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New York Restaurants - Restaurant News
December 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

A stylish, modern space with German and Austrian dishes, Seasonäl is ideal for the winter months. Some of the hearty fare includes pork belly braised in Riesling and steak with bone marrow horseradish ragout. Seasonäl, 132 W. 58th St., New York, NY 10019, 212-957-5550.
 
The popular yet tiny East Village Venezuelan restaurant Caracas has opened a branch across the river called, naturally enough, Caracas Brooklyn. The same arepas are available in this much bigger space---they can seat up to 75. Caracas Brooklyn, 291 Grand St., Brooklyn, NY 11211, 718-218-6050.
 
At Sorella, the kitchen excels at making dishes inspired by the Piedmont region of Italy. Look for food like pulled hen and veal tongue salad and agnolotti with walnut pesto and majoram. Sorella, 95 Allen St., New York, NY 10002, 212-274-9595.
 
Ortine, a 35-seat Prospect Heights eatery, emphasizes fresh Italian cuisine. The menu includes mushroom lasagna, braised short ribs, and cheese plates, as well as some breakfast items. Ortine, 622 Washington Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11238, 718-622-0026.
 
Cevicheria La Barra focuses on all manner of cirtrusy raw fish; look for octopus and red snapper versions of the South American dish. The cooked food here is done in a pan-Latin in style, with empanadas, posoles and soups on the menu. Cevicheria La Barra, 250 Broome St., New York, NY 10002, 212-260-3900.
 
La Cave des Fondus features quite the gimmick: Diners are served wine in baby bottles. The food is fondue fare, presented at communal tables where one has to "crawl" over fellow eaters to get to the melted cheesy goodness. La Cave des Fondus, 20 Prince St., New York, NY 10012, 212-966-5073.
 
Cyril Renaud has opened Bar Breton just a few blocks to the north his other restaurant, Fleur de Sel. The vibe here is more casual: The bar will serve breakfast and the focus during lunch and dinner is on seafood done in a hearty northern French style. Bar Breton, 254 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10001, 212-213-4999.
 
L'Artusi is a spin-off of dell'anima---it's owned and operated by the same team of restaurateurs. The space is bigger and now sports a modern look, though the food will be similar to dell'anima's hearty Italian fare. Inside, check out the big raw bar, and expect dishes like buckwheat pasta baked with Brussels sprouts on the menu. L'Artusi, 228 W 10th St., New York, NY 10014, 212-255-5757.
 
The new Kefi is here. Donatella Arpaia and Michael Psilakis' Upper West Side Greek favorite is bigger and flashier than before, though the food remains as homey and affordable as ever. One addition: a Kefi burger, a nod to Psilakis' popular lamb burger at Anthos. Kefi, 505 Columbus Ave., New York, NY 10024, 212-873-0200.
 
After some delays, Susur Lee's Shang (in the Thompson LES) is open at last. Lee's vision is a meld of Chinese underpinnings with global flourishes, including curried lamb chops with fried bananas and braised veal cheeks with rice porridge. Shang, Thompson LES, 187 Orchard St., New York, NY 10002, 212-260-7900.
 
Beekman Bar and Books is the latest outpost of the popular mini chain (there are two others in both New York and Prague). This location, swankier and with a slight James Bond theme, has a long list of premium whisky and cigars. Bites include pizza, sandwiches and cheese plates. Beekman Bar and Books, 889 First Ave., New York, NY 10022, 212-758-6600.
 
David Burke's transformation of Jovia into Fishtail is complete. The theme? Sustainable seafood, complete with farmed tuna and harpooned swordfish on the menu. Don't worry---if you eat there, you won't have to harpoon anything personally. Fishtail, 135 E 62nd St., New York, NY 10065, 212-754-1300.
 
Carroll Gardens' Buttermilk Channel is named not for the fried chicken made with the eponymous ingredient---it's actually a term for the East River. Nautical trivia aside, the restaurant offers dishes like bacon-wrapped brook trout and duck meatloaf. Buttermilk Channel, 524 Court St., Brooklyn, NY 11231, 718-852-8490.
 
Jean Adamson was the point woman at Freemans, but now she's opened her own restaurant named Vinegar Hill, after the Brooklyn neighborhood where it's located. Situated in a 40-seat townhouse, Adamson is cooking seasonal American fare here, including whole roasted animals in the restaurant's wood-burning oven. Vinegar Hill, 72 Hudson Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11201, 718-522-1018.
 


