7 January Restaurant Openings (Colicchio and Sons, Recette, RBC Coffee)

For the first time since I’ve started these Restaurant Opening reports, we had a slow month. Rather than feverishly tracking Grub Street and Tasting Table reports, I was able to take a breather last month, and I don’t think I’ve missed anything. Despite fewer openings, many new quality spots opened their doors in January including an authentic Lebanese spot in the East Village, Tom Colicchio’s reincarnation of Craftsteak and an expansion of the raw food movement. It’s not quantity, it’s quality, right? Read on…

Choptank
A new casual seafood house by the guys who brought you Italian favorites Dell’anima and L’Artusi. They’re calling it Maryland-style seafood, where the owners grew up. The chef knows a thing or two about seafood, having worked at both Mermaid Inn and Le Bernardin. Expect crab cakes, old bay seasoning, po-boy’s and meatier fare too.
308 Bleecker Street, 212-675-2009 (Used to be Bar Q)
Why You Should Care: We could all use a little Southern hospitality.

Recette
Seasonal American fare is the order at Recette, which was formerly open for private dining only. The menu is divided amongst “plates” and “sides”, allowing flexibility for its patrons. While not the most creative thing in town, I must say that branzino with beluga lentils, roasted parsnip puree and meyer lemon sounds pretty awesome to me.
328 W 12th Street and Greenwich, 212-414-3000
Why You Should Care: I hear the pastry chef is from Per Se so if the food disappoints, there’s always dessert!

One Lucky Duck
The Chelsea Market kiosk of the beloved raw food restaurant, Pure Food and Wine is now fully open, serving fresh juices, falafel, salads and more. Go for the blend of mango, cucumber and cilantro but watch out for crazily priced items like a $25 nut ice cream shake.
75 9th Avenue (between 15th and 16th in Chelsea Market)
Why You Should Care: Though your dollar might be stretched a little thin, raw food is packed with nutrition, and you’ll feel great after eating it.

Colicchio and Sons
Do-it-yourself is out and composed is back in, at Colicchio and Sons. Last Fall, Colicchio launched a special restaurant-in-a-restaurant concept at Craftsteak called Tom: Tuesday.  Every other week he prepared everything on the hyper-seasonal menu for Tom: Tuesdays, and people loved it. So much so, that he’s closed Craftsteak and reopened with a self-focused new theme, as  Colicchio and Sons. Mouthwatering dishes including gnocchi with bone marrow, chestnuts and black truffle plus lamb loin with merguez sausage.
85 10th Avenue (in the old Craftsteak space)
Why You Should Care: Tom is actually doing the cooking himself!

Balade
Two friends open this Lebanese East Village nook serving the usual suspects like tabouleh and shawarma plus more exotic offerings like fresh-baked pita pizza and soujouk (hot Lebanese sausage).  If you don’t know your balade from zaa’tar, consult the menu’s handy legend.  You can wash it all down with Almaza, Lebanese beer
208 1st Ave, (between 12th and 13th), 212-529-6868
Why You Should Care:  Aside from the more upscale Ilili, Manhattan is lacking in the Lebanese department.

La Lucha
Thus far in 2010 we are seeing a number spots doing great things with Mexican food in New York (Dos Toros, Cascabel), and La Lucha is the latest to jump into the fray. Named and themed after Mexican wrestling, the owners decided to give New Yorkers a taste of real Mexican street food. Don’t expect the typical guacamole and burritos, come for tacos in all flavors and the pot of Oaxacan cheese.
147 Avenue A, 212-260-0235
Why You Should Care: Are there any other Mexican wresting/taco themed joints in this city?

RBC NYC
New York has been behind on the thoughtful coffee front, but that’s recently been changing with the opening of Stumptown in the Ace Hotel and now, RBC Coffee. They boast the only $18,000 “Slayer” espresso machine, whose merit is its exceptionally manual process.
71 Worth Street
Why You Should Care: Since Joe switched their espresso roaster, the city has been in need of a place to pick up the slack (according to E).

7 December Restaurant Openings (Black Shack, Cascabel, My Little Secret and More)

Happy new year everybody! December brought plenty of fun resolution-ruining openings. Thoughtful snacks are all the rage whether it be taco joints, Cambodian street food or Vietnamese burgers. Enjoy the December opening report. If you’ve visited any of these hopeful newcomers, please share!

The Norry at Kampuchea
Cambodian street food just got better with Kampuchea expanding into “Norry”, a bar space next door. Along with their signature grilled sweet corn slathered in chili mayo look for new cocktails like the signature Norry with Maker’s Mark and lemongrass.
78 Rivington Street and Allen 212-520-3901
Why You Should Care: As if Cambodian street food isn’t exotic enough, the Norry menu includes a chicken liver terrine with “schmaltz.” Are there Jews in Cambodia?

