Best of the Buzz : Notable Openings

Bouchon Goes Beverly Hills

BuzzEditor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:52:00 GMT

Bouchon's roast chicken

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

Nearly two decades after he cooked at Checkers in Downtown LA, über-chef Thomas Keller is returning to SoCal, bringing the third edition of his upscale French bistro, Bouchon (the others are in Yountville and Las Vegas), to an elegant Beverly Hills space across from the Montage Hotel; expect high ceilings, ornate wall treatments, a raw seafood bar – and the sort of buzz Keller generates wherever he goes; N.B. this location doesn't have a bakery, though one is planned for the future.

225 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills; 310-271-9910

Maialino Makes the NYC Scene

BuzzEditor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:46:00 GMT

Maialino

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

To the revamped New York City Gramercy Park Hotel space that was Wakiya comes Maialino, an Italiano from restaurateur Danny Meyer, which takes its visual and culinary cues from the classic trattorias of Rome and, à la Gramercy Tavern, is divided into a casual (and cheaper) front bar section and a checked tablecloth–equipped rear dining room; connecting the two areas are counters showcasing its housemade bread and salumi, the latter of which stars on the moderately expensive menu that also features pastas, traditional entrees like the eponymous roast pig and an impressive formaggio selection.

2 Lexington Ave., New York City; 212-777-2410

V Is for Valentino

BuzzEditor — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:02:00 GMT

Valentino

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

Piero Selvaggio has opened this latest branch of his venerable Santa Monica–born Italian Valentino in Houston’s sleek Hotel Derek, occupying the former home of Bistro Moderne; extravagant multicourse meals are dished out in a modern yet cushy setting done up in dark tones and crimson, while the adjacent less-formal space is home to the stylish Vin Bar spotlighting a wide range of small plates, crudo and wines.

2525A W. Loop S., Houston; 713-850-9200

Jean-Georges Goes to Market

BuzzEditor — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:01:00 GMT

Market

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

For his first Boston venture, the New American Market in the Theater District’s W hotel, Jean-Georges Vongerichten has put together a moderately priced menu of ‘greatest hits’ from his other restaurants, featuring dishes peppered with French, Pan-Asian and Italian influences and served in sexy white-and-brown environs overlooking Tremont Street; N.B. the adjacent Living Room lounge serves small plates and boxed lunches from the restaurant.

100 Stuart St., Boston; 617-310-6790

Fabio Wants To Whip You Into a Firenze

BuzzEditor — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:30:00 GMT

Fabio Viviani

Photo: courtesy of Bravo TV

Linguistically challenged Top Chef veteran Fabio Viviani has taken over North Hollywood’s old Barsac Brasserie space and made it into Firenze Osteria, where he’s hoping to draw foodies from nearby Universal Studios hungry for a taste of dishes from Florence, Italy; the well-aged art adorning the walls of the warm space looks as if it were lifted directly from the Arno.

4212 Lankershim Blvd., Los Angeles; 818-760-7081

NYC's Le Caprice Draws J-Lo, Others

BuzzEditor — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:36:00 GMT

Even before it opens its doors to the public tonight, the New York outpost of London’s Le Caprice has hosted an impossibly chic crowd. It didn’t hurt that Anna Wintour did all the inviting the first night, and that proprietor Richard Caring also happens to own London’s Ivy (along with Annabel’s, Harry’s Bar, and Mark’s Club). Some of the notables to get a sneak peek during five days of invite-only previews: Naomi Campbell, Jennifer Lopez, Mark Anthony, Martha Stewart, Alan Cumming, Christian Louboutin, Cynthia Rowley, Princess Firyal and Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Glenda Bailey.

The Food: International brasserie fare

The Design: An elegant black-and-white deco room studded with ‘60s-era David Bailey photos of Jean Shrimpton

Sample Dishes: Salmon fish cake with buttered spinach and sorrel sauce ($20); char-grilled veal chop with sautéed chanterelles and pea shoots ($38); Thai baked sea bass with fragrant rice ($29)

Sample Dessert: Fig tart with orange ripple ice cream ($9); baked chocolate pudding soufflé ($10)

Sample Drinks: Classic cocktails and wine

The Crowd: Men draped in cashmere scarves and many women named Fiona

The Tunes: Live piano music

The Deets: 2 E. 61st St. in The Pierre hotel; 212-940-8195

– Beth Landman

The Crosby Show

BuzzEditor — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:42:00 GMT

An import from Britain’s Firmdale group, the boutique Crosby Street Hotel in New York's SoHo neighborhood is the site of new bar/restaurant Crosby Bar, a high-ceilinged, forest-green affair most notable for its idiosyncratic collection of modern art; the fashionably low-key mood is only jolted by the jaw-dropping cocktail prices.

