Italian concept Casa Louie opened its first location at Hudson Yards earlier this year. Now, the Casa Louie team is looking to expand the concept within the city, leasing a 3,300-square-foot space at Three Waterline Square on the Upper West Side with plans for a spring 2026 opening, according to the New York Business Journal. The space was formerly home to Mexican restaurant Empellón Taqueria, located at 645 West 59th St.
The forthcoming Upper West Side location will be the first expansion for the Casa Louie brand.
Helmed by the team behind other local concepts such as gluten-free restaurant Friedman’s and sushi concept Suram Sushi & Ramen, Casa Louie serves Italian classics and a cocktail- and wine-focused beverage program. Menu items include Sicilian square pies; pizza such as vodka pie, spicy broccoli rabe (Calabrian chili, fresh mozzarella, scamorza and garlic) and prosciutto and arugula (San Danielle prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, pecorino, basil and lemon oil); sandwiches such as Italiano and prosciutto and parm; and Italian favorites such as rigatoni carbonara, spaghetti limone and rigatoni vodka.
The team has been in expansion mode for multiple concepts. Casa Louie originally had a spot heading to Tribeca, slated to go into a space beside sister concept Friedman’s, but the team exchanged plans for Casa Louie in that space for Suram. The Friedman’s and Suram locations in Tribeca are still forthcoming.
