Zagat Survey Discussions

Atlanta

Dolce Enoteca e Ristorante: Ashton Kutcher and his celebrity pals take on Atlanta in late October when his restaurant group opens a second location of Dolce Enoteca e Ristorante, LA's scene-y Northern Italian, at Atlantic Station (261 19th St.; 404-872-3902).

Geisha House: Another transplant from Los Angeles courtesy of the Dolce Group, this Japanese eatery will open at Atlantic Station (1380 Atlanta Dr.; 404-872-3903) in December in a setting that's designed to look like a high-end brothel.

Roberto's World Tapas: Duluth diners can sample a wide variety of small plates in a contemporary setting at this Eclectic newcomer (9700 Medlock Bridge Rd.; 770-662-4056), opening on October 3rd.

Shaun's: Shaun Doty will leave his post as executive chef at Table 1280 (but will remain involved as a consultant) to open this New American restaurant in Inman Park (1029 Edgewood Ave.) in October.

Trois: From the owners of ONE. midtown kitchen and TWO. urban licks comes this New French restaurant arriving in Midtown (1180 Peachtree St.; 404-815-3337) in late October.

Boston

Rendang: In the industrial loftlike space (57 JFK St.) that the Harvard Square branch of Penang used to occupy comes yet another Malaysian eatery, this one from the owners of OM, debuting in October.

Rustic Kitchen: The latest branch of this Med bistro chainlet, opening in October in Park Square (210 Stuart St.; 617-423-5700), will house a TV studio kitchen (several cooking shows are in the works) that patrons will be able to view from the dining room.

Chicago

Cru Café & Wine Bar: Debbie Sharpe's Gold Coast wine bar (888 N. Wabash Ave.) reopens in October – expanded, refurbished and accompanied by an outpost of her Goddess and the Grocer gourmet market.

Fiddlehead Cafe: Taking over the remodeled Square Kitchen space in Lincoln Square (4600 N. Lincoln Ave.) sometime in October, this New American will showcase seasonal eats from chef Robert Levitt (del Toro, 312 Chicago).

Flatearth: This organic flatbread-sandwich-salad spot from Michael Altenberg (Bistro Campagne) will hit Wicker Park (2056 W. Division St.) in December.

Lush: Now that the long-delayed Pasteur spin-off, Viet Bistro, is finally set to open in October at 1344 W. Devon Ave., another sequel is already in the offing. Slated for a late fall debut at 2269 N. Lincoln Ave., this Lincoln Parker will serve casual, affordable Vietnamese vittles.

Nick's Grill: The Nick's Fishmarket folks will take off their tuxedos for this more relaxed seafood sibling in Deerfield's former Masck space (483 Lake Cook Rd.), opening in late September.

Osteria di Tramonto/Tramonto's Steak & Seafood: This casual Italian cafe and upscale surf 'n' turfer, slated for an October 12th and a November 7th opening, respectively, in Wheeling's new Westin Hotel (601 N. Milwaukee Ave.), result from Tru chef team Rick Tramonto and Gale Gand's new development partnership with Cenitare Restaurant Group. The duo will continue their responsibilities at Tru.

Sequel: The owners of Lombard's shuttered Bistro Banlieue are transforming their much-loved French bistro into this New American restaurant opening in November (44 Yorktown Convenience Ctr.; 630-629-6560). The redecorated space will feature fewer tables with upgraded stemware and dinnerware and a new wine list incorporating some New World selections after 17 years of all French and American offerings.

Shikago: The Shikami brothers will follow up Kevin with this more casual Asian-leaning concept opening in the Loop (190 S. LaSalle St.) in December.

Stanley's Kitchen & Tap: A West Loop outpost of this down-home American joint is opening in October at 324 South Racine St.

Las Vegas

Japonais: With a new NYC location under its belt, this trendy Japanese restaurant will bring its sexy sushi formula to Vegas next, opening a branch at the Mirage (3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S.) on September 29th.

Nove Italiano: The owners of N9ne Steakhouse will debut this Italian eatery in the new Fantasy Tower at the Palms Casino Hotel (4321 W. Flamingo Rd., 702-942-7777) on October 9th; the old-meets-new setting translates into vaulted ceilings with metallic tiles.

