Torrisi’s Growing Roman-American Empire Expands to the Meatpacking District
By Billy Gray December 3, 2012 12:00 pm
reprintsMajor Food Group, the restaurant organization behind downtown culinary darlings Torrisi and Parm, will continue its growth in New York with a new space in the Meatpacking District.
The restaurant group, led by partners Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi and Jeff Zalaznick beat out more than 20 other applicants seeking a contract at a glass-walled building designed by Renzo Piano beneath the southern edge of the High Line, Grub Street reported. A source told The Commercial Observer that the 100-seat restaurant would take up 1,600-square-feet of space in the building.
Original renderings of the city-owned parkland property included designs for a food-related business, our source said. The food program at the High Line already includes several mobile cart vendors. Our source said High Line organizers are angling to grow the food program, especially through events, but did not say that expansion currently includes plans for more permanent restaurants.
Torrisi and Parm–both on Mulberry Street–have won over critics and diners with their updated takes on red sauce Italian throwbacks. (There’s a Parm offshoot in Yankee Stadium). Major Restaurant Group also has more immediate plans to open Carbone and The Lobster Club on Thompson Street.
Major Food Group hopes to open beneath the High Line in early 2014.
