New York Restaurants - Restaurant News
June 2008 Archive

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Keep abreast of what's going on in New York here at Gayot. You can learn all you need to know about new restaurant openings, special events, and more. The information you need on restaurants in New York is here.

RESTAURANT NEWS

Openings

Chef-owner Coby Farro (The Spotted Pig) is behind B&B, in Williamsburg. Foodwise, it's more gastropub than quaint cottage; the menu includes mac and cheese enlivened with a crispy boar's ear. B&B, 109 S. Sixth St., Brookyln, NY 11211, 718-782-2333.

West Village chicken mecca Pardo's is now Panca. In addition to ditching rotisserie birds in favor of ceviche and other classic Peruvian fare, the menu boasts fruits of the sea like bay scallops with Parmesan and char-grilled octopus. Panca, 92 Seventh Ave. S., New York, NY 10014, 212-488-3900.

Julie Reiner of the Flatiron Lounge is trying to catch lightning in a bottle twice at the Clover Club on the always busy Smith Street. Named for a Philadelphia dining society, the vibe is fussily Victorian (right down to the vintage punch bowls). Drinks, divided into nine categories, are more modern. Nibbles include cheesesteak panini and fried oysters. Clover Club, 210 Smith St., Brooklyn, NY 11201, 718-855-7939.

Chef Alain Ducasse has chosen the city of Osaka for his latest restaurant, Le Comptoir de Benoit. After the launch of Beige and Benoit Tokyo in the country's capital, Ducasse's third restaurant will be located on the 33^rd floor of The Breeze Tower in the historic Nishi-Umeda district. The restaurant is a Japanese adaptation of the traditional French bistro, using local ingredients like Kobé beef and Kyoto vegetables to create classically French dishes including "oeuf cocotte," Saint-Jacques scallops, and quenelles de brochet (a mixture of creamed fish, chicken, or meat with a light egg binding).

The TriBeCa eatery Forge, designed by AvroKo, has opened and is serving seasonal New American cuisine by chef Marc Forgione (son of Larry Forgione). Forge, 134 Reade St., New York, NY 10013, 212-941-9401.

Hallo Berlin Express was made for the wurst-lover in a hurry. At this self-service spot, the sausages are named for German motors from Bimmers to Mercs. Links can then be paired with a impressive coterie of German suds on draft. Hallo, hangover! Hallo Berlin Express, 744 Ninth Ave., New York, NY 10019, 212-333-2372.

Five Napkin Burger promises to deliver just that, a multi-serviette eating experience. Notably, the burger was first featured on the menu at Nice Matin, and now has a restaurant of its very own from the same partners. Other burger iterations include ahi tuna and lamb kofta, as well as an impressive selection of 21 different types of bourbon. Five Napkin Burger, 690 Ninth Ave, New York, NY 10036, 212-757-2277.

Jean-Georges Vongerichten didn't give up on the old 66 space: it was overhauled and is now called Matsugen. The theme: all things Soba noodle. Don't worry, you can still drop big bucks here on big ticket items like Wagyu steaks, though 66's infamous foie gras dumplings are long gone. Matsugen, 241 Church St., New York, NY 10013, 212-925-0202.

Shalizar is a traditional Persian restaurant in the not-so-traditional location of the Upper East Side. Look for classic fare here, including lamb kebabs and yogurt spreads alongside pomegranate martinis. Shalizar, 1420 Third Ave., New York, NY 10028, 212-288-0012.

Didier Virot is the force behind The Plaza hotel's Rose Club, to complement the Palm Court. They'll serve nibbles from burgers and cookies all day in an over-the-top luxury setting. Rose Club, 768 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10019, 212-759-9000.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que has a new neighbor: Talay, just a few blocks to the north in West Harlem. A former freight house, now with a waterfall at the entrance, was transformed into an Asian-Latin restaurant with chefs King Phojanakong (Kuma Inn) and Soulayphet Schwader sharing duties in the kitchen. Talay, 701 West 135th St., New York, NY 10031, 212-491-8300.

Yerba Buena, located in the East Village, is a chic and diminutive eatery serving up elevated Peruvian, Cuban and Brazilian dishes. Yerba Buena, 23 Ave. A, New York, NY 10003, 212-529-2919.

