SoHo is about to smell a lot more like sizzling steak. Palermo Argentinian Bistro is planning a downtown outpost in the former Papatzul space at 55 Grand St, with plans to turn roughly 2,720 square feet across a ground floor and basement into a 65-seat bistro with a nine-seat full bar. Expect a menu built around Argentinian grilled meats, a shareable parrillada, empanadas and a small raw bar, backed by an Argentina-forward wine and cocktail lineup.
What’s planned
Documents filed with the city peg the space at about 2,720 square feet, split evenly between the ground floor and basement, with room for 65 guests and nine bar seats, according to What Now. The filings say Palermo will lean into Argentinian grilled meats, with menu highlights like parrillada, empanadas and a raw bar, plus a beverage program that spotlights Argentinian wines and cocktails. The outlet also names Orhan Cakir as the operator of the new SoHo location.
A look at Palermo
Palermo already runs a location on Restaurant Row in Hell's Kitchen and describes itself as a parrilla-driven bistro that focuses on premium Argentine cuts, per Palermo Argentinian Bistro. The brand's site lists founder Orhan Cakir and executive chef Carlos Barroz among its leadership and showcases the format Palermo now appears poised to replicate in SoHo.
SoHo spot and neighborhood context
The corner of SoHo where Palermo is headed has seen its fair share of turnover. The address at 55 Grand St was most recently home to Papatzul, a Mexican restaurant that operated in the space. Online listings still show Papatzul at that address, underscoring the unit's recent life as a dining room and the steady churn of restaurant real estate in the neighborhood, per MapQuest.
When it could open
For now, Palermo is keeping the timing close to the vest. Neither the restaurant nor the building's owner has announced an opening date, and What Now reports it reached out for comment. At this point, the city filings are the clearest sign that another grill-focused concept is on its way into SoHo's dining mix.
