Zagat Survey Discussions

Atlanta

Alon's Bakery and Market: After 15 years of running one successful bakery and market, owners Alon and Janine Balshan are preparing to open a second outpost this December near Perimeter Mall (4505 Ashford Dunwoody Rd.).

AquaKnox: This November, a branch of this chic Las Vegas seafooder is opening in a sprawling space in Buckhead's Terminus building (3280 Peachtree St.; 404-477-0900).

Holeman and Finch Public House: Restaurant Eugene’s husband-and-wife team will open this cozy tavern in Buckhead by early December; expect culinary highlights such as house-made charcuterie and cocktails prepared with fresh-squeezed juice (2277 Peachtree Rd.).

Le Vigne: Soft-opening at the Montaluce Winery & Estates community in Dahlonega this December is this lush Italian right next to the vineyards.

Lola: Tom Catherall (Prime, Twist, Shout, Strip, Posh) will open his first Italian in mid-fall in the new 27-story Terminus 100 building in Buckhead (3280 Peachtree St.).

Peasant Bistro: From the folks behind Pleasant Peasant and Mick's Midtown comes this new brasserie debuting at the end of October near Centennial Park (250 Park Ave. W.).

ROOM at TWELVE: The restaurant group Concentrics (ONE. midtown kitchen, Trois) is trying its hand at a steakhouse, on tap for mid-November (400 W. Peachtree St.).

Boston

Haru: This New York–based Japanese franchise is bringing its contemporary take on tempura, maki and more to the Back Bay in October (Shops at the Pru, Boston).

Jonnies on the Side: Anthem near North Station closed in August, leaving room for this new sports-entertainment concept set to open later this fall with a focus on seasonal New England dishes (138 Portland St.).

Kingston Station: Replacing the shuttered Peking Tom, this Downtown Crossing bistro is scheduled to debut on September 17th; same owner, new French-American menu (25 Kingston St.; 617-482-6282).

L'Andana Grill: Celebrity chef Jamie Mammano (Mistral, Sorellina, Moo) will take his sophisticated style to the suburbs when he opens this Burlington Italian later this fall (86 Cambridge St.; 781-270-0133).

L'Espalier: Chef-owner Frank McClelland will be moving his Gloucester Street institution to the nearby Mandarin Oriental complex when it opens in the fall of 2008.

Scampo: The Liberty Hotel will soon follow up Clink with this upscale Italian from Lydia Shire of Locke-Ober (215 Charles St.).

Stix: Linearity is the theme at this soon-to-be sibling of Back Bay New American 33 Restaurant, replacing the erstwhile Bomboa next door. Due to open in late September, it will specialize in skewers, served in a similarly streamlined, modern space (35 Stanhope St.).

Summer Winter: An ode to New England fare, this Burlington entry from the dynamic duo of Mark Gaier and Clark Fraser (Arrows in Ogunquit, Maine) is slated for late October (Boston Burlington Marriott, 1 Mall Rd.).

Tavolo: Ashmont Grill's Chris Douglass is on a Dorchester roll, with plans to debut this pizza-and-pasta joint plus cocktail lounge in early 2008 (1900 Dorchester Ave.).

Chicago

Adobo Grill: A new branch of this popular Mexican will lure Lombardians as of September 20th (356 Yorktown Ctr.; 630-627-9990).

Ai Sushi Lounge: From the Tsuki and Ringo team comes this River North entry opening September 20th; it will serve a balance of kitchen and sushi-bar menu items (358 W. Ontario St.; 312-335-9888).

Brasserie Ruhlmann SteakHouse: Expect a spin-off of this deco-inspired eatery in NYC's Rockefeller Center to hit Chicago’s old Monkey Wards HQ in mid-to-late October. The vast, elaborate eatery with Le Colonial/Japonais parentage will serve steakhouse fare along with classic brasserie offerings (500 W. Superior St.; 312-494-1900).

Emilio’s Madrid: Another outpost of the tapas empire will open in November in Lombard's Yorktown Center.

Fahrenheit: Fine dining in West Suburban St. Charles will get a boost in late October with this upscale, organic-conscious New American from a veteran of Spiaggia and Tin Fish (1890 W. Main St.; 630-444-1350).

Hyde Park Grill: A follow-up to his recent Room 21, prolific restaurateur/designer/idea guy Jerry Kleiner (Marché, Opera, Red Light, etc.) will debut this casual American – with a possible last-minute name change – in late October (5201 S. Harper Ave.).

Jackson Park Bar and Grill: Peripatetic chef Jason Paskewitz’s long-in-coming New American steakhouse concept, which pays homage to the World's Columbian Exposition, is now scheduled for a January 2008 opening in the old Jazz Record Mart (444 N. Wabash Ave.).

