April marked a busy month for Upper East Side businesses with a slate of new restaurants and a beloved market’s expansion, while the neighborhood said goodbye to two fixtures of its dining scene that have spent decades serving customers. 

Upper East Site has a breakdown of what’s open, what’s closed, what’s coming and whose future is now uncertain:

Now Open

Butterfield Market

1114 Lexington Avenue on the corner of East 78th Street

Introducing a new Caffè Panna flavor and adding to its popular prepared food selection, Upper East Side favorite Butterfield Market unveiled its newly expanded store featuring a dedicated sushi station with rolls made fresh before your eyes and a tasty chef’s table serving a different entreé daily.

Playa Bowls

1248 Lexington Avenue between East 84th and 85th Streets

Bringing a taste of the tropics to Carnegie Hill, smoothie and açaí bowl purveyor Playa Bowls opened its second Upper East Side outpost, prominently featuring its kosher certification hanging in the window. 

BurgerFi

1571 Second Avenue between East 81st and 82nd Streets

Returning to its old Upper East Side stomping grounds with a bang after a two-year hiatus, BurgerFi unveiled its new menu and updated Better Burger Lab concept to excited customers longing for their perfectly grilled patties.

Buffalo Wild Wings GO

1258 Lexington Avenue near the corner of East 85th Street

Turning up the heat on the Upper East Side, Buffalo Wild Wings GO brought the same great taste the company is known for in a slimmed-down takeout and delivery-focused concept, serving its 29 sauces without the usual sports bar attached.

ALSO READ | The Upper East Side’s Best Greek Restaurants

Dear Coffee

1246 Lexington Avenue on the corner of East 84th Street

Taking over the space once belonging to bone broth purveyor Brodo, Dear Coffee hopes to fill your cup with some joe, bringing a calming ambiance, flavorful brews and light pastries to the corner.

abcV at The Mark

25 East 77th Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues

Plant-forward and health-conscious, the iconic vegetarian restaurant abcV opened a pop-up presence at The Mark Hotel on the Upper East Side, but be warned, the scaled-down menu is only available in the dining shed on Madison Avenue.

Burp Bowl Cafe

1812 Second Avenue between East 93rd and 94th Streets

Offering bold spice and handmade rice noodles, authentic Chinese fast casual and takeout restaurant Burp Bowl Cafe opened its first uptown location in Yorkville, introducing its high quality, affordable and quickly prepared eats to a whole new audience.

Coming Soon

Bar Vivent 

164 East 88th Street between Third and Lexington Avenues

A quiet, sophisticated wine bar with select appetizers, Bar Vivent plans to open on a quiet block in Yorkville. No timeline has been released, but with construction underway, the plans have already ruffled the feathers of neighbors.

Angelina Bakery

1649 Third Avenue between East 92nd and 93rd Streets

Not to be confused with Angelina Paris on Lexington Avenue, this Italian sweet shop is expanding to the Upper East Side with a new Yorkville location planned to open next to La Voglia this summer.

Keuka Wine Bar & Kitchen

435 East 86th Street between First and York Avenues

Coming to Yorkville this fall, Keuka Wine Bar & Kitchen will bring wines from New York’s Finger Lakes region and sustainably sourced ingredients to an intimate and inviting restaurant in a long-vacant Upper East Side space.

Tramway Restaurant

1079 First Avenue on the corner of East 59th Street

Adding an American-style diner to his takeover of the southeastern edge of the Upper East Side, longtime restaurateur and owner of George Southern Greek and Ritz Diner George Kalogerakos is opening Tramway Restaurant in Lenox Hill next month, replacing Under the Bridge which shuttered permanently in January.

ALSO READ | The Best Casual Italian Restaurants on the UES

Rafael

973 Lexington Avenue between East 70th and 71st Streets

Few details have been made public about Rafael, a new restaurant coming to Lenox Hill. Backyard patio and sidewalk seating with be available, and no timeline has been announced. 

Warby Parker

1187 Third Avenue on the corner of East 69th Street

The trendy eyewear chain is bringing its design prowess and customer-focused approach to Lenox Hill with its second Upper East Side location. 

CityPickle at Wollman Rink

Wollman Rink, Central Park

Upper East Siders will soon be having fun in the sun as CityPickle’s 14 newly resurfaced pickleball courts return to Wollman Rink on Wednesday, May 1st. Just don’t forget to make a reseration for yourself and friends ahead of time.

Closed

Mini Deli

1266 Second Avenue between East 66th and 67th Street

After 46 years of dutifully serving Lenox Hill, Mini Deli, selling authentic Italian sandwiches, espresso and select groceries since 1978, closed last week amid a post-pandemic downturn. Longtime owner Pino Cinquemani told Upper East Site he blamed the changing neighborhood.

Charley Mom

1491 First Avenue near the corner of East 83rd Street

More than 35 years after opening on the Upper East Side, popular Yorkville family-owned Chinese restaurant Charley Mom abruptly shut its doors without explanation, leaving its customers, some having frequented the eatery for decades, wondering why.

Future Uncertain

Capriotti’s 

1711 Second Avenue between East 88th and 89th Streets

Currently facing an eviction lawsuit brought by its landlord, the popular sandwich chain’s Upper East Side franchisee is accused of not paying its $9,017.65 per month rent since last year, according to court documents reviewed by Upper East Site. 

Capriotti’s did not respond to our request for comment.

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