Costa, a new Mediterranean restaurant on Madison Avenue

A new Mediterranean restaurant has opened on Madison Avenue where “exceptional food meets a warm and inviting atmosphere,” according to the restaurant’s website.

Costa opened on August 6 at 1300 Madison Avenue, between East 92nd and 93rd Streets, in the space formerly occupied by CRAVE Bakery, formerly known as Mercato Rustico.

The owner is Michel Mroue, who also owned Mercato Rustico and Vicolina, an Italian restaurant next door to Costa that will close in 2023. What Now New York reported in March that Mroue is also involved in the opening of Casa M, a bar, restaurant and rooftop terrace set to open at the Merchant Hotel on the Lower East Side.

Mroue, a Lebanese national, has nearly 25 years of experience in the hotel industry and has worked for Starwood, Omni and Norwegian Cruise Lines. He also helped open The Quin hotel south of Central Park.

The space at Costa seems to have a classic, old-fashioned feel. Florence Fabricant

The New York Times column “Off the Menu” stated:

“Tablecloths, chandeliers, padded leather banquettes, mirrors and a gold-plated bar are perfectly Upper East Side in this Mediterranean newcomer that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner,” wrote Florence Fabricant in her New York Times column “Off the Menu,” noting the $23-$45 price range for entrees. “Men in jackets wouldn’t attract any attention here.”

The menu seems to reflect the upscale ambience. Dinner highlights include lobster ravioli (bisque sauce, chili flakes), pistachio-crusted salmon (lemon fennel, butter), truffle tagliatelle (prosciutto, arugula, fresh truffle) and poitrine de poulet (chicken breast, mustard sauce, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts).

The breakfast/brunch menu includes ricotta pancakes (blackberries), challah French toast (berries, maple syrup, cinnamon) and smoked salmon crepes (cucumber, capers, red onion, chopped eggs, crème fraîche, chives).

Lunch highlights include a lobster roll (brioche bread, garlic, butter, french fries), a Costa burger (avocado, tomato, lettuce, onion, tahini), steak frites (sirloin, poivre sauce, french fries) and a croque madame (grilled ham with gruyere, mornay, fried egg, brioche, french fries). Costa also offers a prix fixe lunch menu for $42.