Macello: Fast on the heels of its relocation, Trattoria Trullo is readying this cozy Market District Italian sequel by late September (1235 W. Lake St.; 312-850-9870).

La Madia: A Lettuce alum will deliver the Neapolitan pizza craze to River North with this upscale “contemporary pizzeria”/Italian, scheduled to debut in early October (59 W. Grand Ave.; 312-329-0400).

Mercat: Come October, Philadelphia star restaurateur Jose Garces (Amada, Tinto) will open this Windy City venue in the renovated Blackstone Hotel on South Michigan Avenue. The menu will focus on upscale Barcelonan-style tapas and charcuterie dispensed from an open kitchen (636 S. Michigan Ave.).

Old Town Brasserie Market: Roland Liccioni (Le Français, Les Nomades) is partnering with old-school restaurateur Bob Djahanguiri (Yvette Wintergarden, Toulouse) for this forthcoming French venture with Pan-Asian accents, debuting September 20th (1209 N. Wells St.; 312-943-3000).

olo: The Isabella’s Estiatorio crew is city-bound with this Market District French-Med slated for late October/early November (1152 W. Randolph St.; 312-733-0573).

Powerhouse Restaurant and Bar: In late October, this swanky Near West steakhouse with a secondary sandwich and burger cafe will arrive (behind schedule) in an old beaux arts railroad powerhouse (215 N. Clinton St.).

Soul: From veteran restaurateur Howard Davis (Marché, Opera, Red Light, etc.), this aptly named venue will bring American regional cuisine to a freestanding Downtown building in Clarendon Hills in late November (1 Walker Ave.).

Takashi: This November, Takashi Yagihashi (Detroit’s Tribute, the late Ambria, Yoshi’s Cafe) will open this showcase for his French-informed Asian small plates in Bucktown’s former Scylla space (1952 N. Damen Ave.).

Also in the works... Wolfgang Puck will unveil a kosher cafe in the Spertus on November 30th in conjunction with the revamped museum’s reopening (618 S. Michigan Ave.) ... Launching by year's end, Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago will feature an as-yet-unnamed New American fine-dining destination on the 16th floor headed by exec chef Frank Brunacci (401 N. Wabash Ave.; 312-924-7600) ... In early-to-mid ’08, Paul Kahan and the Blackbird team will unveil their long-awaited, still-unnamed Market District gastropub – think artisanal beers and simple, quality food (845 W. Fulton Mkt.) ... Charlie Trotter will helm two restaurants, one fine-dining and the other all-day casual, in The Elysian, a posh new Gold Coast hotel slated for October 2008 (11 E. Walton Pl.) ... Meanwhile, Lettuce Entertain Enterprises has plans to pair up with Laurent Gras, alum of Alain Ducasse and San Fran’s Fifth Floor; Terrance Brennan is crafting a Chicago rendition of Artisanal, his esteemed "Fromagerie & Bistro"; über-chef Joël Robuchon has confirmed plans to open a Chicago venue by the end of next year; and Alain Ducasse is coyly considering a Chi-town culinary temple.

Las Vegas

CatHouse: Kerry Simon, of Simon Kitchen and Bar, is preparing to open his second Vegas venture, this one a tapas joint designed to evoke a 19th-century French bordello; it's set to open by year's end at the Luxor (3900 Las Vegas Blvd. S.).

Company American Bistro: Planned for October at the Luxor is this new steakhouse from Pure Management Group and its celebrity pals Nicky Hilton, Nick Lachey and Wilmer Valderrama (3900 Las Vegas Blvd. S.).

Hawaiian Tropic: Bikinis and sand aren't the only draws at this beach-party-themed New American headed to the Miracle Mile via Times Square in mid-October – its menu was created by star toque David Burke (3663 Las Vegas Blvd. S.).

Louis's Las Vegas and Louis's Fish Camp: Coming in November to Town Square, the new multicenter on the Strip, are these South Carolina imports from James Beard Award–winning chef Louis Osteen (6711 Las Vegas Blvd. S.).

Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro: Caesars Palace gets another NYC import to go along with Rao's thanks to this fin de siècle–style patisserie opening in November. Dripping with chandeliers and accented in shades of butter and caramel, the dining room will serve breakfast, lunch and an all-dessert dinner menu. A retail counter will also traffic in Payard's ethereal confections (3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S.).

RUB BBQ: Yet another New York import, this one a classic BBQ joint by way of Kansas City, is coming to Vegas, specifically the Rio in early October (3700 W. Flamingo Rd.).

