Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Gourmet Grocer Todaro Bros. Plans Bistro in Murray Hill

By Heather Holland | September 30, 2013 9:00am
 Todaro Brothers is planning to add up to 20 seats and a bistro menu to its current space.
Todaro Bros. to Open Bistro
View Full Caption

MURRAY HILL — Gourmet grocer Todaro Bros. is cooking up something new: an in-house eatery.

The veteran food shop, at 555 Second Ave. and East 31st Street, is opening a 20-seat bistro that will serve beer and wine, owner Mary Todaro and her son Peter Todaro told Community Board 6 at a recent meeting.

"We want a secondary menu that isn't just takeout," Peter Todaro said. "It's a high-end concept, and kind of a hybrid market-bistro-cafe."

The grocery will not expand its physical space but will move some of the refrigerators and shelves to make room for the new seats, Todaro said.

Todaro did not reveal the details of the menu, but a store employee said the shop hopes to begin offering some of the new dishes within the next couple of months. CB6's business affairs committee offered advisory approval for the beer and wine license at a meeting last Thursday.

“We just wanted to see if there would be any trouble getting the license, but now that we see there isn’t any resistance, we’re going to go a lot further in building the idea,” said the Todaro employee, who declined to give his name.

Currently, Todaro Bros. offers a broad range of specialty foods, including cheese and olive bars, house-made salads, gelato and pre-made sandwiches.

Todaro Bros. originally opened nearby in 1917 and has become a go-to neighborhood spot for produce and gourmet items, residents said.

Peter Todaro declined to say when the new bistro would officially open.