[Updated] Former chef of Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen returning to a new East Village space as a pop up

Photo of Dima Kovalenko from 2018 

Reporting by Stacie Joy 

Updated 5/31: Streecha reopens today under new management. In this post, Rev. Father Johan Lubiv, the administrator of St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church for the past four years, discusses what has transpired here recently.

The post below was updated to reflect new information received from St. George.

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Dima Kovalenko, the former chef of Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen, plans to open a pop-up concept in the East Village.

Last week, Kovalenko, who has been there for nine years, learned that the nearby St. George Ukrainian Church, which Stretcha supported in its decades-long existence, had other plans for the basement space. (Public records list the Order of St. Basil the Great, Inc. as the property owner, though the church is the landlord.) 

While the church's announcement surprised Kovalenko, several potential investors came forward to help him after the news broke last week. 

Kovalenko, who said he is leaving on favorable terms, told us that visitors to the pop-up will enjoy the same menu featuring "good quality and affordable food using all my recipes." He said he'd announce the new location soon.

Kovalenko said his new space will contribute funds to Ukrainian organizations to help with the ongoing war relief efforts.

In addition, several church members who volunteered to help make the vareniki (Ukrainian dumplings) will continue working with Kovalenko in the new space.

"The vareniki team is the reason I'm doing this," he said in a phone call on Sunday. 

After a brief renovation, St. George will continue to use the space at 33 E. Seventh St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square as Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen, which open Fridays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Aside from the Streecha pop-up, Kovalenko hopes to open a restaurant in the neighborhood.

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• A visit to the Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen on 7th Street