Trader Vic's: The classic "South Seas concept" chain will land in the new Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in mid-October (3663 Las Vegas Blvd. S.).

Also in the Works... Charlie Trotter is opening an as-yet-unnamed seafooder in the Venetian Hotel later this year (3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S.).

London

Alain Ducasse: On 13th November, Ducasse will debut a new venture in the former Terrace banqueting space at The Dorchester in Mayfair, which features views of Hyde Park (Park Ln., W1).

Foxtrot Oscar: This Chelsea restaurant and former Prince Harry haunt has been acquired by Gordon Ramsay (it's certainly conveniently located to his flagship at 68 Royal Hospital Rd.). Currently closed for renovation, it's scheduled to reopen under the Ramsay umbrella later this fall (79 Royal Hospital Rd., SW3). Meanwhile, Gordon Ramsay's Plane Food in the long-awaited Heathrow Terminal 5 is still on target for a March 2008 debut.

Hibiscus: Claude Bosi is relocating his well-known Ludlow restaurant to Mayfair on 24th October (29 Maddox St., W1).

Le Café Anglais: In October, Rowley Leigh (ex Kensington Place) will open this Parisian-style brasserie serving Modern British cuisine in Whiteley’s shopping centre in Bayswater (151 Queensway, W2).

Sake No Hana: Alan Yau's much anticipated Japanese izakaya with informal dining at low tables and a menu made up of small plates meant to be shared is now set to open in late September at the former Shumi site (23 St. James’s St., SW1).

Tom’s Place: On 14th October, Tom Aikens plans to open this fish 'n' chip restaurant and takeaway (with food served in recyclable wooden boxes) just down the street from Tom’s Kitchen, in Chelsea’s former Monkey's site (1 Cale St., SW3).

Los Angeles

Akasha: In the Culver City space that used to be home to the San Gennaro Café, caterer-to-the-stars Akasha Richmond gives the public a taste of her organic style of Californian cuisine with this eponymous restaurant expected to start serving in mid-November (9543 Culver Blvd.).

Bar Pinxto: Early next year, Joe Miller (Joe's) is opening this upscale tapas bar across from Santa Monica's Ye Olde King's Head (109 Santa Monica Blvd.).

BLT Steak: Named not for the sandwich, but for "Bistro Laurent Tourondel," this well-respected NYC beef house will start grilling before the year is out in the midst of the trendiest segment of the Sunset Strip. Whether or not Tourondel will follow with branches of BLT Prime and BLT Fish remains to be seen (8720 Sunset Blvd.).

Bond Street: When the Beverly Wilshire is converted to a Beverly Hills outpost of New York's Thompson Hotel in mid-October, it will also boast a hot Manhattan culinary import – a branch of Jonathan Morr's highly rated nouvelle Japanese (9360 Wilshire Blvd.).

Café R&D: Wolfgang Puck didn't make it in this (possibly cursed) space in Santa Monica, but that's not keeping the people behind Houston's from giving it a try with this casual Orange County–developed concept due to open any day now (1323 Montana Ave.).

Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza: The newly opened Bloomingdale's in Costa Mesa's South Coast Plaza will soon house another New York import, this signature restaurant and wine shop from Charlie Palmer – of NYC's celebrated Aureole – opening any day now (3333 Bristol St.).

Church & State: With 750 ml, Malo and a pair of Cobras & Matadors under his belt, restaurateur Steve Arroyo is joining the Downtown revival rush with this New American scheduled to open on the ground floor of Biscuit Company Lofts, the 1925 architectural landmark, in late fall (1855 Industrial St.).

Comme Ça: Sona chef David Myers's long-awaited West Hollywood brasserie should finally debut in early September/late October (8479 Melrose Ave.).

Crudo: This upcoming seafood-intensive Italian is hoping to succeed in the West Hollywood space where Norman's failed; much remodeling is still needed – expect a late fall opening (8570 W. Sunset Blvd.).

Goa: Next up from Adolfo Suaya (Charcoal, Geisha House, Gaucho Grill, etc.) is this high-concept Indian fusioner with an outdoor patio and – count 'em! – three bars, opening in late October (1615 Cahuenga Blvd.).

Jian: This Japanese-Korean-Eclectic will increase the culinary diversity of Eurocentric Beverly Boulevard in one fell swoop when it debuts sometime in October (8256 Beverly Blvd.).

Katsuya: This ultra-trendoid Japanese is headed for Hollywood, where it should open by late fall. Expect the usual sushi, sake and boldface-name sightings (1645 Vine St.).