Rao's: Like everything in Las Vegas, the Caesars Palace outpost of NYC's famously insular Italian (3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; 877-346-4642) promises to be outsized – meaning your uncle from Skokie actually has a chance of nabbing a table. There will be a variety of spaces, including two replicas of the original (each complete with 10 tables and jukebox), as well as an outdoor terrace with a bocce court. The restaurant will begin accepting reservations in October for its December opening.

Strip Steak: Michael Mina of the eponymous San Francisco restaurant opens his fourth Las Vegas property, a steakhouse in a modern, opulent setting at the Mandalay Bay Resort (3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S.), on October 2nd.

London

Barrafina: In December, the owners of Fino will open this Soho tapas bar (54 Frith St., W1; 020 7813 8010), where the casual setup will feature a mere 25 counter seats, a no-reservations policy and hours from noon to midnight. The Spanish menu will offer simpler, more affordable fare than the Fitzrovia flagship, including seafood cooked on a "plancha," the traditional Spanish grill.

Mimosa Bar & Restaurant: Opening in November in Belgravia's new Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel (sister hotel to the Jumeirah Carlton Tower) is this bistro-style Mediterranean (21 Lowndes St., SW1) with alfresco dining, plus a tapas and meze option during the day. The bar's cocktail list will include house specialties such as a mimosa peach martini and a bloody mimosa.

Mocoto: A casual cafe/bar on the ground floor and a smarter restaurant in the basement will make up this modern Brazilian eatery opening on the former site of Knightsbridge's Isola (145 Knightsbridge, SW1) in mid-October.

Scott's: This well-known seafood restaurant in Mayfair (20 Mount St., W1; 020-7495 7309) has been acquired by Caprice Holdings (The Ivy, J. Sheekey, Le Caprice, Daphne's, Bam-Bou and Rivington Grill), and will reemerge in late November from a total refurbishment that will return it to its former glory. The 1940s-inspired space will feature a central oyster bar, a private dining room in the basement and a classic menu sectioned into oysters, caviar, crustaceans, fish, meat and grills.

Tom's Kitchen: In November, Tom Aikens will unveil this all-day Modern British brasserie in the former Blenheim pub space in Chelsea (27 Cale St., SW3; www.tomskitchen.co.uk), located around the corner from his fine-dining restaurant, Tom Aikens. Enhancing the convivial spirit will be a games room with billiards, snooker tables and plasma TV screens, a wine-and-cheese tasting room and cookery classes.

Also in the works... Chris Corbin and Jeremy King (The Wolseley) are planning a November opening for their as-yet-unnamed Modern European restaurant on the ground floor of Piccadilly's Rex House (4/12 Lower Regent St., SW1).

Los Angeles

Adobe: With the Ivy at the Shore moving several doors north on Ocean Avenue, this busy Santa Monica block is going through a number of changes. A branch of Tengu will open later this year in the Ivy's former digs, while this new upscale Southwestern (1535 Ocean Ave.), planned for the space behind Tengu, is set to open in early 2007.

Blue Velvet: Yet another piece of the Downtown revival, this New American work-in-progress designed by Tag Front (Boa, Geisha House) is being built poolside at The Flat, a 150-unit residential development west of the Harbor Freeway (750 Garland St.). As an added bonus, the adjacent Blue Lounge will have floor-to-ceiling windows with a dramatic view of the Downtown skyline; due to open in early November.

Charcoal: Mesquite cooking is the specialty of this sibling of Lodge Steakhouse (and Memphis, Geisha House and Dolce), a literally hot spot that will serve its grilled fare in a manly setting of wood and stone when it opens in early October in a Hollywood space (6360 Sunset Blvd.) adjacent to the ArcLight Theatre.

Craft: After flirting with the notion of opening a restaurant in Los Angeles for the past couple of years, chef Tom Colicchio is finally following through. An outpost of Craft – his New American with locations in NYC and Dallas – is expected to open in early 2007 adjacent to the new Creative Artists Agency building in Century City (2000 Ave. of the Stars).

