New UES Restaurants: Indian, Crepes, Cocktails

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The Upper East Side is gaining a new Indian food spot, a Lexington Avenue crepe shop, new owners at a cocktail bar and a very slight relocation of a burrito chain.

The restaurants were presented to Community Board 8's Street Life Committee on Tuesday as owners sought approval for beer, wine and liquor licenses.

Here's what we learned about each new restaurant:

Cocktail Bar TBD (1415 Second Ave.)

Neighborhood residents and married couple Alex Pfaffenbach and Brett O'Brien are taking over the Lenox Hill cocktail spot, Workshop.

Alex told the board he has over 20 years of experience in hospitality, but few other details were offered to what residents can expect from the new ownership — aside from an outdoor space compliant with the new outdoor dining laws.

Vive Le Crepe (900 block of Lexington Ave.)

Since starting in SoHo back in 2009, Vive Le Crepe has slowly "creped" uptown, with two Upper West Side locations. The French crepe and coffee spot's new Upper East Side location on Lexington Avenue and East 70th Street will place the sweet and savory treats just feet from the mouths of desperately starving Hunter College students.

Well, technically it's a relocation, said owner Alfredo Mier, after their former spot in the Plaza Hotel Food Hall closed.

This spot will also have gelato and looks to add wine, beer and cider.

"Our main business will be the crepes," said Mier.

Aroma Indian Bistro (132 East 61st St.)

A new Indian place is taking over the space of Lezzet Turkish Restaurant, who opened a new location just steps away on Lexington Avenue.

A representative for the owners said the new restaurant will be a sit-down family-focused restaurant with deliveries and will typically close by 10 p.m. each night. Board member Marco Tamayo commented that there are more bikes on the sidewalks than pedestrians on that block.

Dos Toros (1115 Lexington)

The Mexican fast-casual spot is not opening a new location, but is relocating a few doors down from their longtime home at 1111 Lexington Avenue. Dos Toros will join the commercial rental roster at the base of 150 East 78th St., the new, hyper-luxurious building designed by Robert A. M. Stern Architects. Its fellow ground-floor tenants will include the famous French patisserie, Angelina Paris and Venchi Chocolate & Gelato.

Tamayo again took the opportunity to discuss sidewalk space, saying that their current Lexington Avenue location does not handle trash properly. A representative assured the board that they would be keeping their trash on premises until pick-up times, when the garbage will be inside containers as per new city law.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Vive Le Crepe would be taking over a longtime Lexington Avenue business. The address on the community board application appears to be inaccurate and the article has been updated.