Adria Restaurant Closes Upper East Side Location, Eyes Reopening

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Adria has closed after two years on the Upper East Side, but the coastal Italian restaurant may not be gone for good.

Owner Endri Qalliu told Patch that the restaurant did not attract the level of business its owners had expected, particularly during the slower season. Adria served its final customers on Sept. 12 at its 1556 Second Ave. location near East 81st Street.

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"I guess we didn't meet what we expected to meet in terms of the amount of business," Qalliu said. "But we're looking to relocate, which probably makes more sense for us in terms of the space."

Qalliu and his partners, Larry and Maria Hass, hope to remain on the Upper East Side.

They have not yet secured another space or set a reopening timeline, but it's in the works, Qalliu said.

"Everything is on the table for now," he said.

A future location would ideally be near L'Osteria, the team's other Italian restaurant at East 83rd Street and Lexington Avenue. Keeping the restaurants relatively close would make managing the two operations easier, Qalliu said.

The partners opened Adria as a larger, more seafood-focused counterpart to L'Osteria, which has operated in the neighborhood for nearly five years.

Both restaurants specialized in fresh, simple Italian cooking, but Adria drew much of its inspiration from the region's coastal recipes. Even its name was an homage to the Adriatic Sea.

After the owners personally notified many longtime customers about the closure, regulars turned out to show their support.

"It was very nice," Qalliu said. "We do have a following of regulars, which is amazing, and that's probably one of the things that makes us try to relocate more than anything else."

The restaurant's two-year run brought both challenges and memorable achievements. Qalliu said one highlight was seeing Adria featured in a Forbes magazine guide about where to eat in New York.

"It showed that, with great, simple food, high-quality food, you could be recognized," he said.

Operating the seafood-driven restaurant was also a learning experience for the team, which worked closely with fishmongers and expanded its knowledge of different fish and shellfish.

"It had its challenges, but it also had its great moments," Qalliu said.

Most of Adria's employees will continue working at L'Osteria, according to Qalliu.

Although Adria's dishes will not be directly transferred to that restaurant's menu, he said the two establishments share a similar approach centered on simple preparations, minimal ingredients and high-quality food.

"I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart, honestly, from all of us as a team behind Adria," Qalliu said of the restaurant's customers and staff. "We will see them very soon in something new."

Know of a business opening or closing in Manhattan? Email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.