Black Shack
Why does that name sound familiar? It seems no coincidence that a new burger joint would name itself “Black Shack”, oddly reminiscent of both Shake Shack and the Black Label burger from Pat La Frieda meats (the blend used at Minetta Tavern). Are the owners hoping for customer confusion? Despite its nominal bedfellows, the Black Shack burger is made of regular ground chuck, no special blend here. But if the burgers satisfy, it’s a nice option for Midtown lunchers.
320 Lexington Avenue, 212-213-0042
Why You Should Care: Midtown Lunch says it’s no Shake Shack, but it’s a decent fast food option for just $4.50

Slice, The Perfect Food
“Welcome to a magical world where pizza is good for you!” says Slice’s website, an all-organic pizza shop which just expanded to the West Village. The menu offers pizza in a variety of flavors to please everybody from vegans to the gluten and nut allergic. Unfortunately the one group they’ve left out is kosher peeps. One item I am curious about is the type of oven they use in terms of the type of crust they’re yielding. Anybody know?
535 Hudson (between Perry and Charles), 212-929-2920
Why You Should Care:  If post-holiday trimming is in order, Slice might be the perfect solution.

Cascabel
A laid back Taqueria on the Upper East Side from Chef Todd Mitgang of Crave Ceviche Wine Bar, a place I loved before a tragic fire hit the restaurant. Yes, you heard me right. Cascabel is a casual, counter service taco joint with cartoon wrestlers on the walls, on the Upper East Side! It’s named after a hot cherry pepper with seeds that rattle around the inside.
1542 Second Ave and 80th Street, 212-717-7800
Why You Should Care: Cascabel seems to be a real breath of fresh air on the UES.  How can you not be excited about crispy tuna belly tacos with hearts of palm and olive?

Mikey’s Burger
One could say Michael Huynh is solely responsible for the Vietnamese food craze in NY, starting with Baoguette (his banh mi sandwich shops), followed by Pho Sure, Bia Garden and Bar Bao (which opened in December as well). Mikey’s burger is his spin on a casual burger spot with $6 burgers in flavors like a “satay-style” lamb patty and a BLT with chinese sausage.
134 Ludlow Street, 212-979-9211
Why You Should Care: They’re open til’ 4AM on weekends, perfect for late night LES hunger pangs!

The Wright
Named after the famous architect himself, the Wright restaurant in the Guggenheim is as much about interior design as it is about food, with a protege of David Bouley at the healm. Of course the cuisine is “seasonal”, “local” and “sustainable.”
1071 Fifth Ave and 89th (At the Guggenheim),
Why You Should Care: It’s about time the Gugg caught up to the MOMA in the food department!

My Little Secret
An Italian speakeasy in a subterranean space with a gangster theme set by a bright green tommy gun design on the glass divider. The menu features small plates of typical fare like pizzette, buffalo mozzarella, risotto balls and spicy mussels.  They’re open late.
149 Mulberry Street, 646-448-4536
Why You Should Care: If the usual speakeasy-chic spots feel humdrum, you might want to sneak into one with a godfather poster and a cozy wine cellar vibe instead of a tin roof.

7 November Restaurant Openings (Ma Peche, Maialino, East Side Social Club)

It appears as if November is my record for latest restaurant-opening-roundup ever posted. I am sorry! I’ve been focusing a lot on trying to make the register ring at my day job. Speaking of which, can I interest you in a wine club?

Just kidding.

Seriously though

I’ll make it snappy since we’re already into December. I certainly don’t want to report old news. But in case you missed it:

Dos Toros
Burritos get serious at this laid-back Union Square joint with a focus on sustainability.
137 4th Ave, 212-677-7300
Why You Should Care: It’s owned by 2 brothers who frankly, seem like really cool guys. Read the site.

Ma Peche
Perhaps the most highly buzzed about opening last month was Ma Peche, Momofuku’s Midtown venture. David Chang hasn’t disappeared since opening Momofuku noodle bar a few years ago and with the release of his cookbook, he’s hotter than ever. Now that Momo’s popularity has extended beyond the downtown cool-kid crowd, the Midtown grownups can enjoy meaty banh mi and rice noodles with pork sausage and crispy shallots.
15 West 56th Street, Chambers Hotel
Why You Should Care: The $10 midtown lunch special will get you a sandwich or salad plus beverage.

Rye House
Union Square has another cool newcomer with this straight-talkin’ bar with a dozen craft brews on tap, thoughtful cocktails and small plates. It’s owned by the same people as tapas-restaurant Sala which operated for 10 years, so I have a feeling it’s here to stay.
11 West 17th Street, 212-255-7260
Why You Should Care: A “beef wellington” sandwich of filet mignon, foie gras pate and mushrooms on brioche should whet your appetite.

Northern Spy Food Co.
A cutesy restaurant and market from a couple of San Fran transplants. Like everyone else in the city, they’re focusing on local and seasonal but they take it beyond Long Island duck and go the extra mile with everything from Brooklyn granola to Kelso beer.
511 E. 12th Street, 212-228-5100
Why You Should Care: Everything on the menu is under $13.

OBAO
Hop around Southeast Asia at this nook of a noodle bar serving the stuff in all sorts like vermicelli with turmeric and dell fish, spicy red curry beef noodles and pad thai with red snapper. Summer rolls and BBQ dishes add more to an expansive menu of well-priced bites.
222 East 53rd Street, 212-308-5588
Why You Should Care: That photo looks pretty awesome!

