New UES Restaurants: Thai, Irish, Fish And Dangerfield Details

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Three new eateries and a revival of a classic Lenox Hill comedy club are all due to hit the Upper East Side.

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:

Comedy Club Name TBD (1118 First Ave.)

As first reported by Patch in August, a new contender has made official their plans to revive the classic First Avenue comedy club formerly owned and run by classic jokester, Rodney Dangerfield.

The applicant, attorney and stand-up comic Mark Yosef, offered up just a few details at the meeting.

Hours for the nearly 200-person club at First Avenue and East 61st Street would run until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, though shows would wrap at about midnight, Yosef said.

The club would also host open mic hours earlier in the evening in addition to two later headline shows. There would not be a late show during the week, Yosef said.

Yosef's bid is the second this year to revive the club, which shuttered after over 60 years in October 2022.

According to Yosef and a press contact, the club will also offer hors d’oeuvres and upscale cocktails in addition to the laughs.

And with a cannabis shop set to open this October directly across the street, comedians might be able to count on a consistently giggling crowd.

Yosef said the club is aiming to open in mid-2024 and will probably not carry the same name as the licensee name, Poochy Credit LLC.

The Phraya (1553 Second Ave.)

This new Thai restaurant is looking to occupy the former home of a kosher Asian restaurant called Cho-Zen on Second Avenue near East 81st Street.

A representative told the committee that the new owners have plans to renovate the space, which will have 48 table seats and room for 12 at the bar.

Irish Bar Name TBD (1744 Second Ave.)

A new Irish bar will take over the shuttered DTUT space next door to the classic 3 Decker diner on Second Avenue near East 91st Street.

The unnamed spot will have 24 table seats and room for 13 at the bar, according to a representative, who added that the bar would like to also have some sidewalk seating too.

While other details were scant, the representative did promise that the bar would host live pipe music.

Crave Fishbar (1492 Second Ave.)

The popular seafood joint will be opening their third location at the recently closed Meatball shop on Second Avenue between East 76th and 77th streets.

The owners clarified that despite the name, Crave Fishbar is a full-service seafood restaurant and won't feature any live music or host a rowdy, bar-like atmosphere.

One of the owners told the committee that he had spent the last 10 years looking for the right spot in the Upper East Side.

Many attendees spoke in support of Crave, vouching for their ocean-based cuisine featured at their Midtown East location.