There are nights when you want Italian food, and there are nights when you want Japanese food. Serafina Restaurant Group recognized that, and decided to try to satisfy both desires. The company announced that it is opening two restaurants on Wednesday (last year we broke the story about their plans to open) in the space on the Southeast corner of 77th Street and Broadway that used to house Tom Valenti’s The West Branch: Geisha Table and Serafina UWS.
No, you can’t get sushi pizza, and who would want that anyway. The two restaurants will have separate entrances, and somewhat different atmospheres.
Serafina will be more family-friendly, with a pizza oven and a relaxed vibe. It will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and offer take-out. The company hasn’t yet released the menu, although it will likely be similar to the midtown location’s menu, with lots of pizzas and pastas, and imported prosciutto and mozzarella.
Geisha Table will have only 23 seats and doesn’t allow reservations. Zagat says it “is being sold as a ‘casual and hip’ Japanese izakaya, and will feature a menu of sushi, sashimi and tempura served alongside a large list of sake.” The company has also promised that a wide diversity of Asian cuisines will be represented. According to the company:
“In the open kitchen at GSB, the Chefs of Geisha will serve a daily changing menu including our renowned sushi, charred yakitory, and crisp tempura in a fun, relaxed and intimate setting. GSB will also have a list of hand selected sakes and beers from the best breweries in Japan.”
Geisha will start with dinner service only.
For more news on Upper West Side openings and closings, click here.