Danny's Venice Deli: This "Modern California Deli" (pastrami with guacamole on rye?) is the latest entry from the team responsible for James' Beach and the Canal Club; it's set to open in Venice (23 Windward Ave.) by late September.

Eleven: From longtime producer Sid Krofft (Land of the Lost, etc.) comes this New American restaurant and nightclub in West Hollywood's First National Bank Building (8811 Santa Monica Blvd.). Due to open in early November, it will feature fountains by WET Design (who did the dancing waters at the Bellagio in Las Vegas), cooking by Vincent Manna (formerly of Spago and Mélisse) and live entertainment nightly.

French Brasserie: The name sounds generic, but considering that it's being created by the hyper-trendy team that's given us local hot spots Falcon, Pearl Dragon and Voda, this brasserie just off the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica (Santa Monica Blvd. between 2nd and 3rd Sts.) just might be LA's answer to NYC's Balthazar; due to open in early 2007.

K-Zo: Former Sushi Roku chef Keizo Ishiba will revive the 1980s Franco-Japonaise fusion trend in a Culver City space (9240 Culver Blvd.) next to Trader Joe's by the end of this year.

La Cantina: The latest in an increasing number of über-trendy late-night destinations in (finally!) born-again Hollywood, this "easy Mexican" (6301 Hollywood Blvd.) with a sprawling outdoor patio will serve until 4 AM when it opens in January 2007.

Mozza Bar: For those who have been suffering hunger pangs waiting for the opening of Nancy Silverton and Mario Batali's pizzeria and osteria at the corner of Melrose and Highland avenues, word is that construction is under way and the crew is already beginning to taste the food; expect an early 2007 debut.

Royale: Opening by the end of the year in the newly remodeled Wilshire Royale Hotel (2619 Wilshire Blvd.), this Cal-Med aspires to be a destination restaurant evoking the elegance of Old Hollywood in newly hot Downtown LA.

Sea: The less-than-chic Toppers Mexican Restaurant on the 18th floor of the Huntley Santa Monica Beach Hotel (1111 Second St.) is being turned into this stylish Cal-Asian, with cutting-edge design by the ubiquitous Thomas Schoos (Citizen Smith, Wilshire) and food by Rodelio Aglibot (formerly of Yi Cuisine); due to open in late fall.

Tanzore: In the Beverly Hills space (50 N. La Cienega Blvd.) that was for many years the upscale Gaylord Indian arrives this trendy Bollywood-style restaurant and lounge with design by Sat Garg, who made Tantra in Silver Lake one of the hottest spots in town.

T on Fairfax: Well, now, this is different – a postmodern tea parlor (435 N. Fairfax Ave.) dreamed up by a pair of club impresarios, who are betting that gourmet teas (more than 100), stylish sandwiches and a DJ add up to the Next Big Thing; we'll find out when they open in November.

Vertical Wine Bistro: The newest addition to the Old Town dining mix will be this high-end restaurant and wine bar (70 N. Raymond Ave., Old Pasadena) from film producer Gale Anne Hurd (Aliens, The Terminator) that's scheduled to debut in mid-October. It will offer a selection of 100 wines by the glass, along with 20 wine flights and European small plates by chef Sara Levine (formerly of Zax, Aubergine and Opus Bar & Grill).

Weeneez/Red Dot Gallery & Bistro: At this combination upscale hot dog eatery, New American bistro and art gallery (but of course), you'll be able to chew on a sausage, then consider a new work for your living room; slated to open in a historic Downtown building (Security Building, 500 S. Spring St.) in late October.

Also in the works... The ubiquitous Wolfgang Puck is planning to open an as-yet-unnamed restaurant later this fall on the first floor of the Pacific Design Center (8687 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood) in a space that was last home to Charlie Palmer's Astra Restaurant, to be redesigned by architectural stars Thom Mayne and Cesar Pelli. It will join WP, Puck's new lunch-only place on the building's third floor... Bad-boy chef Gordon Ramsay will debut an as-yet-unnamed fine-dining restaurant in the soon-to-be-remodeled Wyndham Bel Age in West Hollywood (to be renamed London LA) in spring 2007.

Miami

Angela Hartnett: The Gordon Ramsay partner, who heads Angela Hartnett's MENU in London, will open a second eponymous restaurant at the Boca Raton Resort & Club (501 East Camino Real) in October; it will serve modern Italian fare.

