Celebrity restaurateur Donatella Arpaia is headed to the Hamptons this summer to helm Jonathan Rapillo’s Sienna Restaurant & Ultralounge.
That’s where she plans to introduce her signature heart-healthy Italian dishes, with input from her cardiac surgeon hubby, Allan Stewart.
But that doesn’t mean Arpaia is turning her back on Manhattan.
The restaurateur is also scouting spots to open a second location of her popular Upper West Side haunt Kefi, Side Dish has learned.
“We’re looking everywhere in the city, whatever makes sense,” Arpaia said. “Kefi is very value-oriented and needs a big space to make it work.”
At the same time, Arpaia is focused on making Sienna’s a popular Hamptons hot spot for locals and families during daylight hours.
Part of the plan includes a $35 family prix fix menu on “Meatball Mondays.”
She also has a deal with a local farm to grow produce exclusively for the restaurant.
Here’s more exclusive news on the Food Network’s upcoming New York City Wine & Food Festival.
Cronut creator Dominique Ansel’s Wonderland event will be Oct. 17 at The Refectory.
Among the participating chefs: Benoit’s Benjamin Grué, Colicchio & Sons’ Stephen Collucci, Daniel’s Ghaya Oliveira, David Burke’s Zac Young, Empellón Taqueria’s Lauren Resler, Gramercy Tavern’s Miroslav Uskokovic and Lincoln Ristorante’s Richard Capizzi.
We hear … that Hudson Eats, the 30,000 square-foot upscale dining space overlooking the Hudson at Brookfield Place, opens June 3, with 14 fast-casual eateries and 600 seats, all designed by AvroKO, BCV and Spector Group.
Restaurants include Blue Ribbon Sushi — with its first takeout spot — and Black Seed Bagel’s second location. Olive’s, a SoHo staple for 20 years, will open its second outpost as well.