New UES Restaurants: Mediterranean And Two Italian Spots To Come

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The Upper East Side is gaining three new spots, all with a focus on Mediterranean cuisine.

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:

Italian restaurant, name TBD (1022 Lexington Ave., at East 73rd Street)

Restauranteurs Nick Pashalis and Nick Tsoulos (Arva Madison, Anassa Taverna) are planning to open up a new Italian restaurant at the former home of Casimir & Co.

The bi-level space will have 54 table seats and stools for 12 at the bar. A representative says they plan to have sidewalk seating, similar to how the former occupant did along East 73rd Street, but will not have any outdoor dining structures. Because of ongoing major renovations, the new eatery's representative said the new spot won't be open for at least another six months.

Mediterranean restaurant, Gazette (1582 York Ave., near East 84th Street)

Siblings Madalina Iavarone and chef Bogdan Dinu are looking to open their first eatery at the former home of Mumtaz Indian Restaurant.

Taking inspiration from their mother, Dinu graduated from the French Culinary Institute and has cooked at Saint Ambroeus at for J.P. Morgan as an executive chef and also as a private chef. The new spot will have table seating for 42, plus eight stools at the bar. Iavarone said that because of the "European influenced" menu prices, with entrees priced between $20-$40, they will appeal to a slightly upscale "over 30" crowd.

Some board members raised concerns over a lack of ADA compliance and a circa 1999 certificate of occupancy which wouldn't allow for the seating they are seeking, nor for a backyard patio used by the previous occupants. Iavarone said their renovations are only cosemtic and don't require full ADA compliance, and that they will seek an updated certificate from the city.

Italian Cafe/Bar/Restaurant, Adriano (1198 First Ave, near East 65th Street)

Adrian Kercuku presented his plans for a daytime coffee shop that will transition to what he calls an Italian "bottega" in the evening.

"You stop in some small place, you grab something to eat, get a glass of wine, get a glass of water, and that's it," is how Keruku, a native of Italy, described how the concept works back home.

Currently the executive chef at Casa Lever, a collaborative project with Saint Ambroeus, Kercuku said he will offer a simple menu with some pasta and homemade focaccia in the small, 500-square-foot space that formerly housed Oaxaca Taqueria. Inside will have five tables and bench seating for 19 total, with a few sidewalk tables as well. He said he plans to open within the next few weeks.