A new Italian restaurant will replace an old one (Google Maps)
A new Italian restaurant called Sempre Oggi will be opening at 164-166 West 75th Street, Commercial Observer reports. This space was formerly home to ‘Cesca, which in 2020 closed after 17 years.
The new eatery is coming from restaurateurs Simon Oren and Robert Guarino, who expect to open this summer.
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“It’s going to be an ingredient-driven, seasonal, vegetable-forward Italian menu with a California influence,” Guarino told the publication, adding, “I used to go to [’Cesca] as a guest over the years and I always loved it. … It’s a great Upper West Side space.” The article further states that in addition to the West Coast influence, Oren and Guarino “[plan] to serve similar cuisine as ’Cesca, ”
Together, Oren and Guarino also also own Nice Matin and Five Napkin Burger, in addition to Marseille in Hell’s Kitchen. Oren is also an owner of the Upper West Side’s Dagon, and Guarino is a partner at several other restaurants including Playa Betty’s.
Asking rent for the 5,375-square-foot space was $146 per foot (per year). We’re not sure what was settled on, but if the asking price was obtained, that would make the annual rent $784,750 (and the monthly rent would be $65,396).
Sempre Oggi means “always today” in Italian.”
The forthcoming restaurant has an Instagram page if you’d like to follow for updates.
We’ll provide an update once we learn more.
Let’s hope the food is better than the name! Meaningless fake Italian
I agree: Sempre Oggi is a terrible sounding name. Needs an appealing name. The other problem? There was nothing “vegetable-forward” about the ‘Cesca’s Italian offerings – that, sadly, declined in quality over the. years. So the new owners additional comment about the new place serving “similar cuisine as ‘Cesca” doesn’t make any sense. Which is it…vegetable-forward or similar to the former ‘Cesca? The old ‘Cesca had some incredible items: their grilled chicken, the orecchiette w. Swiss chard and sausage, duck ravioli and their Thursday special, veal chop. Chef turnover amidst management and partner internecine squabbling did not help matters.
Wow. What a terrible name for a restaurant.
YES, the name is meaningless. Why don;t you just call it: THE O
I don’t know what’s worse. The name Sempre Oggi? The vegetable forward menu? Or the interior design at Dagon and Playa Betty?