Maialino
Thoroughbred restaurateur Danny Meyer’s “Roman Trattoria” in the Gramercy Park hotel. Its wacky name means “little pig” and is apparently an homage to Meyer’s appetite as a kid. The Immaculate Infatuation boys found it underwhelming,  citing some repeated service errors, but I bet the kinks will be ironed out in time.
2 Lexington Ave, Gramercy Park Hotel, 212-777-2410
Why You Should Care: The man built Eleven Madison Park, Shake Shack and Gramercy Tavern. He’s not about to let his reputation run astray.

East Side Social Club
I am a big fan of Employees Only, one of New York’s first modern speakeasy-themed bars before troves of imitators followed suit.  The bartenders there shake the shakers like they’re on speed. So I was delighted when my friend Ashley filled me in on their new restaurant which is livening up a hungry part of Midtown. The menu is traditional Italian, “harkening back to the days of Sinatra”, and the owners’ heritage.
230 East 51st Street, 212-355-9442
Why You Should Care: They’re open until 4AM! Though I can’t figure out why anybody would be in this part of town at 4AM. Unless you’re visiting Ashley ;)

8 October Restaurant Openings (The Breslin, Abe and Arthur’s, Bill’s Bar and Burger and More)

October was a meat-themed month, not just the food category but also the district of meatpacking, which exploded with openings. Dainty eaters steer clear! These newcomers are boasting huge flavors in everything from burgers to fried chicken livers.

As always, leave thoughts in the comment section if you’ve visited any of these exciting spots.

Abe and Arthur’s
Franklin Becker (of Brasserie) and the folks from club Tenjune open this much-anticipated restaurant with a contemporary American menu and an old-timey feel.  It’s in the old Club Lotus space, so expect a party below and a restaurant above.
409 East 14th Street, 646-289- 3930
Why You Should Care: Initial reports have been extremely promising, with some putting it at the caliber of the Standard Grill, down the block.

Tanuki Tavern
It feels like every month I’m reporting a new Jeffrey Chodorow-charged restaurant and October is no different. Tanuki is Chodorow’s new restaurant in the old Ono space and his answer to the Izakaya (Japanese small plates) trend. They’re boasting no-less-than 70 menu items including tempura maitake mushrooms, fried chicken livers with ponzu, and yellowfin tuna spaghetti bolognese.  As compelling as the menu sounds, they’re still charging $16 for a California roll so it’s unclear how much has changed since Ono.
18 9th Avenue, Between Little W 12th and 13th, 212-660-6766
Why You Should Care: Supposedly they have Hitachino White Ale on tap

Ardesia
Ardesia is the latest wine bar to open in the city, though dangerously close to three others in Hell’s Kitchen (Xai Xai, Casellula, and Bocca di Bacco). Still it’s possible that Mandy Oser (of Le Bernardin) might carve out a niche for those even further West. An international list of 80 wines plus a menu from the chef of Chelsea tapas restaurant, El Quinto Pino, may give them an edge. The initial reviews on Yelp are promising.
510 W 52nd (between 10th and 11th), 212-247-9191
Why You Should Care: They’re running a Grand Opening special: complimentary homemade pretzels or an artisanal cheese selection with your first glass of wine or beer!

Bill’s Bar and Burger
As much as I’m lamenting the loss of Hog Pit and its foos table, Steve Hanson’s new burger-focused joint seems a welcome newcomer. It has already been praised as one of the best burgers in the city, though its unique thin-style means it cannot be ordered to temperature. I’m not sure if these crisp-as-a-falafel burgers are my speed, but I’m happy to be proven wrong!
22 Ninth Ave, 212-414-3003
Why You Should Care: The meatpacking district could use a relaxed space, where design stops at the bottle of Heinz and French’s on the table.

The Breslin
Ken Friedman and April Broomfield of The Spotted Pig open the restaurant in the The Ace Hotel, focusing on nose-to-tail cooking. Expect a whole lot of terrines and sausages and some of the best French fries in the city.
20 W 29th Street, 212-679-2222
Why You Should Care: In keeping with the gastro-pub theme, prices are kept low, despite its trendy scene.

Corsino
Owner of ‘Ino and ‘Inoteca open this casual crostini-focused Italian “cantina” with flavors like cauliflower and saffron, radicchio and goat cheese and chicken liver. I’ve never had a poor meal at the other ventures, so I’m hopeful that Corsino will become a reliable, affordable meatpacking staple.
637 Hudson Street, 212-242-3093
Why You Should Care: Crostini are just $2.50 a pop and prices for mains are all under $20. Wines are all under $50.

Brinkley’s
The Martignetti brothers open this neighborhood pub which looks like every other black-and-white-tile/red banquette brasserie that has opened in the city this year. This one has a British bent, complete with a variety of sausages, bubble and squeak, and pudding.
406 Broome Street, 212-680-5600
Why You Should Care: They’re serving local NY beer and wine!

Tipsy Parson
The owners of precious LES comfort-food spot Little Giant stake their claim on the West side with Southern classics like hush puppies, fried chicken livers (October chicken-liver trend?), and braised pork shank with grits. Coffee purists will be happy: they’re using Stumptown beans.  Initial reviews show they may need more time to iron out service issues.
156 Ninth Ave (between 19th and 20th) 212-620-4545
Why You Should Care: It’s tough to find Southern hospitality in this fast-paced city!

