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New Restaurants

New Nightspots

Coming Soon

Destino

Pop singer–turned–restaurant investor Justin Timberlake will lend star power to this Midtown East Italian (891 First Ave.) from nightlife entrepreneur Eytan Sugarman (Suede, Cherry Lounge). Despite its Hollywood pretensions, expect a serious menu by Mario Curko (ex Rao's) when it opens later this month. It's not Timberlake's first foray into the hospitality industry – he also owned the trendy Chi nightclub on LA's Sunset Strip.

Dona

After scores with davidburke & donatella and Ama, restaurateur Donatella Arpaia is turning her attention to her original venture: the eight-year-old Bellini (208 E. 52nd St.) is closing the third week of February to make way for this Modern Med with a menu by chef Michael Psilakis, who took Greek cuisine in new directions at Onera. A late March opening is planned.

El Centro

Now that taquitos are all the rage Downtown (see: La Esquina, El Bocadito), the craze for Mexican street food–style snacking is spreading: the owners of Hell's Kitchen, the popular upscale Mexican eatery, will open their version of the genre later this month on the site of the old Vynl Diner (754 Ninth Ave.).

Noodle Bar

Quentin Danté and Ten Vong – the pair behind the successful but short-lived Yumcha – turn from Haute Chinese cuisine to retro Asian eats at this noodle shop set to open in Greenwich Village (26 Carmine St., 212-524-6800) in early February. Though the concept finds its inspiration in 1950s Hong Kong, the menu's ingredients and prices will be thoroughly modern (broth noodles range from $9–$14).

Pier 2110

This forthcoming Harlem seafooder (2110 Seventh Ave., 212-280-PIER) will feature colorful aquatic decor (including two waterfalls and a boat hull hanging from its ceiling), a menu with soul food and Asian influences (spicy shrimp with soba noodles, brook trout stuffed with crabmeat and served with creamy grits) and a bar/lounge area serving specialty cocktails and a late-night menu; slated to open in mid-March.

Pre:Post

Opening late this month on the same West Chelsea block as BED, Bungalow 8 and Cain, this American restaurant and lounge (547 W. 27th St.; 212-695-7270) will cater to clubbers with an after-hours "room-service" menu comprising breakfast items and other comfort-food fare. Lunch and dinner service and hours that stretch from 11–9 AM are also planned.

Also Coming Soon

... at the Time Warner Center: After the high-profile closure of Jean-Georges Vongerichten's V Steakhouse, the town's most luxurious food court (10 Columbus Circle) is aiming to democratize its dining. New tenants will include a fourth-floor bar and grill helmed by chef Michael Lomonaco (ex Guastavino's, Windows on the World) that's modeled after Boston's Grill 23; a third-floor branch of TriBeCa's popular Landmarc; and Bouchon Bakery, the long-awaited, more affordable entry from Thomas Keller that will soon serve soups, salads, sandwiches, pastries and chocolates on the third floor (212-317-2348).

Good Deals and Other News

Alto

Autographed copies of chef Scott Conant's recently released New Italian Cooking are available for purchase ($35) both here and at L'Impero.

Antonucci

This Upper East Side Italian trattoria is now open for lunch; brunch service is expected to be added later this month.

Bao Noodles

New winter dishes include Vietnamese tomato soup (fresh tomatoes, scallions, sliced beef, chicken broth) and night market noodles (thick rice noodles with sliced Vietnamese ham, bean sprouts, sweet fish sauce, lettuce and daikon). In addition, this casual Gramercy eatery now accepts reservations and credit cards.

Bette

Amy Sacco's chic boîte now serves daily afternoon tea from 3–5:30 PM; tea for two ($60) includes assorted finger sandwiches, cakes and scones with clotted cream, raspberry jam and passion fruit curd and a choice of more than a dozen brews.

Bombay Talkie

A new late-night "street bites" menu is served from 11 PM–1 AM Sunday–Tuesday and 12–2 AM Wednesday–Saturday. Snacks include an assortment of dosas (stuffed crêpes) and kathi rolls (flatbread wraps).

Brasserie

Recently appointed chef Franklin Becker (ex Trinity, Capitale) has introduced new lunch and dinner menus featuring classic dishes with modern twists, including sea scallops and pork belly confit with sunchokes and red wine–truffle vinaigrette, and Long Island duck breast with confit spring rolls, foie gras, berry compote and orange-coriander sauce. Faves like steak frites and onion soup will remain untouched.

Brasserie Aix

Didier Virot's French Upper Westsider has a new name and a new, simplified menu offering plats du jour such as bouillabaisse, coq au vin and smoked Peking duck.

'Cesca

Tom Valenti has left this Southern Italian to focus full-time on Ouest. Chef Maria Rizzo will continue to run the kitchen at 'Cesca; meanwhile, the branch in Atlantic City has closed.

Compass

Chef John Fraser – the latest toque to take charge of this West Side New American – has introduced a new winter dinner menu featuring dishes such as parsnip and Granny apple soup with raisins, pumpernickel bread and brown butter, and roasted Atlantic monkfish with split pea puree, Tuscan kale, fall radishes and Greek sausage vinaigrette.

Country

Geoffrey Zakarian has opened Cafe at Country 's more formal companion piece; located upstairs, it's a luxe setting for a prix fixe–only New American menu comprising four courses for $85.

D'or Ahn

This cool Korean is now serving a late-night menu of its signature fusion fare from 11:30 PM–2:30 AM Thursday–Saturday. Dishes will be conducive to sharing and include oyster three ways.

Kitchen 82

Charlie Palmer's reasonably priced New American on the Upper West Side has closed; Kitchen 22 remains open.

Lavagna

This East Village Italian's prix fixe menu is now offered Sundays only (5–7 PM); the price, which includes three courses, is $29 per person.

Les Halles

February is "Choucroute Month" at both locations of Anthony Bourdain's brasserie; four different choucroute dishes – including a classic choucroute garnie – will be served alongside an Alsatian wine list.

Lure Fishbar

A fire has temporarily closed this handsome SoHo seafooder. The owners hope to have the space shipshape and reopened by early summer.

Pair of 8's

Monday night at this new Upper West Side eatery/wine bar is "Neighborhood Night" – $25 buys you an appetizer and an entree (both from a choice of three), as well as a cocktail, wine or beer. Or splurge on a wine flight constructed from the more than 30 wines served in two-oz. tastes.

Philippe

This modish new Chinese puts on a twice nightly "Noodle Show" (around 8 and 9:30 PM), during which diners can watch chef Wai Ming Cheng ceremoniously pull noodles in the midst of the restaurant's dining room. Chef Cheng's noodles are served either "Singapore-style" (with shrimp, pork, scallions, bean sprouts and peppers in a curry sauce) or in a special pork bean sauce; both dishes are priced at $14 and are meant to be shared by several guests.

Rare Bar & Grill

The new Greenwich Village branch (228 Bleecker St., 212-691-RARE) of this Murray Hill patty purveyor may not feature a rooftop bar, but it does offer a "Murray's Cheese burger" topped with a weekly changing fromage from Murray's down the block.

Sushi Sen-nin

A new branch has opened at 30 E. 33rd Street (212-889-2208).

• Amuse
• Assagio
• Bolzano's
• EJ's Luncheonette (Sixth Ave. branch only)
• Grilled Cheese
• Julian's
• Kitchen 82
• Lento's (Brooklyn location only)
• McHales
• Metropol
• Second Avenue Deli
• Shaan
• Smoked