Libbi, the new restaurant by the owner of Abaita, is now serving breakfast and lunch

News about the imminent opening of Libbi, a new kosher Mediterranean restaurant on the Upper East Side by Abaita owner and chef David Donagrandi, first made the rounds back in April—and for good reason: Abaita is considered one of the very best kosher eateries in the city. Fast-forward to today, and that excitement has even more of a reason to thrive: Libbi is now officially in soft-open mode at 205 East 81st Street by Third Avenue.

Currently serving only breakfast and lunch, the restaurant will soon roll out a dinner program featuring the Roman-style pinse that Donagrandi told Pretty Kosher about when he first shared details of the project.

A quick scroll through the restaurant’s Instagram makes on thing clear: the name—derived from the Hebrew word for “heart,” lev—is entirely fitting. Every dish looks like a culinary love letter, from the striking tuna toro and melon salad to the interestingly constructed potato terrine with Hollandaise sauce and, of course, the gelato served with homemade waffles. Even the breakfast pastries shine!

No word yet on when, exactly, Libbi will open for dinner service, but we imagine reservations will quickly fill up… so keep an eye out for more news about the restaurant right here on Pretty Kosher!