UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The Upper East Side is gaining three new spots: a new sushi spot replacing an old sushi spot, a new pub replacing an old pub torn down years ago and a new Mediterranean/Italian eatery taking over a recently shuttered restaurant.
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:
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Mikado 800 Inc. (800 Lexington Ave., between East 61st and 62nd streets)
A new sushi spot is taking over the former home of an old sushi spot.
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“At this location, there has been a sushi place for 20 years,” said representative James Wang. Most recently, the space was home to Ginza, which closed during the pandemic. The space has remained vacant since.
Wang said there won’t be any outdoor space, but no other details were offered at the meeting.
Mediterranean Restaurant TBD (1556 Second Ave., between East 80th and 81st streets)
Taking over the recently shuttered Gray Hawk Grill are the owners of L’Osteria, who are looking to open a new Mediterranean spot in its place by this summer.
“It’s going to be an Italian restaurant with a little more of a Mediterranean flair to it,” said one of the partners, Larry Hass, who added that they just took over the space on March 1.
Hass said they will take down the old Gray Hawk Grill outdoor enclosure and will do a simple outdoor dining area with a few planters. The new, unnamed restaurant will do take-out but is not planning on doing food deliveries.
On weekends, the restaurant will have a brunch, Hass said.
The space is larger than their other ventures, Hass said, and they are aiming to be serving diners by this July.
Pub TBD (145 East 61st St., between Third and Lexington avenues)
Neighborhood restaurateur Tom Martignetti is looking to open a cozy, upscale pub similar to the one he ran years ago down the street, Brinkley’s Station, which sat across the now-empty lot opposite Bloomingdales.
“The block got torn down a number of years ago,” Martignetti said, “including my business with it.”
He noted how the block still remains empty to this day.
“So that’s a shame,” Martignetti said, “because I could have been operating there to this day.”
His new incarnation of the small pub experience will be taking over the former home of Gina Mexicana and will feature a back garden space, which Martignetti said he would use if he gets city approval.
Food will be typical pub fare, including fish and chips and burgers, Martignetti said. He does not plan to do deliveries.
Martignetti also operates other neighborhood spots, including Melody’s Piano Bar and The East Pole.
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