Columbia Brings Two New Independent Restaurants to Morningside Heights
Two independent restaurants within Columbia University's retail portfolio opened in Fiscal Year 2023, bringing new cuisines to the Columbia and local communities. The year kicked off with the opening of Sapp's, a restaurant serving Japanese cuisine by chef Shih Lee of Michelin-recommended SHI, and was followed by the opening of Ban Ban Shop, a new Southeast Asian food concept under the culinary direction of esteemed celebrity chef Nils Noren.
Sapp’s offers lunch and dinner menus at their new location at 2888 Broadway (between 112th and 113th Streets), featuring sushi, specialty rolls, ramen, rice bowls, grilled and skewered foods, and more. A drink menu is also available with beer, wine, sake, and cocktails. The opening marks Sapp’s second location, joining their original location in Long Island City.
“We're very excited to be part of the Columbia University community, especially in a post pandemic world,” Lee said. “We want to help reinvigorate the neighborhood with good food and good times.”
Located at 2911 Broadway (between 113th and 114th Streets), Ban Ban Shop offers customizable Bahn Mi sandwiches, Bao buns, grain bowls, salads, and maki rolls with vegan and gluten-free options. Their menu also includes chicken noodle soup, kimchee slaw, roasted seasonal vegetables, as well as house-made drinks such as iced Vietnamese coffee, blood orange lemonade, and mint-honey iced green tea.
The opening of the new restaurants are consistent with Columbia University’s long-standing approach to its retail tenants, which favors businesses that bring a variety of amenities and experiences to the diverse Columbia community, the wider local community and visitors.