Say cheese!
The hospitality giant behind some of New York City’s busiest hotspots is opening a ’70s-style neighborhood pizza joint in the West Village.
White Horse Tavern owner Eitan Sugarman has teamed up with Zero Bond co-owner Will Makris and Dandelion creative directors Emily Pires and Elena Fristu to launch a new downtown pizzeria called Keepers, Page Six can exclusively reveal.
“I think there’s something for everyone,” Sugarman told Page Six. “Drinks and pies at a mid-range price point and a great experience in one of the best neighborhoods in New York, in my opinion.”
A sophisticated take on a classic corner tavern with a nostalgic feel, the restaurant will offer thin-crust bar pizza pies along with an elevated cocktail program led by Ricky Dolinsky, former beverage director of Danny Meyer’s The View Restaurant.
“Our pizza is going to be a Jersey-style bar pie, a very thin style pie,” Sugarman said, adding, “I haven’t seen it around New York.”
Sugarman said guests should expect “fun toppings, great ingredients and great cocktails.”
“I hope people really enjoy it,” he said.
The long-awaited pizza program will be led by former Brooklyn pizzeria Paulie Gees and his and Louis Tomczak of the Sugarman’s Made in New York Pizza franchise.
Pizzas on the menu include inventive bar pies, from the traditional classic cheese pie and Chicagoland topped with sausage and giardiniera to the bargherita and sweet-and-salty pineapple express. Other highlights include New Jersey-style Thunder Road, crab-topped Shore Thing and vodka Chickie Palm.
Patrons can also order other dishes such as black garlic Caesar salad, spicy Italian sub salad, house-made kettle chips with caramelized onion dip, and oven-roasted wings in a variety of bold flavors, including brown butter buffalo and charred lemon pepper.
For a sweet treat, enjoy decadent dessert pies, including a cinnamon bun-style option topped with streusel, icing and sprinkles, or one with fresh peaches and cream.
“It’s a total hassle for people trying to avoid sugar,” Sugarman joked about the dessert pie, adding, “This is something unique I’ve never seen before.”
Dolinsky is committed to offering a fresh cocktail lineup centered around a wide selection of Negronis and classic drinks inspired by New York’s old bars. House cocktails like the Watermelon Daiquiri and Biscotti Old Fashioned will be available, as well as nostalgic frozen drinks, approachable Italian wines, local beers, and rotating spritzes designed to pair with bar pies.
With an approachable menu, upscale drinks, and a well-curated retro aesthetic, Keepers is poised to become a popular spot for locals and celebrities alike.
“I think this is a family-friendly place,” Sugarman said.
“I think this might be for couples. I think it might be people coming in for a beer and a pie or a great cocktail,” he added. “I don’t think it applies to any group.”
Keepers is scheduled to open on July 7th.