Kitchen 24: Aimed at the club kids flocking to born-again Hollywood, this 24-hour American diner with a full bar is being readied for a November bow (1624 Cahuenga Blvd.).

Lotería! Grill: Following his highly acclaimed success serving auténtico Mexican street food in the original Farmer's Market, restaurateur Jimmy Shaw is taking over the space that was long home to Book City to open this proper sit-down version of his fast-food stand by the end of the year (6627 Hollywood Blvd.).

Oh!: The renovation of the venerable Orchid Hotel will also see the creation of this new trendy tapas restaurant opening October 1st. Chef Corey Locker, who hails from Washington, DC's Kyma, will run the kitchen (819 S. Flower St.).

Paper Fish: There was a time when the restaurant in this Beverly Hills office building space, generically called "Maple Drive," was one of the hottest spots in town, but times change and so does taste, and Maple Drive closed last year. Now the venue is owned by Joachim Splichal and his partners at Patina Restaurant Group, who plan to debut this modern seafooder in it by November (345 N. Maple Dr.).

Rivera: Nouvelle Latino legend John Sedlar returns in a joint Downtown venture with Bill Chait (Spark Woodfire) that uses Sedlar's middle name as its own. Expect a fresh take on Pan-Latino cooking – including, of course, his fabled over-the-top tamales – when it opens early next year (11th and Flower Sts.).

STK Steakhouse: In the West Hollywood space that was very briefly Bridge comes a branch of New York's STK Steakhouse; it's due to open in late November (755 N. La Cienega Blvd.).

Also in the works... Mark Peel (Campanile) has taken over the former Oasis space for a project that remains shrouded in mystery, though the assumption is that in the wake of his former wife, Nancy Silverton, opening Pizzeria Mozza, it probably won't be a pizza shop (611 N. La Brea Ave.) ... Some three years after his departure from Bastide, Alain Giraud is joining the owners of such trendy destinations as Pearl Dragon, Falcon and Voda to open a classic French brasserie in the 1929 Santa Monica "Crocker" Clock Tower building adjacent to the Third Street Promenade (225 Santa Monica Blvd.).

Miami

Bourbon Steak: Michael Mina, whose eponymous New American in San Francisco is hailed as a “temple of gastronomy,” will set up chop shop this winter at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club (19999 W. Country Club Dr., Aventura).

Brosia Miami: This fall, chef Arthur Artiles (ex Coral Gables’ Chispa) will be cooking up Mediterranean fare at this sophisticated Design District newcomer – think mahogany wood, zinc fixtures, leather banquettes – with spacious outdoor seating (163 NE 39th St.).

Mint Leaf: Coral Gables will soon be home to this Indian restaurant, which comes by way of England (276 Alhambra Circle).

New York City

Adour: Alain Ducasse's new restaurant in the St. Regis is slated to debut in November in the storied space that was Lespinasse, which is getting a makeover by David Rockwell. The forthcoming venture will feature cooking by chef Tony Esnault, private tasting rooms and a wine bar (2 E. 55th St.). Ducasse will also open an outpost of his Benoît bistro early next year in the space that was home to the second incarnation of the fabled La Côte Basque (60 W. 55th St.).

Ago: This Robert De Niro–backed Tuscan hot spot, with locations in West Hollywood and South Beach, is opening an outpost in TriBeCa's forthcoming Downtown Hotel, a six-story luxury property at Greenwich and North Moore streets, by year's end.

Allen & Delancey: Neil Ferguson, late of Gordon Ramsay, is now on tap to helm the kitchen of this Lower East Side New American opening in October (115 Allen St.; 212-253-5400).

Back Forty: Think local, seasonal fare at this Alphabet City tavern with garden seating from Peter Hoffman of the eco-friendly Savoy; it's scheduled for October (190 Ave. B; 212-388-1990).

Bar Boulud: The name of Daniel Boulud's Lincoln Center–area wine bar belies its serious food-and-wine program even if it is casual by Boulud standards. The cellar will boast some 500 wines, and "reverse pairings" will match the Burgundy-heavy list with a New French menu showcasing homemade artisanal charcuterie. Look for a November debut (1900 Broadway). Boulud is also planning a Lower East Side burger bar inspired by his signature patty at db Bistro Moderne (299 Bowery).

Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill: October is the latest opening date being tossed around for this long-awaited Midtown outpost of Blue Ribbon and Blue Ribbon Sushi (it will combine elements of both) housed in Jason Pomeranc's forthcoming hotel at 6 Columbus Circle, which is still undergoing renovations.

