From Oliva to Mezetto at 161 East Houston
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161 East Houston had been idle ever since ten-year-old Oliva threw in the towel this past February. The most action this joint experienced during this interim period was the categorical defacing of the subway entrance mural and the random sidewalk peddlers selling useless shit to pedestrians. However, the interior inaction is a thing of the past.
Fresh DOB permits were recently filed to completely redesign the innards for the latest restaurant replacement, Mundo New York, officially operating under the trade name of Mezetto. On a recent walkby, we noticed that Oliva as we once knew it is now fodder for the history books. The ugly stick has been all up in there, wrecking the entire space for the new concept.
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The plywood boarding that once boasted a decade’s worth of murals was pried from the Allen facade and trashed accordingly. Those shutters haven’t been seen in this neighborhood in quite some time. In other exterior developments onsite, fresh signage materialized earlier this week.
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Principal Bahr Rapaport is still flying slightly below the radar in the wake of securing an approval from Community Board 3 for a full liquor license (which is still pending, by the way). Upon opening, Mezetto will serve Mediterranean-style tapas and reportedly carry aggressive hours of operation (9am-12am Sun-Th; 9am-2am Fri-Sat).
From their About Us:
Mezetto was inspired from the word ‘Meze’ which refers to a selection of small dishes served in the Mediterranean as breakfast, lunch or even dinner.
If you’re looking for a flavorful tapas-style meal using fresh ingredients, Mezetto is the perfect place for you. Mezetto restaurant is focused on simple cooking, healthy eating and preserving the traditional flavors and cooking style of the Mediterranean by incorporating fresh fruits, vegetables and grains into most dishes.
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