New York State is selling off the contents of Matthew Kenney's restaurant Sestina

Next Wednesday, the State of New York is auctioning off the contents of Sestina, vegan chef Matthew Kenney's pasta restaurant at 67 Second Ave. at Fourth Street. 

Reps for the Department of Taxation and Finance posted the notices yesterday on the restaurant, which the state had seized in late August for nonpayment of taxes.

The auction will occur at the restaurant. Go here to find what's available to bid on next week.

Sestina's Instagram account chalked up the seizure to "technical difficulties" back on Aug. 31.

Kenney opened Sestina in the fall of 2020, one of several restaurants he operates in the East Village.

Meanwhile, a Sestina just debuted in Culver City, Calif. 

This marked the fourth Kenney concept here in the past few years, following Plantmade, Plant Food + Wine and Arata.

There was also a revolving door of restaurants here before Kenney took over. La Contrada ... Contrada (not to be confused with La Contrada) ... Calliope and Belcourt all came and went since 2012.

State seizes Sestina for nonpayment of taxes; owners cite 'technical difficulties'

Photos by Stacie Joy

Late last week, the state seized Sestina, the pasta restaurant at 67 Second Ave. for "nonpayment of taxes," according to the legal documents affixed to the storefront here at Fourth Street...

Plant-based celebrity chef Matthew Kenney opened Sestina in the fall of 2020, one of several restaurants he operates in the East Village.

The restaurant's Instagram account notes the following about the closure: "We apologize for the inconvenience for our technical difficulties. We will be back open very soon! We thank you for your understanding."

Meanwhile, Kenney just opened a Sestina in Culver City, Calif. 

Matthew Kenney changing up concepts on 2nd Avenue and 4th Street

Plant-based celebrity chef Matthew Kenney is changing up concepts again at 67 Second Ave. at Fourth Street, where Sestina, a pasta bar, is opening later this summer, per its website (thanks to Vinny & O for the photos!)...



And they already have an Eventbrite page for the Sestina Thanksgiving dinner.

This marks the fourth Kenney concept here in the past few years, following Plantmade, Plant Food + Wine and Arata.

There was also a revolving door of restaurants here before Kenney took over. La Contrada ... Contrada (not to be confused with La Contrada) ... Calliope and Belcourt all came and went since 2012.