Eleven years after opening Michelin-recognized New American restaurant Tuome along East Fifth Street in the East Village, chef and owner Thomas Chen is looking to add another spot nearby. Chen has plans to open a yet-to-be-named cocktail bar next door to Tuome at 540 East Fifth Street, according to paperwork recently filed with the community board.
The address has seen a fair amount of turnover in recent years. It was formerly home to Le Burger, and another burger spot, Grillify-NYC, took over the space last summer. However, Grillify-NYC has been closed at the location for multiple months. The last announcement on the Grillify-NYC Instagram page was on February 25, when they announced that they would be temporarily closed until further notice.
Chen’s plans for the spot includes transforming the space into a “cozy cocktail bar featuring a menu of carefully crafted drinks paired with Chinese-inspired small plates and snacks,” according to the filed paperwork. The proposed food menu features items like milk bread, tartare, spring rolls, Wagyu beef and Chinese salad.
Chen has seen success since the opening of Tuome, which has gained critical acclaim. Tuome’s menu features seafood like octopus and snow crab, protein-driven mains like chicken and lamb, and other items like a dim sum tower.
Plans for the bar space call for eight tables that will seat 24 and one bar that will seat five. The proposed hours of operation are from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, with hours extended to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
As of now, an opening timeline for the bar remains unclear.
