UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — A new Italian restaurant from the owner of neighborhood staple da Adriano is one step closer to opening on the Upper East Side.
La Colina, which will be located at 1431 First Ave. between East 74th and East 75th streets, won support from Community Board 8's Street Life Committee on Tuesday night as part of its application for a liquor license.
The recommendation now heads to the New York State Liquor Authority for final approval.
The restaurant will take over the space currently occupied by Gnocchi House Bar, which opened in 2025.
Robert Callahan, a representative of La Colina, told the committee the new eatery will have 23 tables and a small seven-seat bar.
"We will be a quiet Italian restaurant," Callahan said.
The restaurant expects to be open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The restaurant will be led by Adrian Kercuku, who has operated da Adriano since 2023, Callahan said.
For the uninitiated, da Adriano is a relaxed neighborhood restaurant that serves housemade focaccia, a rotating menu of sandwiches, salads, pastas, as well as café fare.
When it opened in 2023, Kercuku told Patch the focus was on quality and community.
"We want to be like some kind of small spot which we can offer it like the best quality and, and the people to come in really easy things," Kercuku said at the time.
La Colina also plans to retain Gnocchi House's existing staff, Callahan said.
No word yet on when La Colina plans to open.
For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.
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