New York Restaurants - Restaurant News
November 2011 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

Located in the Meatpacking District space that once housed Florent, The Vinatta Project serves up wine and cocktails (from the team behind Mulberry Project) along with small plates based on American comfort food. The Vinatta Project, 69 Gansevoort St., New York, NY 10014, 646-398-9125.

From the people who brought you Son Cubano and Flor de Sol comes Ventanas. This spacious Spanish restaurant is serving up dozens of traditional tapas dishes as well as wines from Iberia. Ventanas, 100 Tenth Ave., New York, NY 10011, 212-366-1640.

Kutsher's Tribeca is a spin-off of the Catskills institution, Kutsher's Country Club. The menu is decidedly Jewish American and chef Mark Spangenthal is in the kitchen. Kutsher's Tribeca, 186 Franklin St., New York, NY 10013, 212-431-0606.

An outpost of the Lower East Side The Meatball Shop has opened in the West Village. The usual spherical meat delights will be on the menu. There's also a children's menu during the day. The Meatball Shop West Village, 64 Greenwich Ave., New York, NY 10014, 212-982-7815.

Andres Grundy, late of Insieme and L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, is the chef at Pillar & Plough, a new Williamsburg restaurant that serves up Nouveau American fare prepared with adventurous ingredients. Pillar & Plough, Hotel Williamsburg, 160 N. 12th St., Brooklyn, NY 11211, 718-218-1080.

A version of the East Village Ukrainian-accented diner Veselka has opened on Bowery and E. 1st St. The restaurant is only open for dinner but will eventually operate 24 hours a day. Veselka Bowery, 9 E. 1st St., New York, NY 10003, 212-387-7000.

The Spotted Pig alum Nate Smith has opened Allswell, a gastropub in Williamsburg. The menu has a decidedly Euro feel with an emphasis, of course, on Britain. Allswell, 124 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211, 347-799-2743.

With a deli in the front and a more formal dining room in back, the Lower East Side's Sons of Essex is sure to be packed day and night. It's located in the old Mason Dixon space on, of course, Essex Street. Sons of Essex, 133 Essex St., New York, NY 10002, phone not available.

On the Upper West Side, Loi serves up health-conscious Greek fare in the old Compass space. Loi, 208 W. 70th St., New York, NY 10023, 212-875-8600.

From Giulio Adriani, the pizzaiolo of Olio Pizza e Più fame, comes Forcella, a Neapolitan pizzeria on the Bowery. Forcella, 334 Bowery, New York, NY 10012, 212-466-3300.

News Bytes

Dovetail Greenpoint?
John Fraser, chef at Dovetail on New York's Upper West Side, is rumored to be eyeing a space in Brooklyn's up-and-coming Greenpoint neighborhood for a new restaurant. Reports indicate it will be a more casual eatery. Stay tuned. Dovetail, 103 W. 77th St., New York, NY 10024, 212-362-3800.

English-Accented Food Hall
The Plaza Food Hall by Todd English, located beneath The Plaza hotel, is expanding. In April, Luke's Lobster and Sushi of Gari will add outlets to the space, for a total of 17 food venders in all. The Plaza Food Hall by Todd English, 1 W. 59th St., New York, NY 10019, no phone.

Intimate Aquavit
Aquavit has turned its main dining room into a private dining space and converted the more casual café area into its front room. The restaurant now has 52 seats but maintains its same menu. Aquavit, 65 E. 55th St., New York, NY 10022, 212-307-7311.

Chef Shuffle

Jeremy Personius, late of Faustina, is the new chef at East Village restaurant Spina. Spina, 175 Ave. B, New York, NY 10009, 212-253-2250.

Josh Eden is the new chef at the West Village's August. August, 359 Bleecker St., New York, NY 10014, 212-929-4774.

Olivier Reginensi is now the executive chef of Le Cirque, replacing Craig Hopson. Le Cirque, One Beacon Court, 151 E. 58th St., New York, NY 10022, 212-644-0202.

The dining room of Jean Georges in New York

After working in the kitchen at Jean Georges in New York for ten years, pastry chef Johnny Iuzzini has announced he'll be leaving the restaurant at the end of the year. No word yet on a replacement. Jean Georges, Trump International Hotel & Tower, 1 Central Park W., New York, NY 10023, 212-299-3900.

Sawako Okochi, late of Annisa, is the new chef at SoHo restaurant Lani Kai. Lani Kai, 525 Broome St., New York, NY 10013, 646-596-8778.

Chef Sam Talbot has left his post at Imperial No. Nine (Mondrian SoHo, 9 Crosby St., New York).

Julie Farias, who logged time in the kitchen at The General Greene, is the new chef at Goat Town in the East Village.

The seemingly always-on-the-move chef Ryan Skeen has become the top toque at the Pera mini-chain. This includes Pera Mediterranean Brasserie and Pera SoHo. Pera Mediterranean Brasserie, 303 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017, 212-878-6301.

Tien Ho, the original chef at Ma Peche, has left the restaurant. His replacement is longtime Ma Peche sous chef Paul Carmichael. The menu is expected to stay the same for now. Ma Peche, Chambers, 15 W. 56th St. , New York, NY 10014, 212-757-5878.

Longtime Le Bernardin pastry chef Michael Laiskonis has announced that he will leave the restaurant by the end of the year. He hopes to work on a book and to teach. Le Bernardin, The Equitable Building, 155 W. 51st St., New York, NY 10019, 212-554-1515.

Closings

A Bistro, the African restaurant in Fort Greene, has shut down. Its sister restaurant of the same name, located on DeKalb and Vanderbilt Avenues, is open. A Bistro, 154 Carlton Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11205, no phone.

Vynl Diner in Chelsea has shut down. Vynl Diner, 102 Eighth Ave., New York, NY 10011, no phone.

Scandinavian restaurant White Slab Palace has shuttered.

Ray's pizza-by-the-slice joint, located on Prince Street in SoHo, has closed for good. So long, Ray.

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

BEYONCE INSPIRED LIBATIONS

Try these whiskey cocktails inspired by Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album.

Check the recipes.

BOURBON IN YOUR AIOLI

This cashew aioli recipe gets a kick with bourbon.

Get the recipe.

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 November 2011 Archive

New York Restaurants - Restaurant News
November 2011 Archive