CARNEGIE HILL — A restaurateur wants to put an Italian twist on the typical American burger and shake experience.
The menu at Gina Americana, expected to open at 27 E. 92nd St. at Madison Avenue in mid-March, is still in the works, but its owner Paola Pedrignani knows she wants it to be "like a chic Shake Shack," she said.
She plans to serve up seven types of burgers, homemade gelato milkshakes and a couple of nods to her Italian roots, like a Chicken Milanese slider and Chicken Paillard.
"We'll make our own gelato and try to make it as organic as possible," she said. "It will be the real thing with real eggs, real milk and cream."
The new restaurant is opening in the former Ciao Bella ice cream shop and will be designed with the 1950s in mind with an open kitchen, Pedrignani said.
"I think the neighborhood really needs Gina Americana," said Pedrignani, who lives on the Upper East Side and also owns Gina La Fornarina and Gina Mexicana restaurants.
"The kids don't have a good, relatively healthy option."
There's a demand in the area for healthy burger options, especially after Jackson Hole, which used to be on Second Avenue and East 84th Street, closed in 2013, she said.
"Jackson Hole left a hole," she continued. "People will be amazed what we can achieve in this little space."
Gina Americana ;-) Opening soon at 27 E 92nd St @ Madison Ave
Posted by Gina La Fornarina on Monday, February 15, 2016
