Mirso Lekic, owner of the well-known Upper East Side restaurant Il Valentino, is relocating to 59th St and First Avenue and renaming his establishment Il Valentino Osteria. But its specialty Tuscan cuisine will make the trip.
The restaurant was formerly located in the Sutton Hotel at 330 East 56th St.
Il Valentino Osteria brings 20-year tradition of serving Tuscan cuisine to UES residents and visitors. The elegant spot was a frequent by celebrities, moguls and NYC pols, as well as United Nations dignitaries.
Lekic says he picked the new location because of its proximity to his customer base. Once he zeroed in on the space, he called in Dan Sehic of C3D Architecture. Sehic fused traditional and modern design elements to create an elegant, yet welcoming dining room.
Franco Lucic of LMF Group designed the tabletops and chairs, crafted from Mango wood. Table and chair legs are a contrasting metal design.
Banquettes line the walls made of leather with gold thread detail to accentuate the rustic ambiance. The wooden bar-top is complimented by metal bar stools.
Il Valentino Osteria’s Executive Consulting Chef Erminio Conte, formerly Executive Chef of Serafina, and Sous Chef Lauro Sucuz, formerly of Petaluma and Elios, have crafted a menu of Tuscan favorites.
Signature dishes include Truffle Pizza with fresh black truffle, fontina cheese, ricotta, homemade fresh mozzarella and truffle oil. Cavatelli al Porfumo includes homemade pasta shells tossed with tomatoes, mozzarella and fresh basil. The Pasta Nera con Gamberi e Asaparagi comes with black tagliolini with shrimp, asparagus and tomatoes.
Salmone alla Griglia, a grilled salmon, is served with grilled vegetables.
The Petto d’Anatra Arosto comprises duck medallions, sweet potato puree and apple gremolata. It was a favorite of Il Valentino, and will remain on the menu.
Bread and pizzas are baked daily in the restaurant’s signature brick oven in the back of the dining room, visible to all patrons. Chef Conte prepares handmade pasta with homemade sauces ensuring that any dish is fresh.
Il Valentino Osteria
Location: 1078 1st Ave. at 59th St.
Hours: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM Monday-Saturday; 10:00 AM- 10:00 PM Sundays.
Call: 212-784-0800 for reservations
Online: Il Valentino Osteria.