David Bouley Evolution: In late October, this long-awaited French restaurant from the celebrated chef will finally open at The Ritz-Carlton South Beach (1 Lincoln Rd.) in a gorgeous art deco space that will include a lounge and sushi bar.

Johnny V South Beach: Johnny Vinczencz will open his second Floribbean restaurant in late November in the place where he made his name, Miami's Hotel Astor (956 Washington Ave.). Fans of Johnny V Las Olas, fear not: Vinczencz will continue to own and operate the trendy original in Ft. Lauderdale.

Karu: This Pan-Latin restaurant (71 NW 14th St.; 305-403-7850) with dramatic, modern decor will open on October 10th in a 42,000-sq.-ft. Downtown dining complex that will also house Y, a new 300-seat "ultralounge."

La Goulue Christian Delouvrier: Christian Delouvrier (formerly of Alain Ducasse) is teaming up with New York City's Madison Avenue bistro La Goulue to open this swank spin-off in Bal Harbour, Florida (Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., Ste. 135; 305-865-2181), in late September. Another outpost will open at the Boca Raton Resort & Club (501 East Camino Real) later this fall.

Morimoto: Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto will open an upscale sushi bar at the Boca Raton Resort & Club (501 East Camino Real) by the end of the year.

SouthWest NY Miami: As you might have guessed from its name, this sprawling NYC transplant, opening on September 25th in West Dade's Dolphin Mall (11401 NW 12th St.; 305-640-0500), will be Southwestern in cuisine and decor.

Table 8 South Beach: In October, Govind Armstrong of the beloved Table 8 in Los Angeles is bringing his chic Californian-style cuisine to The Regent South Beach (1458 Ocean Dr.; 305-695-4114), where the emphasis will still be on locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant's lounge, situated beneath the hotel's glass-bottom swimming

New York City

BLT Market: Chef Laurent Tourondel will open this offshoot of his growing BLT franchise (BLT Fish, BLT Prime and BLT Steak) in the Ritz-Carlton Central Park (50 Central Park S.) in spring 2007; it will replace the hotel's plush New French dining room, Atelier.

Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill: A more extensive grill menu will be offered at this Midtown outpost of the popular late-night sushi spots, scheduled for a winter opening in the West Park Hotel (6 Columbus Circle), which is being renovated by Jason Pomeranc (60 Thompson).

Cafe 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, served in similarly sophisticated yet simple Greenwich Village surrounds (284 W. 12th St.); an October opening is planned.

Café Largo: Police officer–turned-restaurateur Marc Calcano is planning to open a restaurant-and-takeout-shop complex this fall in Harlem, with a revival of Café Largo (3387 Broadway), which closed three years ago, as its centerpiece. It will have 120 seats, a renovated rustic interior and Mediterranean cuisine. Next door at 3385 Broadway will be two take-out spots: Vinegar Hill, a bread market and gourmet shop, and Tres Pasos, serving Mexican burritos.

Centro Vinoteca: Gusto owner Sasha Muniak is planning to open this modern Italian restaurant featuring the cooking of Anne Burrell (Mario Batali's sous-chef on Iron Chef) at 74 Seventh Ave. S. in November.

15 East: In late October, Marco Moreira will transform the original Tocqueville space (15 E. 15th St.) into this modern Japanese eatery and sushi bar with a black-and-white color scheme.

Fireside: Four fireplaces, classic cocktails and Eclectic small plates by chef Sam DeMarco (formerly of the East Village's First) will set the mood at this entry in the Omni Berkshire Place (19 E. 52nd St.) opening in December.

FR.OG: The oddly punctuated name stands for "French Origin," the common influence that will be felt in all of Didier Virot's global dishes (sautéed black sea bass with coriander and garlic, roasted chicken with toasted peanuts, etc.). The Aix chef is setting up shop in a duplex SoHo space (71 Spring St.), located across the street from Balthazar, in November.