I should also mention the renovation of Lever House as Casa Lever and the opening of a second Accademia di Vino

9 September Restaurant Openings (Gansevoort 69, Ed’s Chowder House, Los Feliz)

Wow! Fall is here and the city is exploding with new restaurants. As the weather turns brisk, comfort food seems to be the theme whether it be heaping bowls of noodles, mac ‘n’ cheese or chicken and waffles. If you’ve visited any of these newcomers, leave a comment and fill me in!

Onya
When it comes to noodles, I like a hearty texture. Angel hair and vermicelli are for wimps! I prefer something chewy, dense and thick. Which is why udon noodles are so lovable and why Onya, the udon-only restaurant in Midtown East is exciting. They offer various hot and cold flavors of the stuff, all under $10. The midtown lunch crowd is already drawing lines that snake out the door.
143 East 47th Street (Between Lexington and 3rd)
Why You Should Care: The owners are the same folks as Beard Papa, those luscious little cream puffs.

Cantina Latina
A “Mexican/Cuban” themed East Village newcomer with a ridiculous name and a bright, inviting decor. Specialties include tacos, ropa vieja and grilled whole fish, plus flowing mojitos, margaritas, sangria and tequila.
243 E 14th Street 212-253-5708
Why You Should Care: It probably beats eating the free pizza from Crocodile Lounge, down the block.

Macbar
Just as its name and shape suggests, Macbar is devoted to all things mac ‘n’ cheese, serving 12 flavors from lobster to duck confit to beef stroganoff and more. It’s a sister restaurant to Delicatessen, which I’ve heard few positive things about. Let’s hope they’re better at mac than matzoh ball soup.
54 Prince Street, 212-226-8877
Why You Should Care: It’s tough to complain when eating mac ‘n’ cheese.

Ed’s Chowder House
Jeffrey Chodorow has been chasing restaurant trends long before any of us knew about kobe beef and overpriced vegetable rolls. But his latest venture, Ed’s Chowder House (in the old Center Cut Space) is as basic as its name.  Here you’ll find “sea shack” cuisine, featuring a raw bar, chowders, and simply prepared local seafood. I’ve had fun ragging on Chodorow’s spectacles in the past, but Ed’s actually sounds good! Plus, the “Ed” in the name is Chef Ed Brown, who has a Michelin star under his belt. My question: how does the long-established Ed’s Lobster Bar in Soho feel about the opening?
44 W63rd Street at Broadway in the Empire Hotel, 212-956-1288
Why You Should Care: You won’t have to shell out $150 for a meal here, entrees start at just $18.

Gansevoort 69
Comfort food in the Meatpacking district may sound like an oxymoron, but with meatloaf, BLTS, spaghettios and pancakes on the menu, that’s exactly what Gansevoort 69 is serving.
69 Gansevoort Street, 212-691-0069
Why You Should Care: They’re open almost 24 hours a day, so if you find yourself in the meatpacking district and need a comforting reprieve from the watered down $16 drinks somewhere nearby, find it here.

Motorino
The Manhattan location of a Williamsburg thin-crust pizza shrine.
349 East 12th Street, 212-777-2644
Why You Should Care: A wait at Co. is guaranteed any night of the week, but Motorino is so new that crowds have yet to descend upon it. Plus, they have brussel sprouts pizza! Yay! No? Just me?

Blue Elm
You’ve probably never heard of now-closed Nolia, a French/Asian fusion nook, formely on Avenue C.  Well, the food was inventive and the prices were dirt cheap. So cheap, that I suppose they couldn’t survive. Blue Elm is the Nolia chef’s latest venture, a French/Asian/African fusion restaurant with dishes like African-spiced halibut with pumpkin bisquits in a tomato saffron broth or yucca-crusted salmon with asparagus.
198 Orchard Street, Between Houston and Stanton, 212-777-7733
Why You Should Care:  It’s so weird, it just might be good!

Travertine
Former Top Chef contestant Manuel Trevino (remember him? me neither) opens this long-awaited Mediterranean restaurant. The owners had to fight with the community board to get it open, so it has been delayed many months. It just opened yesterday, so reports are slim, but yummy sounding dishes include grilled quail with oyster mushrooms, polenta and onion fig compote or fagottini filled with spinach, truffled sheep milk ricotta and cauliflower puree.
19 Kenmare Street
Why You Should Care: When an owner fights for over a year for a location,  you know they’ve got some heart in the venture.

Los Feliz
The guys who brought you LES gastropub, Spitzer’s Corner open this taqueria/night club in the space that was once tri-level tapas restaurant, Suba. They’re serving little tacos like crispy Mahi Mahi with cucumber-ginger relish, aioli and avocado. Some food is more successful than others, but I’m betting most people will be there for the scene. (especially when the salsa comes out of squeeze bottles!)
109 Ludlow, 212-228-8383
Why You Should Care: The city needs a “hipster 3 level Tequila mansion”, right?

