UES Restaurateur To Open New Seafood-Focused Wine Bar

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Local restaurateur Enrique Lerma is planning a new seafood and wine bar concept on Third Avenue, he told Upper East Side's Community Board 8 this week.

Lerma, who also co-owns Bar Vivant on East 88th Street and Alison on East 104th Street, came before Community Board 8's Street Life Committee on Tuesday night to share his plans and apply for a liquor license.

He told the committee that the new restaurant, which is yet to be named, will be open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. at 1614 Third Ave. between East 90th and East 91st streets.

"This is where the old Kaia Wine Bar used to be," Lerma said, mentioning the neighborhood's only South African restaurant, which moved to First Avenue between East 75th and East 76th streets in late January after a 15-year run on Third Avenue.

"Very similar concept, seafood-based," Lerma said.

Like Kaia, the restaurant will serve mostly wine and cocktails seven days a week, Lerma said.

The committee unanimously approved the liquor license. Now, the final decision rests with the New York State Liquor Authority. No opening timeline has been released yet.

For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.