When it opens next Monday, George Zoitas plans to shuttle fresh ingredients from his Westside Market into the kitchen at his new Morningside Heights endeavor, Vareli. The operation might remind you a little bit of market-lounge hybrid Kashkaval (no relation), and indeed the food will be Mediterranean here also, with a focus on dips, Turkish flatbread, charcuterie, and cheeses. Israeli chef Amitzur Mor was a chef de partie at Bouley for five years, and he’ll get a front-of-the-house assist from GM Richard Bill, who was previously a sommelier at Michael’s as well as at Tom Valenti’s restaurants.
Take a look at the space — the second floor accommodates 15 at the bar and 32 at tables, and the second floor seats 60. Dinner will be served from 5 p.m. till 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, till 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and till 9 p.m. on Sundays; a bar menu is offered till 2 a.m., and lunch and brunch will start in the spring. Here’s the menu.
BITES
Marinated Olives $5
Kalamata, Mammoth, Carignola and House Blend
Homemade Pickles $5
SPREADS $5/1 or $13/3
Humus, Tzaziki, Fire Roasted Eggplant, Spicy Feta
Served With Grilled Turkish Bread
SMALL PLATES
Seasonal Soup $6
Spicy Carrots with Chickpea, Mint and Greek Yogurt
Pot o’ Mussels $12
P.E.I. Mussels, Chorizo-Saffron Broth
Seared Diver Scallops $13
Shaved Fennel, Citrus and Hazelnut Vinaigrette
Grilled Calamari Panzanella $12
Panzanella, Tomatoes, Olives, Capers, Roasted Red Peppers and Baby Arugula
Roasted Rainbow Beets $11
Pickled Onions, Pecans and Goat Cheese
Leeks Carbonara $11
Young Leeks, Bacon, Croutons, Parmesan and Soft Boiled Egg
Crispy Pork Belly $12
Creamy Polenta and Fried Egg
Grilled Octopus $13
Chickpeas, Kalamata Olives, Serrano Peppers, Oregano and Greek Yogurt
Tuna Tartar “Israeli Salad” $13
Crispy Garden Vegetables, Tomato Consommé and Herb Salad
Fried Cauliflower $7
Tahini, Chili, Lemon Juice and Sage
Saganaki $9
Kaseri Cheese Fondue with Lemon oil and Pinenuts
CHEESE BOARD $12/3 0r $16/5
Gorgonzola Dolce (Italy) Sweet Aged Cow’s Milk with Blue Veins
Parmigiano-Reggiano (Italy) The King of Cheese
6 Month Aged Cow’s Milk
Pecorino Romano (Italy) Hard, Aged, Sharp
Sheep’s Milk
Triple Cream Brie (France) Very Creamy and Sweet
Cow’s Milk
Taleggio (Italy) Soft, Salty with Strong Aroma,
Pasteurized Cow’s Milk
Monte Enebro (Spain) Creamy With White Mold,
Goat’s Milk
Humboldt Fog (California) Tangy and Smooth Ash Coated,
Ripe Goat Cheese
Tomes de Savoie (France) Nutty and Buttery, Hard, Ripe Aged Goat Cheese
CHARCOUTERIE BOARD $8/1 or $16/Platter
26 Month Prosciutto di Parma
Sweet Sopressata
Hot Sopressata
22 Week Aged Italian Speck
3 Month Air-Dried Bresaola
Dry Aged Capitola
Dry-Cured Basque Chorizo
SALADS
Mixed Greens $8
Farmer’s Market Vegetables and Red Wine Vinaigrette
Vareli Salad $11
Baby Arugula, Israeli Cucumbers, Fresh Herbs, Tomatoes, Mammoth Olives and Bulgarian Feta
GRILLED PANINI & BURGERS
Portobello $12
Grilled Portobello, Roasted Peppers, Tapenade, Basil and Goat Cheese
Salumi $13
Sopressata, Prosciutto, Copa, Spicy Aioli, Pickled Onions, Buffalo Mozzarella
Braised Heritage Pork $13
Pulled Pork, Arugula, Shaved Fennel, Pickles, Chipotle Aioli, Ricotta Salata
Middle-Eastern Lamburger $13
Harissa, Tomato and Pickled Red Onion
All Natural, Grass-Fed Beefburger $9
Caramelized Onions, Chipotle, Arugula and White Cheddar
Served with Herbed Potato Fries
BIG PLATES
Grilled Atlantic Salmon $19
Braised Greens, Fennel, Tomato Confit and Rose-Olive Coulis
Pretzel-Crusted Mahi Mahi $22
Gigante Beans, Swiss Chard, Roasted Peppers and Bouillabaisse
Roasted Free Range Chicken $19
Creamy Polenta, Rapini and Lemon-Caper Vinaigrette
Homemade Sausage Plate $18
Warm Potato Salad, Pickles and Old Fashioned Mustard
Braised Short Ribs Tagine $21
Homemade Couscous, Chickpeas and Winter Vegetables
14 Oz. NY Strip $20
Grilled Scallions, Roasted Potatoes and Salsa Verde
SIDES $5
Creamy Polenta, Broccoli Rabe, Braised Greens, Fries, Homemade Couscous
Vareli Restaurant Lounge; 2869 Broadway, nr. 111th St.; 212-678-8585
