High-End Italian Restaurant, Adria, Makes Its Way to Second Avenue

Flavors of the sea seep into the large, fluffy tubes of pasta and the bright red sauce of the lobster paccheri at Adria, an Italian restaurant that recently opened at 1556 Second Avenue (between 80th and 81st streets).

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Replacing Gray Hawk Grill, an American diner that delighted customers for four years, Adria joins Aunt Jake’s, San Matteo, and La Pecora Bianca—three other Italian restaurants on the same block. What distinguishes it from its neighbors is the culinary influences of the Adriatic Coast that blend with the traditional elements of Italian cuisine.

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“There’s a lot of old-fashioned restaurants and modern restaurants on Second Avenue,” said one of Adria’s owners, Maria Marquez-Hass. “We wanted to create something in between. High-end, relaxed, and chic.” And they certainly met their goal. While the staff, dressed in their meticulously pressed tuxedos and button-down shirts, pour drinks with precision at the pristine white marble-top bar, they also engage in convivial conversation with the customers. When we went in for dinner last night, we heard discussions among those sitting at the bar on a whole range of topics—from sports to Broadway plays—and the servers and patrons greeting one another by name.

Marquez-Hass runs the restaurant along with Chef Endrie Qalliu and her husband, Lawrence Hass. Originally from Colombia, where she spent her childhood working in various stores that her mother ran and where she studied hotel management, Marquez-Hass and her family moved to the Upper East Side 40 years ago to carry on their entrepreneurial legacy. Throughout her Upper East Side tenure, she ran La Marqueza Beauty Spa with her sister, which they just closed after 30 years, and Home Décor with her mother, which recently closed following her mom’s retirement at age 80.

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Fourteen years ago, Marquez-Hass made her way into the food services industry when she opened Colombian restaurant La Dulce Vida at 1219 Lexington Avenue. At the time, she shared, there were no Colombian restaurants in the neighborhood, and she wanted to bring a taste of home to the Upper East Side. During the pandemic, La Dulce Vida migrated to 309 East 83rd Street, replacing 20-year-old Michelin-star Japanese restaurant Dong Gu. Then Marquez-Hass opened Italian restaurant L’Osteria at La Dulce Vida’s original location.

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L’Osteria was an immediate success, Marquez-Hass tells us. However, with the days of the pandemic largely behind us, many restaurants are having to knock down their outdoor spaces. Such was the case with L’Osteria, which inspired Marquez-Hass, Hass and Qalliu to open a bigger space. Thus was born Adria.

The lobster paccheri ($34), which happens to be Marquez-Hass’s favorite dish, features small but firm pieces of juicy lobster, soft yet chewy pasta, and plump, tangy cherry tomatoes. Seasoned with parsley and chili flakes, the dish had just a hint of spiciness that was not overpowering. Other diners enjoyed courses including the red snapper acqua pazza ($39) and the ravioli ($37) and all agreed when leaving that the food was “really delicious.” Menu items range from $18 for a radicchio to $56 for lamb chops. Along with our dinner, we enjoyed a glass of prosecco ($15). Alcohol prices range from $10 for a glass of Via Emilia to $800 for a bottle of Solaia, Antinori.

When discussing her entrepreneurial journey, Marquez-Hass shared that “the beauty business is easy. Your staff stays with you for a long time. But the restaurant industry is tough. You always have to perform right then and there, be connected 24/7, you’re always hiring. It’s very difficult in terms of personnel.” That said, she is excited to “bring a new look and feel to Second Avenue.” When asked what she loves about the neighborhood, she mentioned its convenience and that “people on the Upper East Side are very loyal. They go to the same beauty parlors and restaurants.”

Adria opens for happy hour every day at 4 p.m. and dinner at 5 p.m. Currently, happy hour only includes drinks—no bites. Soon, Adria will also serve brunch on the weekends, and they are looking into opening for lunch. Stay up to date by following Adria on Instagram.