Happy 25th anniversary to Lavagna!

Lavagna, the unassuming and quintessential East Village restaurant, is celebrating 25 years in business this week at 545 E. Fifth St., just west of Avenue B. 

The restaurant, which serves traditional Italian trattoria fare, opened on Feb. 1, 1999. 

Congrats to Yorgos, Rob and everyone in the front and back of the house at Lavagna. 

Open daily from 5-10 p.m., with a 1 p.m. start on Saturdays and Sundays. 

Image via Instagram

Happy No. 22 to Lavagna

Taking a break from posts about snow to wish Lavagna, the low-key Italian restaurant at 545 E. Fifth St., a happy 22nd anniversary.

In a time when far too many restaurants are closing, I'm happy to see that Lavagna has been able to continue to make it work during the pandemic. 

Will quote this review from over at The Infatuation from a few years back:

The place has been in business since 1999, and it’s still busy every night. Chalk it up to an excellent and consistent menu of pastas and entrees that keep the regulars coming back, exceptional daily specials, and a really good wine list. It’s everything that you want a cozy Italian restaurant to be, and it’s not even all that expensive. 

Lavagna, which is just west off of Avenue B, is open for some sidewalk and curbside seating and takeout and delivery from 5-10 p.m. daily. (Ordering from their website is simple.)

Congratulations to Yorgos and the entire Lavagna family.

Photo via the Lavagna Instagram account

Eddie Boros returns to 5th Street

Noah Scalin created this painting of Eddie Boros (RIP 2007) and the Tower of Toys (RIP 2008) outside Lavagna on Fifth Street and Avenue B as part of the 100 Gates Project.

Boros — “a charismatic, sometimes cantankerous artist,” per the The New York Times — lived his entire life in an apartment across the street. Some of his art is still on the walls at Sophie's down the street.

Happy No. 20 to Lavagna!

Lavagna, the low-key Italian restaurant with an open kitchen at 545 E. Fifth St., celebrates its 20th anniversary today.

That's quite an achievement given how many buzzy restaurants come and go (have come and gone).

Here's a little bit of a review from over at The Infatuation:

The place has been in business since 1999, and it’s still busy every night. Chalk it up to an excellent and consistent menu of pastas and entrees that keep the regulars coming back, exceptional daily specials, and a really good wine list. It’s everything that you want a cozy Italian restaurant to be, and it’s not even all that expensive.

Lavagna, which is just west off of Avenue B, has remained one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants for these past 20 years. Congrats to Yorgos and the entire Lavagna family.

Lavagna is helping an East Village resident in his fight against cancer

East Village resident Brett Kilroe was diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer in 2011. According to his friends, he was denied coverage from insurance because it was considered to be a pre-existing condition.

Donations have helped Kilroe, an art director who has worked with Kings of Leon, the Strokes and Alabama Shakes, get the care he needs. However, his ongoing treatment continues. (According to the Kings of Leon Facebook page, the cancer has spread to Kilroe's skull, "which is relatively good news because it didn’t spread to his brain, and doctors believe it can be treated with targeted radiation.")

Throughout 2016, Lavagna, the excellent Italian restaurant at 545 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, is helping with Kilroe's expenses.

On the last Monday of every month, Lavagna will donate 100 percent of the food and drink sales (before tax and tip) to anyone making a reservation and referencing the code Brett2016.

You can make reservations via Open Table or by calling the restaurant at (212) 979-1005.

You can read more about Kilroe via SweetRelief.org.

Lavagna the setting for an AARP commercial

Filming now on Fifth Street near Avenue B.