A. sent a note: Buddha-Bar, the extravagant club/restaurant at 62 Thomas that opened in the former Megu space in 2021, is still taking reservations on Open Table. And this might not be that offensive, except that the reservation requires a credit card and diners will be charged $25 if they don’t cancel on time.

The website is now defunct and as of September 1, the space was for rent. A pop-up window on the website back then said, “Buddha-Bar New York is temporarily closing for renovation and a change of concept.” There’s a liquor license application on the CB1 agenda for a place called Mogao that has been postponed two months in a row.

A. had some guesses: “Mogao could be an Asian restaurant at that location as in the Mogao caves in China or Mogao Hospitality, which owns Upon the Palace on Greenwich Street (I doubt this one would be related to them but I could be wrong). Or it could be a Portuguese or Brazilian restaurant with the ao suffix based on my guesses.”

A. went on: “Sexy Fish of London-Miami-Manchester-Dubai fame has considered opening in New York and I wouldn’t be surprised if they targeted this space at some point.”

They never paid me for advertising they booked in 2023 and never replied to many requests for payment, so I guess I saw this coming too. If it’s the same owners with a new concept, steer clear.