South American super-chef Ignacio Mattos is set to open a
new restaurant at 1 Rockefeller Plaza.
Tishman Speyer – which owns the building – announced this
afternoon that the deal came after Mattos’ successful run with a pop-up concept
in the Rockefeller Ice Rink over the summer months.
As part of its COVID recovery effort, Tishman Speyer has converted the famous rink into an outdoor restaurant with eateries including the famous Rainbow Room, Frenchette, Alidoro and Mattos’ estela’s sharing the space to serve visitors and locals alike.
“Partnering with Rockefeller Center at The Rink was a joy,”
said Mattos. “The trust and support the Tishman Speyer team instilled in us
during these unprecedented times is greatly appreciated; we could not be more
excited to continue our partnership by creating a permanent space in one of the
most beautiful and iconic landmarks in New York,” said Chef Ignacio Mattos.
His new 4,116 s/f restaurant at 1 Rockefeller Plaza will be called Caffè Lodi. An Italian café, bar and bakery, it will open early 2021.
“Chef Ignacio Mattos is one of the most acclaimed and
beloved chefs in New York, and we are elated to welcome him and Caffè Lodi to
Rockefeller Center,” said EB Kelly, Tishman Speyer Managing Director
overseeing Rockefeller Center.
“Ignacio is a
New Yorker through and through. Like so
many of us, he comes from somewhere else, Uruguay, and like all of us, he is
deeply committed to our city. The dining industry is what makes New York New
York, it’s our lifeblood. One of our priorities is to work with a diverse
roster of chefs and restauranteurs to create unmatched dining experiences that
make Rockefeller Center New York’s premier dining destination.”
The Rockefeller Rink restaurant space is expected to
continue to operate through the end of October.
Tishman Speyer just announced the French bistro Frenchette has
extended its run at the space. Chef-owners Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson have signed
on to keep their pop-up open through Oct. 30.
Chef Mattos was forced to shutter his Michelin-starred estela,
Altro Paradiso and Flora Bar restaurants when the coronavirus brought New York
to its knnes.
He has since reopened Altro Paradiso for outdoor and 25
percent capacity indoor dining; estela will reopen when 50 percent capacity is
approved; Flora Bar is closed and it’s reopening has yet to be announced.
Caffè Lodi will join more than 50 food and beverage offerings currently available at Rockefeller Center.
