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New York Restaurants - Restaurant News
January 2009 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

Brick Lane Curry House Too is a new Midtown outpost of Brick Lane, the East Sixth Street eatery famous for its phaal challenge (finish the spicy dish and you get a free beer). Further north, it's not all fiery dishes, as the menu includes Bombay aloo and tamarind lamb chops. Brick Lane Curry House Too, 235 E. 53rd St., New York, NY 10022, 212-339-8353.
 
Union Prime has opened in the space that used to be Steak Frites and, most recently, Café Society. This time around, the menu is designed to appeal to the female steak lover, with splashes of color throughout the décor and a menu bolstered by sushi and sashimi. Union Prime, 9 E. 16th St., New York, NY 10003, 212-675-4700.
 
TriBeCa newcomer Trigo is located in what was an old warehouse, but the food is homey and Mediterranean. Look for everything from flatbreads baking in the restaurant's wood-fired oven to seafood like mackerel with a crunchy chickpea crust. Trigo, 268 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013, 212-925-1600.
 
Look for some South American flair in the South Street Seaport at Onda. From the same chef as Plantain, the menu here boasts ceviches, empanadas, and Peruvian rotisserie chickens. Onda, 229 Front St., New York, NY 10038, 212-513-0770.
 
Check out the small plates and big stars at City Winery. In addition to a program where members can reserve their own wine barrels, the space and boasts a cheese bar supplied by Murray's Cheese Shop and frequent concerts. City Winery, 155 Varick St., New York, NY 10013, 212-608-0555.
 
Minus one partner, the restaurant that used to be Seymour Burton was rehabbed into a more seafood-centric space, now called Butcher Bay. Their famed burger is also gone, but do keep an eye out for buttermilk-soaked kosher chicken and an extensive raw bar. Butcher Bay, 511 E 5th St., New York, NY 10009, 212-260-1333.
 
Grayz and its eponymous chef, Gray Kunz, are gone; the space is now called Atria. Kunz's chef de cuisine, Martin Bock, is in the kitchen cooking global fare with French technique. Atria, 13-15 W 54th St., New York, NY 10019, 212-262-4600.
 
Da Silvano's Canintetta is re-launching as Da Silvano Bistecca. It's now an Italian steakhouse, replete with red walls and expensive cuts of meat---perfect for these lean times. Da Silvano Cantinetta, 260 Sixth Ave., New York, NY 10014, 212-982-2343.
 
Joaquin Baca designed the menu at Wilfie & Nell, an Irish gastropub in the West Village. Check out the pub standards like Scotch eggs and split pea soup with bacon---perfect for those winter evenings. Wilfie & Nell, 228 W. 4th St., New York, NY 10014, 212-242-2990.
 
Pie-heads are flocking to Co. (short for "company," but pronounced like it rhymes with "row"), a pizza place on Ninth Avenue run by Sullivan Street Bakery's Jim Lahey. Diners sit at communal tables and can try personal-size pies with or without tomato sauce, all with toppings that will change seasonally. Co., 230 Ninth Ave., New York, NY 10001, 212-243-1105.
 


News Bytes
Trumped!
Joe Isidori, Donald Trump's former personal chef and the chef at DJT in Las Vegas, is coming to New York to man the kitchen at Harbour in Soho. The seafood-centric restaurant is slated to open in March. Harbour, 290 Hudson St., New York, NY 10013, 212-989-6410.
 
21 Club Loosening Up at 21
The '21' Club has relaxed their rules regarding ties: you no longer need them to eat dinner there, though a jacket is still necessary. The restaurant was the last in new York to require a tie at dinner. '21' Club, 21 W. 52nd St., New York, NY 10019, 212-582-7200.
 
Mercat Multiplies
A satellite restaurant to Mercat is opening in Brooklyn soon. Named Cap I Pota, it will be unveiled in Williamsburg this spring. Mercat, 45 Bond St., New York, NY 10012, 212-529-8600.
 
Wakiya Update
An update on the rumors surrounding the former Wakiya space in the Gramercy Park Hotel: A spokesman for Danny Meyer (Union Square Café) recently noted that his restaurant group would be "honored to be considered for the space." Perhaps a duel with Scott Conant is the only way to settle it? Gramercy Park Hotel, 21 E. 16th St., New York, NY 10003, 212-920-3300.
 
Back to Pizza School
The Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napoletani is opening their own school and pizza restaurant in New York---their first in the states---in February. The group certifies the authenticity of pizza makers from Naples.
 
Restaurant Week 2009
It's January, which means Restaurant Week is upon us. From January 18-23 and 25-30, over 250 restaurants will be offering three-course fixed-price lunches for $24.07 and dinners for $35 (exclusive of beverage, tax and tip). Some of the restaurants participating include: A Voce, Anthos, Bar Boulud, Dévi, Gotham Bar & Grill, Le Cirque, The Modern and Union Square Café.
 
Bar Milano Reshuffle
The Denton brothers high-end Italian spot Bar Milano is being rebranded as an uptown outpost of ‘inoteca, their popular downtown wine and sandwich spots. It's set to reopen at the beginning of February. Bar Milano, 323 Third Ave., New York, NY 10010, 212-683-3035.
 
Scarpetta Rumors Scuttled?
Recent rumblings suggest that there may be an outpost of Scarpetta in the Gramercy Park Hotel. Ian Schrager denies that any discussions have taken place---but that's different than an outright denial, so stay tuned. Scarpetta, 355 W. 14th St., New York, NY 10014, 212-691-0555.
 

Chef Shuffle
Jalinson Rodriguez is the new chef at Mercat, replacing Ryan Lowder. Mercat, 45 Bond St., New York, NY 10012, 212-529-8600.
 
Scott Bryan is now the chef at Apiary, replacing Neil Manacle. His revamped menu is set to debut by the end of February. Apiary, 60 Third Ave., New York, NY 10003, 212-254-0888.
 
Leah Cohen is now the chef de cuisine at Centro Vinoteca. She had been a sous chef there. Centro Vinoteca, 74 Seventh Ave. S., New York, NY 10014, 212-367-7470.
 
Rodolfo Contreras is no longer the executive chef at Bouley. He is now the executive chef at Town. Town, Chambers, 15 W. 56th St., New York, NY 10019, 212-582-4445.
 
"Top Chef" alum Sam Talbot will be chef at the Mondrian Hotel's restaurant when it opens this fall.
 


Closings

Old Devil Moon, an East Village pioneer spot offering a little bit of everything Southern, has closed. Old Devil Moon, 511 E 12th St., New York, NY 10009, no phone.
 
Patois, in Brooklyn, has closed, due to an increase in rent. Patois, 255 Smith St., Brooklyn, NY 11231, no phone.
 
Sad news on the upscale Italian restaurant front: Fiamma has closed. "Bad economic times" was the reason given. Fiamma, 206 Spring St., New York, NY 10012, no phone.
 
The Upper West Side outpost of Ruby Foo's on Broadway and W. 77th St. has been shuttered. The Times Square location remains open.
 
Panifico, on Avenue B, has closed. Panifico, 175 Ave. B, New York, NY 10009, no phone.
 
The legendary Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center closed its restaurant, the Rainbow Grill, on January 12. Special events and dancing will continue to be held in the banquet space of the Rainbow Room. Rainbow Grill, Rockefeller Center, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th Fl., New York, NY 10112, 212-632-5100.
 
Clinton Papaya, a popular downtown hot dog stand, has closed. Clinton Papaya, 166 Clinton St., New York, NY 10002, no phone.
 

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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