Gordon Ramsay at The London: Brit bad-boy chef Gordon Ramsay will make his stateside debut with this fine-dining restaurant akin to his eponymous London flagship, opening in November at The London NYC Hotel (née Rihga Royal Hotel, 151 W. 54th St.). An adjacent bar and lounge, dubbed The London Bar, will offer a small-plates concept similar to his Maze.

Harry Cipriani: This Venetian power player in the Sherry Netherland Hotel (781 Fifth Ave.) will reopen in November with a spruced-up look.

Hawaiian Tropic Zone: What do you get when you cross bikini-clad servers in sarongs and a Times Square–theme setting? This saucy eatery, slated for a late September opening in the former Houlihan's space (729 Seventh Ave.), featuring David Burke (davidburke & donatella) as consulting chef.

La Moelle: Simon Oren, who owns Café d'Alsace, Marseille and Nice Matin among other French eateries, will open this country French steakhouse in the West Village (225 Varick St.) in November; its name refers to the bone marrow that will garnish each steak.

Landmarc: As part of the Time Warner Center's dining democratization, a third-floor branch of TriBeCa's popular Landmarc (10 Columbus Circle) is slated to open in spring 2007.

Mai House: In October, Drew Nieporent is partnering with Bao Noodles chef-owner Michael Huynh to open this 125-seat Vietnamese restaurant at 186 Franklin St., located on the same block as Nieporent's Tribeca Grill.

Morandi: Jody Williams (formerly of Gusto) will helm this forthcoming Italian bistro from Keith McNally, opening by year's end at 15 Charles St.

Park Chinois: Alan Yau – the high-profile restaurateur behind London hot spots Hakkasan and Yauatcha – is the creative force behind this modern Chinese eatery opening in mid-November in the Gramercy Park Hotel (2 Lexington Ave.; 212-920-3300). The authentic, regional cuisine will showcase the flavors of Shanghai, Szechuan and Beijing, served in a chinoiserie-style setting that will also offer dim sum, Chinese high tea and late-night cocktails.

Pera Mediterranean Brasserie: Named after a neighborhood in Istanbul, this Midtown brasserie (303 Madison Ave.), opening in late September, will specialize in charcoal-grilled meats sliced tableside.

P*ONG: Pastry chef Pichet Ong (Spice Market) strikes out on his own with this sweet-and-savory West Village dessert bar (150 W. 10th St.) in the vein of ChikaLicious and Room 4 Dessert; it's scheduled to open in October.

Porter House New York: Michael Lomonaco's American grill is slated to open in late September in the former V Steakhouse space in the Time Warner Center (10 Columbus Circle, 4th fl.), where it will feature warm, Arts and Crafts–style decor, views of Central Park and a menu specializing in grilled meats and fish. Initially open for dinner only, it will eventually serve lunch, as well as late-night meals at its large bar.

Russian Tea Room: The third incarnation of this illustrious restaurant is opening in October in the original 150 W. 57th St. location. The building has remained untouched since the Warner LeRoy edition shuttered in 2002 (plans for a PGA museum having never materialized), as has its opulent gilded interior. The latest version will offer Continental dining on two floors, with two levels of banquet space above.

7 Square: Replacing Océo in the Time Hotel (224 W. 49th St.) is this New American chophouse opening in late September; while the room will have a new look and design, its chef will remain the same.

STK: Like Strip House, this Meatpacking District newcomer (26 Little W. 12th St.; 646-624-2444) from the owners of One will put a saucy spin on the steakhouse formula, with private dining areas named after burlesque stars and a downstairs lounge with a DJ; it's scheduled to open in late September.

Ted's Montana Grill: Manhattan makes way for another down-home import, this one an American grill specializing in both beef and bison; it's part of a nationwide chain from mogul Ted Turner and slated for a late September opening in the Time & Life Building (110 W. 51st St.).

Waverly Inn: In October, Graydon Carter and partners Sean MacPherson and Eric Goode (The Park) will revive this Greenwich Village tavern (16 Bank St.), which dates back to the 1840s and features a garden and four working fireplaces.

Philadelphia

Doc Magrogan's Oyster House: Look for a mid-October opening of this old-fashioned West Chester seafooder (117 E. Gay St.) from the folks who run Kildare's Irish pub.

