NYC Date Spot Sees Surge After 'Love Story' Spotlight on carolyn bessette kennedy

A longtime East Village eatery says customer interest has climbed sharply after scenes in a new dramatized series placed the restaurant at the center of John F. Kennedy Jr. and carolyn bessette kennedy's on-screen early romance. The surge in reservations underscores how popular culture can quickly affect independent businesses tied to high-profile figures.

East Village restaurant reports reservation surge

Panna II Garden Indian Restaurant, a modest dining room known to locals, has seen reservations rise by roughly 20 to 70 percent since the series premiered. Owner Boshir Khan said patrons have been booking tables at higher volumes and that the restaurant has fielded more inquiries from visitors seeking the spot where the on-screen couple shared an early dinner.

While the restaurant was depicted as the couple's first date in the series, Khan clarified that the real-life pair did not actually meet there for their initial encounter. He recalled that they were regulars who preferred off-peak hours: "Usually before six so they would come before rush hour and be the only ones, " he said. Khan added that the couple would often try to avoid attention and sometimes hid beneath the restaurant's distinctive hanging lights to stay out of sight of photographers.

The location has a modest history as a filming site beyond this show; it previously hosted shoots for other television projects, which helps explain why production crews were comfortable using the space for the new series. Khan said the publicity from the dramatization has been immediate and tangible for day-to-day business.

Casting choices, criticism and the creative response

The series portraying the life and romance of John F. Kennedy Jr. and carolyn bessette kennedy has sparked intense public reaction, including early backlash focused on casting and aesthetic choices. Producers and cast members have acknowledged the strong responses and framed them as part of the broader conversation the project invites about privacy, public scrutiny and how iconography is translated to screen.

Producers described a meticulous casting process, particularly for the role of John F. Kennedy Jr., which involved screening a large number of candidates—more than 1, 000—before choosing the lead. The actor playing the role in the series is a relative newcomer to major on-screen work, while the actor portraying carolyn bessette kennedy was selected after her auditions revealed a mix of guardedness and on-screen presence that creators felt captured the subject's public persona.

Not all reactions have been welcoming. A member of the Kennedy family, Jack Schlossberg, criticized the production for "profiting off" his uncle's life. Creators and cast have responded by emphasizing their intention to approach the material with respect, honor, and a focus on the human story behind the headlines—particularly the couple's private life and the tragedy that ultimately ended it.

What viewers and visitors should expect

For audiences, new episodes of the series arrive on Thursdays at 9 p. m. ET. The show aims to trace the arc of the relationship from its early, private moments through the intense public scrutiny that followed, and culminates in the devastating loss that marked the couple's story.

Meanwhile, the East Village restaurant says it is preparing for sustained interest from curious diners and fans. Khan suggested visitors who want to experience the space as seen on screen should plan ahead, noting that the uptick in bookings has made walk-in availability less reliable than in past years.

The renewed attention is a reminder of how dramatized portrayals can resurface local histories and shift the fortunes of small businesses tied to well-known names. For Panna II Garden and similar neighborhood venues, even a few scenes can translate into a meaningful business boost and a fresh chapter in their local reputation.