The worldwide Serafina restaurant chain has come to the Lower East Side. An opening party was held last night at 98 Rivington St., the former home of Inoteca and Galli. The Neapolitan pizza/pasta spot opens to the public today.
Vittorio Assaf and Fabio Granato opened the first Serafina on the Upper East Side more than 20 years ago. Since that time, 30 locations have popped in New York from Harlem to the Hamptons and in international locales such as Dubai, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro.
In their successful appeal to Community Board 3 for a liquor license earlier this year, the operators emphasized Serafina’s status as a restaurant rather than another “Hell Square” bar. Other outposts have become celebrity hot spots. Melania Trump was spotted at Serafina in Midtown recently.
At Serafina Ludlow, there are 60 seats on the main floor with a 12-seat wine room downstairs. In the spring, expect to see an outdoor cafe wrapping around the restaurant on Ludlow and Rivington streets.
