to “hand over the proverbial baton to the next generation of entrepreneurs.” Now a reliable source tells us the ownership team has signed a sale agreement with Richard Martin, who owns wholesale fish supplier Wild Edibles. The company also owns an oyster and wine bar in Murray Hill. Back in April, Wild Edibles got the okay from Community Board 3 for a liquor license at 76 Clinton St., which is where Alias has operated since 2002.
Alias will be serving its last brunches this coming weekend. And then next week (Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday), they’ll be hosting three celebratory dinners. On Friday the 14th, Alias will be throwing a big farewell dinner.
The new restaurant will be called “Black Crescent.” There will be a selection of oysters plus quite a few small plates and specialty cocktails. Items such as tuna tartar, pickled sardines, fluke crudo and blue crab salad will be offered. More to come…
I have a hard time feeling bad about this. I was bummed when the original Alias closed. Alias (the real one) was a good cheap rice&beans joint with nice waitresses that was open (at least until the late 1990s) 24 hours. I could get packages delivered there, or drop off my keys for friends to pick up.. that sort of thing.
Sadness as replaced by anger when this fancy, expensive place not only took over the space but kept the Alias name and signs. It was like a final slap in the face to locals.
I boycotted it for years, but when i tried it i must admit it was good, and the people who work their pretty nice.
Anyway, yeah.. like i said, hard to care about this.