Matthew Kenney bringing yet another plant-based restaurant to 2nd Avenue

Plant-based chef Matthew Kenney must really like Second Avenue.

Signage arrived yesterday on the southwest corner of Second Avenue and Fourth Street for Arata, another Kenney-backed restaurant. Here's more about this concept:

Arata highlights the diverse and abundant plant-based ingredients of Asia. Japanese for fresh and new, Arata will offer steamed buns, small plates, noodle bowls, tempura, vegetable sushi and Japanese inspired desserts. Arata will have an innovative cocktail and sake program. Opening in EARLY MAY 2018...

[Photos by Perri Silver]

Kenney, whose bio says that he is "crafting the future of food®," is also involved with 00 + Co. and Bar Verde right next door on Second Avenue.

Last month, Kenney teamed up with Pure Green to launch PlantMade, a cafe on Second Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street. So that's four restaurants with Kenney's involvement within six blocks on Second Avenue.

Meanwhile, the signage for Arata means the end for the previous tenant — La Contrada, which opened in July 2016. This corner has seen its share of turnover in recent years with the arrivals and departures of Contrada, (not to be confused with La Contrada), Calliope and Belcourt.

Thanks to EVG reader Perri Silver for the photos!

La Contrada now open on 2nd Avenue

Several readers, including Vinny & O, who shared these photos, have noted that La Contrada is now open for service on Second Avenue at Fourth Street...





The place is billed as an "Italian American Restaurant and Caterers" ...



The restaurant menu shows a variety of standard pasta, meat and fish offerings...


[Click on image to go big]

They also offer takeout items ... as well as juices and smoothies...



The hours are 8 a.m. to midnight daily.

This southwest corner of Second Avenue and Fourth Street was formerly home to Contrada, Calliope and Belcourt. For now, the Contrada signage remains up.

Please ket us know if you have tried La Contrada.