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New York Restaurants - Restaurant News
October 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

Failure doesn't stop Jeffrey Chodorow. After Borough Food & Drink and Wild Salmon both shuttered earlier this year, the restaurateur is back with Central Cut, a classic New York steakhouse in The Empire Hotel. Several cuts of steak are on the menu as well as a few twists like Korean ribs and "Flintstone" ribs. Center Cut, The Empire Hotel, 44 W. 63rd St., New York, NY 10023, 212-956-1288.
 
Williamsburg's newest pizza spot is called Motorino. Belgian Mathieu Palombino (last seen at BLT Fish) is in the kitchen making pies with everything from speck to mussels. Motorino, 319 Graham St., Brooklyn, NY 11211, 718-599-8899.
 
The cursed space of Rocco's and Borough Food and Drink has arisen once more, this time as a French bistro called Almond. Here, expect classic French grub, from duck confit to roast chicken. The restaurant's original location is in Bridgehampton, Long Island. Almond, 12 E. 22nd St., New York, NY 10010, 212-228-7557.
 
Michael Hyunh's BarBao is open. The space, last occupied by Upper West Side pan-Asian favorite Rain, is now minimalist with exposed brick and black leather banquettes. Look for small plates of Vietnamese fare now, including a poached egg with daikon radish hash, baby lamb lollipops and crispy crab spring rolls. BarBao, 100 W. 82nd St., New York, NY 10024, 212-501-0776.
 
Danny Meyer's second Shake Shack has finally fired up the grill on the Upper West Side and the customary long line has already formed. Shake Shack, 366 Columbus Ave., New York, NY 10024
 
Opening in the space that recently housed Voyage (in the West Village), Braeburn serves up seasonal bistro fare. Manning the stoves is Brian Bistrong of The Harrison fame. Braeburn, 117 Perry St., New York, NY 10014, 212-255-0696.
 
Sara Jenkins' ode to Tuscan street food is turning out the pork shoulder like there's no tomorrow. Porchetta, a small storefront done up with subway tile, offers that one dish in sandwich form or with a plate of potatoes and greens accompanied by crispy pork skin. Porchetta, 110 E 7th St., New York, NY 10009, 212-777-2151.
 
Check out the Italian-Japanese fusion fare at Archipelago. The interior screams Zen, but the menu at this West Villlage spot is more evenhanded between the two cuisines, with dishes like abalone risotto and lobster panna cotta. Archipelago, 333 Hudson St., New York, NY 10013, 212-243-3345.
 
AQ Café offers diners the chance to sample Marcus Samuelsson's skills in a more casual setting. The casual eatery in the Scandinavia House serves up classics from the region, from Swedish meatballs to smorgasbord. Skol! AQ Café, 58 Park Ave, New York, NY 10016, 212-847-9745.
 
Larry Forgione's An American Place at Lord & Taylor has shut down but the Signature Café (now sans Forgione) remains open at the Midtown department store. Signature Café, Lord & Taylor, 424 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10018, 212-391-3015.
 
Naya, a Midtown East eatery, is serving up Lebanese cuisine in chic surroundings. Naya, 1057 Second Ave., New York, NY 10022, 212-319-7777.
 
Replacing Danube, Secession is David Bouley's scaled-down, slightly Frenchified restaurant. Secession, 30 Hudson St., New York, NY 10013, 212-791-3771.
 
Fans of the shuttered Montrachet have reason to rejoice: the restaurant's reincarnation comes in the form of the just opened Corton. Cutting edge chef Paul Liebrandt is manning the stoves. Corton, 239 W. Broadway, New York, NY 10013, 212-219-2777.
 


News Bytes
Recession Menu at Sushi Samba
Check out the Recession Menu at Sushi Samba. The $35, three-course menu includes pan-seared sea scallops, kobe beef with ponzu gelee and Japanese mushrooms, and warm chocolate banana cake. It's available for dinner, Sundays through Thursdays. Sushi Samba, 87 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10014, 212-691-7885.
 
Burke Alert
David Burke is taking over the space last used by Zoe Townhouse to open Fishtail. The concept? Food with tails, including lobster and shrimp. It's slated for a late November opening. Fishtail, 135 E. 62nd St., New York, NY 10065, no phone.
 
Frankie's 17 Says Relax
The Lower East Side branch of Frankie's Sputino 17 is expanding. The restaurant plans to take over the storefront next door as well, doubling their seating capacity to 50. Renovations to integrate the two areas are to be completed by the spring. Frankie's Sputino 17, 17 Clinton St, New York, NY 10022, 212-253-2303.
 
Sayonara Wakiya, Hello Starr.
Wakiya, located in the posh Gramercy Park Hotel, will be shutting down on December 21. New York diners never warmed up to the eatery. But that probably won't be the case for the space's next eatery, which will be opened by none-other-than Stephen Starr. There are no details on the Starr restaurant---only that he's shooting for a late-spring 2009 opening. Wakiya, Gramercy Park Hotel, 2 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10010, 212-995-1330.
 
