Gansevoort 69: Last summer, when Florent ended its decades-long run as a 24/7 Meatpacking District oasis, the building's owner Joanne Lucas saw her hopes of finding an upscale boutique tenant evaporate. Then Lucas's attempt at running a restaurant (under the original name R&L) came off like a depressing ghost of its former self, and the space closed again. The new venture, Gansevoort 69, looks a lot better than the previous effort, with a design that keeps some of the old (the original bar and terrazzo flooring) while creating something new. Operating 24 hours from 8 a.m. Thursday to midnight Sunday (8 a.m. to midnight Monday to Wednesday), the place has been soft-open for over a week now. Chef Jacqueline Lombard's "American comfort food" menu includes options like 24-Hour Barbecued Pork, Potato Roll, Pickles, Wilted Bitter Greens, Sweet Potato Steak Fries; and the 69 BLT, Rosemary Bread, D’Artagnan Smoked Duck Breast, Duck Bacon and Duck Pâté, Lettuce & Tomato. There's also Chicken & Waffles, Bananas Foster French Toast, and Sourdough and Truffle Grilled Cheese with a creamy Tomato & Thyme Dip. 69 Gansevoort Street; (212) 691-0069
Pasta Bar at Ancora: This white tablecloth Italian restaurant in the Financial District has been doing good business in the sexy, subterranean space on Stone Street for five years. Now they're expanding up to street level, in a space that was formerly used for private events. (Remember those?) The slightly more casual room is, like the downstairs, still proudly patrolled by ebullient Italian proprietor Tony Fantastico, and with a name like that, do you really need further convincing to check it out? Go get your shinebox and come downtown for a menu of stuzzichino-style offerings, including options such as Vongole Oreganate (classic baked clams in a seasoned breading topping), Carpaccio di Manzo (thinly sliced filet mignon carpaccio over rocket and aged Parmgiano Reggiano Cheese) and Trenette al Pesto con Fagiolini e Patate (pesto and string beans). Work by celebrity photographer Ron Galella lines the walls, and dishes range from 7 - $19. 11 Stone Street; (212) 480- 3880
Robataya NY: The stretch of 9th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues didn't exactly need another Japanese place, but that didn't stop the restaurant group behind Curry-Ya from continuing the cultural takeover of the EV. Robataya is a traditional robata grill, meaning knives, beef and lots of heat. The space is designed to look like a sake brewery, and the grill at the bar lets you choose your meats and vegetables while the samurai chefs take care of the preparation. Once that gets too loud, the stone garden in the back provides a little sanctuary. Time Out reports that the dishes include a rice dish called kamameshi and "seasonal fish from Japan" (locavores beware!). Once the liquor license clears there will be sake to match the surroundings, but for now the place is BYOB. 231 E 9th Street between Second and Third Avenues; (212) 979-9674 (Jaya Saxena)
