New Greek Eatery With Live-Fire Cooking To Open On The Upper East Side

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — A new Greek restaurant centered around live-fire cooking and communal dining is preparing to open on the Upper East Side this fall.

KALÓ will open on Lexington Avenue between East 72nd Street and East 73rd Street, serving regional Greek dishes inspired by the country’s islands, mainland and mountain villages, the owners told Patch.

The 50-seat eatery comes from the team behind Water & Wheat, an Italian restaurant with locations on the Upper East Side and in Midtown East.

Its owner, Vasiliki Lampropoulou, also owns Koukla, an Astoria espresso bar known for Greek-inspired breakfast dishes.

The new restaurant will open in the space previously occupied María Mulata Restaurant & Bar, which has permanently closed.

"KALÓ is inspired by everything I love about the Greek table—the warmth, generosity and joy that comes from bringing people together over good food," Lampropoulou told Patch.

“With KALÓ, we want to bring that spirit to the Upper East Side and create the kind of restaurant that becomes part of people’s lives,” Lampropoulou said.

The restaurant’s kitchen, led by executive chef and co-owner Konstantinos Moschos, will feature a wood-fired oven and an open grill used to prepare breads, seafood, meats and seasonal vegetables.

Menu highlights will include Horiatiki Crudo, made with thinly sliced sea bream, the Short Rib Giouvetsi — a slow-braised short rib with orzo and Graviera Naxou cheese — and the Wood-Roasted Briam & Revithokeftedes Sifnou, which includes seasonal vegetables alongside herbed falafel.

Diners will also be able to toast their own house-made mastiha marshmallows tableside before dipping them in warm dark chocolate.

ARCH Design created the restaurant’s dining room using custom woodwork, terracotta vessels, vintage artwork, and real olive trees.

KALÓ will initially serve dinner daily from 5 to 10:30 p.m. Lunch and brunch service are expected to launch later.

KALÓ will be located at 1007 Lexington Ave.

Know of a business opening or closing on the Upper East Side? Email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.