Cucina Di Pesce returns as a pop up at Nomad on 2nd Avenue

[Undated photo via Zomato]

Good news for fans of Cucina di Pesce — owner Mehenni Zebentout has announced that menu items from the now-closed Italian restaurant are available for takeout or delivery from his other establishment at Nomad, 78 Second Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.

Cucina di Pesce, the unpretentious seafood-focused restaurant on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery, closed in September 2018 after 32 years in business. The building at 87 E. Fourth St. had a new owner, and there was a rent increase for the restaurant space. (That space remains empty, though a Chinese restaurant is in the works for it.)

Late last summer, Cucina di Pesce's Instagram account teased a comeback with a photo of Audrey Hepburn wearing a sleep mask in a scene from "Breakfast at Tiffany's" with a caption "that was a nice break...WHO’S HUNGRY?"

Cucina di Pesce announced their pop-up venture at Nomad via this snappy Instagram clip...

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cucina di Pesce (@cucinadipesce) on Jun 20, 2020 at 3:27pm PDT

Previously on EV Grieve:
• After 32 years on 4th Street, Cucina di Pesce will close after service on Sunday

On the CB3-SLA agenda tonight: A Chinese restaurant for the former Cucina Di Pesce space

Here are a few of the applicants on CB3's SLA committee docket tonight for new or expanded liquor licenses and methods of operation:

• Jadeite, 87 E. Fourth St.

A Chinese restaurant called Jadeite is in the works for the former Cucina Di Pesce space on Fourth Street just west of Second Avenue.

Here's a description of what to expect from chef-owner JinYu Zhong via the questionnaire at the CB3 website:

At Jadeite, we are dedicated to showcase you a new way to understand Chinese culture through Chef Zhong’s memories and love of food and her experiences at various fine dining restaurants. This is a set tasting menu of ten courses, marrying the best of both worlds.

And the sample menu...



The questionnaire notes that Zhong has extensive restaurant experience in her family's restaurant business in China. In NYC, she has cooked at 11 Madison Park and attended the Culinary Institute of America.

Plant-based celebrity chef Matthew Kenney was previously OK'd for another restaurant concept in this space. However, those plans never materialized.

Cucina Di Pesce closed in September 2018 after 32 years in business. (They have been hinting at a return to the East Village in a yet undisclosed location.)



• Nostro East Village, 75 Second Ave.

The low-key Italian restaurant opened on Second Avenue between Fourth Street and Fifth Street back in the fall.

They are now applying for a beer-wine license for the space. This outpost of the Brooklyn-based Nostro has been BYOB to date.



• Hayaty, 103 Avenue A

The Mediterranean restaurant and hookah bar between Sixth Street and Seventh Street is looking to expand its hours of operation to 4 a.m., according to the questionnaire online at the CB3 website.

Hayaty made headlines in early January. According to the NYPD and multiple published reports (such as the Post and NY1), a fight that started inside Hayaty ended up in a police-involved shooting on Avenue A that led to the death of two men.

The CB3 committee meeting is tonight at 6:30. Location: the Public Hotel, 17th Floor, Sophia Room, 215 Chrystie St. between Houston and Stanton.

Cucina di Pesce teases return on Instagram

[EVG photo from September 2018]

Cucina di Pesce, the unpretentious seafood-focused Italian restaurant on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery, closed last Sept. 23 after 32 years in business.

The building at 87 E. Fourth St. had a new owner, and there was a rent increase for the restaurant space.

Over the weekend, Cucina di Pesce's Instagram account teased a comeback with a photo of Audrey Hepburn wearing a sleep mask in a scene from "Breakfast at Tiffany's" with a caption "that was a nice break...WHO’S HUNGRY?"

View this post on Instagram

that was a nice break...WHO’S HUNGRY? ~~~~~~~~~~ #cucinadipesce #eastvillage #foodie #foodporn #NYCeats #pasta #cucinaitaliana #instafood #italian #foodstagram #mammamia #italianfood #mangia #gymtanpasta #eeeeeats @cucinadipesce #v2.0 #zagat #rebirth #buonappetito #cucina #italianstyle #forkyeah #italianfoodlove #whoshungry

A post shared by Cucina di Pesce (@cucinadipesce) on Aug 16, 2019 at 7:39pm PDT

There weren't any other details except for comments to queries on Instagram like "soon" and "stay tuned...😉"

So there's no word yet on where Cucina di Pesce 2.0 may happen. Its previous home still sits empty. Plant-based celebrity chef Matthew Kenney was looking to take over the Cucina di Pesce space. Those plans seems to be on hold for now.

Meanwhile, if you're new to the restaurant, here's how New York magazine described the place:

Cucina di Pesce is the type of unpretentious, comfortably lived-in Italian restaurant that ruled New York before Mario Batali and his ilk turned the town upside-down. But if Cucina's ambience feels a bit dated, its flavors are absolutely contemporary. This is one of the best places in the city to get good Italian food on a budget.

