Torrisi Italian Specialties to Close in the New Year, to Make Way for Something More Exclusive

Torrisi Italian Specialties, the original jewel in the crown of Major Food Group's ever-expanding empire, will close on January 1, after one last New Year's Eve hurrah. But the Torrisi boys aren't ditching the space entirely. Instead, partner Jeff Zalaznick tells the Times, they'll convert it into a 15-seat fine dining restaurant with a brand new name. Despite the very limited seat count, this will not, Zalaznick says, be another one of those tasting menu-only restaurants. Yes, it might serve a tasting menu, but it will also serve a la carte dishes. If anything, this sounds like something more along the lines of ZZ's Clam Bar (which only has 12 seats): ultra-exclusive, and most likely with prices to match. Still the focus here will no doubt be more on food than cocktails, with Rich Torrisi at the helm in the kitchen.

Meanwhile, the Torrisi team should be opening the Upper West Side outpost of Parm in a few weeks, and Zalaznick tells Eater they're hoping to open their coastal Italian High Line restaurant, which will be their biggest to date, in January.