This wine-centric Harlem spot serving Italian- and Spanish-influenced food has always been focused on community. Owner Yvette Leeper-Bueno says that over the course of the pandemic, she was keenly aware of how much her regular diners were seeking a sense of normalcy. In addition to erecting dining pods, she did little things like keep candles flickering even when the restaurant was closed.
“As we’ve worked to invest deeper into how we engage with our community, from those we’re serving at the restaurant to the tens of thousands of donated meals we’ve sent around NYC via World Central Kitchen, our understanding of the ways in which we can spread joy have only deepened,” says Leeper-Bueno. “It’s been an incredible challenge, but somehow we’re coming out on the other side a stronger restaurant and more prepared to step up where we can.”