The long-time Kaia Wine Bar space on the Upper East Side is getting a saltwater reboot. A seafood-focused restaurant is headed to 1614 Third Avenue, neighborhood restaurateur Enrique Lerma told locals, with a new wine-and-seafood concept planned for the storefront between East 90th and East 91st streets. There is still no name or opening date on the books, but the team says the new spot will be beverage-forward and built around seafood plates, effectively stepping in after Kaia’s move earlier this year.
Community Board Sign-Off
Lerma recently brought the plan to Community Board 8’s Street Life Committee, where members got an early preview of what could be the block’s next regular haunt. The committee voted to approve the applicant’s liquor-license request, according to Patch. That unanimous vote clears a key neighborhood hurdle, although the state will still have the final say on any liquor permit. Neighbors at the meeting were told that the new restaurant would take over the former Kaia storefront at 1614 Third Avenue.
Hours, Drinks And Licensing
The restaurant’s application lays out a schedule that runs seven days a week, with service from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. The menu is described as seafood-driven, paired with a bar program that leans heavily on wine and cocktails. Lerma told the board that the team is seeking a full liquor license and that the concept will be wine-forward in a way that echoes the space’s previous life. Those details were reported by WhatNow.
Who’s Behind The Project
On the operator side, Enrique Lerma is the local name behind Alison and the recently opened Bar Vivant on East 88th Street, according to Patch. Licensing filings list chef Anne O’Hare as a partner, and show that the liquor application was submitted under the name Top Table LLC, as reported by East Side Feed. With Lerma’s existing neighborhood footprint, it is no surprise that residents and board members zeroed in on the details at the committee meeting.
What's Next For The Space
For now, the community board’s vote sends the paperwork on to state review, where the full liquor application is still pending. As reported by WhatNow, there is still no public timeline or official restaurant name, and the New York State Liquor Authority will ultimately decide the fate of the license. If the state signs off, the Upper East Side will effectively swap one wine-forward destination for another, this time with a seafood-focused angle added to Third Avenue’s growing dining strip.
