Celebrity chefs close Manhattan restaurant, focus on 3 Staten Island places
Updated Mar 08, 2021;
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Celebrity chefs Dave Pasternack and Vic Rallo have closed their award-winning Hell’s Kitchen restaurant, Esca. The business partners have Staten Island roots with Pastavino, Navy Pier Prime and Navy Pier Taproom in Stapleton’s Urby complex.
The pair issued a statement to announce the Manhattan restaurant news. It read, “Following a year of uncertainty surrounding our neighborhood, city, industry, and country, this was not an easy decision. Unfortunately, with the timeline for a return to normalcy still so unclear, this was the only remaining option available to us.”
Getting ready to cook fish | Pamela’s Food Service Diary
Updated Feb 03, 2021;
Posted Feb 03, 2021
Codfish at Eat Italian pre-pandemic, served on a plate, in Rossville (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Staff-Shot
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. On Staten Island, fish is a big seller in the borough’s markets during Lent, the season into which we’re headed. So, getting into the seafood spirit at that princely time for supermarket sales on canned sardines, what can we do with our fresh catches?
Cole s Dockside s pecan-coated mahi mahi. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)Pamela Silvestri
Ian Cole of Cole’s Dockside shares a few tips from the Great Kills sea-centric eatery known for its nut-coated fillet specials.
Will Cuomo feel the love from Staten Island with new dining allowances to come?
Updated Jan 29, 2021;
Posted Jan 29, 2021
Joyce s Tavern in Eltingville with no indoor dining and an empty bar. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)
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Allowances for NYC as of Feb. 14 include 25% occupancy inside with continued temperature checks, enhanced filtration systems and one member of each party as a rep for contact tracing. Masks must be worn at all times when not seated. Tables must be set at six feet apart and outdoor dining can go forward.
“We love Staten Island, and are committed to our restaurants, and the community, but we need to operate a business that makes sense financially, and at 25% capacity, that is simply not feasible,” said John Gorga, manager at Pastavino, Navy Pier Prime and Navy Pier Taproom at Stapleton’s Urby. The restaurants are on hiatus as restrictions persist.
Hooray! We might see a second round of $20.21 meals | Pamela’s Food Service Diary
Updated Jan 25, 2021;
Posted Jan 25, 2021
Seppe at Urby in Stapleton: They re open for Restaurant Week with a $20.21 meal deal. (Courtesy of Joe Iovino)
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. In a press conference today, Mayor Bill de Blasio talked up Restaurant Week To Go with a shoutout to Denino’s in Port Richmond. The program, run by the Big Apple’s tourism department, NYCGo, is the first time the borough has seen such a response to the program with a total of 20 places offering discounted meals at $20.21.
Heated tents and street setups: Your guide to outdoor dining on Staten Island
Updated Jan 16, 2021;
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. In this stage of the pandemic, with no talk of opening dining rooms, outdoor dining is the way to go in New York City. Setups on Staten Island can come as a few tables and chairs on the sidewalk to elaborate, two-sided shelters or igloo for up to four guests.
Some restaurants known for their outdoor programs like DeLuca’s Italian Restaurant in Tottenville, River Dock Cafe in St. George, Fig & Vine in New Dorp Bdach, plus Stapleton’s Pastavino, Navy Pier Prime and Navy Pier Taproom are closed temporarily. Marina Cafe in Great Kills is open for pickup and delivery only.