Blue Marble Ice Cream is Prospect Heights' first kid-friendly ice cream parlor. With a playpen and fare like frozen yogurt with active cultures and 12 rotating flavors, it's sure to please hipster parents and precocious tots alike. Blue Marble Ice Cream, 186 Underhill Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11238, 718-399-6926.

Brooklyn restaurateur Neil Ganic's latest project is Annabelle's, a French-Creole pub in Red Hook that's a cheap armoire's throw from that neighborhood's soon-to-open IKEA. Look for oysters, ratatouille, and po boy sandwiches on the menu. Annabelle’s, 44 Beard St., Brooklyn, NY 11231, 718-643-1500.

Lookout Hill Smokehouse caters to the baby buggy set in South Park Slope. Their pair of smokers can handle everything from brisket to lamb and "pork wings." With forty varieties of bourbon available, the lookout in the name likely refers to the first step on the way out the door. Lookout Hill Smokehouse, 230 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215, 718-399-2161.

On a busy stretch of W. Fourth Street, Juice Generation has swung open its doors. Smoothies, organic salads and sandwiches, and baked goods are served with an emphasis on using local ingredients. Juice Generation, 171 W. Fourth St., New York, NY 10014, 212-242-0440.

News Bytes

Summer Prix-Fixe Special at Sea Grill
Sea Grill in Rockefeller Center has introduced a summer pre-theater menu for guests attending nearby performances. The three-course menu changes monthly, but may include items like chilled asparagus with roasted tomato vinaigrette, bluefish lightly smoked with warm La Rotte potato salad, and chocolate filled bomboloni with malted milk ice cream. The dinner costs $45 per person and is available from 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m. daily. Sea Grill, Rockefeller Center, 19 W. 49th St., New York, NY 10020, 212-332-7610.

English Out, Italians In
Todd English is out of the game concerning his 98 Kenmare project; instead, the lease was taken over by the owners of Sfoglia. English and the leaseholder of the space couldn't come to an agreement on the cuisine of the putative restaurant (or much of anything), hence the change of backers. No word yet on an opening date.

Sheridan Square Squared
Sheridan Square will expand to take over the space last occupied by Tasca, next door. The additional 40-seat room is currently scheduled to be ready by the middle of July.

Italian Mainstay to Move
Legendary Italian restaurant San Domenico has served its last meal. At least in its cushy digs on Central Park South. Tony May and company will be reopening a new San Domenico---to be called SD26---on Madison Square Park next year.

Former Aix Space Update
Turns out Tom Valenti took a pass on the Aix space: Philip Kirsch and Jeremy Wladis will take over the space, with the interior designed by Lincoln Clark. No word on when they're set to open.

Market at Market Table Tabled
Ta ta market, hello tables! The popular West Village eatery yanked their retail operation at the front of the restaurant in favor of 20 new seats. Pat LaFrieda meat patties, which the restaurant uses in its hamburgers, remain available for purchase. Market Table, 54 Carmine St., New York, NY 10014, 212-255-2100.

Top Chef to New York?
A producer from Top Chef let fly that the current plan is to film the next season of the show in New York. There's no official word yet, but viewers would likely be excited to see head judge Tom Colicchio in his own backyard.

Chang-High Surprise
Momofuku Ko's fixed-price menu has risen from $85 to $100. David Chang says the menu's price will fluctuate based on ingredients and slight changes in the food line-up. Momofuku Ko, 163 First Ave., New York, NY 10003, No phone.

Patio Prospects
Both Sangria 46 and Bar Q, located in the Theater District and the West Village, respectively, are celebrating the warm weather with back-patio dining. At Bar Q, guests dine in an atrium-like space. Bar Q, 308 Bleecker St., New York, NY 10014, 212-206-7817.

Dell’ Anima, Il Secondo
It's been no secret that Maremma owner Cesare Casella has had his West Village eatery on the market. Well, he might have a taker. It's being reported that Joe Campanale and company, from nearby Dell' Anima, are going to be taking over the West Tenth Street space, converting it into a rustic-looking Italian eatery. Maremma, 228 W. Tenth St., New York, NY 10014, 212-645-0200.

L’Impero to Become Convivio
Tudor City eatery L'Impero will close at the end of June, only to reopen in July as Convivio. The new eatery will offer a more casual atmosphere and more affordable menu items. L'Impero, Tudor City, 45 Tudor City Pl., New York, NY 10017, 212-599-5045.

