Avi Singh and David Muhs, the ownership team behind popular Hell’s Kitchen bar Monkey Thief, have plans to open a new pizza bar concept in Hell’s Kitchen. Sama Za is slated to open at 370 West 51st Street, according to community board filings. The spot is taking over the space for B Side, the pizza bar concept currently operating at the address.
The new concept comes after a tumultuous year for Singh and Muhs, who were required to close their Hell’s Kitchen bar Monkey Thief in late June because their liquor license permit renewal was rejected. Since then, the team has pivoted to opening Same Same Wine Bar in the space. It opened on Oct. 14.
Sama Za will add to the team’s footprint in Hell’s Kitchen, offering a menu with a variety of pizza options, including margherita, spicy soppressata, lamb kebab, tofu, clam, Hawaiian, veggie and paneer. Other offerings include sides such as Caesar salad, charred wedge salad and garlic bread.
Plans for the space include nine tables that will seat 23 and one bar that seats nine. The proposed hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. daily.
The team also formerly operated Sama Street in Brooklyn. That location closed at the end of March after a six-year run.
Efforts to reach the ownership team prior to publication were unsuccessful. However, W42ST recently reported that the team plans to take over a cluster of spots on West 51st Street in January.
