The Mermaid Inn, that inviting East Village bistro beloved for its rich seafood entrees, has moved on up to the west side with a mostly new menu. Their second Manhattan outpost is appointed with old nautical maps, dark wainscoting and roll-up doors that will surely suck in the crowds during warmer months. (Alec Baldwin must be pleased about the eatery boosting Amsterdam Avenue’s cachet.) The Inn’s famous lobster sandwich survived the move, but there’s now... more ›

This week in the Times, Bruni one-stars Centro Vinoteca. Says of chef Anne Burrell “The woman can fry,” and you’ll be happy with your food provided you choose anything fried, especially those items on the piccolini (small plates) menu. The rest is erractic: “Both on and off the plate, Centro can elate and deflate you.” more ›

8th Street Wine Cellar: This long awaited cozy wine bar is a welcome addition to the block between 5th and 6th Avenues in Greenwich Village. Union Square Cafe alums Michael Lagnese and Jonny Cohen are offering an excellent and diverse selection of wines both by the glass and by the bottle, in addition to a full bar, and have a tasty-looking small plates menu, featuring cheese, charcuterie, oysters sandwiches, and even pigs in blankets. 28 West Eighth Street, (212) 260-9463. more ›

Laurent Tourondel is so sly! And we are so confused. We read on Eater that BLT Burger wouldn't be open until next Tuesday, so we made appropriate plans. But someone just emailed us:

I discovered while walking down 6th Ave near my apt last night (Wed 10/25) that the latest iteration of the BLT chain had opened, without fanfare. Turned out, BLT Burger had been open for about 2 hrs when I decided to change my plan and give it a try (very good burger, outstanding fries). This is in a spot on the east side of 6th between 11th St. & 12th -- a seemingly promising spot that’s been a sinkhole of death for numerous restaurants over the past 20 yrs, the latest a fish joint that closed a few months ago. more ›

- People think they are getting something amazing when they pay as muchOne diner whose own entree price limit is "between $50 and $60" tells the Times' Jodi Kantor, “I blame Tom Colicchio for this." Yes, Colicchio, before he ever Top Chef'd, made everything a la carte, from the meat to the sides, at craft. Hilariously, Colicchio is upset that Laurent Tourondel's ripped off that concept; Tourondel snips that steakhouses did this in the old days. Please, both of you can be to blame! more ›

It might have been gloomy and drizzling outside, but inside of BLT Fish, at the first annual Crab Festival to benefit City Harvest, the mood was festive and the crabs were plentiful. Three floors of crab dishes as far as the eye could see -- crab legs from the BLT Fish raw bar, a Peekytoe Crab Salad from Bouley, a Crab Summer Roll with Chilled Crab Soup from Riingo, or Aunt Rae's Blue Crab Soup from City Crab, and many more. more ›

BLT's Cheddar & Chive Biscuits more ›