OPENINGS
FOOD & DRINK
Christos Christou, who was sous chef at Molyvos when it received a three-star review from the New York Times, and who opened Milos, adds a new restaurant to his repertoire: Yefsi Estiatorio, a contemporary Greek taverna. The restaurant at 1481 York Ave. is now open for dinner and will be serving brunch soon.
Appetizers include grilled Cyprian halloumi served with a bright citrus salsa or freshly seasoned calf liver in dill, white wine and scallions. For main courses, Christou serves up Thalasino Youvetsi (a feta-and-tomato garnished plate of orzo with braised shrimp, mussels and scallops) and a lamb shank prepared over Lazanaki noodles in a cinnamon-tomato sauce. A decadent galactoboureko — a vanilla custard baked into flaky phyllo dough, served with orange and thyme sauce — tops off the meal.
The Panorama Café, which has been serving up Italian and American food on the Upper East Side for 15 years, recently moved from its spot on Second Avenue between East 81st and 82nd streets and reopened a few blocks north at 1640 Second Ave., near East 85th Street. The construction for the Second Avenue subway has been a challenge, but it's allowed the restaurant to find a better deal.
"I found a better deal lease-wise. The rent here is a lot more enticing and I have a longer lease," owner Nunzio Montaña said. "I spent a lot of years on the Upper East Side and we have a pretty nice following.
Jbird Cocktails is now bringing its artisanal bitters and fancy hand-crafted drinks to 339 E. 75th St., between First and Second avenues. "If you're boring and you prefer to stick with the usual dive bar vodka-cran, stay home," one reviewer wrote on Yelp. "These cocktails will make your head spin, your insides happy and [giddy] and they won't damage your pockets like some places in the city."
Joe the Art of Coffee has upped the ante on the coffee world’s latest obsession for pour-over coffee at it new 1045 Lexington Ave. location. It built a pour-over bar for the single cups it makes by slowly and steadily pouring a stream of water to create the perfect brew, rather than making a big batch and letting it seep and drip.
"Rather than batch brewing in big urns, it’s more theater," owner Jonathan Rubinstein said of the art of pour-over. "We think it tastes better. We’re trying to put the big coffee urn out of sight."
FASHION
Celine is now open at 870 Madison Ave., bringing the luxurious but minimal French fashion of Phoebe Philo, who won the CFDA's International Designer of the Year award in 2011. It's Celine's only free-standing New York store.
"It is one of the great fashion brands of the world, so we are thrilled that it's here," Madison Avenue Business Improvement District President Matthew Bauer said, noting that it's on the same block as the new Laduree and Bottega Veneta and soon-to-be-home of Pucci. "It's really a powerhouse block now," Bauer said of the block between East 70th and 71st streets.
The famed Italian brand by Emilio Pucci is coming soon to the corner of Madison and 71st Street.
The uber-trendy French shop Zadig et Voltaire is bringing a taste of Parisian chicness to the Mark Hotel, also on Madison Avenue.
The retailer recently signed a lease for a 2,300-square-foot spot at 992 Madison Ave., at East 77th Street, according to RKF, the real estate firm that worked on the deal. When it opens this spring it will be Zadig's fourth Manhattan location and first Uptown spot.
“Zadig et Voltaire found its ideal location at The Mark Hotel after a long search," said RKF Vice President Joshua Strauss, noting the plethora of luxury brands that have recently opened nearby on Madison Avenue or have expanded their spaces.
CLOSINGS
Anthony Mazzola of 'Cesca opened the Accademia di Vino at 1081 Third Ave. in 2007. The restaurant had an 800-bottle wine cellar and served up an array of cheeses, carpaccios and tartars, its website said. A casual Italian is expected to move in, according to Eater.com.