7 August Restaurant Openings (Bia Garden, Crudo, Yerba Buena Perry)

After the sad news of Elettaria’s passing last week, it’s time for something positive. There were plenty of cool newcomers last month including a Vietnamese beer garden and a second location of breezy Latin American Yerba Buena, which I visited last year.

Right now I’m touring Oregon with E, so I sneakily scheduled this post in the meanwhile. Enjoy and let me know if you’ve been to any of these spots!

Joseph Leonard
A former owner of Little Owl and Market Table brings another seasonal American restaurant to the West Village. He’s decorated the tiny, 7-table space with antiques from all over the country. Expect comforting dishes like a peach salad with country bread and cheddar or pan-roasted chicken with root vegetables.
170 Waverly Place 646-429-8383
Why You Should Care: Considering the track record of Little Owl (though never been myself), there is definitely some promise here.

Forty Eight
A rotating menu of 48 bar snacks are served at this new cocktail lounge in the McGraw Hill building at Rockefeller Center.
1221 Ave of the Americas, 212-554-4848
Why You Should Care: They are open until 4AM so if you find yourself in Midtown late-night on a weekend, find solace in smoked yellowtail with red onion, cilantro and yuzu or an open-faced BLT.

Mari Vanna
If nothing else, this glittery, exclusive Russian restaurant is something different. Mari Vanna seeks to bring the concept of private, St. Petersburg dinner parties, to the Flatiron district. The restaurant is designed to feel like somebody’s Russian grandmother’s antique apartment, complete with precious china and ornate chandeliers. The invitation-only (for now) concept may be fussy, but if given a key, Mari Vanna promises authentic warm borscht, caviar, and of course, infused vodkas.
41 East 20th, 212-777-1955
Why You Should Care: Despite the large percentage of people with Russian roots (myself included), New York is nearly void of great Russian cuisine.

Bia Garden
Just when I thought a private Russian dining room was unique, a Vietnamese beer garden (pronounce with a New England accent–>Bia Garden!) opens on the Lower East Side. Bia serves exclusively Asian beer by the six-pack, twelve-pack or case, along with Vietnamese street food plates like spicy curry wild boar with glass noodles and crisp sole with king mushroom.
154 Orchard Street, Near Stanton
Why You Should Care: I’m already wooed, this place sounds rad! If they have Hitachino ale, I am there.

Trattoria Cinque
No offense to Trattoria Cinque, but I kind of hoped I would make it through this opening report without an Italian restaurant. The city has been INUNDATED with new Italian restaurants in the past six months. But anyway, I can’t let that spoil a hopeful newcomer. Cinque offers seasonal Milanese cuisine with each dish reasonably priced at under $25.
363 Greenwich Street, 212-965-0555
Why You Should Care: Not only are the dishes priced well, every bottle on the wine list is under $50.

Crudo
Euro-Caribbean fusion makes a splash in an odd part of town. Like its name, Crudo focuses on raw offerings like Chilean sea bass ceviche with mango pineapple chutney but also serves cooked island fare like seafood stew and steak with plantains. They also have a large outdoor back garden with plans to have live jazz and flamenco.
235 W 35th, Between 7th and 8th, 212-695-9001
Why You Should Care: The Penn Station restaurant wasteland (aside from Keen’s Steakhouse and Seven), could use some help.

Yerba Buena, Perry
While the East Village location of Latin American YB is a tiny, tropical nook, its West Village counterpart appears grown up, with spacious ceilings and a larger, sleek white bar. While some restaurants suffer in these times, chef/co-owner Julian Medina seems to have a magic touch after opening a restaurant per year. If the arepas are anything like what I had last year, we’re in for a treat.
1 Perry Street, 212-620-0808
Why You Should Care: Toro taquitos with habanero salsa and avocado, manchego croquettes with jalapeno, and six styles of fries… need more? He’s also snatched someone with a PDT, pedigree for the cocktails.

7 July Restaurant Openings (Umi Nom, Xie Xie, Le Cubain)

Heading back to the city from a vacation and looking to dine somewhere new? Here are 7 exciting spots that opened last month. From an upholstery store themed wine bar to a Vietnamese sandwich shop, July offered many out-of-the-ordinary openings. If you visit, leave a “yay” or “nay” in the comment section!

Organika 101
An organically themed Italian/Mediterranean spot on a buzzing strip of 7th Ave, adjacent to Sushi Samba.  Ingredients are from the green market in Union Square and the wine list is as organic as the food. The entrees change daily in accordance with the freshest ingredients and the prices are reasonable. A rolled pizza stuffed with rocket, fresh tomatoes and mozzarella goes for $14.
Why You Should Care: If in the neighborhood it’s a friendlier option than the pompous Bobo, across the street.
9 7th Avenue, 212-414-1900

Bhatti Indian Grill
Though this spot of Lexington ave is flooded with Indian restaurants, Bhatti takes a departure from the heavy-sauced preparations you’ll find at others (delicious as they may be), and instead offers Northern Indian grilled kebabs. When we traveled to India a few years ago we ate loads of these intensely spiced kabobs prepared on huge grills. It was a treat and I wondered why this type of Indian food had been lacking in the U.S.. Maybe the trend starts here?
Why You Should Care: Because you’re tired of chicken tikka masala.
100 Lexington Ave, 212-683-4228

