Cecily to open from Estela and LaLou Alumni
A seasonal menu and an unusual business model.
Last year, I was at an event at La Palapa hosted by Les Dames D’escoffier to showcase up-and-coming women chefs and restaurateurs. While wandering around, I met Kristin Ma and Tara Noble, two fabulous women who told me they were working on a new Greenpoint restaurant with a seasonal, produce-driven menu to be called Cecily.
What caught my attention about the ladies was not only their pedigree—though that was impressive with stints at it was LaLou, Anfora, and Estela between them. What stayed with me was their novel business philosophy. They explained that they were thinking of something rather revolutionary; they wanted to hire from the local Greenpoint neighborhood and offer profit-sharing, ownership opportunities, and the flexibility to learn all aspects of restaurant business. I was intrigued. We kept in touch, and now I am excited to report they are getting ready to open.
On December 14th, Sommelier & Beverage Director, Kristin Ma (Estela, WS New York, LaLou, Anfora) and Service Director Tara Noble (LaLou, Lea, Rosemary’s; also the founder of consulting business Third Space Hospitality) will open Cecily at 80 Franklin Street in Greenpoint.
The menu from Executive Chef Zach Frieling (Jupiter and The Four Horsemen) is grounded in sustainability and seasonality. It features a rotating assortment of seasonal vegetable-forward snacks and larger plates that are vegetarian, vegan and pescatarian-friendly, but with plenty of meat and fish options. Dishes include porcini “chicharrones” with egg yolk; mackerel toast with parsley, red onion, and garlic aioli; butter beans with braised collards, sweet onions, and sourdough bread; and a roasted half chicken with Castelvetrano olives, wheat berries, and pomegranate.
The thoughtful wine list features bottles from off-the-beaten-path Spanish regions such as Galicia, Basque Country and Catalunya, in addition to bubbles, textured whites and reds from across the globe. You’ll also find an assortment of craft cocktails and zero-proof cocktail and wine options.
As I mentioned at the start of this post, Cecily’s founders are prioritizing hiring employees locally from the surrounding community. In addition to an emphasis on hiring locally, Ma and Noble plan to offer staff purposeful profit-sharing and ownership opportunities, encompassing direct mentorship in skills ranging from wine tasting to restaurant finance. Those joining the team will be encouraged to follow their interests and learn all aspects of operating a restaurant, ultimately empowering them with an active, long-term role in the business.
“I think there are new strategies we can try in this industry to be better custodians of storied communities like Greenpoint, even as they change, and it starts with treating (and paying) staff well,” said Noble.
Cecily is located at 80 Franklin Street, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. For now, it will open for dinner from Thursday through Monday, with plans to expand to daytime dining in early 2024. Follow them on Instagram here.