New York City welcomes a new food hall with nearly 20 restaurants showcasing unique cuisines that capture the heart and diversity of its residents.
The place known as The Hugh is located in Midtown East and offers a wide variety of flavors.
Whether a variety of Thai dishes in the restaurant Thank You Come Again or an African superfood with Teranga, there is something for everyone.
This dining destination originally opened last fall, but as one might imagine, the lounge was no stranger to dealing with the impacts of the COVID pandemic.
“It’s a big seismic shift in New York that I think everyone thought was going to end about six months ago, but the last six months have actually been a lot harder than the last year and a half,” Anna Castellani told our sister network. NBC New York.
Castellani, who created the DeKalb Market Hall from Brooklyn, worked at The Hugh so that it would have an edgy design while bringing in a mix of downtown vendors who focused on fresh ingredients.
Michigan-born Robert Guimond is the chef and owner of Public Display of Affection (PDA), a wood-fired pizza and vegetable restaurant located in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
The restaurant P. D. A. opened its second location in The Hugh and offers everything from classic cheese to Detroit-style slices.
“I’m optimistic. It’s not that busy yet, but as more people come into the office and learn about us, we’ll get busier. It’s a great place. Everyone who comes here highlights the beauty of the space,” Guimond said.
Alex Muñoz is the COO of Alidoro, a specialty Italian sandwich shop founded in 1986 in SoHo. Alidoro has five locations in New York City, including one in The Hugh and a more recently opened location at Moynihan Train Hall.
“We were very lucky to keep the doors open in all of our stores. That was something we worked very hard on, not only for the survival of our business, but also to keep our staff employed and ensure we have a future on the other side.” of this pandemic,” Muñoz said.
The most popular item at this restaurant is the Pinocchio with a mix of prosciutto, soppressata, fresh mozzarella, roasted sweet peppers, and olive paste.
Like Guimond, Muñoz is excited to welcome friendly faces back to work in the neighborhood.
While the salon currently operates only on weekdays, Castellani hopes to expand to the weekend beginning next month, as well as add special events and children’s activities during the day for New York City families.
“It’s really meant to be a plaza for Midtown East – the living room. One thing I really love is people coming in for coffee, lunch and being in Happy Hour. It’s really meant to be heavily used and it’s a resource,” Castellani said.
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