Umi Nom
Welcome the Brooklyn sister to the Lower East Side’s BYOB/cheap/delicious Southeast Asian small plates Kuma Inn. Much like Kuma, you can sample dishes like fried tilapia with wasabi tobiko aioli and beef jerky with a smoked chile sauce at $11 a pop. Twenty sakes by the glass are available and dispensed from a special machine.
Why You Should Care: Shitake mushrooms with a soy mirin glaze, pan roasted salmon with coconut and green curry… did I mention just $11? I’ll go to Fort Greene for that!
Umi Nom, 433 DeKalb Ave., nr. Classon Ave., Clinton Hill, Brooklyn; 718-789-8806

Xie Xie (not to be confused with Xai Xai, South African wine bar, also in Hell’s Kitchen)
Asian sandwiches of many genres seem to be all the rage now after Num Pang (Cambodian) opened in Union Square along with lots of Ban Mhi (Vietnamese) spots. I’m embarrassed to say that I’m way behind the trend so I can’t speak from experience. However, offerings like fish with sriracha mayonaisse/dill and BBQ beef with basil mayo/carrot kimchee make me want to catch up!
Why You Should Care: Because someone needs to fill me in on what all the fuss is about!
645 9th Ave betw 45th and 46th, 212-265-2975

The Upholstery Store
The owner of Michelin-star-clad, snooty German restaurant Wallsé opened this tiny wine bar next door serving dozens of international varieties along with cheeses, snacks and schnitzel. Before its opening I’d walked by with E and peered into the window on many occasions. It seems to be a nice little nook to crawl into after a stroll in the West Village.
Why You Should Care: A nice glass at a respectable wine bar in the city often costs upwards of $12, but at the Upholstery Store, you’ll find everything from Carmenere to Syrah at $7.
713 Washington Street 212-352-2300

Le Cubain
Now here’s a new fusion of cuisines: Cuban and French. This new Lower East Side spot promises to fuse the two together with menu options like duck confit tacos. Urban Daddy said it best: “If Schiller’s Liquor Bar had a cousin—and that cousin was Latin, named Juan, decorated his place with cheap Catholic souvenirs and liked to dance the merengue—then Le Cubain would be cousin Juan” I’m not sure whether to be excited by Le Cubain or nauseated by yet another replication of the French Brasserie decor we’ve seen everywhere in town this year. Early reviews on Yelp have been discouraging, with complaints about long wait times and rice-a-roni paella. We’ll see if they can shape up over time.
81 Ludlow Street and Broome, 212-677-9383
Why You Should Care: You probably shouldn’t, but I felt obliged to report on such an off-the-wall mess.

Agua Dulce
People have been raving about the citrus salmon ceviche and guacamole with chunks of fresh mango at Agua Dulce (fresh water) Hell’s Kitchen has exploded with new restaurants in these past few months, but Agua Dulce stands out as the only Latin American spot I know of in the area. If successful, it breathes fresh air into a neighborhood that is over-run with plastic chair and neon-sign infested Thai eateries.
Why You Should Care: New theater-district restaurants (decent ones) are always welcome in my book.
802 9th Ave (betw 53rd and 54th) 212-262-1299

8 June Restaurant Openings (DBGB, Standard Grill, Civetta)

Due to my more-painful-than-expected wisdom teeth extraction, I’m serving up the June restaurant openings when it’s practically end of July! I’ve been doing a lot of ice cream eating (Turtle Mountain Coconut Milk Cookie Dough) and a lot less blogging these past couple of weeks, so I apologize for the delay. So many notable restaurants opened last month and they deserve a mention, even weeks later. Be sure to leave a comment and fill me in, if you’ve visited any!

Palace Gate
The new outdoor lounge in the New York Palace Hotel’s courtyard. Serving classic cocktails and upscale apps like truffle fries and the Gossip Grill, a soup with fontina cheese and black truffle, from double michelin-star-winning Gilt restaurant.
Why You Should Care: The photos of the courtyard look gorgeous plus where else can you drink a Pimm’s cup and eat chicken wings with sesame aioli in open midtown air?
455 Madison Avenue, betw 50th and 51st 212-891-8100

DBGB Kitchen & Bar
Daniel Boulud’s foray into the ever-expanding Bowery hipster scene finally opened last month to a ton of pomp and circumstance. The cuisine is “French Brasserie meets American tavern” and the vibe is far more rough around the edges than Boulud’s previous haute-cuisine outposts.
Why You Should Care: They have 22 beers on tap and if you dig sausage, you’ll find it in all styles from French, Polish, Viennese, Tuscan and more. Dishes are mainly under $20, so you can feel cool and stay on budget.
299 Bowery and Houston, 212- 933-5300

Civetta
If you like Sfoglia on the Upper East Side and in Nantucket, Civetta (owl) is its Mediterranean sister, owned by the same husband and wife team. Breezy antipasti like roasted beets with goat yogurt, cucumber and mint and grilled branzino with crushed pine nuts and chickpea puree caught my eye, in particular.
Why You Should Care: If you accidentally find yourself in Little Italy, this sounds like a promising alternative.
98 Kenmare Street, 212-274-9898

