The 12-time Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper has teamed up with Philadelphia’s owner of Angelo’s Pizzeria, Danny DiGiampietro, to open a Philly cheesesteak shop in the East Village before an alleged 2025 opening. Over the weekend, lines snaked out the door to catch a glimpse of Cooper and to try the Philly import at Danny & Coop’s, at 151 Avenue A, at East 10th Street. During its preliminary debut, the sandwich was apparently the only thing on the menu. People reported that DiGiampietro’s family is mostly running it, making foot-long sandwiches with Cooper sharp and onions. If it’s anything like the original, “a cheesesteak at Angelo’s is a particularly beautiful thing.” Cooper and DiGiampietro teamed up in New York last year ahead of the NYC opening.
Danji is back open
After a fire shuttered his restaurant in April of 2023, Hooni Kim has reopened his acclaimed Danji (346 W. 52nd Street, between Eighth and Ninth avenues). The opening comes following the struggle to reopen; Eater reported that the management company had delayed repairs. They finally wrapped up in October, according to Kim. Danji is the city’s first Michelin-starred Korean fine-dining restaurant, having landed the star in 2012.
Hakata TonTon is closing
After reviving the tonsoku restaurant in 2021, Hakata TonTon is closing again. The restaurant announced it will shutter on December 29. “The joy of reconnecting with familiar faces after the pandemic, and the happiness of welcoming new guests, brought us immeasurable gratitude that words cannot fully capture. We are deeply grateful to every person who walked through our doors, shared a meal, and became part of our story,” they wrote.
