A new “plant-based tea house and tapas bistro” is looking to replace the space formerly occupied by Cheese Grille in the Lower East Side.
The concept, which will be called Idleflora, is the product of a collaboration between Linda Wang of uber-successful Ume Hospitality and Vincent Ning. Idleflora is slated to offer traditional and specialty teas and coffees for below market prices, as well as savory and sweet tapas food. It is expected to offer 10 indoor tables and 20 seats with anticipated hours of 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. from Sunday through Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. from Thursday through Saturday. In addition to its restaurant services, floral arrangements will also be sold on the premises.
Ume Hospitality was born in 2018 when it debuted its flagship concept Ume in Williamsburg. It now operates seven other restaurants including Sekai Omakase in Greenwich Village, Sushi Nikko in Queens, Sanyuu West in Chelsea, Thirteen Water in the East Village, Shinn East in the East Village, Shinn West in Hell’s Kitchen, and Appas Pizza in the East Village.
Idleflora’s menu is slated to offer traditional herbal tonics with specific wellness purposes from their “focus and clarity” made with ginkgo lead, schisandra, wolfberry, and tangerine peel for $7 to their “liquid skincare” made with longan, osmanthus, jujube, white jelly mushroom, and rose bud for $8, as well as floral and herbal teas ranging from dandelion to wild lily for $3.75-$4.75, signature drinks from sakura matcha lattes for $6.50 to walnut dalgona coffee for $5.50, and traditional coffees for $3-$5.25. The team is also seeking a liquor license.
Their tapas menu ranges from savory dishes like yuzu corn tempura for $13 to butternut squash risotto for $16, and roasted kabocha toast for $14, to sweet dishes like matcha raindrop cake for $10 to sobacha pudding for $10.