Brasserie Cognac du Monsieur Ballon: In November, Vittoria Assaf and Fabio Granato, the team behind Serafina and Geisha, will open this brasserie at 1740 Broadway in Midtown. The restaurant, bar/lounge and bakery will offer catering, a private party room and a menu of classics, including steak frites, moules meunière, cod pistou, tarte tatin and cherry clafoutis.

Brasserie Forty-Four: High-style hitmaker John McDonald (Chinatown Brasserie, Lure Fishbar) is behind this French brasserie to be unveiled in the Royalton in October (44 W. 44th St.; 212-944-8844).

Bun: Now that he's no longer affliated with Bao Noodles and Bao 111, chef Michael Bao Huynh (Mai House) is setting up this SoHo noodles-and-small-plates spot with his wife, Thao Nguyen; expect it to hit the Downtown scene shortly (143 Grand St.; 212-431-7999).

Cantina: Jason Swami, the house DJ responsible for the popular parties at Le Souk, is the mastermind of this Lower East Side Latino with consulting chef Jason Neroni (ex Porchetta); expect late-night hours and a clubby vibe when it opens in late September (29 Ave. B).

Community Food & Juice: The folks who brought you Clinton St. Baking Co. are behind this American eatery opening in Morningside Heights in October (2893 Broadway; 212-665-2800).

Dovetail: John Fraser, most recently the chef at Compass, is readying this Upper West Sider for a November debut. Located at 103 W. 77th Street, the former home of Greek restaurant En Plo, it will offer American cuisine with an emphasis on local ingredients, as well as weekend tea service and an extensive sherry list.

eighty one: Ed Brown (ex Sea Grill) is also headed to the Upper West Side with this seafood-centric New American scheduled for November (45 W. 81st St.; 212-873-8181).

El Quinto Pino: This smaller spin-off of tiny Tía Pol will feature Spanish snacks like the ones served at Tia Pol's bar from 3 to 5 PM (think marinated olives, almonds, etc.), as well as some unique tapas dishes. Expect it to have a more casual bar atmosphere than its popular predecessor when it sets up shop at 401 W. 24th Street in October.

Five Guys: Call it the gourmet burger backlash. This VA-based patty purveyor with new outposts in Brooklyn and Queens is coming to Manhattan, and you won't find Kobe on the menu, but rather, as one Zagat surveyor lovingly put it, a "heart attack in a sack." No-frills digs are also part of the package, so it's no surprise the chain's first Manhattan branch is debuting in a former Chinese restaurant at 43 W. 55th Street.

Grayz: It looks like Gray Kunz's long-awaited small-plates spot will finally see the light of day. Originally scheduled to open in fall of 2006, it's now set to debut in late September in the old Aquavit space, which is being restored to resemble its glamorous heyday as a Rockefeller residence. The swell surrounds will feature a private catering space for weddings and other functions (13-15 W. 54th St.; 212-262-4600).

Ilili: Philippe Massoud (ex DC's Neyla) will debut this Gramercy Park Lebanese in October (236 Fifth Ave.; 212-683-2929).

Irving Mill: John Schaefer, who ran the kitchen at Gramercy Tavern after Tom Colicchio departed, will helm this seasonal New American opening at 116 E. 16th Street on October 8th (212-254-1600).

Merkato 55: Chef Marcus Samuelsson (Aquavit) is readying this Meatpacking District entry inspired by his travels in Africa researching his book, The Soul of a New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa. The restaurant, which borrows its name from a food market in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, will explore African cooking and its influences on the cuisines of the world, including the American South and Brazil. It's scheduled to open in October in the old Sascha digs (55-61 Gansevoort St.).

Primehouse New York: Opening October 1st, this steakhouse from B.R. Guest Restaurants is setting up shop a few doors away from Dos Caminos; its steaks will be aged on premises in a salt-tiled room (381 Park Avenue S.; 212-685-3636).

2nd Avenue Deli: This iconic kosher deli closed in January 2006 after it lost its lease for the East Village space it had resided in since 1954. Fans of its famous pastrami, chopped liver and matzo ball soup can now rest easy – the Lebewohls will reopen in a Murray Hill location in October (162 E. 33rd St.).

The Smith: From the owners of Jane, this New American is scheduled to debut in the former home of an East Village Uno Chicago Grill in November (55 Third Ave.).

Smith's: An October launch is planned for this Greenwich Village American from Danny Abrams of the Mermaid Inn and Red Cat (79 Macdougal St.; 212-260-0100).

