The team behind O Mandarin, which has locations in Westchester and Long Island, is preparing to launch a venture in Manhattan. Cafe Mandarin will open this fall at 1239 First Avenue in Lenox Hill.
The spot will serve as O Mandarin’s more casual sister restaurant. Expect to see a smaller menu that will still focus on serving authentic Chinese cuisine.
Though the new brand will have a tighter menu, O Mandarin chef Eric Gao — recognized by the James Beard Foundation as a semifinalist for Best Chef in New York in 2020 and 2022 — will still head up the menu development, owner Peter Liu told What Now New York. The menu will feature dishes like dumplings, peking duck, Sichuan hot pots and crispy whole fish.
The 2,000-square-foot space will have 40-50 seats. While O Mandarin offers a more antique atmosphere, Cafe Mandarin will opt for a light, modern design with Asian influence.
Eventually, Liu hopes to expand the Cafe Mandarin brand to five to eight locations in the next few years.
“It’s our first restaurant actually in the city,” Liu said. “We’ll see how this works and hopefully we can spread out for our neighbors in New York City.”
