New Restaurants
New Nightspots
Coming Soon
Boqueria
This Flatiron taperia (53 W. 19th St.) will take its culinary cue from the bars that surround the Barcelona food market from which it takes its name; glass-enclosed tapas cases will allow patrons to order by pointing, and there will be sherries, ports and beers, as well as an all-Spanish wine list, to complement signature dishes such as "huevo y pisto" (an egg poached in olive oil and served on a seasonal vegetable pisto). It's scheduled to open mid-summer.
Cluny
Named after a small Burgundy town famous for its old medieval abbey, this French-American bistro from Lynn Wagenknecht (the owner of cult classics Odeon and Cafe Luxembourg) will feature a menu modeled on the Odeon and similarly sophisticated yet simple Greenwich Village surrounds (284 W. 12th St.); a late July opening is planned.
Lollipop
Expect a Euro crowd to descend upon this sib (27 E. 61st St.) of East Side Prada magnets Geisha and Serafina when it debuts in July. A techno-pop lounge specializing in Thai-Vietnamese small plates (including skewered shrimp, lobster and Kobe-style beef "lollipops"), it will feature nightly DJs and a digital video installation that captures and projects guests' silhouettes.
M & R Bar-Dining Room
The folks behind retro Downtown haunt Marion's Continental are reviving this former Elizabeth Street lounge in the neighboring cellar space (356 Bowery; 212-260-1890) that was last home to The Slide; no doubt a similarly fun-and-freewheeling crowd will swing by for Eclectic small plates coupled with extensive wines by the glass when it opens on June 8th.
The Standard
André Balazs is planning a 2008 opening for the Meatpacking District outpost (13th St. at Washington Ave.) of his hip hotel chain; like its LA and Miami counterparts, it will house a chic restaurant that's destined to become a refuge for the willowy.
Good Deals and Other News
Hamptons Happenings
Looking to leave the city? For the latest developments in the East End's dining and clubbing landscape, click here.
Enjoy a summertime happy hour at this Upper East Side Italian from 5–8 PM on Thursdays and Sundays, when complimentary appetizers (grilled antipasti, mozzarella di bufala, etc.) can be savored alongside specialty cocktails like the limoncello sorbet martini.
There are now seafood ($35) and vegetarian ($28) versions of chef Nori Sugie's bento box lunch ($38) sampling the chef's signature dishes; a wine or sake pairing can be added for $15.
Biltmore Room
Chef Gary Robins is no longer affiliated with this Chelsea looker and the entire space is now a bar/lounge; its future remains unclear.
A new Midtown West branch (135 W. 50th St.; 212-957-5050) features a broader menu than its East Side sibs, with sandwiches, pizzas and pastas supplementing the steaks; the space is also outfitted with a 75-ft. marble bar.
Bouterin
This Provençal farmhouse by way of Sutton Place has opened a sister restaurant, Café Soleil, offering more casual all-day French fare, including raw-bar selections (1016 Second Ave.; 212-758-1351); look for more information in the July ZagatWire.
Cité
The popular unlimited wine dinner at this Midtown steakhouse can be ordered during all dinner hours through Labor Day (usually it is available only after 8 PM Monday–Saturday and after 5 PM on Sundays). The $69 three-course deal features a choice of any appetizer, entree and dessert on the regular menu, not to mention bottomless glasses of selected wines, including a 2003 Vieux Lazaret Châteauneuf du Pape.
This Mediterranean Upper Eastsider has plans to open a megabranch in November 2006 at 201 W. 13th Street in the same building that houses Buddha Bar.
Tuck into a Monday night clambake at this stylish SoHo bistro; the $37.50 three-course menu features a one-and-a-half-pound steamed lobster with Ipswich clams, mussels, chorizo, corn on the cob and new potatoes.
A new $20 three-course prix fixe lunch is served daily at this Thai trendsetter; there is also a $30 pre-theater prix fixe offered Sunday–Thursday from 5:30–7 PM.
Lo Scalco
Is closing on June 15th; the TriBeCa Italian plans to reopen in a Midtown location early next year.
This handsome SoHo seafooder now boasts a bona fide sushi bar manned by chef Tanaka Shigenori, formerly of Hatsuhana, Sushi Yasuda and Jewel Bako; the new sushi selections are offered in addition to chef Josh Capon's fin fare.
Minnow
Temporarily closed for renovations, this Park Slope fish house is expected to reopen sometime this month; in the meantime, its full menu can be had at the neighboring Bar Minnow (444 Ninth St.; 718-788-4376).
This romantic West Villager is battling to renew the lease on its original W. Fourth Street site; fans of the restaurant can show their support by signing a petition at www.savetheplace.com.
The new happy-hour menu (offered daily from 5:30–7:30 PM) at Patricia Yeo's Flatiron French-Vietnamese features all kinds of neat noshes, including oyster shooters with sake, white soy sauce and fresh wasabi ($2), mini steak sandwiches ($4) and BBQ pork won tons ($3).
After 6 PM, the first-floor cafe of this SoHo greenmarketeer serves a daily selection of small plates priced at $6, $9 or $12; choices might include "a bit of cheese" ($6), roasted asparagus ($9) and a selection of Mediterranean dips ($12).
A new menu of light bites is available evenings out on the patio, including sushi, sashimi and other "Sea Side" fare, not to mention retro desserts such as funnel cakes and ice pops.
718 B-klyn Diner
Is the new name of the Billyburg Italian formerly known as Miss Williamsburg.
This authentic Long Island City bistro is planning to open an adjacent wine, cheese and oyster bar later this summer.
Lighter, seasonal choices dominate the new summer menu at this Theater District New French, including sections dedicated to small plates, salads and seafood-centric entrees.
Weekend brunch (11 AM–4 PM) is now served at Alex Ureña's modern Spaniard; dishes include a duck confit and morcilla omelet ($14) and a poached egg served on a biscuit with chorizo cular and hollandaise sauce ($12).
Small plates seem to be all the rage this summer, when emptier-than-usual rooms mean restaurateurs don't mind customers lingering over snacks. Fittingly, the new menu at this Meatpacking District Italian features imported cheeses ($4 each), cured meats ($6 each) and other casual nibbles.
From June 5th–18th, this Greenwich Village bistro celebrates summer's bounty in a five-course menu culled from the Union Square Greenmarket; the $42.50 meal includes dishes such as Boston lettuce, asparagus and sorrel soup with truffle butter, and sautéed spring chicken with purslane, fava beans and chanterelles.
Tom Colicchio's growing sandwich shop chainlet now counts a Greenwich Village branch (60 E. Eighth St.; 212-780-0577).
This popular sushi trio is now a quartet: the latest outpost is located in Midtown East at 308 E. 49th Street (212-355-3370).
- A&B Lobster King House
- Baluchi's (Carroll Gardens branch only)
- Baru
- Bistro du Vent
- Café B
- Cafe Trevi
- Canton
- East Lake
- Eemo
- El Rancho
- Go Hyang Jip
- Lemongrass Grill (Barrow Street branch only)
- Le Pescadou
- Mainland India
- Mary Ann's (1803 Second Avenue branch only)
- Manon
- Mee Noodle Shop (First Avenue branch only)
- Minado
- Océo
- Osteria Stella
- Quintessence (Amsterdam Avenue branch only)
- Raymond's Cafe
- River
- Roll-n-Roaster (East Village branch only)
- The Sultan
- Tre Pomodori
- Ulrika's