NYC News

Estela, LaLou Alums Open Cecily in Greenpoint
December 14, 2023, 6:28.12 pm ET

Print


Photos: David Malosh                                                                                     

Cecily, a produce-driven, seasonal restaurant has arrived in Greenpoint, opening at 80 Franklin Street. Developed by Sommelier & Beverage Director, Kristin Ma (Estela, LaLou, Anfora) and Service Director, Tara Noble (LaLou, Lea, Rosemary’s; also founder of Third Space Hospitality), Cecily values a sense of place and neighborhood with its founders prioritizing hiring employees locally from the surrounding community. The restaurant is open for dinner from Thursday through Monday with plans to expand to daytime dining in early 2024.

Sustainable offerings remain at the forefront of Cecily’s dining menu, and have been carefully curated by Executive Chef Zach Frieling who joined the team this summer after tenures at Jupiter and The Four Horsemen.

The menu features a rotating assortment of seasonal, vegetable-forward snacks and larger plates that are vegetarian, vegan and pescatarian-friendly without alienating meat and fish-centric options. Dishes include: porcini “chicharrones” with egg yolk; mackerel toast parsley, red onion, garlic aioli; butter beans braised collards, sweet onions, sourdough bread; and a roasted half chicken with castelvetrano olives, wheat berries, and pomegranate.

A thoughtful wine list features bottles from off-the-beaten-path from Spanish regions such as Galicia, Basque Country and Catalunya, in addition to bubbles, textured whites and light skin reds in natural and timeless styles from across the globe. In addition to wine, the beverage program includes an assortment of craft cocktails and zero-proof cocktail and wine options.

In opening Cecily, Ma and Noble – who first connected after both being a part of the opening team for Brooklyn wine bar LaLou – plan to offer staff purposeful profit-sharing and ownership opportunities, encompassing direct mentorship in skills ranging from wine tasting to restaurant finance. Those joining the team will be encouraged to follow their interests and learn all aspects of operating a restaurant, ultimately empowering them with an active, long-term role in the business.

“I think there are new strategies we can try in this industry to be better custodians of storied communities like Greenpoint, even as they change - and it starts with treating (and paying) staff well,” shares Noble.

In addition to daytime dining in 2024, Cecily plans to offer the restaurant for private event opportunities such as intimate dinner parties to full-restaurant buyouts. For more information, visit https://www.cecilybk.com/



Comments:
^Top