HUNTERS POINT — The chef behind acclaimed Italian eatery Trattoria L'incontro will be heading up the kitchen of a new restaurant in Long Island City that's set to open next month.
Rocco Sacramone, who opened the Zagat-rated Trattoria L'incontro in 1999, is teaming up with Tommy Demaras — owner of Astoria restaurant and lounge Cavo — to open Maiella on the Long Island City waterfront.
"We're very excited," Demaras said. "Rocco and I have been friends for many years and we always talked about doing something together."
He said the eatery will be a "trendy trattoria" where the food will be inspired by Sacramone's central Italian roots. Cured meats like prosciutto and soppressata will hang from the ceiling around a pizza oven, and patrons can dine outside with views of the Manhattan skyline.
"It's not going to be a stuffy place, but you can expect the finest food, the finest service and the finest cocktails," Demaras said. Neighborhood blog LIC Talk previously reported on the new eatery.
Sacramone said the menu will feature dishes made with house-made pasta — including one served in a pomodoro sauce made with heirloom cherry tomatoes — a number of fish dishes, like branzino, and steaks, like a dry-aged beef for two.
The eatery will also serve pizza and focaccia bread cooked in an oven that sits in its main dining area, as well as crudo, like carpaccio.
Demaras said the cocktail list will be created by bartender Padraig O'Brien, formerly of the Park Hyatt in Manhattan. They will also serve wine and beer.
Maiella will be located at 46-10 Center Blvd., on the first floor of a luxury apartment building by TF Cornerstone that sits directly behind the Pepsi-Cola sign.
The space features coffered ceilings made from reclaimed wood, a circular bar and two private dining rooms. An outdoor patio in the back of the restaurant faces Gantry Plaza State Park, with views of the East River and Manhattan skyline.
Demaras said they expect to open in mid-May.
