A brand new restaurant concept is getting ready to take over the space that was inhabited by one of New York’s finest Michelin-Starred restaurants.
La Brasseria is a widely celebrated upscale Italian restaurant that has been developing quite a reputation across the Atlantic. Based out of London, the restaurant was established by owners Andrea and Alberto Fraquelli, two long-standing restaurateurs who come from a long line of Italian culinary masters. Their grandfather, Lorenzo Fraquelli, opened up Spaghetti House in the 1950’s as London’s first-ever Italian restaurant chain, and soon developed a reputation as one of the city’s most influential Italian restaurateurs.
Their family continued to make an impact on the London culinary scene and soon reached new levels of acclaim when their father launched Getti. As one of London’s finest and most celebrated Italian restaurants, Getti was an important influence on the young brothers, who spent their youth working in and eventually managing the restaurant. After over a decade of work, Andrea and Alberto eventually acquired Getti when their father decided to take a step back away from the competitive world of fine dining. Finally able to develop a concept of their own design, the two brothers soon turned Getti into the restaurant we know now – La Brasserie.
Working with the original chef from Getti and many of the same staff and food suppliers, Andrea and Alberto elevated their father’s restaurant with new menu options and a brand new design. Borrowing inspiration from multiple regions of Italy, La Brasserie was envisioned as the kind of Italian restaurant that could meet the social needs of a city as busy as London. Now, a few years into successful operation in London and Notting Hill, Andrea and Alberto are now getting ready to launch a brand new expansion in their “second home” – New York.
Andrea and Alberto have just recently acquired the lease for the space at 85 Tenth Avenue, between West 15th and West 16th Streets. The space was formerly occupied by L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, the eponymous chef’s iconic Chelsea restaurant. Earning an impressive two Michelin Stars, Chef Robuchon’s signature restaurant was a staple of the neighborhood, and locals were devastated to learn of its closure. The legendary space is expected to seat about 196 guests inside, and features a beautiful interior designed my world-class artists.
Now, though, the Fraquelli brothers will be reviving the space with their signature London concept. The proposed restaurant will serve hearty and authentic Italian recipes throughout the day, including a breakfast menu with eggs and pastries, and a lunch and dinner menu including hand-made and hand-dried pastas, pizzas, salads, and traditional entrees like chicken parmesan, branzino, and steak dishes. The brothers are currently getting ready to meet with the community board to acquire a full liquor license, and are proposing operating hours of 8:00 AM – 1:00 AM on weekdays, and 9:00 AM – 2:00 AM on weekends. For more information as the story develops, you can follow La Brasseria on Instagram.
