Cloister Cafe appears to be looking to reemerge on the East Village scene. It has filed paperwork with the community board for the space at 238 East Ninth St., which formerly housed the concept until it closed permanently in 2022.
Nicholas Drobenko is behind the restaurant, garden cafe and hookah lounge concept, which first opened in 1987. The cafe had some run-ins with the State Liquor Authority during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when its liquor license was suspended in light of allegations that Cloister Cafe was violating social-distancing regulations. The cafe later tried to acquire another liquor license and reopen in 2022, but the effort was unsuccessful.
Cloister Cafe is slated to go before the community board at the September meeting to try to secure liquor license approval this time around.
The spot serves Mexican-Brazilian fare. The proposed menu features brunch and lunch items like ovos tostadas (a blue tortilla with avocado salad, fried eggs, cotija cheese and epazote), huevos rancheros and the Amazon burger (with plant-based meat), as well as other menu items like tacos, ceviche, steak fajitas and enchiladas.
The beverage menu features beer, wine, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks, and there are multiple hookah options.
Paperwork indicates plans for 14 indoor tables with 28 seats as well as one stand-up bar with two seats. The proposed hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, with hours extended to 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
