Popular Upper East Side Italian Restaurant Mezzaluna to Close After 42 Years

Mezzaluna, an Italian restaurant that opened on Manhattan's Upper East Side in 1984, will serve its last meal on November 1, 2026, owner Aldo Bozzi, 86, confirmed to ABC7. Bozzi, who personally imported olive oil from Tuscany and built a reputation for careful sourcing, said the decision not to renew his lease for another ten years came down to the combined burden of rising business costs in New York City and the expense of an upcoming renovation. Over four decades, the restaurant built a multi-generational base of loyal customers who described it as a neighborhood anchor. Long-time patron Jonathan Steinman told ABC7, 'I'm going to miss the fact that they always know what we're going to order.' The closure is the latest in a string of long-running New York City restaurants that have shut after struggling with soaring rents, increased labor costs, and post-pandemic economic pressures. Bozzi said he was proud of what the restaurant achieved but felt it was the right moment to step away rather than commit to another decade of operation.