Caffè Arrone is expanding with a new UES expresso and wine bar | Caffè Arrone
Caffè Arrone is expanding with a new UES expresso and wine bar | Caffè Arrone

New Espresso & Wine Bar, Italian and Chinese Restaurants Coming to the UES

Several new restaurants set to open on the Upper East Side in the coming months were revealed during Community Board 8’s street life committee meeting Tuesday night. We learned an exciting Greenwich Village espresso and wine bar is expanding with a new location in Lenox Hill, as three new eateries backed by current UES restauranteurs are also set to open up shop, while one neighborhood fixture is slated to close.

Caffè Arrone

A welcoming coffee shop and wine bar located on Greenwich Avenue in the Village, Caffè Arrone will open its second NYC location at 976A Lexington Avenue, between East 71st and 2nd Streets, in just a few months.

Caffe Arrone is opening at 976A Lexington Avenue, between East 71st and 2nd Streets | Upper East Site
Caffè Arrone is opening at 976A Lexington Avenue, between East 71st and 2nd Streets | Upper East Site

Aaron Dahan, owner of the popular shop, is committed to delivering a great cup of coffee. He says Caffè Arrone roasts all their own beans which are sourced only from organic indigenous women-owned farms in Honduras, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Uganda.

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If you’re searching for something a little stronger, organic wines and craft beers made locally and in Europe will also be available.

Caffe Arrone sources their beans from organic indigenous women-owned farms in Honduras, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Uganda | Caffe Arrone
Caffè Arrone sources their beans from organic indigenous women-owned farms in Honduras, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Uganda | Caffe Arrone

As for eats, expect an assortment of toasts topped with avocado, ricotta, fig jam or hummus, as well as a selection of sandwiches. One thing you won’t find on the menu is meat— all menu items are either vegetarian or pescatarian.

Hours will be from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm daily. Upper East Site has learned Caffè Arrone is aiming for a September opening.

L’Italiano

From the owners of Toloache, the contemporary Mexican bistro located at 166 East 82nd Street, comes a new Italian restaurant right on the same block. 

L’Italiano will be moving into the two-story space at 151 East 82nd Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues, with dining space planned for both the first and second floors.

L’Italiano will be moving into the two-story space at 151 East 82nd Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues | Upper East Site
L’Italiano will be moving into the two-story space at 151 East 82nd Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues | Upper East Site

Tuesday’s Street Life committee meeting was once again derailed when Community Board 8 member Loraine Brown— otherwise known as Mrs. Brown— told the restauranteurs they were required to make the second floor accessible to the disabled— despite that not being the requirement under the law. 

Board member Marco Tamayo clarified that is not the case— but went off on his own tirade chastising the restauranteurs for not filing the proper building permits before starting work on the building. 

Sister-restaurant Toloache is located at 166 East 82nd Street | Upper East Site
Sister-restaurant Toloache is located at 166 East 82nd Street | Upper East Site

It turns out they didn’t. The restaurant owners clarified they had not even signed the lease yet— which is why no permits have been filed.

The new Italian restaurant will be open from 11:00 am to midnight everyday once it opens, however a timeline has not been revealed.

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Zucchero E Pomodori Closing

After more than thirty years of serving up authentic Italian dishes on the Upper East Side, Zucchero E Pomodori will soon be saying goodbye.

Zucchero E Pomodori is set to close due to building's sale | Upper East Site
Zucchero E Pomodori is set to close due to building’s sale | Upper East Site

Owner Sayem Islam revealed to the Street Life committee that the building at 1435 Second Avenue has been sold and that Zucchero E Pomodori will be shutting down at some point in the future. He did not specify when exactly.

New restaurant from Zucchero E Pomodori's owner will open at at 1448 First avenue, between East 75th and 76th Streets | Upper East Site
New restaurant from Zucchero E Pomodori’s owner will open at at 1448 First avenue | Upper East Site

Mr. Islam says he’ll be opening a new restaurant— which hasn’t been named yet— very close to the current one. It’ll be located at 1448 First avenue, between East 75th and 76th Streets, in the space formerly home to OM Namaste.

Unnamed Chinese Restaurant

Finally, the owners of Lilli and Loo, an Asian and sushi restaurant on Third Avenue between East 60th and 61st Streets, say they’ll be opening up another Chinese-Asian restaurant just a couple blocks away.

Lilli and Loo's owner is set to open new restaurant on Lexington Avenue | Upper East Site
Lilli and Loo’s owner is set to open new restaurant on Lexington Avenue | Upper East Site

Formerly a Pick-A-Bagel, the storefront is located at 785 Lexington Avenue, between East 61st and 62nd Streets.

New Chinese restaurant to open at 785 Lexington Avenue between 61st and 62nd Street | Upper East Site
New Chinese restaurant to open at 785 Lexington Avenue between 61st and 62nd Street | Upper East Site

A representative for the new restaurant said they expect to open in two to three months, depending on how fast construction proceeds.

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