Vegan Wine Bar Chain Coming To The Upper West Side, CB Says

UPPER WEST SIDE, MANHATTAN — A "wildly popular" vegan restaurant chain that will soon make its debut on the Upper West Side got the OK from community board members this week.

Community Board 7 voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the liquor license application for Le Botaniste, a plant-based eatery and natural wine bar that plans to open at 156 Columbus Ave.

The new storefront will be the fourth location for the vegan chain, which already has restaurants in SoHo, Midtown and on the Upper East Side. It seems to already be highly-anticipated among Upper West Siders as well.

"The Lincoln Square [Business Improvement District] wrote to us and said they are so excited about having them," Business and Consumer Issues Committee Chair Linda Alexander said at the board's meeting. "I think we're all excited."

The restaurant had applied for a liquor license and will open with hours from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., which Alexander joked means customers can "be healthy and have fun...and sleep well."

Le Botaniste advertises itself as a "homey, apothecary-inspired counter serve for vegan, organic bowls & juices & natural wines."

Their liquor license was one of two new eateries Community Board 7 gave the OK on Tuesday.

Another spot, a "sushi speakeasy" that has already opened at 410 Amsterdam Ave., got the unanimous approval for its liquor license application.

Called Sushi Nonaka, the Japanese spot runs on the lower level of the storefront where Boka, a Korean restaurant, plans to run on the first floor.

The restaurant includes an intimate sushi bar and will have an outdoor area during the warmer months, according to I Love The Upper West Side blog. It opened late last month.

Board members also gave the thumbs up to a few new sidewalk cafes.

Land Thai Kitchen will set up a four-table sidewalk cafe at its 450 Amsterdam Ave. storefront and Latin restaurant Calle Ocho plans to have 11 tables with 32 seats in a new outdoor area in front of 2756 Broadway, according to the applications.