Results tagged “open”

Mari Vanna: The latest addition to New York's niche dining market this week comes to us all the way from Russia. Mari Vanna opened last Wednesday after a soft opening all through July, bringing authentic Russian cuisine and all the vodka you can stomach. Inspired by the mythical Mari Vanna (think Max Brenner, but with Borscht), the restaurant feels more like an immigrant kitchen, complete with tchotchke on the bookshelves and ottomans on the floor. And with the winter months approaching, Mari Vanna offers Russian classics like Blinis and Beef Stroganoff on homey yet extravagant china and linens, and gives you the opportunity to wash down that stew with over 70 types of vodka, including a couple dozen imported bottles from Russia. The emphasis, however, is on their in-house infused vodkas, with flavors like Oats & Honey and Dill & Garlic. No word yet on if those flavors are actually successful. 41 E 20th St; (212)-777-1955

Anyone who strolls along Greenpoint's desolate West Street—just one tantalizing block from the East River—is familiar with the frustration of finding many streets leading to the water gated off. It's not as if there's some waterside idyll waiting on the other end of the block, but there's still something refreshing about being able to stand by the river and watch the sunset or fish (shudder).

O' Barone: A few months back, some new activity was spotted taking place in the old 360 restaurant on Van Brunt Street in Red Hook. Italian language cookbooks popped up in the front window, only to be replaced a few weeks later with a copper zabaglione pan with a clip-on electric mixer and a map of Piedmont. It turns out all the props were really just hints of menus to come: an Italian chef named Fulvio Leone has gotten together with a few close friends and finally reopened the restaurant as O'Barone. The short menu features small plates, salads, and fresh pasta dishes, and there's also a full wine list. A sampling of salumi and cheese is $14, and a plate of melted tomino and pancetta over grilled radicchio is $8. The salads—like barley with tuna, tomato, and celery ($8)—favor lighter, summery flavors. Getting heavier, a plate of casarecce with sausage Bolognese is among the entrees. The sausage comes from nearby Carroll Gardens pork institution Esposito and Sons. Prices are typically $8 for appetizers and $12 for mains; nothing costs more than $16. 360 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook; (347) 599-2758 (Hugh Merwin)

To paraphrase Mel Brooks, "Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when a Staten Island teen falls down an open manhole while text-messaging." 15-year-old Alexa Longueira was walking with a friend around 5 p.m. yesterday and was about to send a text when she felt the ground give way: "She literally just handed me the phone and I opened it [and] I felt this big drop. It was four or five feet, it was very painful. I kind of crawled out and the DEP guys came running and helped me. ... They were just, like, 'I'm sorry! I'm sorry!'" Longueira got some scrapes on her arms and back (pictured), but doctors are concerned about possible spine damage and want a follow-up MRI. A DEP spokesperson says workers left the manhole momentarily to retrieve cones from the truck and expressed "regret." But Alexa's mother is determined to sue the city, and argues that it doesn't matter whether Alexa was texting or not; the manhole shouldn't have been left open. She tells the Staten Island Advance that even though the sewer wasn't full, "Oh my God, it was putrid. One of her sneakers is still down there."

              

We haven't tried the food yet, but The Standard Grill—the new restaurant that officially opened last week on the ground floor of The Standard Hotel—seems to have a lot going for it. Besides being really ridiculously good looking, the joint's timing and location are prime indeed, coinciding with the first section of the High Line park to open to the public. The restaurant, designed by Roman and Williams, is comprised of three distinct spaces: an outdoor dining section, a sun-soaked bistro with tiled floor and a full bar, and a white-tablecloth, fine dining room with red banquettes and orange leather armchairs.

Last September the Manhattan Bridge Archway in DUMBO reopened after 17 years, only to be promptly closed again with further renovations for the $500K project. Yesterday the gates were finally taken down for an unofficial unveiling. The safety orange adornments that lined the walls upon last glance are now down (phew), and there's likely some more work to be done, but now locals won't have to pass through Stabber Alley anymore. Upon completion the archway is accessible 24 hours a day, will house some special events and is "for public, non-vehicular use" (ahem).

