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New York Restaurants - Restaurant News
September 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

Despite the fact that the gas has not been turned on just yet, Serge Beckers's Swiss spot Café Select is open for business. There's an alpine-themed wine list and sandwiches to keep visitors warm in the meantime. The look is Swiss and functional, just like you'd expect. CafĂ© Select, 212 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012, 212-925-9322.
 
Heath Ledger's bar and restaurant project, Five Leaves, lives on without him in Greenpoint. Despite the nightlife sensibility, breakfast is a big draw here, especially the fried egg and sage sandwich. Five Leaves, 18 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11222, 718-383-6084.
 
Walter Foods is owned and operated by former employees of Barrio Chino and Balthazar Restaurant. The emphasis here will be on piscatorial delights; look for blackened shrimp with tartar sauce and surf and turf on the menu. Walter Foods, 253 Grand St., Brooklyn, NY 11211, 718-387-8783.
 
Former Savoy toque, Matthew Weingarten mans the stoves at Inside Park at St. Bart's, an eatery located inside the transformed Great Hall of the Community House at St. Bartholomew's Church. Weingarten's menu will be emphasize season ingredients and focus on local producers. Dinner service has begun and lunch will start on October 13. Inside Park at St. Bart's, 109 E. 50th St., New York, NY 10022, 212-593-3333.
 
Whiskey, scotch and bourbon---oh my! It's the first brown liquor-themed restaurant, named Char No. 4 after a type of barrel or aging. Naturally, foods here are those that pair well with the tipples in question, including pulled pork and smoked ham. Char No. 4, 196 Smith St., Brooklyn, NY 11201, 718-643-2106.
 
It's a little confusing, but De Santos is a Mexican chain that serves Italian cuisine and is opening their first American location. The food, modern Italian fare like cavatelli with mussels and roasted duck, is served in a stripped down space in the West Village. De Santos, 139 W. 10th St., New York, NY 10014, 212-206-9229.
 
Boka, a new 60-seat eatery, brings some Korean sophistication to St. Mark's Place. Korean standards and creative dishes make up an affordable menu in a Zen-like space. Boka, 9 St. Mark's Pl., New York, NY 10003, 212-228-2887.
 
In what is being billed as "old school tapas" meets "new school tapas," Tierra, located in the old Tosca space in the West Village, will be helmed by Franklin Becker. Tierra, 134 Seventh Ave. S., New York, NY 10014, 212-352-2232.
 
Todd English's newest project, The Libertine, is upon us. Located in the Gild Hall hotel and overseen by Eben Leonard, a Todd English disciple, the food is gastropubby to a T. Look for eggs with bangers and rashers for breakfast and rack of lamb with Moroccan shepherd's pie for dinner. The food here is also available as room service. The Libertine, 15 Gold St., New York, NY 10038, 212-785-5950.
 
A new project from the same owner as East Village takeout mainstay Friend House, Hea is a bit more upscale than its predecessor. The sleek, two-story pan-Asian restaurant serves dishes like grilled prawns with coconut along with sushi from a sushi bar upstairs. Hea, 145 E. 13th St., New York, NY 10003, 212-982-1688.
 
Bloomingdale Road combines cuisine based on locally sourced ingredients and a somewhat frightening décor. The food, from Ed Witt, ranges from anchovy-dusted sea scallops to quail bourbon ribs. If you don't like clowns, the ambience is a bit scary, as there are quite a few pictures of the painted entertainers on the wall. Bloomingdale Road, 2398 Broadway, New York, NY 10024, 212-874-7400.
 
Canadian chef Susur Lee (of Toronto's Lee) will make his New York debut at Shang in the industrial-chic Thompson LES hotel. The opening of the Chinese-influenced restaurant is slated for December. Shang, 190 Allen St., New York, NY 10002, no phone available yet.
 
With a name like I Vandali, you better be able to write on the walls! Indeed, you can make a mark at this cheerful Upper East Side wine bar. Look for Italian standards, from whole roasted branzino to baccala and seared scallops, on the menu. For forgetful vandals, crayons are provided by the restaurant. I Vandali, 1590 First Avenue, New York, NY 10028, 212-585-3339.
 


