Altamarea Group Returns to Soho With Piccolo Morini, a Casual Pasta Bar

Piccolo Morini, a new Northern Italian restaurant from the Altamarea Group, is set to open in Soho this month. The project marks a return for founder Ahmass Fakahany, whose Osteria Morini closed its Lafayette Street location two years ago. The new address is 40 Kenmare Street, at the corner of Elizabeth Street, in a space previously occupied by Kimika.

Piccolo Morini aims for a more casual atmosphere than its predecessor. The opening menu features several pastas and Italian small plates. Cocktails are priced to attract post-work crowds, with $9 martinis listed alongside wine and beer. Early walk-throughs this week showed a bar area set up for quick service and smaller tables lining the windows.

This section of Soho has seen a steady increase in mid-priced dining options since early spring. Nearby, several coffee shops and bakeries have expanded hours as weekend foot traffic grows. Piccolo Morini plans to serve lunch and dinner, with the first reservations expected to open in the coming days.

Staff from the former Osteria Morini location are involved in training. The kitchen is led by a team familiar with Altamarea’s other restaurants, including Marea in Midtown. The group has not announced a formal opening date, but signage appeared on the storefront this Tuesday.

The return comes as many area restaurants prepare for Memorial Day weekend crowds and the start of outdoor dining season. Local residents passing by Kenmare Street on Saturday afternoon stopped to check the new menu posted in the window.