Rye: If there's a softer mode than "soft opening," a more friendly and familial "friends and family," it's embodied by this new Williamsburg restaurant from chef Cal Elliott (Dressler, Dumont). Though word of the new establishment, located in a former bodega, began trickling out several weeks ago, it is still very much a work in progress, albeit a gorgeous one. During a visit to Rye yesterday, an admittedly exhausted Elliott declined to reveal anything about his menu, which he would only describe as "contemporary American." He told us that a recent photo spread on Grub Street and menu reveal on Eater were done without his approval, and he may soon close the kitchen for a week to reevaluate.

Ha, remember how last spring that poor guy fell through Ruby's floor into a filthy, rat-infested basement? If this photo is any indication, patrons at the quintessential Coney Island dive should also use caution when stepping out of the bar. Or, at least they would if the place was actually open; after ongoing negotiations with controversial landlord Joe Sitt, the owners of Ruby's still do not have a lease.

The Coney Island that you know and love, um, sans Astroland, is back for one more season. As we mentioned yesterday, John Strong and his freaks will be setting up shop, and The NY Post reports that before the massive overhaul of the area goes down, amusement operators are optimistic they'll draw big crowds (before they build it, they will come?).

      

Isn't it irritating how when you take the subway or PATH to Herald Square en route to Penn Station you have to clamber up to the street and wade through the mob scene just to schlep a block over to Seventh Avenue and go back underground again? Why can't there be a tunnel connecting the two stations? Turns out there is; it's just that it was closed sometime around 1990, possibly because nobody wanted to pay for its maintenance.

This week Frank Bruni at the Times tells Zak Pelaccio (Fatty Crab) to get his shit together at the West Village's Cabrito: "On its best nights and judged by its best dishes, Cabrito is the Mexican restaurant so many of us dreamed about for so long. It has just enough sophistication and upscale trappings, manifest in the quality of its cocktails and length of its tequila and mezcal list, to be the plausible cynosure of a fun night out, not just a grubby refueling station where the price of dauntless, authentic flavors is a spartan atmosphere." BUT: "Cabrito is afflicted by an inconsistency that’s puzzling, even maddening. There are dishes that don’t seem, by nature, to rise to the caliber of others, and dishes that aren’t dependable from one visit to the next."

        

The focal point of Trigo, a big 150-seat Mediterranean-inspired brasserie in TriBeCa, is the earth-stone hearth, where chef Michael Garrett bakes new twists on rustic flatbreads, which include a French-inspired Onion and Tart Green Apple. As you can see, the 20-foot floor-to-ceiling windows, elegant iron latticework, and monumental columns make this quite the ambitious enterprise. Only time will tell if it can stare recession in the eyes and laugh, but the all-day breakfast, lunch and dinner service could help Trigo make regulars out of the locals.

Onda: Raymond Mohan (Plantain in Midtown, Colors on Lafayette) has brought his "refined Latin comfort food" to the South Street Seaport, where he's cooking up Mushroom Ceviche ($9), Churrasco grilled skirt steak with chimichurri ($23), Lima-style chicken ($18), yucca fries ($6), etc. We stopped in Onda (Spanish for vibe) the other night and liked the warm, dimly-lit lounge ambiance, accented by light fixtures constructed of colored wine glasses and bottles. Though we were too late to try much of the food, we highly recommend their superb Peruvian Pisco Sour at the bar to start things off (or finish things off). Pizzeria Uno, our usual Seaport go-to, will definitely have some competition come spring. 229 Front Street, (212) 513-0770

Good news for budget gourmands on the Upper West Side; after being closed for two days by the Department of Health, Kefi will reopen tonight at 5 p.m. The wildly popular Greek restaurant, which recently moved to a bigger space with the same high-quality, low-priced menu, was closed Wednesday after a health inspector cited them for missing paperwork, improper food storage, and not having a sink in the basement where prep work is done. A publicist for Michelin-starred chef Michael Psilakis tells us "the proper paperwork has been filed and an inspection this afternoon resulted in zero violations. Opa!" That last bit, according to the internets, is a Greek exclamation used to express joy.

