The Upper East Side Is Restaurant Central

With cuisines from Italian to Israeli on offer, uptown dining just got a lot more interesting

Written by Natasha Wolff

Marlow East, a New American restaurant and cocktail lounge, has opened at the corner of 73rd Street and Lexington. Co-founded by restaurateur Elena Ristovski and Dragan Ristovski (Marlow Bistro and Fandi Mata) and executive chef Braxton Decker, (Fandi Mata and the Musket Room), Marlow East delivers elevated comfort food with a Southern American bent. "At Marlow East, I wanted to create food that feels comforting and familiar but still a little unexpected," says Decker. "It’s exciting to explore the Southern flavors I grew up with in a way that feels fresh, refined and connected to the seasons. The all-day destination for brunch, lunch and dinner features a 8-seat bar and 55-seat dining room upstairs. Diners can enjoy housemade pastas, fresh seafood, fried chicken and dry-aged steaks. "We’re bringing a fresh perspective to the uptown dining scene, offering thoughtful food, beautiful cocktails and warm, genuine hospitality," says Ristovski. Designed by Larisa Mihajlova, the warm interiors showcase custom nature-themed wallpaper, a sleek marble bar with glass, wood and stone accents, sculptural lighting and lush greenery.

The Upper East Side Is Restaurant Central

With cuisines from Italian to Israeli on offer, uptown dining just got a lot more interesting

Written by Natasha Wolff

Chez Fifi, from brothers Joshua and David Foulquier (of Sushi Noz), is a new bi-level, 40-seat French bistro. The restaurant is named for their late mother, whose affectionate nickname was Fifi. Nestled in a charming Upper East Side townhouse, the interiors showcase gleaming mahogany paneling, deep blue accents, red upholstered banquettes and mirrored walls and were conceived of by Stockholm-based Joyn Architectural Design Studio. Executive chef Zack Zeidman, formerly of Estela and Café Altro Paradiso, has crafted a menu that riffs on French and Basque classics such as escargots, deviled baked crab, a perfect roast chicken and, of course, a tender filet au poivre with potatoes. The second-floor no-reservation Salon Di Fifi à L’étage features small bites and cocktails and art from the family’s art collection, which includes works from Calder and Miró, is on display. chezfifinyc.com

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Alex Krauss

The Upper East Side Is Restaurant Central

With cuisines from Italian to Israeli on offer, uptown dining just got a lot more interesting

Written by Natasha Wolff

Chef Harold Moore is reviving the beloved West Village gem Commerce (2008 to 2015) with a charming new location on Lexington Avenue. Cafe Commerce is an evolution of everything guests loved about the original Commerce (like Harold’s Famous Chicken, the bread program, steak Diane, coconut cake and more) with innovative takes on the classics and new standout dishes that strike the balance between comfort and exquisite flavors. The approachable menu features dishes like sweet potato tortelloni with hazelnuts, marinated hamachi, a roast chicken with foie gras stuffing for two and a 20-herb salad. The 55-seat bistro features a 19 foot Saint Sebastian mural suspended above the length of the bar, saffron colored walls and coffered ceilings by Paul Dennis (who also led the design for the original Commerce). cafecommercenyc.com

The Upper East Side Is Restaurant Central

With cuisines from Italian to Israeli on offer, uptown dining just got a lot more interesting

Written by Natasha Wolff

Rafael, the latest culinary venture from chef/owner Rafael "Rafi" Hasid of 6R Hospitality Group (Miriam and 1803 TriBeCa), has opened in a townhouse on Lexington Avenue. Featuring Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, the all-day restaurant will serve an all day menu alongside a dinner menu of shareable plates, appetizers and entrees. Dinner highlights include meze, falafel, roasted leeks with feta and honey and filet mignon skewers. For brunch and lunch, look out for lamb burgers, shakshuka, Turkish eggs and chicken schnitzel. The warm and welcoming setting features curved walls, handmade tiles and mosaic floors. rafaelues.com

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Patrick Dolande

The Upper East Side Is Restaurant Central

With cuisines from Italian to Israeli on offer, uptown dining just got a lot more interesting

Written by Natasha Wolff

Monsieur Bistro, a French bistro from restaurateurs Theliau Probst and Thibaut Castet (Maison Close), has opened on Lexington Avenue. Designed by DMDesign and Architecture, the space features warm wooden accents, plush velvet fabrics and banquettes and a Parisian-inspired aesthetic. "We are excited to bring a new concept to the Upper East Side, blending the art of French cuisine with a focus on healthy, everyday options,” says co-owner Theliau Probst. Classic dishes like steak frites au poivre, salmon tartare, escargots and salad niçoise are on offer. monsieurbistro.com

The Upper East Side Is Restaurant Central

With cuisines from Italian to Israeli on offer, uptown dining just got a lot more interesting

Written by Natasha Wolff

Adria is an Italian restaurant with Mediterranean flair and a seafood focus that recently opened on Second Avenue. Coastal Italian dishes like red snapper acqua pazza, grilled branzino over salsa verde, tuna crudo and lobster pasta in a cherry tomato sauce are on offer. Maria Marquez Hass runs the restaurant along with chef Endrie Qalliu and her husband, Lawrence Hass. Originally from Colombia, Marquez-Hass and her family moved to the Upper East Side 40 years ago to carry. adrianyc.com

The Upper East Side Is Restaurant Central

With cuisines from Italian to Israeli on offer, uptown dining just got a lot more interesting

Written by Natasha Wolff

Rocco Steakhouse has opened its second New York City location. Helmed by Wolfgang's Steakhouse alum, Rocco Trotta, and partners general manager Pete Pjetrovic, beverage director Jeff Kolenovic and sommelier Henry Doda, the steakhouse is overseen by chef Dominick Pepe, formerly of Boucherie and Veronika. Working alongside renowned butchers and selecting premium meats, chef Pepe also runs the restaurant's dry aging room, which showcases four prized cuts like porterhouse, tomahawk, New York strip and ribeye. Raw bar offerings along with appetizers like tuna tartare and crab cakes and the classic sides like creamed spinach, mac and cheese and potatoes are also on offer. roccosteakhouse.com