News Bytes
Artichoke No Joke
Popular pizza parlor Artichoke Basille's Pizza announced plans for expansion. The owners hope to have five new locations open within the next year, including two sites in the East and West Village. Artichoke Basille's Pizza, 328 E. 14th St., New York, NY 10003, 212-228-2004.
 
Eleven Madison Park Park Yourself Here
Eleven Madison Park is launching a new $28 prix-fixe two-course lunch special. The items on the menu rotate throughout the course of the week; for those with deeper pockets, there's also a $68, five-course "Gourmand" tasting menu. Eleven Madison Park, 11 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010, 212-889-0905.
 
Veselka on the Bowery
Veselka received approval to build a new restaurant in Avalon Place, across Houston street from Whole Foods. Watch out, Boulud Burger! Veselka, 144 Second Ave., New York, NY 10003, 212-228-9682.
 
Momo for Less?
Momofuku Noodle Bar is offering a three-course prix-fixe menu for $45, in a nod to the tough economic times in New York City. The dishes will rotate frequently, but at present they include duck soup, steamed haddock and a bonus soft-serve ice cream cone. Momofuku Noodle Bar, 171 First Ave., New York, NY 10003, 212-475-7899.
 
"Top Chef" Chat
The competition on Bravo's hit culinary reality show "Top Chef: New York" is heating up. Which contestant do you think will win? Jamie from Absinthe Brasserie & Bar? Or, perhaps Fabio from Café Firenze? Share your thoughts with our readers on the forum.
 
Saigon Grill Arrests
Simon and Michelle Nget, the owners of the Saigon Grill chain of Vietnamese restaurants, were arrested on over 400 counts, including tampering with witnesses and violating minimum wage laws. The case is set to go a Grand Jury in coming weeks.
 
Holi-Daze
Bookmarks, the bar at the the Library Hotel, is offering a slate of $13 holiday cocktails this season, including a Hot Apple Toddy (with calvados and Benedictine) and the Von Trapp (with Darjeeling tea and rye). Bookmarks, Library Hotel, 299 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017, 212-204-5498.
 
wd-recession
Lower East Side avant-garde eatery, wd-50, has announced that until the end of February, all bottles of wine are 50% off when ordering the tasting menu. wd-50, 50 Clinton St., New York, NY 10002, 212-477-2900.
 
Grayz Anatomy
The financial backers of Grayz have finally decided to pull the plug on Gray Kunz's restaurant. It will close at the end of the year and re-open some time in 2009 as Atria. Meanwhile, Kunz plans to open a verion of Café Gray in Asia as well as concentrating on opening another restaurant in New York City. Grayz, 13-15 W. 54th St., New York, NY 10019, 212-262-4600.
 
Movin' Out
Popular Upper West Side bar and burger spot P&G will move a few blocks away to Columbus Avenue after losing their lease. The bar's famed neon sign will also make the move when their lease expires at the end of the year. P&G, 279 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10023, 212-874-8568.
 
Double the Pleasure
Neil Ferguson may have moved on to the Soho House, but the owners of Allen & Delancey are still working on his replacement. No one has been named yet, but the owners have said that they intend to have not one but two chefs. The pair is to be announced by year's end. Allen & Delancey, 115 Allen St., New York, NY 10002, 212-253-5400.
 

Chef Shuffle
Chris Cheung will be the chef at China 1. He was last the chef at the Monkey Bar. China 1, 50 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009, 347-706-3318.
 
Alain Ducasse has named Le Cirque veteran Pierre Schaedelin as co-executive chef alongside Sebastien Rondier at Benoit. Most recently, Schaedelin has been Martha Stewart's personal chef. Benoit, 60 W. 55th St., New York, NY 10019, 646-943-7373.
 
Justin Bogle has been named executive chef at Gilt, replacing Christopher Lee. Gilt, New York Palace, 455 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10022, 212-891-8100.
 
Sue Torres has left her position as executive chef of Los Dados to focus on the kitchen at Sueños, her first restaurant. Mario Vivar will become the chef at Los Dados. Sueños, 311 W. 17th St., New York, NY 10011, 212-243-1333.
 


Closings

Zen Burger, the vegetarian burger joint in Midtown, has closed due to high rent. Zen Burger, 465 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10017, no phone.
 
Archipelago has closed a few short months after it opened to rework their menu. They plan to reopen in the new year. Archipelago, 333 Hudson St., New York, NY 10013, 212-243-3345.
 
West Village neighborhood Italian restaurant, Da Andrea, has shut down. The restaurant will re-open in 2009 on West 13th Street.
 

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

 

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