Corner Kitchen Opens at Leif Bar Site

March 8, 2012 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

Share this:

BAY RIDGE — A popular Fifth Avenue bar named in honor of a Scandinavian hero has given way to a restaurant named after the room of a house.

The Corner Kitchen is the name of a new restaurant to be located at the former site of The Leif, 6725 Fifth Ave.

The owners of The Corner Kitchen have applied to the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) for a liquor license and have received support from Community Board 10 in their quest.

At their monthly meeting on Feb. 27, board members voted to recommend that the SLA approve the liquor license application.

The Corner Kitchen will have 17 tables and operate from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., Sunday to Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday.

“The owners do not plan to have live music. But they do intend to use their yard for food service,” said George Fontas, chairman of the board’s Police and Public Safety Committee. The committee reviewed the liquor license application prior to the board’s vote.

The former owners of The Leif bar attended the meeting and spoke in favor of The Corner Kitchen getting a liquor license.

The committee recommended certain stipulations, however, to protect the quality of life for residents living near the restaurant.

The committee requested that the owners close the rear yard at midnight, prohibit music in the yard, keep all doors closed so that noise does not spill out, and ban smoking in the yard.

The owners agreed to abide by the stipulations.

— Paula Katinas