Fleming's: The high-end steakhouse chain, run by ex–Smith & Wollensky GM Patrick English, is aiming for an October 27th debut inside the Radnor Corporate Center (555 E. Lancaster Ave.), next to the forthcoming Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen (see below).

House of Blues: A Philly outpost of this national nightclub fixture – known for serving tasty tunes with a side of Southern food – will open in March 2007 at 15th and Chestnut streets in Center City's Grande building.

James Restaurant & Bar: The South Philly lineup should see the arrival of this Italian-influenced American (824 S. Eighth St., in the former Michael's) in the fall. Jim "James" Burke was the executive chef at Angelina after a sous stint at Vetri.

Kitchen 233: Chris Painter (ex Tangerine) will open this Med-influenced American bistro showcasing artisanal wines in Haddon Township, NJ (233 Haddon Ave.). It's on tap for late September.

Maia: The partnership that owns Berwyn's luxe Nectar has big plans for this European small-plater in Villanova, opening in about six months in a new spot near the Blue Route's Route 30 exit.

Oceanaire Seafood Room: Philly's first branch of this upscale seafood chain is set for a mid- or late-October debut on the ground floor of Washington Square West's new St. James apartment building (700 Walnut St).

Rae: Gayle chef-owner Daniel Stern's New American spot in the Cira Centre, next to 30th Street Station, is shooting to open in December.

707: Ryan Margolis, who worked for Stephen Starr, is readying this American bistro and bar (707 Chestnut St., Center City) for spring 2007. According to Margolis, it will cater to Washington Square scenesters.

Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen: The famed restaurateur heads to Philly's Main Line in early October with this moderately priced noodle bar/dumpling house at 555 E. Lancaster Ave., Radnor. Its chef will be Robert Boone, who has cooked at Charlie Trotter's in Chicago, Norman's in Miami Beach and Atrio in the Conrad Miami Hotel.

Tinto: Amada's Jose Garces plans to open this tapas bar near Rittenhouse Square (114 S. 20th St.) in early November; the menu will spotlight Spain's Basque country, complemented by the wines of Northern Spain and Southwestern France.

Triumph Brewing Co.: This long-in-the-works Old City brewpub should open by early fall at 117-121 Chestnut St.

Xochitl: Pronounced like "so cheat," this posh Head House Square Mexican (408 S. Second St.) from the partners behind Marigold Kitchen will feature a menu by Puebla-raised chef Dionicio Jimenez, who should be cooking by mid-October.

San Francisco

Alembic: Slated to open on September 21st, this Haight Street restaurant and bar (1725 Haight St.), from the folks behind nearby Magnolia Pub, will showcase beers, wines, sakes and spirits from boutique producers, served alongside an all-American small-plates menu with a similarly seasonal, local focus.

Burgers and Half Bottles: Ad hoc, Thomas Keller's fleeting, homespun Traditional American prix fixery in the former Wine Garden space (6476 Washington St.; 707-944-2487), will transform into this permanent burger joint in summer 2007. Complementing the patties will be fries, shakes and, of course, half bottles of California wine.

Circa: Erik Hopfinger's whimsical American food (think PB&J foie gras and Dungeness crab tater tots) will be showcased at this swanky restaurant and lounge replacing Cozmo's Corner Grill at 2001 Chestnut St. in late September.

Eureka Restaurant & Bar: Set to open in the fall, this tentatively named New American in the Castro (4063 18th St.) promises to be a formidable addition given that it will be run by the folks behind Glen Park's successful Chenery Park.

Fillmore Jazz Heritage Center: A slew of restaurants are tied to the spring 2007 opening of the Fillmore Jazz Heritage Center at the corner of Eddy and Fillmore streets. The anchor tenant will be a second outpost of Yoshi's – chef Shotaro Kamio, who made waves at Ozumo, will prepare modern Japanese cuisine in a 180-seat dining room, with an additional lounge and jazz music club. Also opening inside the center is Blue Mirror Restaurant and Lounge, which will present elevated Southern fare (think hushpuppies and fried chicken) by chef-owner David Lawrence, who spent years at the Carnelian Room. Across the street, Joseph Manzare (Globe, Tres Agaves, etc.) will get in on the act with Fillmo' Betta Restaurant and Lounge (1520 Eddy St.), a late-night jazz boîte serving BBQ and other Southern comfort food à la NYC's Blue Smoke.

