By Sasha Pezenik
A community board hearing about liquor licenses and sidewalk cafes revealed a lot about some new restaurants set to open soon on the Upper West Side. (We previously covered liquor license applications presented at the same meeting by Jacob’s Pickles and Columbus Flame.)
Opening in the old home of Indian Café between 107th and 108th is Italian restaurant Mezzogiorno, name changed from Da Ponte, which should open come July for lunch and dinner, restaurateur Nicola Ansuini said. They were approved for a new enclosed café application, and will specialize in Tuscan cuisine, specifically Florentine (where Ansuini is from)—such as the mouthwatering bistecca fiorentina.
Bar Amity Hall will open in the erstwhile home of the 982 Amsterdam Village Pourhouse. Managing partners came furnished with poster boards and much sangfroid – the latter was necessary, as tenants sharing the bar’s building were less than smitten with prospects of another raucous crowd loitering late. “[Village Pourhouse] was the worst mix of Columbia frat bro’s and corner drug deals,” one tenant said. Michael, a 50-year resident of the Upper West Side, had concerns about the bar’s exposed brick, which conducts booming bass reverberations if not properly soundproofed. Partner Tory Delany offered many affirmations that Amity Hall is no Pourhouse, and respect for neighbors is of paramount priority.
“We’re here to play ball,” Delany assured, “I have small kids, I get it.” Amity Hall, which also has a downtown location, will move their central office to the 982 Amsterdam location – which means there will always be at least one managing partner on hand, and hopefully more accountability. Delany describes sliding barn doors and plans for a sidewalk café, along with the (specially soundproofed) exposed brick: “We want lots of aesthetic texture!” she said. The Amity group may have to wait on the sidewalk café, but their liquor license was approved, and with it, a chance to prove they’ll raise the bar, not the roof.
Other applications included Columbus Gourmet Food, a business holding steady on West 72nd street since 1995, approved for a new 4-year unenclosed sidewalk café permit. The committee also consented to a new unenclosed sidewalk café for Seven’s Mediterranean Turkish Grill on 72nd street.
Resolutions adopted at the June 10th meeting will be reported to the Full Board on Tuesday, July 7th beginning at 6:30pm, at the Congregation Rodeph Sholom on 7 West 83rd street. Visit www.nyc.gov/mcb7 for agenda updates. Liquor licenses must recive final approval from the state liquor authority.
Photo by Sarah.
