Nello Balan Eyes Quattro Space for Downtown Expansion

It's much too late to Deathwatch Quattro Gastronomia Italia, the Miami import in the Trump Soho that opened last spring. It should have happened back in April when the owners of Quattro in Miami backed out of the NYC Quattro project. Or perhaps the previous April, when it opened. But since Team Eater was so looking forward to it as part of the Shitshow Week festivities, we'll go ahead and dust off the stamp for the occasion.

The true death knell for the restaurant comes from a Post report today that restaurateur to the wealthy Nello Balan is in talks to take over the condotel restaurant space—which readers report has been cricket-level deserted of late—to install a downtown version of his overpriced yet popular Upper East Side (and Hamptons) eatery.

Downtowners will remember that Balan went before Community Board 2 earlier this year in hopes of opening a Soho restaurant on Greene Street but was swiftly given the heave-ho by the agitated Soho residents. Now he's looking to take the 8,000 square feet in the lobby and mezzanine of the hotel with additional plans of opening a 2,500 square foot steakhouse with 360-degree city views on the hotel's 47th floor. If all goes through, he'll also cater the pool terrace and open a Bellini bar.

The Trump Soho is also hoping to get approval to turn the public outdoor space into a 50 seat al fresco cafe, a move the neighbors rejected back in April.

Says one Post source, "Trump SoHo and Nello share the same upscale clientele. It is a natural fit." Win, win, win.
· New Nello [NYP]
· All Coverage of Quattro [~ENY~]