Get ready for a good time, New York, because an exciting new bar and lounge concept is coming to the Garment District.
Theory Lounge is a brand-new lounge concept from owners Ulises Pichardo and Arun Basnyat. A veteran hospitality professional, Pichardo has been serving as the Bar Manager for Grand Hyatt New York Hotel for over two decades, and currently oversees private and club member events for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Basnyat meanwhile has worked as both a manager and a bartender at multiple spots across the city, including the popular bars Snafu Bar, Whiskey Trader, and Sally’s Bar. Now, the two professionals are setting out on their own to launch a brand-new concept of their own design.
Their new project, Theory Lounge, is currently expected to open at 331 West 38th Street, the site of the former Carbone restaurant that once occupied the space. Founded by restaurateurs Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi, and Jeff Zalaznick, Carbone launched its Midtown operation in 2012 and operated successfully for years before finally closing down and moving to a new location. Thankfully, Carbone is still going strong in its new location at 181 Thompson Street and is even operating locations in Dallas, Miami, las Vegas, and Hong Kong. The store on West 38th Street offers 1,100 square feet of space and is presently expected to seat about 22 guests inside at one time, with an additional 15-seat standing bar as the centerpiece of the space. The basement meanwhile will be reserved for storage and restrooms.
Pichardo and Basnyat are marketing Theory Lounge as a “lunch & midday meal location” to the many locals who work in the Garment District, and intend to establish a “quieter, smaller neighborhood lounge where they can be at peace while enjoying a delicious meal accompanied by a very affordable cocktail, beer, or wine.” For the menu, guests can look forward to a wide variety of diverse, international and American dishes like empanadas, flatbreads, the Theory burrito, chicken paillard, elote, a personal pizza, a loaded “Lincoln Tunnel Dawg” and even a classic PB & J sandwich. Theory Lounge will also serve coffee and tea for guests as well as a rotating menu of Daily Specials.
Of course, Theory Lounge will also offer a robust beverage program with affordable beer, wine, and craft cocktails. Pichardo and Basnyat are now getting ready to apply for a new liquor license for the lounge, and are currently proposing operating hours of 12:00 PM – 2:00 AM Sunday through Wednesday, and 12:00 PM – 4:00 AM Thursday through Saturday, though those hours are subject to change according to the community board’s stipulations. Unfortunately, Theory Lounge is too early into development to have its own website at this point, so you will just need to stay posted for further details.
