South Gate, the forthcoming restaurant from chef Kerry Heffernan (ex Eleven Madison Park), is preparing for an early February bow in the Jumeirah Essex House on Central Park South. According to the restaurant's maitre d', its reservation line will open early next week, when it will begin taking bookings for February 8th and beyond.
In an interview with the Buzz back in mid-December, Heffernan said his new project would feature New American fare "cooked in traditional and soulful ways" and an "enormous new perspective on the Park." The anticipated eatery will be taking over the old Cafe Botanica phone number (212-484-5120), which should be up and running by Tuesday.