Wildwood Bar BQ: Restaurateur Steve Hanson is a busy guy. He's opening Primehouse New York (381 Park Ave. S.) in October, then this BBQ spot in the old Barça 18 space in late October/early November. It will offer classic American 'cue in digs designed by David Rockwell. In other words, don't expect your run-of-the-mill roadhouse: think a 100-ft.-long bar, a "BBQ friendly wine list" and decor that brings an "urban perspective to the classic barbecue joint" (225 Park Ave. S.; 212-533-2500).

Philadelphia

Azie: The crew from Teikoku is at it again with this Asian-International spot set to open in October (218 W. State St., Media).

Beneluxx Tasting Room: Philadelphians appreciate their Belgian beer (see Eulogy Belgian Tavern, Monk’s, Zot), so it's no wonder Eulogy-owner Michael Naessens is readying another one. Slated to open in late September, Naessens will pair beer and wine with cheese and chocolate for lovers of all things Belgian (33 S. Third St., Old City).

Bindi: Chef Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran, who own Wash West’s hot Lolita, are readying their new upscale Indian BYO for an October 19th bow (105 S. 13th St.).

Cheesecake Factory: Home of the two-hour waits in King of Prussia and Cherry Hill, this ever-popular chain is planning a September 20th opening for its new outpost in Willow Grove Park (2500 West Moreland Rd; 215-659-0270).

Cochon: This country-French BYOB is on tap for early October in Bella Vista (801 E. Passyunk Ave.).

Las Bugambilias: The former toque at Los Catrines/Tequila's, Carlos Molina is going out on his own with this new haute Mexican opening September 20th (148 South St.; 215-922-3190).

Maia: This Scandinavian-influenced restaurant, cafe, market and conference center in Villanova is now penciled in for a November debut (789 E. Lancaster Ave.).

Max & David's: This kosherie is expected to finally open on October 1st (8120 Old York Rd., Elkins Park).

Murray’s Main Line Deli: Replacing the old Berwyn Ice House comes this fancy deli and a companion BYO called Bistro M in mid-October (575 Lancaster Ave., Berwyn).

P.F. Chang's: The popular Chinese chain is unveiling two new locations before the year is out. In Warrington, the chain expects to open in November (721 Easton Rd.), while the new Plymouth Meeting Mall outpost won't debut until December (500 W. Germantown Pike).

Sonam: This BYOB dishing international “dim sum” has an early October delivery date (223 South St.).

Supper: Global Dish Caterers is entering the restaurant biz with this high-style South Street New American scheduled to open October 19th. The menu will offer modern twists on classic dishes, and the space, a former Vespa store, will have two floors, two bars and an open, "urban farmhouse" feel (926 South St.).

Swallow: Diners can expect this new Euro-style, mom-and-pop bistro in late September in Liberties Walk, the dining-shopping district in Northern Liberties (1030 N. American St.).

Yakitori Boy: Chinatown will get this new high-style Japanese eatery in early October (211-213 N. 11th St.).

Also in the works... Eric Ripert is preparing to open an as-yet-unnamed bistro in the Ritz-Carlton rotunda ... Jose Garces, whose Tinto is packing ’em in off Rittenhouse Square, will open his next Philly hot-spot Chilango in March '08 (40th and Chestnut St.) ... Stephen Starr is planning an unnamed gastropub on Chestnut Street as well as a bistro on 18th and Locust, both slated for April.

San Francisco

Best-O-Burger: Fueling the fervor for fancy burgers, Mecca mavens Randy Lewis and Stephen Webber are hoping to flip open the doors of their mini-burger joint in the Financial District this November. The mostly take-out spot will sell bitty sliders by the bagful à la White Castle, only fashioned from Angus beef and fresh buns baked throughout the day (493 Pine St.).

Burger Bar: In early 2008, Fleur de Lys chef-owner Hubert Keller will open this outpost of his red-hot Las Vegas restaurant either Downtown or in Union Square. Though the SF version will feature a larger wine list, much of the menu will mirror that of the original's, including the signature $65 Rossini Burger featuring Kobe beef, sliced foie gras and shaved Perigord truffles.

Burger Joint: The simple, no-frills burgermeister with retro-looking outposts in the Mission, the Lower Haight and SFO’s International Terminal is expanding to meet the ever-growing desire for perfect patties. Come fall, look for a new branch across from the ballpark (242 King St.); the first South Bay branch will follow (1401 Burlingame Ave.).

Camino: Russell Moore, Chez Panisse Café chef and produce buyer for more than a decade, plans to cast out on his own with this unique, rustic restaurant in Oakland scheduled for early next year. The focal point of the simple, brick-walled building will be an eight-ft.-wide fireplace ("camino" means fireplace in Italian) in which much of the evening's menu will be prepared. Moore will continue to source local ingredients for his Med-inspired country cuisine (think lamb à la ficelle hung over the fireplace, spit-roasted meats, grilled whole fish, beans baked in the coals, rabbit cooked in cazuelas), and hopes to purchase whole animals, then serve different parts on different nights (3917 Grand Ave.).