Previously on EV Grieve:
After 32 years on 4th Street, Cucina di Pesce will close after service on Sunday

Tuesday's parting shot

A look inside the former Cucina Di Pesce, which closed here on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery on Sept. 23 after 32 years in business...

Goodbye to Cucina Di Pesce

In case you missed the post from Friday afternoon... Cucina di Pesce, the unpretentious seafood-focused Italian restaurant on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery, closed after service last evening.

Cucina Di Pesce had been open for 32 years, though the building was recently sold and the rent was increased.

This is how New York magazine described the place:

Cucina di Pesce is the type of unpretentious, comfortably lived-in Italian restaurant that ruled New York before Mario Batali and his ilk turned the town upside-down. But if Cucina's ambience feels a bit dated, its flavors are absolutely contemporary. This is one of the best places in the city to get good Italian food on a budget.

There were a lot of reader comments about this closure spread out over this site, Instagram and Facebook.

A quick sampling:

That neon sign, two blocks away from their window, was a nighttime touchstone for my kids when they were little. Fish!

And...

Very sad. This was one of the first restaurants I discovered when I moved to NYC 30 years ago.

And...

When it opened we little babies thought it the most expensive restaurant in the world. And that it was going to ruin the neighborhood! Then we discovered the free happy hour mussels and pasta. Kept many of us alive for most of the 90s. Very sad.

After 32 years on 4th Street, Cucina di Pesce will close after service on Sunday

We've heard rumors in recent weeks that Cucina di Pesce, the unpretentious seafood-focused Italian restaurant on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery, would be closing this month.

The owners made the official announcement today on Facebook:

It is with great regret that Cucina di Pesce will be closing its doors.

We would like to thank all of our customers for their support. It has been an honor to be part of the East Village community for the last 32 years, as we continue to keep close the memories and friendships established here.

A special acknowledgement to all our current and previous employees, as well as our friends at New York Theatre Workshop.

Our final day is this Sunday, September 23.

As we understand it, the building has a new owner, and there is a rent increase. (Public records show that an LLC bought the property for $6.8 million in a closing last month.)

Owner Mehenni Zebentout, who also has Nomad around the corner on Second Avenue, consolidated Cucina di Pesce — which was at 87-89 Fourth St. — in 2016 after the landlord next door asked $8,000 for the space.

About that for rent sign outside Cucina di Pesce on East 4th Street

[Photo from last week by Derek Berg]

One day last week, EVG contributor Derek Berg noticed that workers had boarded up part of the sidewalk cafe at Cucina di Pesce at 87 E. Fourth St. near Second Avenue.

Then on Tuesday, a for rent sign arrived at that section of the Italian restaurant. An ominous sign perhaps?



Owner Mehenni Zebentout offered an explanation.

"We just gave up the room next door as it belongs to a different landlord — the 89 E. Fourth St. part," he said via email.

The landlord for the space wanted $8,000 a month for what Zebentout said is a tiny room.

"So we decided to do without it," said Zebentout, who also owns the equally low-key Nomad around the corner on Second Avenue. "We have enough room to accommodate about 74 guests."

As for Cucina di Pesce, who will be opening their garden soon, here's what New York had to say about the restaurant:

Cucina di Pesce is the type of unpretentious, comfortably lived-in Italian restaurant that ruled New York before Mario Batali and his ilk turned the town upside-down. But if Cucina's ambience feels a bit dated, its flavors are absolutely contemporary. This is one of the best places in the city to get good Italian food on a budget.

Cucina Di Pesce is back open

Our apologies — we meant to note this earlier... Italian standby Cucina Di Pesce on East Fourth Street near Second Avenue reopened last Thursday as expected... the DOH closed them on Nov. 3 with 51 violation points... the DOH returned on Thursday, and gave the eatery high marks — a measly 2 violation points.

A few readers noted that Cucina Di Pesce isn't what it used to be... haven't been in years. Will go back and see for ourselves ...

Previously.

Cucina di Pesce closed for 'emergency repairs'

Cucina di Pesce, the solid Italian standby on East Fourth Street west of Second Avenue, has been closed this past week... sign says for emergency repairs...

Unfortunately, the DOH closed them last Thursday with 51 violation points for the usual "evidence of" stuff...

While standing there the other evening, this couple walks up for dinner. The woman is quite perturbed to find it closed. She peppers the carpenter out front with questions. Why are you closed? What happened? The carpenter explains that the place is closed for repairs. Nothing he says sinks in. Was there a fire? I don't understand why you're closed! Losing patience, the fellow finally snaps, "They're closed lady."

She harumpfs and says something about having already paid for parking...

Anyway, this reminds me that I haven't eater here in years... As New York put it: "Cucina di Pesce is the type of unpretentious, comfortably lived-in Italian restaurant that ruled New York before Mario Batali and his ilk turned the town upside-down."