Not Closed Yet

Yes, the beloved neighborhood Italian restaurant for 30 years, Sambuca, will be closed soon. But owner Liza Wetanson is pleading with customers, saying that despite press coverage and rumors, Sambuca, on W. 72nd Street, is not shuttered yet. They will be closing after the holiday season, and will re-open as a new, casual, family-friendly eatery. Wetanson says she'll be opening the restaurant with a "highly-regarded" restaurant group.

"There's a lot of history at Sambuca's," said Wetanson. "Whenever I meet people from the neighborhood, they say 'Oh we met here' or 'Oh we got engaged here.' I hope that people who have some history there will say, 'Let's go back before they close.'"