Yesterday, news broke that chef Ryan Skeen's new Upper East Side project, 83 1/2, had closed. Skeen himself expressed confusion over the abrupt shuttering of the restaurant. Now Vincent Mangiafridda, the owner of the restaurant, tells Eater that he and his partners are tweaking the focus and they hope to reopen 83 1/2 in about a month or so. Mangiafridda notes:
83 1/2 and Chef Ryan Skeen have parted ways and we wish him good luck with his future projects. The Mangiafridda family has owned and operated a successful eatery on the UES for over 20 years. We consider our patrons family, and delight in knowing that our kitchen and dinning room are considered "home" for countless families and friends in this tight-knit community.The Mangiafridda family also owns Gino's pizzeria next door. For what it's worth, several Eater commenters enjoyed their experiences at the restaurant, and rumor has it that a few of the big critics had already paid second visits. No word yet on who the new chef will be, or whether former Daniel sommelier Jean-Luc Le Du will be involved in the next iteration of the restaurant.
· Ryan Skeen's 83 1/2 Closes After Four Months in Business [~ENY~]
· All Coverage of Ryan Skeen [~ENY~]
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