NEW YORK - Nov. 21, 2019 - Sergio Cetin had to pay his dues like everyone else.
The rising star of NYC's food scene started his restaurant career in 2005 as a busboy clearing tables and sometimes filling in for MIA dishwashers at a restaurant in Queens. He landed that job when a local restaurateur, Murat Aktas, spotted the 20-year-old distributing menu flyers on a cold winter day.
Aktas was impressed by Cetin's hustle and offered him a job as a busboy at one of his restaurants.
Cetin quickly rose through the ranks from busboy to server and then manager of the restaurant. In 2010, he took the next big step in his career: At just 25 years old, he opened his own restaurant. Antalia NYC is located at 17 W. 45th Street in Midtown Manhattan.
The restaurant did so well that when Cetin again crossed paths with his mentor Aktas seven years later, the pair decided to open another restaurant with a mutual friend, pastry chef Matt Serger. In 2017, they opened Mediterranean restaurant Lokal83 at 473 Columbus Avenue near 83rd Street on Manhattan's Upper West Side.
Both Antalia and Lokal83 are stylish local establishments that have quickly become beloved neighborhood gathering places. The two bistros specialize in affordable dishes from all over the Mediterranean, including Turkish, Greek, and Middle Eastern cuisine fused with American fare. Both menus feature freshly baked traditional breads and delicate desserts like baklava and kunafah prepared by the restaurants' staff pastry chef.
A perfectionist in his pursuit of the perfect dining experience, Cetin insists on only using the purest olive oils and the highest caliber, authentic Mediterranean cheeses. Both Antalia and Lokal83 boast a full bar with top shelf cocktails and a first-class selection of red and white wines. Food is served up in a vibrant but relaxed dining space designed to be a neighborhood haven.
Today, the 30-something Cetin is poised to be a leader in the next generation of Manhattan's restaurant elite.
"From the moment I began bussing tables in 2003, I knew I was in love," Cetin said. "I am so honored that Murat recognized my early passion and gave me the opportunity to explore and grow within the restaurant space. I'm thrilled to now own two fantastic restaurants that nourish people with delicious food while building neighborhood communities. I can't wait to continue growing Manhattan's food scene."
Cetin is currently exploring locations for his next project in New York City, Mediterranean Kitchen.
Learn more about Antalia and view the menu at https://www.antalianyc.com.
For more information about Lokal83, go to https://www.lokal83.com/.
Contact
Serhat (Sergio) Cetin
antalianyc@gmail.com