Back in September, 77-year-old Charlie Campbell learned that The Emerald Inn—the beloved Columbus Avenue dive bar that's been in his family since the '30s—was finally doomed when he saw the location advertised for lease on a website. At the time, the landlord was demanding more than double the $15,700 monthly rent. Fast-forward to 2009, and suddenly Campbell has been allowed to stay on because, as the property manager puts it, "of the kind of people the Campbells are." Oh, and also the economy. One Emerald regular speaks for all of us when she tells the Times, "Columbus Avenue has been turning into a strip mall, with chain stores and restaurants. Maybe the recession will help the mom-and-pops stay in business." But has the meltdown come too late to save indispensable St. Mark's Place dive Holiday Cocktail Lounge?

    

There is actually quite a lot out there for tourists and locals seeking diversion in New York City today. Many Broadway shows are still performing, though at different times than usual, and TKTS in Times Square will be selling discounted theater tickets from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (The Brooklyn and South Street Seaport locations are closed.) There are also a couple performances of The Big Apple Circus scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. And the Radio City Christmas Spectacular isn't about to let a national holiday get those gams down; there are three performances today at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

       

Chef Michael Psilakis (friend of Gothamist) and partner Donatella Arpaia have finally opened the hotly anticipated, bigger location of Kefi, the Greek restaurant hailed by the Times in 2007 as "immensely appealing." The cozy original on 79th Street is regarded as one of the best deals in town, and the new location on Columbus Avenue, between 84th and 85th Streets, has miraculously not instituted a price hike. The $16.95 prix fixe is shockingly reasonable, especially considering the culinary talents of Psilakis, who has also won raves for Anthos and Mia Dona.

     

This cute little brasserie is the latest venture for Chef Cyril Renaud, whose Michelin-starred restaurant Fleur de Sel is well-regarded for his approachable presentation of cuisine from Brittany, emphasizing seasonal ingredients. Hence Bar Breton, envisioned as Fleur de Sel's casual counterpart.

Seäsonal: This sleek new midtown restaurant (pictured) uses Austrian and German classics as a springboard into lighter iterations of typically heavy Kraut cuisine. Chefs and co-owners Wolfgang Ban and Eduard Frauneder—if those even are their real names—are intent on making traditional staples like Schweinsbauch (Crispy Pork Belly) new again with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Other items include Wiener Schnitzel (Breaded Veal cutlet) served with a potato and cucumber salad, and Monkfish Medallions served on Szegediner Kraut. The wine list emphasizes regional bottles such as Riesling, Rivaner, and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), and the atmosphere is comfy and clean; Thrillist likens the white curves and latticework to "the getaway nook on the cruise ship from The Fifth Element." 132 West 58th Street, (212) 957-5550

      

The guys behind the smallish, always packed Dell'Anima in the West Village have expanded with L'Artusi, named after Pellegrino Artusi, the celebrated (and long dead) Italian cookbook author. Chef/owner Gabe Thompson and owner/wine director Joe Campanale have taken the sit-at-the-open-kitchen concept that's so popular at Dell'Anima and run with it, with even more seats at the L'Artusi counter to watch the sparks fly. The new 110-seat restaurant (which used to be Maremma) emphasizes seasonal Italian cuisine. And though it may be a lot bigger than Dell'Anima, you probably won't notice because all those stripes are very slimming.

        

The fourth New York City location of The Palm restaurant opened on Friday in Tribeca. This outpost is located in a luxury condo on 200 Chambers Street, and some residents there are none too thrilled about their proximity to the popular steakhouse. One gripes on the Wired New York board: "The Palm Restaurant is ruining my life...The entire lobby smells of the exhaust of the Palm Restaurant. Also certain hallways in the building and interiors of apts are also complaining about the smell."

         

Boqueria Soho is the spacious new outpost of the decidedly smaller Flatiron district tapas joint, named for a food market in Barcelona and beloved by Times critic Frank Bruni for its "charismatically bustling, remarkably warm scene." The second location keeps the warm vibe while more than doubling in size, with room for 70 diners in the 2,300-square foot room. But the focal point here is the open kitchen, which is surrounded by a 12-seat chef’s counter made available to walk-ins only. (Plus WiFi for the antisocial!)

