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Earlier today, a trusted tipster informed us: “A friend of mine walked by Cru and saw that there were notices posted indicating that the restaurant was seized by the civil court.” And this just in from a reader: “Cru is closed for non payment of rent ... court eviction notices on the entrance door.” We haven’t been able to reach the restaurant, but its outgoing message says it will be closed from August 23 till September 8, without mentioning why. Depending on how easy this will be to resolve (after all, Kurve is still up and running after its brush with the landlord back in January), it looks like Shea Gallante’s departure was fortuitously timed. Actually, Frank Bruni was the “gastrodamus” here — while praising Cru, he pointed out that even though it has made adjustments such as introducing à la carte menu items and moving some of its less expensive (though still costly) bottles to the top of its wine list, the restaurant had surely felt the pinch of a dwindling number of fine diners. He speculated that Gallante’s departure had something to do with that. We’ll let you know as soon as we hear more.

This week, the website tells you where to eat in and around Arthur Ashe Stadium during the U.S. Open (everything from Afghani to Pakistani to red-sauce Italian). If you’re less one for Federer and more one for Puccini, we have this for you: From now till September 7, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., Bar Boulud is offering special pique-nique boxes that you can take with you to Lincoln Center Plaza’s HD opera screenings: A gazpacho, a choice of sandwich (country pâté, jambon beurre, or brie de meux), and either a chocolate tart or fruit salad, plus a small bottle of water, is $19, cash only.

U.S. Open Eats
U.S. Open Nearby Eats

If you’re near Fifth Avenue and 22nd Street, a Grub Street tipster reports that Ugly Betty is "filming at Flatiron Building all day." We’re not sure what a dog from “Taj Ma Hot Dog” might taste like, but given the cultural confusion at that stand, you’re better off just going to Shake Shack.

When Hanco’s opened on Seventh Avenue back in February, it was the only bánh mì joint in the neighborhood. Last week, though, Henry’s set up shop just four blocks away— and the menu seemed like a blatant knockoff, right down to the items, food descriptions, font, colors, and layout (you can see for yourself below). According to Hanco’s owner Hanco Tang, the owners of Henry’s are former employees who left his store in the past two weeks — he fired one, and the other one quit days later. Tang had no idea that two of his employees were moving in down the street — and from what he claims, the furtive enterprisers were keeping busy in their final weeks of employment.