I Tapas & Wine Bar: John Le, chef-owner of Three Seasons in San Francisco and Palo Alto, is poised for a late September opening of this International (hence the I in its name) small-plates restaurant and lounge at 445 Emerson St.; while his menu will include some contemporary Vietnamese riffs, he'll also present Latin-, Japanese-, Peruvian- and Italian-inspired tapas, along with a raw oyster bar.

Perbacco: Former Scala's Bistro chef Staffan Terje will resurface with this Italian eatery opening in October in the Financial District space that formerly housed the Gold Coast (230 California St.).

Pescheria: In late September, chef-restaurateur Joseph Manzare plans to open this Italian-American–inspired seafood restaurant in Noe Valley (1708 Church St.). It will feature an outdoor patio for weekend brunch.

Prana: Jamie Lauren has left Levende to head up the kitchen of this forthcoming restaurant and nightclub at 540 Howard St., opening in late September. The moderately priced Indian fusion fare will merge Lauren's French cooking technique and propensity for seasonal, organic products.

The Presidio: The Next Restaurant Row? A spate of exciting new eateries, many of them by well-established restaurateurs, are in the works to feed the projected 1,500-strong workforce generated by the arrival of Lucasfilm, which opened in June. This fall, Chez Spencer's Laurent Katgely will open La Terrace, a French bistro (215 Lincoln Ave.) featuring a wood-burning oven and a dining room, bar and patio designed by Michael Brannan (Cortez), all with views of the bay. At Presidio Social Club, the designer behind Slanted Door will transform the century-old Building 563 into a large, convivial all-day spot featuring American food with a twist, plus a full bar and a patio, to open by the end of the year. Also debuting this fall will be Pres a Vis, an offshoot of Walnut Creek's Va de Vi, which will serve globally inspired small plates in Building C of the Letterman Digital Arts Center, near the corner of Chestnut and Lyon streets.

Sam's Chowder House: Fresh seafood will be served with a real sea breeze at this New England–style fish shack, slated to debut the second week of October in Half Moon Bay (4210 N. Cabrillo Hwy., near Hwy. 1). Cetrella chef Lewis Rossman will consult on the menu, which will feature selections from a clam and oyster bar.

Salt House: The triumvirate behind Town Hall – brothers Steven and Mitchell Rosenthal and their partner Doug Washington – is planning this informal, modern-day tavern (slated to open at 545 Mission St. in October) modeled after England's gastropubs. The regularly changing menu will lean toward American-style seafood, and include updated classics like a burger on a pretzel-dough bun.

TWO: Early next year, David Gingrass plans to morph his long-running Hawthorne Lane at 22 Hawthorne St. into this new Mediterranean restaurant. Current chef Bridget Batson will continue to craft the menu, which will focus on pizzas, pasta and rustic meat preparations.

Weird Fish: The folks behind St. Francis Fountain are planning to open this sustainable-friendly Mission chippy and seafooder (2193 Mission St.) sometime in the fall.

Westfield San Francisco Centre: Fine dining in a mall setting seems counterintuitive in a cosmopolitan city like San Francisco, but when this upscale shopping complex (835 Market St.) opens on September 28th, Downtown diners will have a host of boldface restaurants to choose from. Notables include Straits Cafe, to be the only remaining city link of Chris Yeo's stylish Singaporean chain; Lark Creek Steak, a chophouse and seafooder from Bradley Ogden and Lark Creek Restaurant Group; 'wichcraft, an offshoot of Tom Colicchio's NYC eat-in/take-out sandwich cafe; Zazil, an upscale Mexican seafooder from the folks behind Colibrí Mexican Bistro; and Out the Door, another branch of the gourmet Vietnamese take-out shop, which stocks meal kits for signature Slanted Door items such as "shaking beef." The complex will also house a fancy food court with 15 fast-food venues serving on china, plus a mega Food Emporium run by Bristol Farms.

