An organic restaurant concept is coming soon to the East Village.
Hearty & Healthy’s application for a liquor license is on the docket for Manhattan Community Board 3’s SLA approval meeting later this month. According to a questionnaire filled out alongside the application, Andenelis Rosario is the principal and owner of Hearty & Healthy.
What Now NY connected with Rosario over the phone to learn more about the concept.
“Hearty & Healthy is a farm-to-table concept selling food exclusively produced in New York City and from other parts of the state,” said Rosario. “Part of our mission is to educate people about healthy food options and to be transparent about the sourcing of our ingredients as a restaurant. There are organic food options nearby in markets, but when it comes to prepared foods there isn’t always that same openness about where food is coming from.”
Rosario shared plans to offer a selection of robust salads as well as cuts of meat. The restaurant will serve brunch, lunch and dinner. Two dishes Rosario is particularly excited for are the goat cheese croquettes and the blackened salmon salad.
One thing she hopes Hearty & Healthy will do is dispel peoples’ assumptions that organic restaurants only cater to vegan and vegetarian diets. Healthy & Hearty will be inclusive to all eating preferences.
“We are big on community and think it’s important for this to be a space where people feel good about what they are eating,” said Rosario. “This will be a place where people can have a high quality dining experience in terms of food quality and service. I want everyone who comes in to feel welcomed, understood and taken care of in a non-judgemental environment.”
Rosario herself has worked almost every position imaginable in restaurants including being a busser, host, server and manager. Now, she is starting a new chapter as a young entrepreneur opening Hearty & Healthy on First Ave. at the age of 25.
“The Lower East Side is a vibrant community, and I think this location will be a great fit for Hearty & Healthy,” said Rosairo. “We are a food-focused restaurant; and while we will have a fully-equipped bar, we plan to offer spirit-free cocktails as well.”
The space will be able to accommodate between 50 to 70 guests at once. Inline with the brands’ culinary mission, the design of Hearty & Healthy will nod to natural elements. There will be exposed wood and greenery all throughout the restaurant. According to the aforementioned questionnaire, the restaurant will have 15 tables inside.
Hearty & Healthy is aiming to open the first or second week of August.
