Skip to Content
News

Agata & Valentina Gluten-Free Outdoor Café Opens in June

The Italian grocer will debut its first gluten-free outdoor café on Manhattan’s Upper East Side

Agata & Valentina outdoor patio

Agata & Valentina’s gluten-free outdoor café is set to open on the Upper East Side June 1.

Italian grocer Agata & Valentina will open a fully gluten-free outdoor café on June 1.

The new cafe space is the grocer’s first outdoor venture. The cafe will offer service at 11 tables, with 22 seats, in a devoted area set off by planters filled with greenery and yellow umbrellas at 79th Street and First Avenue.

Agata & Valentina
Grilled Caprese Panino from Agata & Valentina.

“We are excited to bring this option to our customers, who not only have a safe gluten-free space to buy food, but now have that same space to sit and enjoy a bite to eat,” says owner Valentina Puleo.

The family-owned store, which opened in 1993 on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, is already home to a gluten-free market. Agata & Valentina’s Gluten-Free Market was born initially from a personal need, when Puleo was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. 

The new café is just the next marker of gluten-free innovation by Agata Musco and her daughter, the pair behind the grocery store.

The outdoor café will serve brunch, lunch, and dinner items — and even includes a kids’ menu, a bonus for parents of children who eat and drink gluten-free. Agata & Valentina’s Spaghetti Involtini is on track to stand as the café’s signature dish. 

The café’s menus are set to include the below:

Lunch & Dinner: 

● Chicken or Vegan Eggplant Parmigiana 

● Organic Roasted Salmon 

● Veggie or Chicken Feta Burgers 

● Various pizzette

● Focaccia

Weekend Brunch:

● Grilled caprese panino
● Housemade gluten-free muffins, scones, croissants 

● Egg sandwich or wrap 

● Fresh seasonal berries / yogurt and granola parfait 

● Cavatelli in homemade pomodoro sauce 

● Bellini 

● Mimosa

Kids: 

● Chicken fingers

● Turkey burger

● Various pizzette 

● Focaccia 

Desserts: 

● Tiramisu 

● Chocolate mousse 

● Biscotti trio

● Homemade blueberry tart

The outdoor space opens June 1 and will operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 11 a.m. through 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through the summer.


Related: The Best Italian Markets in the United States

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Appetito

Appetito Hosts ITA Talks: “Last Call” with Caffe, Gelato, Amaro & Grappa

Appetito hosted another panel discussion in conjunction with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) this past Tuesday in Manhattan.

May 23, 2025

Venchi and Laudemio Frescobaldi Partner for a Spread and Gelato

Two iconic Italian brands have partnered on new items that combine extra virgin olive oil with chocolate and gelato.

May 22, 2025

Birmingham’s Big Rock Italian Chophouse Opens in July

Cameron Mitchell Restaurants introduces its newest concept to Metro Detroit with Big Rock Italian Chophouse, set to open in July 2025 inside Birmingham’s former Grand Trunk Western Railroad Depot. Expect premium steaks, indulgent pastas, a cigar lounge, and more.

How a Beloved Aunt Inspired Zia Pia, an Italian Importer in Charlotte, NC

When Victoria Custodi launched Zia Pia in 2013, she wasn’t just starting a business; she was honoring a legacy.

May 21, 2025

Rosemary’s Debuts New Spritz Menu in NYC’s West Village

From classic Aperol to limoncello and elderflower, Rosemary’s introduces a cocktail menu made for warm-weather sipping.

See all posts