East Village Date Spot Sees Rush After 'love story fx' Spotlight
A longtime East Village restaurant is experiencing a notable uptick in business after a high-profile dramatization presented it as the on-screen first date location of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. The surge has translated into increased reservations and renewed interest in a neighborhood fixture that has quietly served celebrities and locals for decades.
Owner describes steady spike in bookings
Panna II Garden, tucked away in the East Village, has long been part of New York City dining lore. The restaurant’s owner, Boshir Khan, said the establishment has seen reservations climb by roughly 20 to 70 percent since the series spotlighted the couple’s early dinners there. Khan noted the pair often dined before the dinner rush: "Usually before six so they would come before rush hour and be the only ones, " he said, adding that the couple took pains to avoid attention and sometimes hid beneath the restaurant’s lights to steer clear of paparazzi.
The on-screen moment prompted both longtime locals and viewers of the series to seek out the address, turning what had been a quiet, off-hours favorite into a short-term destination. Khan pointed out that the restaurant has a history of appearing in other film and television projects, and that its intimate ambiance has long appealed to visitors who want to dine away from crowds.
Series spotlight reignites interest in real-life locations and legacy questions
The series that featured the restaurant traces the relationship between Kennedy and Bessette, following the couple from their early days through later, tragic years. The dramatization’s portrayal of private moments — and of public scrutiny — has catalyzed renewed curiosity about places connected to the pair. New episodes of the series now premiere on Thursdays at 9 p. m. ET, keeping the conversation alive as each installment drops.
Behind the scenes, the creative team and cast have navigated intense early feedback. Executive producer Brad Simpson acknowledged that the project received "intense feedback, " and lead actor Sarah Pidgeon said she hopes their approach honors the lives at the story’s center. The casting process for the role of John F. Kennedy Jr. reportedly involved more than 1, 000 auditions to find the actor who could capture the public figure’s combination of charisma and vulnerability.
The series has also prompted criticism from members of the extended family. One relative publicly objected to the dramatization, accusing the production of exploiting the personal lives of the people portrayed. Creators and cast have defended the project as an attempt to present the relationship with sensitivity and respect, and they have emphasized the care taken in adapting the material.
For the East Village restaurant, the debate surrounding the series is secondary to the immediate business impact. Khan said the staff has adjusted to the influx of new customers while continuing to serve longtime patrons. The uptick has provided a reminder of how cultural moments on screen can send ripple effects through neighborhoods, inviting new patrons to experience places that were previously known mostly to insiders.
As the series continues to air weekly, the restaurant expects interest to remain elevated in the near term. Whether the surge becomes a lasting revival for Panna II Garden will depend on what draws repeat customers back — the food, the atmosphere, or simply the appeal of having dined where a well-known couple once found privacy in a bustling city.
