Village Eateries Leave Out Free Meals For Seniors, NYers In Need

WEST VILLAGE, MANHATTAN — Two West Village eateries are hoping to help New Yorkers in need during the coronavirus pandemic by letting them grab takeout meals for free each week.

Avena Ristorante and Osteria, the two restaurants that make up Avena Downtown at 260 Sixth Ave., are leaving free takeout meals on a table outside of their storefronts every Monday so that New Yorkers who need a meal, specifically seniors, can stop by and eat.

Avena owners Giselle Deiaco and her husband Chef Roberto Deiaco started the meal giveaway on Mother's Day after realizing neighbors were struggling during the pandemic.

"The couple came up with the idea to do this when they noticed a lot of retirees, widows and senior citizens who live alone in the area and in the restaurant's building," a spokesperson for the restaurants said. "They want to help make sure they are not going hungry during this crisis."

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The meals will be set up on two separate tables outside the restaurants. Those on the table outside Osteria will be dedicated for seniors, while those in front of Avena Ristorante will be for non-seniors who need a meal.

Guests can take the meals and eat them at home or at chairs set up six feet apart outside the restaurant or on nearby park benches, Avena said. The giveaway will start each Monday until June 8 at noon and continue while supplies lasts.

Here's the menu:

• May 18: Veal Meatballs, Potato Fondant, soda
• May 25: Chicken Parmigiana or Crispy Chicken Sandwich, soda
• June 1: Pasta all'Amatriciana (guanciale, pecorino, tropea onion, tomato) or Spaghetti Pomodoro, soda
• June 8: Fritto Misto (calamari, cod, spinach croquettes) with Tartar Sauce

The free meals is one of several ways New York City restaurants have been keeping essential workers and vulnerable New Yorkers fed, even as they struggle to stay afloat during the pandemic's stay-at-home order.

Restaurants on the Upper West Side have also been cooking up free meals for seniors and earlier, dozens of Flatiron eateries donated meals to essential workers or set up funds to do so.

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Update: Avena has added two more days to its food giveaway so that meals will be available every Monday in June. Find a full schedule here.