News Bytes
Terminally Delayed
The opening of JetBlue's new terminal at JFK, complete with a wide assortment of culinary options, is being delayed until October 22nd. The reason? The restaurants need more time to get ready. JetBlue Terminal, JFK Airport, Queens, NY 11222, no phone.
 
Greek Peek
Ammos Estiatorio is rolling out a hearty menu for the upcoming winter months. The Midtown Greek spot will have dishes like braised lamb shank with white beans and monkfish with potatoes and Manila clams. Ammos Estiatorio, 52 Vanderbilt Ave., New York, NY 10017, 212-922-9999.
 
Sundays at Convivio
Can't get into Michael White's Italian eatery, Convivio? Well, you'll get one more day of the week to shoot for beginning on October 5 when the restaurant starts dinner service on Sundays. Convivio, Tudor City, 45 Tudor City Pl., New York, NY 10017, 212-599-5045.
 
Peacock Alley's Pre-Theater Prix-Fixe
Peacock Alley, tucked away in the The Waldorf=Astoria, has a new pre-theater, prix-fixe dinner: For seatings between 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., diners get a three-course tasting. Wine pairings are additional. The menu changes weekly because it's all based on seasonal, organic ingredients. Peacock Alley, The Waldorf Astoria, 301 Park Ave., New York, NY 10022, 212-872-1275.
 
Gray Goes Black
It's official: Gray Kunz has been pushed out of his Midtown eatery, Grayz, by the restaurant's other investors. German chef Martin Brock, who has been in the kitchen since January, is manning the stoves. Grayz, 13-15 W. 54th St., New York, NY 10019, 212-262-4600.
 
Dusted!
Grayz, Compass, Daniel, and Momofuku Ssam Bar have all finished their summer renovations. Look for a smattering of changes, from Paul Smith chairs at Compass to a new a la carte menu at Grayz.
 
Gordon Ramsay Gastro Gordon
Gordon Ramsay has just announced he's going to open a gastropub in New York. And given the popularity of The Spotted Pig, Big Apple foodies would more than welcome some competition. There's no word yet on a location or when it will open.
 
Lunch Ko-ming
David Chang and Co. are just finishing up the "friends and family" try outs for lunch at Momofuku Ko. Early reports have indicated the there are 17 courses and the meal can last up to three hours. Momofuku Ko, 163 First Ave., New York, NY 10003, No phone.
 
Chumley's Bummer
Bad news for fans of speakeasies: Chumley’s owner reports that, at best the restaurant will return this winter, and in all likelihood it won’t be back until next spring. The culprit? The installation of a new roof and an additional supporting wall. Chumley's, 86 Bedford St., New York, NY 10014, no phone.
 
Andrew Carmellini Heads Downtown
Andrew Carmellini is headed south. The chef, who until this summer was at the lauded A Voce, will open a restaurant on Elizabeth Street, in the location last occupied by the Tasting Room. No word on any specifics beyond that, though Carmellini did say he intended to work on a rustic Italian restaurant as his next project.
 

Chef Shuffle
Andrew Carmellini made a high-profile departure from A Voce. And now Luke Ostrom, the restaurant's chef de cuisine, is exiting. He says he'll be back though---with his own restaurant. A Voce, 41 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010, 212-545-8555.
 
Chef Patrick Nuti is now in the kitchen at Giovanni Ristorante & Bar. Giovanni Ristorante & Bar, 47 W. 55 St., New York, NY 10019, 212-262-2828.
 
Missy Robbins is the new chef at A Voce, replacing Andrew Carmellini who departed this summer. She will also oversee the restaurant's upcoming Time Warner location. A Voce, 41 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010, 212-545-8555.
 
The soon-to-be-open West Village eatery Charles, which we predict is soon-to-be one of the most scene-y spots in the neighborhood, has a new chef. John McAllister, formerly of the SoHo Grand Hotel, has been installed in the kitchen and John DeLucie of The Waverly Inn will be consulting.
 


Closings

Burritoville, the Mexican chain popular with students and budget burrito fans, has closed all their locations.
 
Sheridan Square, the four-month-old eatery on Seventh Avenue and West 10th Street, has closed.
 
The decent, but beloved longtime West Village Chinese eatery, Mama Buddha, has shut its doors.
 

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.


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