Jo’s
A friendly entry to the Nolita dining scene with a classic bistro vibe. Find $9 cocktails (boastworthy in this city!) in the 30-seat bar room in the front or grab some foie gras toast and a shrimp pierogie in the back dining room.
Why You Should Care: An American bistro? What a refreshingly simple idea!
264 Elizabeth, 212-966-9649

SHO Shaun Hergatt
“A restaurant unlike anything Wall Street has ever seen” raves its mind-blowingly over-the-top website. Sho Shaun Hergatt serves French-Asian fusion, assumingly to the NY Stock Exchange guys across the street, who can still have lavish meals. The food does sound far from run-of-the-mill fusion. Kona kampachi with live geoduck and red chili and coconut milk glazed quail anyone?
Why You Should Care: Ostentatious as Sho shaun seems, a two or three-course prixe fix at $57/$69 ain’t so bad.
40 Broad Street in the Setai Hotel, 212-809-3993

Spina
The city doesn’t need another Italian restaurant but Spina is boasting a pasta station, where the pappardelle, gnocchi, maccheroncini and more is made in front of diners’ eyes.
Why You Should Care: The wine list spans the globe, outside of Italy, including a few selections from the Finger Lakes (NY reprazent!).  Many are priced at under $40.
175 Avenue B and 11th Street, 212-253-2250

Standard Grill
The place to be this Summer seems to be the Standard Grill, the new spot in the meatpacking district hotel of the same name. I passed by at 6:00 on Saturday and the outdoor tables were full of priveliged patrons, seemingly proud to have scored a table. The cuisine is said to be classic American with a seasonal focus, though the tiled floors and oversized banquettes make it look more like like Pastis/Balthazar/Bar Artisanal/Every-French-Brasserie to me.
Why You Should Care: I took notice of some thin crispy fries with dipping sauces that looked delightful, plus the glaring yellow chairs in front are sure to draw you in whether you like it or not!
846 Washington Street 212-645-4100

Le Relais de Venise, “L’Entrecote”
The New York location of an historic Parisian restaurant serving one dish: steak-frites with a secret sauce and green salad with walnuts. There is no menu and supposedly the steak was so beloved that the restaurant succeeded on that dish alone, later expanding to London, Barcelona and now New York.
Why You Should Care: Oddly enough I’ve spent a lot of time in Paris but never been. I guess it seemed too limiting to me. I am curious though, could it really be that amazing?
590 Lexington Ave and 52nd, 212-758-3989

7 May Restaurant Openings (Table 8, Aldea, Locanda Verde, Marea and More)

May was a rich month with plenty of openings of all shapes and sizes. Here are the 7 most notable including a Portuguese spot in Union Square and Robert De Niro’s Ago renovation. Enjoy and let me know when you visit!

Recipe
A 26-seat, countryish American restaurant with seasonal dishes. Yes, the name is a little silly, good luck trying to find anything about the actual restaurant online, which is buried amongst, well, recipes. Look to their site for more info.
452 Amsterdam at 81st, 212-501-7755
Why You Should Care: Sure, Manhattan isn’t in need of another “seasonal” restaurant but its price-friendly menu and honest cuisine sounds just lovely. I’ll take some oven-roasted halibut with eggplant, melted leek, olive, tomato confit and broccolini please!

Aldea
Seasonal Portuguese fare makes a splash in Union Square. Recommended dishes include Petiscos (small bites) of sea urchin toast with cauliflower cream or ramps with pig ears, apple and cumin yogurt. For mains the escolar with fresh chickpeas and a chicken stuffed with foie gras are also recommended by Adam Platt (though he really recommends everything.
31 W 17th at 5th ave, 212-675-7223
Why You Should Care: With the exception of Alfama in the West Village, Manhattan is starving for Portuguese restaurants. Its owner, George Mendes has promising pedigree, having worked with Alain Ducasse, David Bouley, and many others.

Brooklyn Star
Southern Comfort food in Williamsburg from a former partner in Momofuku and the Rusty Knot Bar.
33 Havemeyer Street 718-599-9899
Why You Should Care: Dr. Pepper ribs. Mmmmm. Also, located right near the L train, for the Manhattanites.

Locanda Verde
The new Italian Greenwich Hotel restaurant, formerly Ago, owned by Robert De Niro. De Niro is still involved, he’s just reinvented the place and hired acclaimed chef from 2007 Michelin- Star-earning A Voce, Andrew Carmellini. It’s family style Italian with a tavern-esque feel to the space, created by Spotted Pig’s Ken Friedman. Look for lamb meatball sliders with goat cheese and rich braised beef short ribs, as recommended by Gael Greene.
379 Greenwich Street and North Moore, 212-925-3797
Why You Should Care: The mega name-dropping above is reason enough to be intrigued! Curious if it lives up to the hype?

