Queer-Friendly Fine Dining Spot Moving to a Bigger East Village Space

The highly acclaimed HAGS is looking to double its current seating capacity

Brett Llenos Smith News Writer
The current location has seating for 20 guests (Image credit: Official Instagram profile)

The highly acclaimed HAGS restaurant in the East Village is planning to uproot and move to a bigger space that will have double the seating capacity of its current location. According to a permit filing with Community Board 2, the planned restaurant at 334 Bowery will be able to accommodate 48 guests for its fine dining service, which includes seating at a chef’s tasting counter. While the original outpost at 163 1st St. is celebrated for trafficking in boundary-pushing tasting menus, the filing unfurls a menu of la carte options. The owners are also seeking to upgrade to a full liquor license from their current beer and wine license. What Now New York has reached out for more information.

Developed by Telly Justice and Camille Lindsley, HAGS has aimed to puncture the sacrosanct air of fine dining by emphasizing intentional inclusivity. In addition to having an approachable price point for a chef-driven tasting menu, including pay-what-you-want events, the restaurant also offers a vegan tasting menu option. Backed by unmistakable talent, it’s a scintillating ethos that speaks volumes: Justice was named a Young Chef Award Winner in the Michelin Guide New York 2023 and one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs of 2025.

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Brett Llenos Smith is a freelance writer with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and more than a decade of experience writing about restaurants, farms and food production. As someone with a multi-ethnic background, he has a passion for highlighting folks from underrepresented communities.
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