If you’ve never been to Pietro Nolita before at 174 Elizabeth Street, you’d still have a hard time missing it. Covered head to toe in pink, inside and outside, Pietro’s is one of the most recognizable restaurants in Nolita and maybe even all of New York.
Serving up authentic Italian dishes with an emphasis on freshness and nutrition, Pietro’s was founded by Pietro Quaglia in 2016. Inspired by the design trend influenced by the postmodernist Memphis Group founder Ettore Sottsass, Pietro’s employs a maximalist aesthetic draped entirely in pink, reminiscent of the pastel colors of the Italian Riviera.
It was this commitment to aesthetic that helped put Pietro’s on the map. When Pietro saw the first coat of paint on his new restaurant, he said “Wow! It’s PINK AS F***”, and that expression has become something of a catchphrase among Pietro’s loyal customers. People flock from all over the place to visit the restaurant and grab a souvenir from their notorious “PINK AS F***” merch store.
Now, Pietro is gearing up to expand his restaurant with a brand new concept…right next door! According to an application filed with the state of New York, Pietro is planning on opening a new restaurant called Pedro Nolita right next to Pietro Nolita, at 172 Elizabeth Street.
Pietro’s name change reflects the change of vision he has for his new restaurant, which he describes as “Pietro’s take on tex-mex cuisine, featuring homemade tortillas, rotisserie chicken, and other regional specialties – reasonably priced in a cheerful, colorful setting.”
We can’t help but wonder if by “colorful setting” he means “covered head to toe in pink”, but perhaps he will employ a new aesthetic to accompany the stylistic changes he’s planning for the new restaurant. As previously mentioned, the new restaurant will be opening up at 172 Elizabeth Street, right next door to the original restaurant and replacing a store that had been vacant for years.
With only 700 square feet of space available, the new restaurant is expected to be an intimate affair with a maximum of 16 seats available in the premises, but naturally Pedro’s will also be serving its food to go for customers who can’t wait.
