Van Brunt Stillhouse Has Closed And Fans Are Clamoring for Last Bottles | Eater NY

"The owner, Indian chef Deepak Ballaney, has reached out to his 50K-plus Instagram followers to explain why his restaurant at 1762 First Avenue (at East 92nd) is closing after more than a decade. He says rising operating costs are part of the problem, and that he previously sank over $150K into a Midtown location before COVID and then lost that business when his landlord pushed him out because he couldn’t pay rent. He also says his original uptown location was further taxed by a short-lived Korean wings spot that opened on the same block (and has since closed). The restaurant has two more days of service; "I’m at a cross section of life and death of my career," he told Eater, and he is hoping for some kind of lifeline — even as this location closes, he hopes to open in a new spot." - Melissa McCart