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.
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.
ALSO READ | ‘Maria Mulata’ to Bring Authentic Colombian Cuisine to Lexington Avenue
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
ALSO READ | Your Favorite UES Restaurant on Seamless Probably Does Not Exist
“We are incredibly excited and proud of the new location,” Kasimis continued, “We are Greek, so hospitality is effectively in our DNA.”
“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.
