New Upper East Side Restaurants: Pizza, Greek, Green Kitchen Returns

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The newest restaurants set to open on the Upper East Side include a pizzeria, a Greek spot and a new outpost of a beloved neighborhood diner that fled its "deadbeat" landlord.

Plans for the new eateries were presented on Tuesday to a Community Board 8 committee, as their owners sought approval in their efforts to obtain alcohol licenses.

Here's what we know about each new restaurant:

Green Kitchen (1325 Second Ave., on East 70th Street):

After 91 years on the corner of First Avenue and East 77th Street, Green Kitchen closed its beloved diner in August.

But the family-owned business isn't going anywhere: Green Kitchen will open a new location on the corner of Second Avenue and East 70th Street, replacing Five Napkin Burger, which closed up shop in July. (Green Kitchen's other location on Second Avenue and East 84th Street also remains open.)

Peter Kasimis, whose family owns the shop, explained that Green Kitchen's First Avenue closure stemmed in part from a "toxic relationship" with the landlord, whom he called a "deadbeat" that had allowed the building to fall into foreclosure.

The landlord was also partly to blame for the sanitation issues that caused the First Avenue diner to be temporarily shut down by the city in March, which was related to flooding from elsewhere in the building, Kasimis said.

"It's our intention to run a clean shop" in the new location, Kasimis said.

Now in the early phases of construction, it could open by April of next year. It will seat 60 people at 25 tables plus a 12-seat bar, open daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. It will include seven outdoor tables on Second Avenue, plus street seating on the 70th Street side.

Pizza restaurant (1638 Third Ave., between East 91st and 92nd streets):

This not-yet-named pizza shop will occupy the Third Avenue storefront previously home to Effy's Cafe and, more recently, the short-lived Fridge No More grocery delivery service.

Its owner, listed in the application as Abdelatti Abdellatif, also owns La Mia Pizza on First Avenue and East 82nd Street, as well as a handful of other shops in Manhattan, representative Marek Schwedt told the board.

This will be a "larger establishment" than some of the owner's previous ventures, but still a "typical pizzeria," Schwedt said. It will be open daily until the midafternoon.

Tinos (1748 First Ave, between East 90th and 91st streets):

This recently-opened business is a "very intimate Greek restaurant," representative Cannon Kearney told the board.

Now open for delivery only, owner Evangelos Vamvakoulas aims to soon welcome customers into the 30-seat space, which was previously home to Pinocchio Ristorante.

It will be open daily from noon to 10 p.m., Kearney said.

Related coverage:

• New UES Restaurants: Greek, Mexican, Controversial Members' Club OK'd
• New UES Restaurants: Tacos, 2 Italian Spots, Movie Theater Beer
• New Upper East Side Restaurants: Asian Food, Subway Inn Moves
• New UES Restaurants: Gracie's Diner Moves, Bar Coastal Replaced