Back in May, Nikki Cascone from Top Chef season four (the Chicago one) sold 24 Prince, the Soho restaurant she owned with her husband, Brad Grossman, and it became Oficina Latina. On November 29, she and Grossman (who are expecting a child in the next month or so!) will open their second venture, Octavia’s Porch. It’s named after the main street in Rome’s Jewish ghetto, as a nod to the couple’s Jewish-Italian heritage, and as previously mentioned, it’s touting itself as “the first and only Global Jewish restaurant” on the Lower East Side (in the East Village, to be exact).
Cascone, who won’t be keeping kosher here but also won’t be serving pork or shellfish, is doing plates inspired by dishes that Jews introduced to countries like Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Northern Africa. (A combination of red quinoa, green beans, pumpkin seeds and citrus is based on a dish favored by South American Jews). The wines will come from the same areas, and cocktails like a vanilla-vodka egg cream will also be served. Have a look at the preliminary menu (subject to change) and click through our slideshow to see a 12-seat bar that’s meant to evoke the neighborhood’s old social clubs.
Octavia’s Porch Menu [PDF]
Octavia’s Porch, 40 Ave. B, nr. E. 3rd St.; 212-677-4096
