The West Village welcomes an expansion to its Italian bar scene as Bar Pisellino stretches its footprint to three storefronts, emanating from its original location at 52 Grove Street. Jody Williams and Rita Sodi recently announced the growth of their establishment, which now includes a retail shop nestled between the original corner spot and a new neighboring space along Seventh Avenue South. This expansion adds a new dimension to the bar's already polished atmosphere and offers patrons slightly more private space, as noted by co-owner Williams who told Eater, "It is just a little more of the same, a place to indulge in drinking all things Italian from morning coffee, afternoon apertivi to evening cocktails."
Bar Pisellino is known for its commitment to the quintessential Italian bar experience, a concept that Williams and Sodi have cultivated with meticulous attention to detail. From the imported materials and fixtures to their array of beverages and bites, the bar's spirit channels that of historic European establishments. Williams described the ambiance to New York Magazine as what one might encounter at "a train station in Europe, where you meet someone and start talking and suddenly you’ve missed your next three trains." Meant for more casual, stand-up socializing, the interior hosts a standing bar comprised of oak panels and Carrera marble, which serves as the stage for an evolving menu of beverages and snacks throughout the day.
Amidst the expansion, the team behind the admired Via Carota brand continues to propel its culinary influence across the city's landscape. Following the relocation of their other establishment, I Sodi, which moved to a larger venue in 2023, and the advent of Spazio Creativo, a creative pop-up and provisions space in 2022, Williams and Sodi's new expansion of Bar Pisellino marks another milestone in their burgeoning food and beverage empire.
New York's food scene continues to evolve with new openings, including Bagel Joint, a fusion bagel shop that gained popularity at Smorgasburg and McGolrick Park pop-ups. It will open its permanent location at 230 Calyer Street on Saturday, offering bagels with unique flavors like miso, saffron, and gochujang, reflecting the Taiwanese and Jewish heritage of owners Lanty Hou and Will Sacks. Additionally, Barlume Downstairs, a new cocktail bar from restaurateur John Meadow, will open alongside the upcoming Barlume restaurant.