OH: Don't expect the Times's Frank Bruni to review it—Portfolio theorizes he HATES going to Harlem—but for everyone else, this three story restaurant/bar seems worth a try. Well, maybe not everyone; the top floor is a member's only club where $500 gets you "top notch service" and discount food and drinks. ($1000 gets you "full VIP access" to the cigar terrace.) Greasy Guide has a full review and reports that the menu features mini catfish sliders, mini turkey burgers with bbq sauce, gourmet pizza, and champagne sauteed shrimp: "It was also a great place to network. I gave out all of my business cards that I brought with me and everyone was super nice and talkative. So thank God that Harlem has all of these new places…Harlem is the place to be in NYC right now." Sure, he said the N word, but he's got a point about Harlem. 458 West 145th Street

Ohio has officially arrived in New York! This summer Mayor Bloomberg announced that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame would open an Annex in SoHo, officially extending the Cleveland museum all the way to Manhattan.

        

When Sam Buffa, co-owner of the Freemans Sporting Club Barber Shops, went on his first impromptu date with his bride-to-be Jean Adamson, who was then head chef at Freemans, their night ended in Vinegar Hill, the quaint little neighborhood bordering DUMBO. So it's kind of sweet that their new labor of love is opening in a 19th century carriage house right where they started, and now reside. They've spent the last four and a half months turning a former apartment into this 41 seat restaurant--with additional dining in a back garden once spring comes. Called Vinegar Hill House, it opened last night.

This week the Times's Frank Bruni reviews Kurve (pictured), the Thai-centric space-age restaurant in the East Village, which has had a long, rocky road to opening. (After Sarah DiGregorio at the Voice ate there in September, she was informed it "was not yet open.") Bruni awards it zero stars and has fun with his disgruntled companions along the way:

"Kurve struts. Until recently it outfitted its servers in proper hats, which prompted associations that changed depending on how far our meal had progressed, how thoroughly our patience had been taxed and how sinister our outlook on the restaurant had become.

Continue reading "Midweek Special: NYC Restaurant Review Roundup"

      

Almost one month ago, Representative Anthony Weiner's brother Jason opened a Flatiron district outpost of Almond, his popular Hamptons restaurant. At the time, much was made of the restaurant/lounge's cursed location, which some say is still haunted by the ghosts of Borough Food & Wine, Jeffrey Chodorow’s Caviar & Banana, and Rocco DiSpirito's eponymous FAIL.

    

For anyone out there who still has money to spend at restaurants (congratulations one person; need arm candy?), here's 10 Downing, which officially opened last night in the West Village after a long delay. (It was originally scheduled to open over a year ago.) Chef Katy Sparks, who has developed quite the following at the Upper West Side restaurant Compass—and Soho's Quilty's—is teaming up here with Jason Neroni, whose pedigree includes Porchetta and the Tasting Room. Their menu emphasizes (surprise, surprise) "seasonal ingredients" with a Mediterranean influence; one appetizer, the pickled mustard seed chorizo quail egg, is a veteran of Neroni's Tasting Room menu.

   

This is the third Manhattan location for Bar And Books, which first opened in 1990 as a clubby lounge for cigars, scotch, whiskey, vintage port, wine, and other spirits. (They also have a couple in Prague.) This outpost is located on First Avenue and 50th Street, and features a back room for smoking, a front room for breathing, complimentary cigars for ladies on Mondays, and discount whiskeys on Tuesday nights. There's an impressive cheese and charcuterie platter, and every night is James Bond night, with decidedly un-bookish Bond flicks on the flat screens. So if you ever need a place to backslap your cronies as you cackle about your plans for global domination—and the Yale Club's booked—keep this in mind.

Salumeria Rosi: The emphasis here is on cured meats from Parma, Italy, provided by Parmacotto, the Rosi family's cured and cooked meat business. Located on the Upper West Side, it's a little 25-seat cafe and take-out counter promising "an authentic Italian experience for the American market." Tuscan chef Cesare Casella has prepared a menu with dishes like Costine (spicy Tuscan spare ribs slow-cooked with tomatoes, rosemary and garlic); Peperoni Capp (Fire-roasted peppers marinated with anchovies and capers); and Sette Fagioli (Republic of Beans heirloom seven bean salad). Wine and cheese pairings are available, as is a Prosciutto di Parma, aged 36 months. You can also order full dinners to take home. 283 Amsterdam (between 73rd and 74th Streets), 212.877.4800.