Angelo Sosa (of Top Chef) to open new venture in Midtown East

via Diner's Journal:

February 1, 2011, 8:42 am
Angelo Sosa Expands His Sandwich Repertory
By FLORENCE FABRICANT

Angelo Sosa, who once worked with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, has been embedded with sandwiches in recent years.

His latest project, Social Eatz, at 232 East 53rd Street, is to open before the end of February with a menu of burgers, tacos and sandwiches, mostly inspired by the Far East. His Vietnamese French Dip made with skirt steak may be the only Vietnamese sandwich in town that is not a banh-mi. Korean-style burgers garnished with kimchi, and a kung pao chicken sandwich are also in the works. A cocoa-rubbed steak taco was not inspired by Asia.

Mr. Sosa, the chef who made his name at Yumcha, a Chinese restaurant in Greenwich Village where he ran the kitchen for just a few months, then went on to work at Buddakan in the meatpacking district, first took his Asian palate to the world of sandwiches with Xie Xie on Ninth Avenue, which has closed. This new venture, in an industrial-style space, is informal but does offer waiter service for about 70 seats.

Mr. Sosa’s partners are a group called Circle Hospitality, which owns a karaoke bar, Pulse Karaoke in Times Square, and another group, Chace, owned by Ace Watanasuparp and Chatchai Huadwattana, who are about to open Ember Room with Todd English and Ian Chalermkittichai.