A new Mediterranean restaurant where “exceptional dining meets a warm and inviting atmosphere,” at least according to the restaurant’s website, has opened on Madison Avenue.
Costa opened on August 6 at 1300 Madison Avenue, between East 92nd and 93rd Streets, in the space formerly occupied by the bakery CRAVE, which was previously known as Mercato Rustico.
The owner is Michel Mroue, who also owned Mercato Rustico and Vicolina, an Italian restaurant next door to Costa that closed in 2023. What Now New York reported in March that Mroue is also involved in opening Casa M, a bar, restaurant and rooftop scheduled to open in the Lower East Side’s Merchant Hotel.
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Mroue, who is Lebanese, has nearly 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, having worked for Starwood, Omni, and Norwegian Cruise Lines. He also helped open The Quin hotel just south of Central Park.
The space at Costa seems to have a classic, old-world vibe. Florence Fabricant
The “Off the Menu” column in The New York Times had the following to say:
“Tablecloths, chandeliers, tufted leather banquettes, mirrors and a gilded bar are suitably Upper East Side at this Mediterranean newcomer serving breakfast, lunch and dinner,” wrote Florence Fabricant in her “Off the Menu” column in The New York Times, while also noting the $23 – $45 price range for main courses. “Men in jackets would not turn heads.”
The menu appears to match the elevated feel. Dinner highlights include Lobster Ravioli (bisque sauce, chili flake), Pistachio Crusted Salmon (citric fennel, butter), Truffle Tagliatelle (prosciutto, arugula, fresh truffle), and Poitrine de Poulet (chicken breast, mustard sauce, mashed potato, brussel sprouts).
The breakfast/brunch menu offerings include Ricotta Pancakes (blackberries), Challah French Toast (berries, maple syrup, cinnamon), and Smoked Salmon Crepes (cucumber, capers, red onion, chopped eggs, creme fraiche, chive).
Lunch highlights include a Lobster Roll (brioche bread, garlic, butter, fries), Costa Burger (avocado, tomato, lettuce, onion, tahini), Steak Frites (strip sirloin, sauce au poivre, pommes frites) and a Croque Madame (grilled ham with gruyere, mornay, fried egg, brioche, frites). Costa also offers a $42 prix fixe lunch option.