Cellar360 San Francisco: This wine and culinary education center in historic Ghirardelli Square is slated to open October 1st with over 200 global wines available for tasting and purchase, a gourmet charcuterie bar, alfresco dining, wine country concierge service, book signings and culinary classes through an alliance with Copia, the American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts (900 N. Point St.).

Fillmore Heritage Center: Yoshi’s (this time as Yoshi's Jazz Club & Japanese Restaurant) is poised to open its second Bay Area location at the Fillmore Heritage Center on November 28th (1330 Fillmore St.). Also at the Center, 1300 On Fillmore will feature French-soul food and is projected to open in late October.

Fish & Farm: The forthcoming venture in the Hotel Mark Twain from junior generation restaurateurs John and Elena Duggan, whose grandfather founded the Tenderloin’s long-running Original Joe’s, is no longer going to be called Two Fathoms – it’s back to Fish and Farm and slated to open September 27th (339 Taylor St.).

Flora: This October, Dona Savitsky and Thomas Schnetz, the duo behind the East Bay’s popular Tacubaya, are set to open their third venue, Flora, in the up-and-coming Uptown area of Downtown Oakland, recently designated as an entertainment zone. They will offer Californian comfort food and retro cocktails – a departure from their signature Mexican cocina (Telegraph Ave. and 19th St.).

Gitane: Café Claude will soon have a new sibling and neighbor. Its name means "gypsy," a nod to the menu's Southern Med influences, to be served amid funky-chic, circa-1960s decor. The space will also boast a heated enclosed patio (6 Claude Ln.).

Horizon: The newest entrant in the burger wars is this gourmet burger joint and late-night spot slated to open in October in the old Sake Lab space in North Beach. Ola Fendert and Mark Bright of Oola and the forthcoming Local are consulting on the menu and wine list (498 Broadway).

La Mar Cebichería Peruana: Come spring 2008, Peru’s most prominent celebrity chef, Gastón Acurio, is expected to show us how Nuevo Peruvian cuisine is really done when he opens the first U.S. branch of his internationally acclaimed seafood restaurant. Overlooking the Bay’s marina, the eatery is part of a $54 million waterfront renovation (Pier 1 1/2 along the Embarcadero).

La Trappe Café and Bistro: On tap to open in late September or early October, this North Beach hofbrau will offer a selection of Continental pub grub designed to complement and soak up its Belgian- and Trappist-style suds (800 Greenwich St).

Local Kitchen and Wine Merchant: This loungey localvore vino venue in SoMa slated for the end of September is the second project from Oola owners Ola Fendert and Maria Hilario-Fendert. They will oversee the regionally sourced Californian-Italian menu, designed with partner and sommelier Mark Bright’s (ex Michael Mina) global wine list in mind (330 First St.).

Maritime East Restaurant: The owners of SF's Cafe Maritime are taking over the Berkeley space that most recently housed Zax Tavern and opening this new seafooder there in mid-October. While fish will be the focus, it will continue to serve Zax’s signature twice-baked goat cheese soufflé, much to the relief of neighbors who have depended on it for years (2826 Telegraph Ave.).

Mint Plaza: A second branch of Chez Papa, the popular Potrero Hill bistro, is slated to open in late September in the newly constructed pedestrian alleyway behind the Old Mint (414 Jesse St.). Meanwhile, a fourth outpost of Sushi Groove will join the Jesse Street action in October, and later this year, expect a sit-down branch of Blue Bottle Coffee Co. (66 Mint St.). Rumors continue to swirl about a potential second branch of the Peruvian hot spot Limòn in the area.

O Izakaya Lounge: Housed in the renovated Hotel Kabuki, this Japanese-style tavern and baseball-themed sports bar – named after the legendary baseball star Sadaharu Oh – is poised to open November 1st serving Japanese-inspired shared plates with a NorCal sensibility and a robust bar snack menu (1625 Post St.).

Out the Door: Given that dining interest in Charles Phan’s Westfield Centre and Ferry Plaza branches of Out the Door has gone through the roof, it’s no surprise that the Slanted Door owner plans to open a third branch of this casual eat-in/take-out Vietnamese cafe and wine bar later this year or early next in Pacific Heights (2232 Bush St.).

