New UES Restaurants: Two New Bistros

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The Upper East Side is gaining two new bistros, one French and the other Italian.

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 spot:

TBD French Bistro (964 Lexington, between East 70th and 71st streets)

Harold Moore is looking to revamp a popular "concept" he did once in the West Village.

That spot, called Commerce Restaurant, was a neighborhood favorite from 2008 to 2015 until it closed following a legal technicality over a dispute with a landlord, Eater reported at the time.

The spot, last occupied by The East Pole Fish Bar, will hold about 55-60 seats.

Moore described his unnamed bistro as "essentially American — but a French soul.”

TBD Italian Bistro (1642 Third Ave, near East 92nd Street)

A 55-seat Italian bistro will take over a long-shuttered Starbucks at a corner location opposite Ruppert and Yorkville Towers.

Owners Joseph Salimeni and Bill Loesch bring an array of experience to this new spot. Loesch is a co-founder of a juice bar called Baya Bar with 25 locations — soon to open a spot just a block away at 1614 Third Ave.

Loesch said the spot will be geared towards more of the "lunch-brunch" crowd and should not be a rowdy late-night scene.

"We're looking to be more of a daytime operation," Loesch said.

And he assured one neighbor that unlike the former tenant, his workers would be sure to keep the sidewalks clean.

The unnamed eatery will feature live acoustic music and may include a sidewalk cafe in the future, but would not necessarily open with any outdoor seating to start.