Burger Bash Winners
Katie Lee Joel won the New York Food and Wine Festival's Burger Bash competition with a grilled cheese sandwich; the burger from Burger Joint was second. Perhaps the two have a legitimate beef? Burger Joint, Le Parker Meridien New York, 123 W. 56th St., New York, NY 10019, 212-708-7460.
 
Olana Prix-Fixe Menus at Olana
Chef Al di Meglio and sous chef Henji Cheung of Olana have launched a three course prix-fixe lunch for $25 and a three course prix-fixe dinner for $48. The menus showcase seasonal ingredients and change on a daily basis. Olana will also offer a Thanksgiving feast on November 27. Olana, 72 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016, 212-725-4900.
 
Charles Plans its Debut
Charles, set in the old Les Deux Gamins space on the corner of W. 4th and W. 10th Streets in the West Village, is set to open on October 20. Unless you're famous, have a haircut that screams "this season!" or famous with a trendy hair cut, don't expect to ever get in. The owners want the place to be the next Waverly Inn.
 
Clean Laundry
Timothy Hollingsworth from The French Laundry will represent the U.S. at the Bocuse D'Or competition in Lyon. The chef had worked for Thomas Keller for the last seven years. The finals of the competition are in January of next year.
 
Top Chef Back in the Kitchen
Tom Colicchio is back---in the kitchen, that is. The judge on "Top Chef" and owner of Craft (among other restaurants) is cooking every other Tuesday evening at a 32-seat space next door to Craft. The "restaurant" is called Tom and the fixed-price menu starts at $150. Tom, 47 E. 19th St., New York, NY 10003, 212-400-6495.
 

Chef Shuffle
Neil Ferguson has left Allen & Delancey, the acclaimed eatery he helped found about a year ago. He's heading up kitchen at the private SoHo House in the Meatpacking District. There's no word on Ferguson's replacement, but many of his dishes are expected to remain on A&D's menu. At least for now. Allen & Delancey, 115 Allen St., New York, NY 10002, 212-253-5400.
 
Stephen Collucci is the new pastry chef at Craft and Craftbar. Craftbar, 900 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, 212-461-4300.
 
Fran Derby is now a chef at Momofuku Ssäm Bar. He had last been chef at Solex in the East Village. Momofuku Ssäm Bar, 207 Second Ave., New York, NY 10003, 212-254-3500.
 
Le Cirque Chef Christophe Bellanca, who has brought much acclaim to the kitchen at Le Cirque, is out. Replacements that have been mentioned are Cedric Tovar who recently left Peacock Alley and Franklin Becker of the recently shuttered Sheridan Square. Le Cirque has no official comment on a replacement. Le Cirque, One Beacon Court, 151 E. 58th St., New York, NY 10022, 212-644-0202.
 
Josh DeChellis, who we last saw in front of a deep-fat fryer at the now-closed BarFry, will be surfacing again to head the kitchen of the reborn La Fonda del Sol, the once mega 1960s Spanish restaurant in the MetLife building.
 
Former Bar Boulud and Veritas chef, Ed Cotton, has taken over the kitchen at BLT Market. BLT Market, The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, 1430 Sixth Ave., New York, NY 10019, 212-521-6125.
 
Paolo Buffa has taken over the kitchen duties at Salute! Salute!, 270 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016, 212-213-3440.
 
David Lee is the new executive chef at Mai House. The restaurant had been without a top chef since "Top Chef" contestant Spike Mendelsohn left in May. Mai House, 186 Franklin St., New York, NY 10013, 212-431-0606.
 
Anne Burrell has left Centro Vinoteca, the restaurant she helped found, in order to focus more on her cooking show. Centro Vinoteca, 74 Seventh Ave. S., New York, NY 10014, 212-367-7470.
 


Closings

B&B, the Williamsburg eatery from chef Coby Farro (who logged time in the kitchen of The Spotted Pig), has shut down as quietly as it opened up.
 
Queen's Hideaway, the causal dining pioneer in Greenpoint, has closed after lease problems. Queen's Hideaway, 222 Franklin St., Brooklyn, NY 11222, no phone.
 
The misguided Fr.Og (or France Origine) in SoHo has shut down.
 
Former "Top Chef" contestant Dave Martin has left Crave on 42nd Street, the temple of comfort food that he helped found, and the restaurant has shut down.
 
Seafood restaurant Fresh has closed. Fresh, 105 Reade St., New York, NY 10013, no phone.
 
Chop Suey, the Zak Pelaccio-linked Asian eatery with a flashy view of Times Square, barely survived eight months before finally shutting down for good. There's no word yet on what will happen to the space.
 
Mamlouk, a Middle Eastern eatery in the East Village, has lost its lease and shut down.
 
Despite Gordon Ramsay's best efforts on his show, "Kitchen Nightmares," the Chelsea seafood eatery Black Pearl has shut down for good. Black Pearl, 37 W. 26th St., New York, NY 10010, no phone.
 

CULINARY EVENTS
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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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