After running the successful Manhattanjack on Prytania Street and becoming a staple as a baker at the Maple Street Patisserie in Uptown, Jack Petronella is getting back into restaurant ownership just down the street from the latter with Eats — a New York-style café and bakery. Located at 7716 Maple St., Eats has a name that’s meant to catch the eye of the passer-by, and it’s also a tribute to one of Petronella’s favorite eateries from his native New York City. An opening date is planned for August.
After receiving some negative and vey public personal fallout from the closure of Manhattanjack in 2017, Petronella built up a large fanbase working as a baker at Maple Street. Unfortunately, that patisserie recently pivoted away from retail sales, causing many regulars to feel devastated.
“Every time I walk on to Maple Street, I run on to five people who say, ‘When am I getting my muffins back!?’” Petronella said. “So, it’s been a disaster to them.”
In addition to offering popular pastries pulled from Maple Street, Petronella said he’ll be making many old favorites from Manhattanjack, including his claim for “the best bagels in the city.” There will also be a breakfast menu that includes breakfast sandwiches and diner-style breakfast plates. Eats will also have a lunch menu that serves Italian-American classics like pasta bowls, meatball subs, and chicken parmigiana subs. Petronella said items on the lunch menu which will be available a la carte as a way to support college students living in the area.
“If they want chicken parm, they can come in and get a plate with just a chicken parm on it,” Petronella said. “If they have the money and want a side of spaghetti too, they can do that. If they’re broke, they can just get the side of spaghetti. I remember what it was like being in college. So, any way that I can help them, it’ll benefit both of us.”
