Chef Tom Colicchio Debuts Italian Pop-Up in Former Craftbar Space

Tom Colicchio to debut Italian restaurant in former Craftbar space

On the heels of the latest season debut of Top Chef, Tom Colicchio is turning the space of his former restaurant Craftbar — which closed in 2017 at 47 East 19th Street — into his first-ever Italian restaurant on Wednesday, April 28. Vallata, a “Roman-inspired neighborhood trattoria,” is a pop-up of sorts and there’s no end date for the restaurant, according to a Crafted Hospitality spokesperson.

This is Colicchio’s first project in NYC since 2016, when he opened Temple Court (which was originally Fowler & Wells) and the Bar Room at the Beekman hotel. The celebrity chef will be in the kitchen for the opening weeks alongside Bryan Hunt, who will lead Vallata’s day-to-day operations. The menu currently features dishes like raw shaved artichoke salad, gnocchi with braised oxtail, and other classics like cacio e pepe.

Vallata is slated to be open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 5:30 to 10 p.m. with reservations for indoor dining only for now.

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— Patiently waiting for strawberry season: