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Sibling to Cafeteria on the Way

They love it in Chelsea, so why shouldn't they love it in NoLiTa?
They love it in Chelsea, so why shouldn’t they love it in NoLiTa?haha Photo: Shanna Ravindra


Mark Thomas Amadei, one of the co-owners of Chelsea money machine Cafeteria, has been looking for a downtown location for a long time. Now he has finally found it. This fall, he plans on opening Delicatessen on the corner of Prince and Lafayette Streets, in the space which for 80 years housed Buffa’s luncheonette.

The place will have the same basic game plan as Cafeteria (comfort food for free-spending bons vivants), but the difference, Amadei tells us, is that “while we stuck to American food for Cafeteria, Delicatessen will have comfort food from all over Europe as well.” The chef will be Doran Wong, who was supposed to be executive sous-chef for Allan Yao but was set adrift when Yao was unable to move forward on Park Chinois at the Gramercy Park Hotel. The place will be big, stay open late, and have some outdoor seating — all traits shared with Cafeteria. “What Cafeteria is to Chelsea, Delicatessen will be to Nolita,” Amadei tell us. He also plans to open Mac Bar, a four-seat takeout operation specializing in gourmet macaroni and cheese. Both are expected to open by Halloween.

Delicatessen, 54 Prince Street, nr. Lafayette St.; no phone yet.

Sibling to Cafeteria on the Way