Regional
Regional, the Italian restaurant and wine bar at 2607 Broadway between 98th and 99th streets, has announced that its last day of business will be Sunday, May 28.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the permanent closure of Regional Wine Bar and Restaurant on Sunday, May 28th,” Regional’s website states. “Over the years, you have become more than just patrons to us; you have become an integral part of our restaurant family.”
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The last night will be a “farewell celebration” the owners are dubbing “The Last Supper,” encouraging long-time patrons to make their reservations now.
A friend of the owners says the reason the restaurant is closing is because the landlord is increasing the rent from $10,000 to $20,000 per month, stating that the owner “fought for a long time struggling to keep the place open and to try to negotiate with the landlord but it just didn’t happen and he had no choice but to close down.” We’ve reached out to Regional for comment.
The owners, brothers Dario and Pierpaolo Arenella, “opened Regional back in 2006 with on the wings of their successful sister restaurants like La Giara and La Gioconda.”
Never liked it. Inattentive staff. Mediocre food. And when I went they had the doors all open with the air conditioner running on a humid summer day, creating a rainstorm of drips from the vent system over the table. We kept having to flag down the server who was in what must have been a great conversation with the bartender our entire meal.
I so agree. I went twice. Never have I experienced such bad service. The second time, we left after being ignored by the server for over 20 minutes. A truly worthless place.
I truly don’t understand how nail salons and smoke shops can pay these rents, yet these larger and busier establishments can’t. How is Lenny’s able to afford their rent right next door?
Before it was Regional, I believe that place was a “Korean Deli” which in retrospect was a bodega.
$10k to $20k is not accurate. That friend-of-the-owners is misinformed. (Maybe by an owner?)
Great place, sad to see it go. You won’t find a seat closing night. Wonderful food, great service, not ridiculous pricing. Lasted 17 years where many dont make 3. Not to mention, making it on the UWS that long, where people pride themselves on complaining and are notoriously difficult, moreso regards restaurants. Oh, and made it past Covid shutdowns, DeBlasio, and a generally non supportive environment for any business. Congrats to the owners on a great run, and hope you open something similar again. . .in any neighborhood, but hoping the UWS so we can enjoy easier.
As a fellow small business owner, you have made great points. This city is very unfriendly to small businesses, you have no idea. Surviving still is not easy since everything is getting harder in this neighborhood and city. Please support your local small businesses. We love and need you.
Not at all sad to see this place go, it’s about time. I moved to the neighborhood about 10ish years ago and used to go to Regional all the time for a happy hour wine or two. Would sit at the bar and finish up classwork, grade papers, etc., before heading home around the corner. Sometimes I’d spring for the bread and white bean spread as a snack, most times I didn’t (back then it seemed wasteful to pay around $6 for what probably costs them 6 cents.
One day the waiter brought me an order of it without me asking. Considering it was probably a full 2 years of going there on the regular, I assumed it was a nice gesture. It was not. I was scolded by the hostess for eating it and expecting not to pay it. Her exact words were, “Well, YOU ATE IT!!!” That was the last time I was there. Makes for a good story now, though!
You’ve made the point very well. A wine, or two, over happy hour, maybe spring $6, and yet not happy. All the while likely spending hours grading papers and killing time while sitting in a revenue generating seat.
The point of the ‘comp’ is clear to me and did its job. I’m sure you’re a lovely person, no disrespect, but there is a library, your work location, Central Park, and plenty of other escapes to grade papers at. I suggest being considerate of any their needs, the restaurant, coffee shop, bakery, needs to provide you that $7 wine and $6 bread for hours while you work and spend nearly nothing.
So you are a leech? Literally taking something (their space) for nothing?
Regional has been my favorite restaurant forever! I grew up going there on special occasions, and always loved the people, the owner, and the food. So sad to see it go.
We loved the place, the owners, the staff, the food and wine. It was a perfect neighborhood restaurant. We will miss you Dario and Pierpaolo!! Good luck with your other endeavors!!
I have dined there and ordered out countless times. (I was there last night! I’m ordering in, sadly for the last time, tomorrow.) I’ve never been disappointed with either the food or the service. What a shame that greedy landlords are forcing so many small businesses out. (I think a lot of them leave the space empty and claim losses for tax purposes which out to be outlawed.) Anyone know who the landlord is, so I can give them an (unpleasant) piece of my mind??!! Why should we have to lose neighbor treasures and at the same time watch the scourge of proliferating “smoke shops”??
neighborhood treasures, that is!