Longtime West Village Peruvian Eatery On Its Way To Prospect Heights

PROSPECT HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — A longtime Peruvian eatery from the West Village will make its foray into the outer boroughs with a new restaurant on Vanderbilt Avenue, according to owners.

Richard Wu — who has run Panca on Manhattan's Seventh Avenue for 14 years — is getting ready to bring his Peruvian and Latin flavors to a storefront between Bergen and Dean streets this fall, he told Community Board 8.

The new restaurant, which is not yet named, will include many of Panca's staples, like ceviche and rotisserie chicken, while offering up some new menu items, Wu said.

"We’re probably going to add some additional things to the menu, but at least 60 to 70 percent will be similar to restaurant we have in the Village," Wu told Community Board 8's State Liquor Authority Committee this week. "We’re very excited to be in Prospect Heights."

The 593A Vanderbilt Ave. location won the support of Community Board 8 for a beer and wine license application on Thursday.

Wu told board members it will likely open in September.

The new spot will include six tables and a nine-seat bar inside, along with tables in a 20-foot garden in the backyard, Wu said.

The restaurant will also likely take advantage of Vanderbilt Avenue's popular Open Street program and serve customers outside, he added.

"I've heard from neighboring restaurant that it's very successful," Wu said of the Open Street.

The new restaurant will be open from noon to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with the extra hour only applying to its indoor space.

The board's support came with the condition that the backyard be free of amplified sound systems.

The State Liquor Authority will have the final say on the beer and wine application.

Check out a menu from Panca's West Village location here.