c/o @pekarnanyc
Slovenian American restaurant, cocktail bar and event venue Pekarna has opened its doors at 594 Amsterdam Avenue, at 89th Street.
The restaurant’s website states that they’re currently in a soft-opening phase and are open Monday-Friday from 4-9pm and on weekends from 10am-9pm.
While they haven’t publicly announced a grand-opening, several of our readers tell us they’ve already been to the new spot. Pekarna has also earned early positive reviews on both Yelp and their Facebook page.
“Pekarna’s menus have been carefully developed to bring together thoughtful interpretations of classic Slovenian cuisine along with seasonal New American cuisine that will provide a familiar choice to enjoy our menus,” the restaurant’s website states.
Executive Chef Kamal Hoyte has worked at NYC restaurants including Oceana and Daniel. The dessert chef is Alma Rekvic, whose credits include a television feature on Master Chef Slovenia.
Some interesting “soft-opening menu” items include a Truffle Matzo Ball Soup, Chicken Schnitzel Burger, and the Pekarna Cauliflower with sesame seeds, golden raisins, Calabrian chili, scallions, bread and almond sauce. They’re also paying homage to the neighborhood (with a bit of a twist) with an “L.E.S. on the Upper West Side Omelette” (four eggs, smoked salmon, tomato, red onion, capers, herb labneh sauce, chives and dried figs).
Pekarna has also published a dessert menu which include a bread pudding and “Slovenian Apple Pie” (described as a baked apple roll with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla gelato).
And the cocktail menu is very extensive. Patrons can look forward to trying their three summer slushy drinks in the outdoor garden.
c/o @pekarnanyc
More menus can be viewed here.
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The spacious two level restaurant features a main dining room, cocktail bar, three lower-level private banquet rooms and a garden.
Pekarna’s first Yelp reviewer said “the cocktail menu is extensive and top notch,” and that they “had the sazerac and an Abita.” c/o @pekarnanyc
The “Elixir Room” features a 106-inch screen. c/o @pekarnanyc
c/o @pekarnanyc
For more info and updates, please visit www.pekarnanyc.com and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
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Pekarna feels disjointed to me—from the decor to the entrees to the cocktail menu. It doesn’t read as thoughtful Slovenian-American cuisine, but rather a scattershot pan-American approach. Or like it’s catering to tourists, yet it’s situated in a very neighborhoody area of the UWS. I mean, $15-$18 for the on-tap cocktails? And $14 for a slushie margarita that’s using margarita mix?
Just another upscale ” whole in the wall ” in NYC
if you have extra money and don’t know what to do with it
this is a Place to go & they will help you out
George, can we give them a chance please! Please welcome them to the neighborhood and personally I’m thrilled to have a new restaurant with a Slovenian menu! I love the idea of a truffle matzah ball soup! In this crazy time the prices have to be high enough to support an opening. If you can’t afford the prices, don’t knock them. Lets hear from someone who has eaten the food and tried their cocktails. I for one can’t wait to give them a try!!.
Though Czech and not Slovenian, I look forward to a visit. You can take the Eastern European out of the girl…
I wish them luck but this is the UWS, never known as the land of big spenders even in the best of times. Menu prices are out of line for a sustained business.