James Beard Winners
New York City chefs who took home James Beard Foundation awards include Danny Meyer for Outstanding Restaurant (Gramercy Tavern), Gavin Kaysen for Rising Star Chef (Café Boulud), David Chang for Outstanding Chef in New York City (Momofuku Ssäm Bar), and Joe Bastianich and Mario Batali for Outstanding Restaurateur (Babbo). Wine director John Ragan of Eleven Madison Park won the award for Outstanding Wine Service. For more winners, check out our coverage here.

Second Life
La Fonda del Sol is coming back to the ponderosa. The historic restaurant, which was located in the Time Life building during the 1960s and ‘70s, will now replace what was Tropica in the Met Life building.

Montrachet No More
Drew Nieporent has finally taken us all out of culinary purgatory by admitting that the once-loved and now-closed Montrachet is never going to re-open. When it shut down two years ago, there was never an obit, the powers that be claiming the restaurant would be back. It won't be. But have no fear: Nieporent is opening a new restaurant in the space, tentatively called Corton. The chef will be the cutting-edge Paul Liebrandt, last seen at Gilt.

Aixed In?
The space last held by Aix won't remain dormant for long---Tom Valenti (Ouest) was rumored to be poking around the space recently, according to online reports.

In Like a Lion
Geoffrey Zakarian's The Lambs Club will open next year in the Chatwal, a hotel currently under construction east of Times Square.

Marco Milestone
Old school Italian eatery, Marco Polo, is partying like it's 1983. To celebrate the Brooklyn restaurant's 25th anniversary, it's offering a month-long prix-fixe menu: three courses for $19.83 at lunch and $25 at dinner. Available from through June 30. Marco Polo, 345 Court St., Brooklyn, NY 11231, 718-852-5015.

Chef Shuffle

Justin Smillie has departed as chef at The E.U. for failing to keep costs low, according to the ownership. No replacement has been named. The E.U., 235 E. Fourth St., New York, NY 10009, 212-254-2900.

Brooks Headley is now the pastry chef at Del Posto, replacing Nicole Kaplan, who left earlier this year. Del Posto, 85 Tenth Ave., New York, NY 10011, 212-497-8090.

Gregory Pugin has been named the executive chef at Veritas. He had been executive sous-chef at L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon. Veritas, 43 E. 20th St., New York, NY 10003, 212-353-3700.

Jason Kallert, Le Cirque's chef de cuisine, has departed to take an executive chef job at the Friar's Club. Le Cirque, One Beacon Court, 151 E. 58th St., New York, NY 10022, 212-644-0202.

Former The Stanton Social chef Jesi Solomon has been named new chef at Lower East Side eatery Thor. Thor, Hotel on Rivington, 107 Rivington St., New York, NY 10002, 212-796-8040.

Jody Williams has left the hip West Village eatery, Morandi. There's no word yet on her next move. Tony Liu, late of August, will be taking over the kitchen duties. The menu will remain the same for now. Morandi, 211 Waverly Pl., New York, NY 10014, 212-627-7575.

Closings

The longtime Italian eatery Rosario's in the Financial District has baked its last ziti and has shuttered for good.

Café Gray has closed, a week earlier than scheduled. Café Gray, Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Cir., New York, NY 10019, 212-823-6338.

Über-hip Meatpacking District club and restaurant, Lotus, has shut down.

Le Figaro, a beloved West Village café and gathering spot for European soccer fans, has closed.

The popular Tasting Room Restaurant has shut down for good.

Chez Brigitte, the longtime West Village French-inflected diner-like eatery, is closing because of a rent increase.

CULINARY EVENTS
Want to learn to cook? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area.

View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in New York

WINE OF THE WEEK

GAYOT's Wine of the Week is a Pinot Gris from old vines in New Zealand.

Read the article.

WINTER BEERS

Check out GAYOT's list of Best Winter Beers to find good bottles for enjoying in chilly weather.

Check the list.

GAYOT'S RESTAURANT AWARDS

Over the years, we have been electing restaurants to be on GAYOT's Yearly Restaurant Awards.

Check the list.

New York Restaurants - Restaurant News June 2008 Archive

New York Restaurants - Restaurant News
June 2008 Archive