Fantastic Find – LIBBI Serves All-Day Breakfast

Aug 15, 2025 by Chef David

By Chef David

Watch out for the opening of the newest kosher restaurant on the Upper East Side, LIBBI. I was fortunate to discover its soft opening on August 14th, located at 205 E 81st St. This charming dairy restaurant is enchanting, with a light, airy interior and welcoming staff that made us feel like family.

LIBBI is the sister restaurant to ABAITA, which has been serving high-end dairy Northern Italian cuisine since 2018.

LIBBI features an exciting eclectic menu, with daily specials, serving high-quality fresh food, and bringing warmth and exciting flavors to the table. The wait staff were attentive, refilling our water, checking to ensure everything was to our liking. We felt noticed and well cared for. We were just another customer walking in off the street without a reservation, but within a few minutes, we were seated and surprised by the warmth of the staff.

Thank you, Chef David, for stopping at our table to chat and for giving me a tour of the kitchen, which was sparkling clean, organized, and amazing. The team of chefs at LIBBI who work in an open-style kitchen are meticulous, plating to perfection, making their own gelato, breads, pastries, and pizza in-house. Although this was only the soft opening, there was a sense of camaraderie, professionalism, and pride that made each dish truly special.

Their offerings were unique and delicious. We ordered two dishes: House Special wood-fired pizza with a light, airy crust, and the rosti terrine topped with steamed egg and brown butter with Hollandaise sauce. We also tried a plate of asparagus with watercress the chef was testing out.

Everything was well prepared, presented, and unique. The rosti terrine consists of layers of thinly sliced potatoes baked, a bread-alternative for the steamed egg, covered with a rich Hollandaise. A rich, satisfying comfort food. The pizza pizza special was non-traditional as well, topped with fried squash blossoms. The meal ended with two chocolate cookies to sweeten the palate. We left smiling.

LIBBI was a wonderful find, Cholov Yisroel, certified by the OK.

This is a great little restaurant which we hope to frequent when we are on the UES.