One thing we know for sure, New Yorkers are always looking for a way to save money while enjoying a great meal and drinks at a discounted price.
The new Side Door, located at 151 E. 57th St., serves a wide-range of international casual fare, from Israeli sabich to Vietnamese banh mi with an intriguing Eastern European accent, courtesy of the Romanian roots of owner Istvan Nagy and Executive Chef Dan Nistorescu, formerly of Parker & Quinn and Refinery Hotel Rooftop. Witness the Mici Sliders, house made garlicky beef and lamb skinless sausage, garnished with brown mustard and pickled vegetables, Brussels Sprouts in a sour cherry sauce with chili and pepitos and the Ajvar & Chips, the region’s popular spicy red pepper spread. The 2,200 square foot bi-level and 96-seat (eventually, now a socially distanced 24 ) Side Door is so named because its entrance is indented from the sidewalk; the front door is on the side, perpendicular to the window wall street frontage, another E. 57th St. anomaly.
Side Door is the second project by Nagy, who opened the popular One Lenox at the corner of 1st Avenue and 61st St. in 2016. Nagy who arrived in New York city in 1998 from his native Hungary has had a journeyman’s education in the restaurant business, playing back and front of house roles.
He started his hospitality career in the kitchens of Carnival Cruise Line in 1995 as an assistant cook, moving into the dining room as server and then manager. Upon his arrival in New York City, he took a job as server at Keen’s Steakhouse. Three years later he started a 12-year journey with China Grill Management as part of a team that opened new restaurants for the company, including Tuscan, English is Italian, Ono at the Gansevoort, The Gansevoort Rooftop and The Empire Hotel Rooftop. With the goal of opening his own place, he moved on in 2010 to concentrate on the management of food-driven bars, reaching his owner /operator goal he realized six years later.
Click here to take a look at the menu categories ranging from $8 for the likes of categories Onion Soup, onion medley, croutons and gruyere, beef broth and the Churros, chocolate ganacheto to $22 for the Ocean Basket, calamari, shrimp, cod, fries, with miso tartar and tomato harissa chutney. All the burgers, flatbreads and sandwiches are $13 to $18. Happy Hour with all flatbreads at $11.
The beverage program is as international as the food, with “moonshine” from Romania, vodka from Siberia, beer from Belgium to sri Lanka and wines representing Old and New World production.
151 E. 57th Street
New York, NY
Daily between 5pm-10pm
646-422-7660
