One of the Upper East Side’s most popular pizzerias is getting ready to debut a significant expansion in a brand-new space.
San Matteo is well known on the Upper East Side as one of the go-to spots to get your daily pizza fix. The restaurant was established in 2010 by owners Fabio and Ciro Casella, who endeavored to create a unique dining experience in New York that was faithful to the tradition of authentic Neopolitan pizza. Beyond their traditional and gourmet pizzas, San Matteo is also known for offering a wide variety of pasta dishes and appetizers, including a selection of American meats chosen by Pat Lafrieda.
Currently, Fabio and Ciro operate two different locations on the Upper East Side, one at 1559 Second Avenue and another at 1739 Avenue. Now though, Fabio and his team are getting ready to inaugurate a new era for San Matteo as they plan to develop a new flagship location for their iconic pizzeria. Their latest location will be opening up sometime this year at 1716 Second Avenue, the location that formerly housed Blue Dog.
Fabio spoke with What Now New York and revealed that the team acquired the space in order to expand into a much larger location. Eventually, he hopes to transition both San Matteo locations to the new space at 1716 Second Avenue. Once operational, Fabio intends to expand the menu with new pasta dishes and entrees, as well as an elevated beverage menu with unique Italian-inspired options.
Most recently, Fabio debuted his latest concept Polletto Chicken & Sangria at 1631 Second Avenue. Replacing Casella’s previous restaurant PQR, Poletto Chicken offers Roman-style rotisserie chicken with a flaky bite and an airy crunch. Of course, chicken is only half the story, and Poletto also offers a robust beverage program with an emphasis on sangria and Italian wines. Since launching earlier this month, Poletto has already earned rave reviews for its chicken, and readers are strongly encouraged to pay them a visit to show their support for Fabio. In the meantime, you can follow San Matteo on Instagram for regular updates on their progress.
