Latest news with #Nino'sRistorante

Yahoo

Beloved NYC Italian Restaurant 'Rescued' Before Unfortunate Closing

Changing trends and emerging industries have made life hard for restaurant owners, and the effects are being felt all across the country. One of New York City's favorite Italian restaurants was nearly forced to close due to new development in its area, but a last-minute change will allow them to remain in business. In January, Nino's Ristorante announced that it would need to close its location in Manhattan in June. A 23-story, 148-unit building is planned for the restaurant's original location, and the developers planned to demolish the current site of the restaurant. Nino's will live on, as owner Nino Selimaj told Eater that the Italian staple has moved to a new location, occupying what was previously a French restaurant elsewhere on First Avenue. The original Nino's is now closed, giving Selimaj time to shift his business to the new location while acquiring documentation like a liquor license. Clint Eastwood, Angela Lansbury, Chris Noth, Chelsea Clinton and late "Sopranos" star James Gandolfini have all visited Nino's over the years. Classic Italian-American fare is on the menu, as dishes like baked clams, homemade ravioli, rigatoni alla vodka, and chicken Parmesan rank among fan favorites. Many restaurants around the country are dealing with an uncertain future, especially after customer habits changed following the pandemic. Establishments that traditionally relied on in-person diners for the bulk of their business have suffered since the rise of delivery apps like DoorDash and UberEats. Restaurants that do well with delivery orders are also not always able to reap the benefits, as they owe the third-party delivery services a cut of their profits. Nino's is an example of a restaurant that has been able to adjust to adversity, but several others haven't been as fortunate. Eater reported that multiple Italian American restaurants have had to close in New York City, including Frost in Williamsburg and Tomasso in Bensonhurst. We've seen restaurants take on a new life of their own after changing themes or adjusting the menu. Some restaurants have even brought back fan-favorite foods or aesthetics. Now we'll see if Nino's can re-establish itself after moving just before the demolition plans were set in place.