Zagat Survey Discussions

New Restaurants

New Nightspots

Coming Soon

Brasserie 52

From the owner of Le Refuge and Métisse comes this casual Hell's Kitchen French bistro (772 Ninth Ave.; 212-586-5006) with a 30-ft. bar, a pastel color scheme, stone-tiled floors and art nouveau posters on the walls. It will serve lunch, dinner and weekend brunch when it opens mid-month.

The House

In December, this International wine bar/restaurant will open in a three-story Gramercy carriage house dating back to 1854 (121 E. 17th St.). It will feature an oyster bar as well as chef's tables on the third floor, plus a sidewalk cafe. There are also plans for a daily game menu and a rotisserie.

Next Up From Boulud

Daniel Boulud is opening an Upper West Side wine bar (1900 Broadway) across the street from Lincoln Center in late spring 2007. Though casual by Boulud standards, it should be to a wine bar what db Bistro Moderne is to a bistro. The list will lean toward Burgundy, with a private "Cave" dining room accessed through the wine cellar and a "Tasting Table" in the main dining room that sits up to 20 people. "Reverse pairings" will match the wine list with a New French menu focusing on homemade charcuterie.

Provence

Vicki Freeman and Marc Meyer of Five Points and Cookshop will reopen this SoHo perennial – which closed on October 14th after 20 years of business – on January 15th, 2007, with local, seasonal Provençal cooking from chef-partner Lynn McNeely (formerly of Barbuto).

Ray to Open a Burger Joint?

Celebrity chef and "Queen of Quick" Rachael Ray is reportedly opening a burger joint in NYC. According to MediaBistro.com, Ray told an audience at the American Magazine Conference in Phoenix on October 22nd that the yet-to-be-named eatery will serve 190 of her burger recipes. "We'll rotate them," she said. "Tuna burgers, swordfish burgers, turkey burgers ... I like anything you can pick up with your hands – portable food."

Good Deals and Other News

Truffle Time Again

Truffle season is in full swing, with the prized white Piedmontese specimen gracing menus across town. A two-pound beauty from Alba, Italy, was scored by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto (for which he paid $10,500) – shavings of it grace his seven-course "omakase truffle menu" ($295 per person) at Morimoto. If you're feeling as extravagant as Morimoto, you can indulge in an eight-course tasting menu with white truffles in every course at the Sea Grill for $1,000 per person (two-person minimum). Meanwhile, $70 will buy you a liberal sprinkling of white truffles on any à la carte dish at Alto; a three-course "white truffle lunch" is also available for $100 – a comparative bargain. Or tuck into daily specials like white truffle lasagna or white truffle risotto at Andrew Carmellini's A Voce. Finally, through early December, add truffles to any dish at San Domenico for $6 per gram (a 4–5 gram serving per dish is suggested), while at Gusto, enjoy the delicacy à la carte or as part of a three-course menu ($120).

Baluchi's

The local Indian chain plans to open a second Brooklyn outlet (no date set yet) in Park Slope at 310 Fifth Avenue, replacing its Smith Street location that closed in Carroll Gardens last spring.

Barbounia

This Flatiron Mediterranean has done some slight remodeling, with the feathery chandelier banished, and the lounge area with couches up front replaced by a large communal table with high chairs.

Blair Perrone Steakhouse

Through November 30th, this Midtown steakhouse is offering a $24.06 prix fixe lunch menu to benefit the Save the Children Foundation. The three-course meal includes a choice of baked clams or fried calamari, mixed baby greens or beefsteak tomato with onion, and entrees such as a prime dry-aged 8-oz. filet mignon or grilled salmon steak.

Brooklyn Diner USA

A new Times Square location of Shelly Fireman's American diner (155 W. 43rd St.; 212-265-5400), opening this month, will feature the same menu and retro decor as the original.

Bungalow 8

Club queen Amy Sacco will sprinkle some of her celebrity pixie dust in London next year, when an offshoot of her hot boîte opens in the St. Martin's Lane Hotel (45 St. Martin 's Lane, WC2). Sacco is expected to oversee the opening, which is slated for March or April 2007.

Café Boulud

To celebrate the publication of his new cookbook, Braise: A Journey Through International Cuisine, chef Daniel Boulud is offering a special three-course lunch featuring recipes from the book, served weekdays throughout November from noon–2:30 PM. The $60 price tag includes a signed copy of the cookbook.

Crumbs Bake Shop

A new flagship location of this nostalgic kosher bakery is opening in early December in Greenwich Village (37 E. Eighth St.), where it will feature cafe seating for 45, WiFi access and a tapas dessert menu in the evening.

Da Noi

A new location of this Staten Island Northern Italian has opened at 138 Fingerboard Road (718-720-1650).

David Burke at Bloomingdales

David Burke now caters from his Bloomie's cafe; interested parties should call Sandy Lee at 212-705-3800.

Masa

This Time Warner Center Japanese – the most expensive restaurant in the United States according to Zagat surveyors – recently instituted a $50 price hike, raising the base price of Masayoshi Takayama's kaiseki-style menu to a whopping $400 per person (that's before drink, tax and tip).

Metrazur

Through December, Charlie Palmer is offering a "World Wine Saturdays" deal from 5–10:30 PM. The $39 three-course meal features entree choices such as filet mignon and morel-dusted sea scallops, as well as a bottle of wine for every two guests – diners have a choice between a 2004 Russian River Valley Chardonnay or a 2000 Geyser Peak Winery Shiraz.

Pó

Stephen Crane, owner of this Greenwich Village Italian classic, is opening a second location in Cobble Hill partnered with his general manager, Jonathan Casteel, who will run the new operation. Chef Lee McGrath will be in charge of the menus at both. The new outpost is scheduled to open in late November at 270 Smith Street, between Degraw and Sackett streets.

Porter House New York

Michael Lomonaco's American grill in the Time Warner Center has begun serving lunch.

Punch

The second-floor lounge at this Flatiron Eclectic is reopening on November 15th as Wined Up, a wine bar offering 30 pours by the glass.

Tamarind

A new "Executive Lunch Menu" features three courses – including entrees such as baked fillet of red snapper served with a plum and coconut tomato sauce and chicken served with fiery Kohalpuri sauce – for $21.50; it's served daily from 11:30 AM–3 PM.

• The Alamo
• Anzu
• Bouterin
• Chemist Club Grill
• Columbus Bakery (1st Ave. branch only)
• Emack & Bolio's (Astoria branch only)