New UES Restaurants: Fine Korean Dining And A Turkish Expansion

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Two new restaurants are coming to the Upper East Side: a cozy new Korean fine-dining spot and a new location of a favorite Turkish spot.

The restaurants were presented to Community Board 8's Street Life Committee on Tuesday as owners sought approval for beer, wine and liquor licenses.

Here's what we learned about each new restaurant:

Raon (207 East 59th St., between Second and Third avenues)

A new "intimate fine dining" Korean restaurant by Sasook Youn will replace a former eatery that Board members described as riddled with complaints. The representatives of the 20 seat restaurant said they were well-aware of the 311 complaint history made regarding the previous tenants, Asian 59, and assured that the issues, mostly regarding hygienic food prep and trash management will be mitigated, notably with the hiring of a new carting company to handle waste. The tasting-menu restaurant will only have indoor seating and its cozy size will also help keep trash to a minimum, a representative said, and will be closed on Sundays and Monays.

Lezzet Turkish Restuarant (791 Lexington Ave., between East 61st and 62nd streets)

An East 61st Street Turkish restaurant is expanding just around the corner with a casual, fine dining outpost on Lexington Avenue, according to a representative. The new Lezzet spot will have room for 49 diners and has no immediate plans for outdoor dining, but may consider once new outdoor dining regulations are codified.

In other news, Ines Coffee Shop (415 East 74th St., between York and First avenues) has changed ownership. The new owner, Manpreet Singh, told Community Board 8 that he plans to keep everything the same.