Oxbow Public Market: This mammoth emporium in Downtown Napa will showcase 35 specialty food retailers and organic farm stands, an 8,000-ft.-long deck overlooking the Napa River and a bounty of restaurants including a new Venezuelan eatery named Pica-Pica; Ria, an Italian wine bar/pizzeria from the Bistro Don Giovanni folks; and new branches of Model Bakery and Taylor’s Automatic Refresher. Taylor's will open November 15th, the rest on December 1st (610 First St.).

Pickles: The venerable Clown Alley, purchased by Myth owner Tom Duffy, has been renamed Pickles, but the menu and decor won’t change until this winter. While not chichi, Pickles' patties will be a step up from its predecessor's, and most importantly, will still be served into the wee hours, along with Chicago-style hot dogs and signature frozen custard drinks (42 Columbus Ave.; 415-421-2540).

Red Lantern: Former Viognier and Betelnut chefs will raise the culinary bar of Downtown Redwood City with this 120-seat restaurant showcasing Southeast Asian cuisine and decor, slated to open in mid-October (808 Winslow St.).

Sens: Specializing in Southern Mediterranean cuisine (think Greek, North African and Turkish) from Michael Dotson (ex Evvia) and opening in late October, this 225-seat wood-and-stone venue will focus on local, sustainable produce and catch, along with biodynamic wines; they’ve tapped pastry-chef-around-town Shuna Lydon, who’s CV includes French Laundry and Citizen Cake (4 Embarcadero Ctr.).

Shokolaat Restaurant: Never mind the funny spelling; think "chocolate" and you get the idea of what’s behind this forthcoming Palo Alto eatery, slated for mid-October. Run by chocolatier Mark Ainsworth and executive chef Shekoh Moossavi, the husband-and-wife team formerly behind Saratoga’s Restaurant Gervais, it will feature a menu of contemporary European small plates and decadent desserts. Its retail area will stock Ainsworth's fine pastries, artisan breads and gourmet chocolates (516 University Ave.; 650-289-0719).

South: Food and Wine Bar: South Beach will get a taste of Down Under when this Aussie-backed food-and-wine bar opens October 1st. Luke Mangan, chef-owner of Glass Brasserie in the Hilton Sydney, will turn out authentic fare such as green-lipped mussels, barramundi fish, oysters, grass-fed sirloin and Kiwi lamb, while the decor will similarly reflect the bar’s provenance, with lots of jarrah (eucalyptus) and modern artwork (330 Townsend St.).

S.P.Q.R.: Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither, apparently, was this forthcoming Southern Italy eatery named after the ancient moniker of the Roman republic. After a series of permit delays, it's now slated to open September 22nd. A 16 chef Nate Appleman will share the cooking duties with Daniel Holzman (ex Campton Place), dishing out rustic Roman fare with a focus on antipasti, fried items and pasta (1911 Fillmore St.).

Also in the works... Thomas Keller was supposed to turn ad hoc into Burgers and Half Bottles, but the Yountville eatery was so successful he decided to make it permanent and look for another location for the burgers ... Slow Club chef Chris Kronner will help oversee the New American menu at a yet-unnamed venue in Dogpatch opening in November; the design team behind Spork and Range are hard at work restoring its future home in the former boiler room of a 1915 American Can factory ... Pat Kuleto’s sister waterfront restaurants Waterbar and Epic Roast House are now scheduled to debut around the first of the year (399 The Embarcadero).

Washington, DC

Agraria: In early 2008, this rustic New American will open a second location in Foggy Bottom featuring farm-sourced products from its Midwest co-owners as well as from local growers (1900 Pennsylvania Ave. NW).

Bouche Bistro: This wine-centric Gallic proffering charcuterie, cheese and Eclectic small and large plates will boast dining and dallying options in the U Street Corridor when it debuts later this fall (1905 Ninth St. NW). Also in the works nearby is Cork Wine Bar, which features a similar concept and opening date (1720 14th St. NW).

Domaso: When the new Hotel Palomar Arlington opens in November, it will house this vaulted-ceiling Italian named after the quaint fishing village on Lake Como (1121 N. 19th St.).

The Source: Wolfgang Puck’s signature pizzas will be served at the entry-level bar/lounge of this Newseum dining venue when it opens in early October; upstairs, Puck’s Asian-accented New American dishes will be presented in a fancier atmosphere (555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW).

West End, A Bistro by Eric Ripert: Slated for an October opening, this exciting new restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton Washington is being designed by Adamstein & Demetriou to exude a casual vibe – think upscale neighborhood watering hole; its Contemporary American menu will be designed by Ripert and executed by his sous-chef, Lenardo Marino, from NYC’s legendary Le Bernardin (1150 22nd St. NW).