246 Lafayette St., New York; 212-226-6400

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Burgers (and Thongs) on Six

BuzzEditor — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:04:00 GMT

Photo: courtesy of Burger Bar

Burgermania reaches new heights, literally, on the sixth floor of San Francisco's Macy’s, where Hubert Keller (Fleur de Lys) has opened his luxe build-a-burger concept, Burger Bar (which already has locations in Las Vegas and St. Louis); the menu includes everything from mini-sliders to a lobster burger to a $60 foie gras–draped offering, while the setting feels like a sports bar, replete with metal beer signs and booths outfitted with flat-screens, plus a store selling camis and thongs stamped with the restaurant’s logo.

251 Geary St., San Francisco; 415-296-4272

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Philippe Heads West

BuzzEditor — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:54:00 GMT

What was once Dolce in West Hollywood is now the latest branch of Philippe Chow's upscale Chinese concept Philippe, which serves its menu of Cantonese classics at locations in New York, East Hampton, Miami and Mexico City (Vegas is in the works); done up in Chow’s signature palette of red, white and black, the setting is decorated with stylized chinoiserie and also offers a bustling bar scene.

8284 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood; 323-951-1100

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Brennan Heads to Bellevue

BuzzEditor — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:11:00 GMT

Terrance Brennan

Photo: courtesy of Artisanal Brasserie & Wine Bar

Chef Terrance Brennan makes his Left Coast debut with Artisanal Brasserie & Wine Bar, a hip, light-filled Bellevue, WA, sibling of his fromage-focused NYC eatery, offering riffs on French brasserie classics made with Pacific Northwest ingredients and spotlighting artisanal cheeses from around the world; oenophiles gravitate to the wine bar, whose impressive list includes 80 by-the-glass choices alone, while heartier appetites head for the tony dining room with its white tablecloths and urban views (11111 NE Eighth St., Bellevue, WA; 425-372-2200).

Next door, an Italian enoteca counterpart, Artisanal Table, offers mounds of housemade pastas and Neapolitan-style pizzas baked in a 900-degree oven, all based on Northwest ingredients like Dungeness crab and wild mushrooms and washed down with Italian vinos or microbrews; centered around an open kitchen and ‘food bar’ displaying antipasti and salumi, it boasts a lively, easygoing mood – abetted by particularly comfortable seating (425-372-2255).

More Besh for the Big Easy

BuzzEditor — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:58:00 GMT

The latest venture from John Besh (August), Domenica is housed in the CBD’s historic, newly renovated Roosevelt New Orleans hotel, where it's serving a menu of earthy, locally sourced Italian dishes (e.g. house-cured salumi, pasta with oxtail ragu); the sleek, high-ceilinged room features long communal tables as well as smaller ones for all the fashionistas who’ve already designated it the hottest spot in town, so reservations are a must.

123 Baronne St., New Orleans; 504-648-6020

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San Domenico Turns SD26

BuzzEditor — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:47:00 GMT

SD26

Photo: Dave Beeman

New York City perennial Italian favorite San Domenico gets a new name, SD26, and a new address at this ambitious reworking of the brand located opposite Madison Square Park; while the key players – chef Odette Fada and owners Tony and Marisa May – remain in place, the setting is now a sprawling triplex incorporating a state-of-the-art wine lounge, a main dining room overlooking an open kitchen and private party spaces in the cellar and mezzanine (the minimalist design employs everything from fiber optics to textile sculptures); it’s priced for modern times, with many small-plate options available, and the encyclopedic wine list is similarly budget-friendly.

19 E. 26th St., New York; 212-265-5959

A Goddess in New Orleans

BuzzEditor — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:35:00 GMT

At Green Goddess in New Orleans, a chic new rabbit hole in the French Quarter, cutting-edge chef Chris DeBarr (ex The Delachaise) concocts locally sourced Eclectic dinners while Surrey’s Juice Bar vet Paul Artigues handles the day shift; it's attracting lawyers, off-duty cooks and tattooed gourmets who come for moderately priced bites and exotic cocktails as well as indulgent tasting menus, all served in a setting with crafty touches like avocado-colored walls and a ceiling clad in hand-screened, coppery wallpaper; N.B. open for lunch/brunch daily, dinner Thursday–Sunday.

307 Exchange Pl., New Orleans; 504-301-3347

Todo XOCO

BuzzEditor — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:25:00 GMT

XOCO

Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography

Masterful chef Rick Bayless champions Mexican street food at Chicago's XOCO, an all-day counter-service River North arrival with a name that means ‘little sister’ and a menu that includes soups, empanadas and ultrafresh hot tortas, all washed down by beer, wine and spiked hot chocolate (the cacao beans are ground in a street-front window); the sunflower-colored, LEED-certified space features standard and communal seating plus an exposed kitchen with a wood-burning oven.

449 N. Clark St., Chicago; 312-334-3688

An Offal-ly Notable Opening

BuzzEditor — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:51:00 GMT

Au Pied de Cochon

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

The famed offal-centric Parisian icon Au Pied de Cochon (with outlets in Mexico City and Atlanta) has replicated itself in a South Beach art deco building done up in belle epoque style; in addition to the namesake pig's feet, this posh pink palace also serves bistro classics in portions large enough for porking out.

81 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 305-674-1844

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