Restaurant News

Evviva Restaurant Heats up Avenue A

EVVIVA is proud to announce its grand opening, providing New Yorkers with the opportunity to explore cuisine and tradition from the southern regions of Italy. Executive Chef and co-owner Dino Castri, a native of the Puglia region, uses authentic imported ingredients to create traditional southern Italian dishes with a modern flair. An extensive Italian wine list featuring rare vintages and other sought after selections complements the innovative cuisine, in addition to an outstanding dessert menus.

Chef Castri, formerly of Danube, Coco Marina, Esca and Osteria del Circo, uses DOP (Denominazione de Origine Protetta) products whenever possible, creating an exciting and constantly evolving menu developed around the seasonality and availability of different vegetables, grains, seafood, and livestock. EVVIVA’s nightly menu may feature dishes such as:
Gnocchi Croccanti-Chef Castri pan fries imported gnocchi, tossed together with sweet and spicy sausage and broccoli rabe sprinkled with a peccorino romano DOP.

Crudo di Pesce Su Pane Pistoccu- This antipasti features extra virgin olive oil and rosemary poached shrimp with sea urchin; monkfish liver, orange vincotto and fleur de sel; and fresh sardine with house pickled red onion, yellow and brown mustard seed and Sicilian honey, served on Sardinian Pane Pistoccu.

For guests seeking a more personalized menu, EVVIVA offers nightly four-course ($35) and six-course ($55) tastings. The menus are custom made for each guest, specially tailored to their preferences and individual palate. The four-course tasting menu includes an antipasto, a primo piatto, an entrée and a dessert; the six-course tasting menu includes an antipasto, two primi piatti, two entrees and a dessert.

EVVIVA will pay tribute to southern Italian culture by celebrating a monthly Sagra. A Sagra festival traditionally honors the abundance of a single ingredient grown or used in the local areas of Italy. During Evviva’s Sagra, guests celebrate a unique Italian tradition while tasting specialty dishes created with the featured ingredient. Upon entering the restaurant, guests are enveloped by the elegant, yet lively atmosphere. The white-clothed, candlelit tables reflect a soft glow of light off the walls, painted in an evocation of classic modern earth tones accented with a brushed steel patina. Banquette seating provides a private eating experience perfect for any size group, from a table of two to a party of twenty. In the far right hand corner of the restaurant, a flat screen television over the bar displays a reactionary piece of graphic art, timed to the rhythmic beats of the ambient music. During warmer months, EVVIVA will open a garden dining area in the back of the restaurant, giving guests the opportunity to taste the delicious cuisine while enjoying the beautiful weather of New York City.

EVVIVA kicks off an early Sunday brunch at 9 a.m. with a broadcast of the weekly Italian Soccer league game. Fans are invited to come in and cheer on their favorite team while dining on delicious pastries and cappuccino.

“In Italian, EVVIVA means ‘a cheer in celebration of life,’” said Mark Roth, co-owner and Sommelier. “We are pleased to offer a place where guests can gather to celebrate the best that Southern Italy has to offer through our distinctive cuisine and traditional Italian festivities.”EVVIVA is located at 186 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009 between 11th and 12th St. Dinner is served nightly with brunch available on Saturday and Sunday. For reservations, please contact the restaurant directly at (212) 674-6230.