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Restaurant offering wood-fire pizza and Italian/American fare to open on Center Blvd early September

Aug. 29, 2017 By Christian Murray

A new restaurant serving wood-fire pizza and high-end American-Italian fare is scheduled to open on Center Boulevard in early September.

Piatto, which is opening across the street from Hunters Point South Park at 1-50 50th Avenue, will offer Italian favorites—such as Chicken Marsala–but with an American twist. There will be items for vegans and vegetarians and various eclectic dishes.

“We will be offering New American prep on Italian cuisine,” said Corey Cash, who has worked at Le Cirque and Eleven Madison Park, both high-end Manhattan restaurants. “It’s not traditional Italian, we have a lot of creative dishes.” (see menu below)

The restaurant, which will be open from 11am through 11pm seven days per week, aims to cater to all groups. There are big-screen TVs for sports fans; there is fine dining for couples; and a kids’ menu to entice families.

The establishment features a large bar–with 14 seats–that looks out onto the East River and the skyline views.

The restaurant will be open until 1 am on the weekends and Cash will be creating a bar menu for the hours between 11pm—1 am. The bar will serve wine, beer and liquor. There will be a seasonal cocktail menu and five beers on tap.

The restaurant is owned by Giancarlo Coco, who has several eateries in New York, and Chris Maridou, a first time owner who will be the manager.

“We expect to open early September,” Maridou said, adding that they are waiting on the city to sign off on permits.

The restaurant will offer valet parking.

Cash is optimistic about the restaurant and its future.

“The fact that we are right off the ferry, the fact that we have this view, the fact that we are in the middle of one of the fasting growing neighborhoods…I would say we are definitely right time, right place.

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23 Comments

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LIC Mom

Corey, Thank you for responding. Where will the cars be parked between the time your customers drop them and the valet agents take them to the garage? I believe the other Center Blvd restaurants also use garages but there is a continuous line of double-parked cars outside their businesses all weekend long. It’s dangerous for traffic and pedestrians.

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LIC Mom

By “valet parking” I assume they mean double parking along Center Blvd. in the same way all of those other restaurants along Center do.

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Corey Cash

Hi LIC mom! this Chef Cash from Piatto. Just to let you know we have a garage where all our valet cars will be parked off the street. We have put a lot of thought and consideration towards the neighborhood and will be treating it with respect.

Sincerely,

Corey Cash

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Anonymous

Does that mean that the valet agents will be stationed at the garage. The intersection of 50th and Center is already a danger to kids crossing into the park. Their only reprise is the hydrant space allowing them to see oncoming traffic. Please do not tell me that you plan to use the space directly out front as your valet staging area?!?!

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pablo

wendys isnt the only one that signed a lease, taco bell is in talks and it looks like the deal is moving fwd

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brooklynmc

I am actually excited about this. Looks nice. Love Italian. As far as I am concerned there is only one real choice for Italian food in the neighborhood right now and that is Manetta’s. Welcome Piatta! I just wish someone would recognize the need for breakfast before 11:00. Super annoying in a neighborhood filled with families that are unfortunately up at the crack of dawn.

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pre 11am

YESSS – Pre 11am neighborhood spots would be clutch. So much lost foot traffic when families head outside of our hood for food for the first 3-5 hrs of their day. In the meantime, Bel-Aire diner makes a mean breakfast 🙂

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brooklynmc

Seriously? Wendy’s! Is that happening? Please don’t. At least a Chipotle or a Shake Shack. Anything but Wendy’s.

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HC

There’s already a chipotle at court square. Please no shake shack, their burgers are overrated, the lines and traffic it would cause would be disruptive to the neighborhood, its so much of a fad it would hurt other local businesses, and frankly, I hate the people it attracts. don’t make me hate my neighbors.

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Alison

Why? Food cellar is expanding their pantry since they are taking heavy losses on groceries.Wendy’s is opening near CVS. Two more delis opening in Vernon blvd. So reasonably priced food is what the place needs. Don’t get fooled by the “luxury” condos. Most residents live paycheck to paycheck. Just ask any number of failed high end eateries that went bust in the neighborhood.

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Anonymous

FoodCellar is taking “heavy losses on their groceries” – when they charge six times what even FoodCellar does? Sure.

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hc

chicken marsala. what the hell is wrong with you americans. so much good Italian food and you keep driving local restaurants to make the horrible dish.

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Barby

Welcome n I’ll be visiting soon!! GOOD LUCK but y’all are gonna be fine.. the area is awesome for this type of cuisine??

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MRLIC

>”who has worked at Le Cirque and Eleven Madison Park, both high-end Manhattan restaurants”

Oh great, more HIPSTERS that want to make LIC into Manhattan so regular people can’t live there. I bet JVB put them up to this, they won’t be happy until their tentacles grab a hold of this whole neighborhood, much like the Charred Octopus starter they serve.

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sigh

Le Cirque and EMP are not hipster restaurants if anything they are stodgy old white guy CEO type restaurants. If you are going to stereotype, do it right Mr.

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