By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER EAST SIDE — A new homestyle barbecue is going whole hog on the Upper East Side.
The stars of the Food Network show "Down Home with the Neely's," Patrick and Gina Neely, plan to open an upscale barbecue restaurant called Neely's Pig Parlor on the upper level of the current MerchantsNY restaurant at 1125 First Ave.
The lower level of MerchantsNY will remain a cigar bar, under the ownership of Abraham Merchant, noted Chris Eldridge, who currently manages MerchantsNY and will also oversee Neely's Pig Parlor.
The new restaurant cleared a hurdle this week when Community Board 8 approved management's application for a liquor license.
The Neelys, who own three barbecue restaurants in Tennessee, also host the Food Network's "Road Tasted with the Neely's." It wasn't clear how involved the Neelys would be in the day-to-day operations of the restaurant, Eldridge added.
Among the couple's specialties are dishes like dirty rice with smoked sausage, chocolate-covered bacon, prosciutto wrapped asparagus, and stewed okra and tomatoes.
