Green Kitchen's new UES location on Second Avenue at East 70th Street is now open | Upper East Site
Green Kitchen's new UES location on Second Avenue at East 70th Street is now open | Upper East Site

Green Kitchen’s New UES Restaurant is Now Open

Nine long months after Upper East Side residents said goodbye to a near-century-old neighborhood institution, Green Kitchen opened a second location in Lenox Hill Monday morning, serving all the delicious recipes we’ve loved for decades.

Green Kitchen's new restaurant is located at 1325 Second Avenue | Upper East Site
Green Kitchen’s new restaurant is located at 1325 Second Avenue | Upper East Site

Located at 1325 Second Avenue, at the corner of East 70th Street, the new Green Kitchen feels like home the moment you arrive. An impressive floral display wraps the storefront, much like the one on its sister restaurant some 14 blocks north.

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Other design cues that carry over include the classic white subway tile on the storefront and the ornate tile work on the restaurant’s floors. Gorgeous herringbone green subway tiles adorn the bar, featuring stylish upscale seating rather than standard bar stools. Each finishing touch showcases the thought and effort put into the new restaurant.

Green Kitchen's bar features green herringbone subway tiles | Upper East Site
Green Kitchen’s bar features green herringbone subway tiles | Upper East Site

Bright and early, staffers set out 14 tables and chairs on the sidewalk in front of the airy eatery across from the Second Avenue subway entrance at East 69th Street. Green Kitchen’s 2200-square-foot space features sliding doors along both sides, making it feel al fresco whether dining in or outdoors.

Green Kitchen's new location is spacious with plenty of seating | Upper East Site
Green Kitchen’s new location is spacious with plenty of seating | Upper East Site
Green Kitchen features outdoor dining on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant | Upper East Site
Green Kitchen features outdoor dining on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant | Upper East Site

On the menu, you’ll still find Green Kitchen’s delicious diner fare as well as their popular Dinner Specials. The elevated yet slimmed-down selection of dishes leans into the modern tastes of young professionals that pack the restaurant after dark.

All your breakfast favorites are still on the menu | Green Kitchen
All your breakfast favorites are still on the menu | Green Kitchen
Al Pastor Tacos are available on the Dinner Specials menu | Green Kitchen
Al Pastor Tacos are available on the Dinner Specials menu | Green Kitchen

Al Pastor Tacos, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Eggplant Chips with Truffle Honey and Grilled Octopus with Salsa Verde and Extra Virgin Olive Oil are among the sharable plates offered on the Dinner Specials menu.

Grilled Octopus with Salsa Verde and Extra Virgin Olive Oil | Green Kitchen
Grilled Octopus with Salsa Verde and Extra Virgin Olive Oil | Green Kitchen

Entrees include the Grilled Swordfish Skewer, Churrasco Grilled Steak and The Big Smack — Green Kitchen’s 100% prime short rib burger served on a brioche bun, topped with sharp cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, pickles and special sauce.

Churrasco Grilled Steak with Chimichurri | Green Kitchen
Churrasco Grilled Steak with Chimichurri | Green Kitchen

The new restaurant couldn’t come soon enough for Upper East Side residents still mourning the loss of Green Kitchen’s original diner, which was located at the corner of East 77th Street and First Avenue. It shuttered last July after 91 years of serving the UES when it could not reach an agreement to renew its lease.

Green Kitchen's First Avenue location closed last July after 91 years on the UES | Upper East Site
Green Kitchen’s First Avenue location closed last July after 91 years on the UES | Upper East Site

“We were deeply saddened by the closing of our 77th store. It was operating as Green Kitchen since 1931, and on a personal level, for my brother and I, it was the last place that my father operated,” Green Kitchen owner Peter Kasimis told Upper East Site.

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“We are incredibly excited and proud of the new location,” Kasimis continued, “We are Greek, so hospitality is effectively in our DNA.”

Green Kitchen is open and airy with indoor and outdoor dining | Upper East Site
Green Kitchen is open and airy with indoor and outdoor dining | Upper East Site
Upholstered seating can be found along Green Kitchen's southern wall | Upper East Site
Upholstered seating can be found along Green Kitchen’s southern wall | Upper East Site

“We are blessed to have an incredibly hard-working and resilient staff that makes this all possible,” he added, noting that the had retained “quite a bit”of staffers from the original diner.

Greek Kitchen’s hours are from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm seven days a week.

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