Marea
An Italian, seafood-focused spot in a posh location by Chef Michael White (of Convivio). Complete with a raw “crudo” bar, which seems to be a given at every new high-end restaurant that opens (no complaints here).  Choose one of their thoughtful creations or select a whole fish and sauce of your liking.
240 Central Park South, 212-582-5100
Why You Should Care: It’s far from cheap but the dishes sure sound promising. Red sea bream with artichoke caponata, pine nuts and salsa verde anyone?

Table 8
The Cooper Square Hotel location of a Miami and L.A. hot spot serving a cuisine that I can’t quite figure out. Small plates, local ingredients, salt bar? Country pate? Snapper with lobster? Spanish goat cheese? It all sounds yummy but entirely disjointed. They have an “off-the-menu” salt-roasted porterhouse for two, loaded with kosher salt, sea salt, fennel seeds, bay leaves and chile flakes that is highly recommended.
25 Cooper Square, 212-475-3400
Why You Should Care: Adam Platt recently trashed it, insulting the cramped design and complicated, overseasoned dishes. He comes off as pretty judgmental and a bit snobbish, immediately dismissing chef Govind Armstrong, because he’s from L.A. Though maybe he’s right? I have to agree with one point, Salt Bars are a silly 4-years-ago trend .

Anella
Rustic Italian fare from former Chanterelle chef Michael Sullivan. Anella also boasts a garden and a soon-to-come greenhouse where a lot of ingredients will be sourced. Now that’s local cuisine!
222 Franklin Street, Greenpoint Brooklyn, 718-389-8100
Why You Should Care: Homemade pastas, a wood-burning oven and BYOB (pending their liquor license)

8 Notable April Restaurant Openings

It’s tough out there but sunny skies are on the horizon. Give these newcomers a warm welcome with a visit, perhaps?

Emporio
A Roman Trattoria in Soho from the folks behind Aurora (Soho, Brooklyn) with the typical yummy offering of formaggi, salumi, antipasti etc, though all of it comes from the family farm. The vibe is supposed to be like an old-fashioned grocery store.
231 Mott Street, 212-966-1234
Why You Should Care: As of last week they were still BYOB. They have a spacious glass ceiling, lovely for the summertime.

Clerkenwell
An English gastro-pub on the lower East side with classics like Waldorf salad, beef pie, and bubble and squeak at Brunch. They also just launched a late night menu. Prices are kept low.
49 Clinton Street, 212-614-3234
Why You Should Care: Considering the gastro pub is a trend of yore, everyone will (probably) be talking about it.

Nios
Named after the nine muses of Greek mythology and serving what seems to be hearty American fare (bison and bacon meatloaf), Nios may have been born with an identity crisis. Nevertheless, it’s nice to have a Theater District newcomer (it was formerly the restaurant, District).
130 West 46th Street, 212-485-2999
Why You Should Care: The Master Sommelier is Emily Wines (har har), one of 5 female MS’s in NYC.

Quinto Quarto
This restaurant wins the award for strangest-web-site-I’ve-seen-in-a-long-time. Some of the menu is Italian, some is English and the ingredients in the dishes alternate between pecorino, pepper, pesto, or pistachio. Judging by its name, I guess Quinto Quarto enjoys being alliterative with its proliferation of P’s.
14 Bedford Street, 212-675-9080
Why You Should Care: Entrees are all below $20 and their silly site also has some funny pictures of the chefs. At least, I think they’re meant to be funny?

Bar Artisanal
Terrrance Brennan of the original Artisanal and Picholine, is opening this “barsto” (bistro+bar) featuring a cheese and charcuterie bar and a large communal table. The menu is sort of Franco-Italian with Pissaladieres (French pizza) and French Brasserie-ish dishes like steak frites. Oooh, and they have a Burrata, Caponata dish, which sounds awfully reminiscent of the delicious stuff served at Scarpetta.
268 West Broadway, 212-925-1600
Why You Should Care: Again, Burrata. Also, prices under $20 for entrees prepared with organic ingredients (they say).

Sea Thai
Even the meatpacking district gets economical with the opening of SEA Thai in the old Highline restaurant space. There are two other locations: East Village and Brooklyn. The folks behind Sea Thai are also behind Peep in Soho and Spice, all reliable cheap spots with that same neon, trendy Thai feel.
Why You Should Care: I’ve walked past many times already and the restaurant has always been packed. They must be doing something right!
835 Washington Street, 212-243-3339

Vutera
A simple Mediterranean “comfort” spot with communal tables serving dishes like cauliflower gratin and whole roasted poussin with spaetzle. It’s an upgrade to the basement of Rose Live Music.
345 Grand Street, Williamsburg 718-599-0069
Why You Should Care: The chairs are mismatched, the napkins are little red-striped dish towels and you get to hob-nob with strangers. That’s fun, right?

Sazon
A Puerto-Rican inspired, bi-level spot from the owner of Sofrito who last October offered a $1K paella topped with truffles, truffle oil, baby eel, octopus, lobster and more. Luckily the new spot offers more basic dishes that still promise flavor like a conch salad and ropa vieja.
Why You Should Care: With all of the antipasti and thin-crust pizza recently being added to the Manhattan restaurant roster, maybe it’s time for a little Latin spice?
105 Reade Street, 212-406-1900