Also in the works... In Sonoma, New York City–based chef Jonathan Waxman (Barbuto) has scooped up the recently shuttered Lucy's restaurant at 6948 Sebastopol Ave., where he's planning a fall opening...The Chez Papa group is replacing La Suite with a new Pan-Asian small-plates restaurant, scheduled to open in late September...Sam Josi, a former Slanted Door sous-chef who now runs the popular Mamacita, will open a Vietnamese- and Japanese-influenced Asian street-food restaurant with his Mamacita partners at 2909 Webster St., where they're gearing for a November opening. The bi-level restaurant/lounge will exude the spirit of an izakaya, a Japanese-style pub, while offering a more traditional dining experience upstairs...Alumni of The Village Pub in Woodside are launching a yet-to-be-named New American in a soon-to-be-built shopping center in Granite Bay, a tony suburb of Sacramento (the center will also house a branch of Pizza Antica). The space will boast an 800-sq.-ft. deck overlooking a large pond; a fall opening is planned.

Washington, DC

Bebo Trattoria: Now that Galileo and the building it inhabits are closed for major renovations, Roberto Donna is moving his team to Crystal City (2250-B Crystal Dr.) to open this moderately priced Italian in late September.

Beck's: Robert Wiedmaier (Marcel's) has ambitious plans for this contemporary brasserie in a still-under-construction office building at 1101 K St. NW. Expect updated French and Flemish comfort classics like moules frites, plus a raw bar and a potato station, when it opens early next year.

BLT Steak: A DC offshoot of NYC chef Laurent Tourondel's New American steakhouse is in the works. Strategically positioned near the White House (1625 I St. NW), it should help slake the power crowd's cravings for slabs of beef when it opens in early November.

Café Bonaparte: The second location of this European cafe will take over the former Mantis space in Adams Morgan (1847 Columbia Rd. NW), where it will boast a sprawling outdoor cafe as well as some 140 seats (solving the complaint that the popular Georgetown original is too small). It will begin serving its trademark crêpes and bistro cuisine sometime this fall.

Central: Michel Richard's French-accented take on American bistro cooking (e.g. fried chicken) will find a home in December at a Downtown location (1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.) handy to the White House and Capitol Hill. A huge bar will serve cheese, meat and sushi platters and there will also be an outdoor terrace.

Clyde's Willow Creek Farm: Clyde's is opening a new branch in Loudon County (42920 Broadlands Blvd., Broadlands, VA) that will use timber from antique tavern and farm buildings to replicate a traditional American inn; it's scheduled to open this winter.

Comet Pizza: This Americana-themed offshoot (5037 Connecticut Ave. NW) of Buck's Fishing & Camping will debut in late September serving crisp-crusted pies and locally sourced salads in a retro setting with Ping-Pong tables, high-backed booths, knickknacks and a huge neon sign reclaimed from the defunct Comet liquor store in Adams Morgan.

D'Acqua: Chefs Francesco Ricchi (Cesco) and Enzo Febbraro (ex Filomena) are teaming up to open this Italian seafood restaurant in the Penn Quarter space (801 Pennsylvania Ave.) that once housed Signature's; it should be readied by the end of the year.

Famoso/M Cafe Bar: Famoso, a high-end Northern Italian in a glamorous setting, and M Cafe Bar, a chic rendezvous spot dispensing all-day Tuscan-accented snacks, sandwiches and espresso, will open in late September in the Collection at Chevy Chase (5471 Wisconsin Ave.), a luxury shopping complex dubbed the "Rodeo Drive of the East Coast."

Farrah Olivia: Chef Morou Ouattara (ex Signatures) will showcase distinctive, African-accented New American cuisine in the Old Town Alexandria dining space (600 Franklin St.) that last housed Blue Point Grill; an early October opening is planned.

Il Mulino: At this outpost of the NYC Italian classic, gut-busting, rustic fare will be ceremoniously served in the continental manner by a tuxedo-clad staff. Catering to Downtown heavy hitters, the clubby setting (1110 Vermont Ave. NW) will feature a large bar and private dining rooms when it opens in November.

Johnny's Half Shell: This seafood bistro is reopening in late September in a new, spacious Capitol Hill location (400 N. Capitol St. NW).

Locanda: Adding another modish option to the burgeoning Capitol Hill dining scene, this Italian (633 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) will pair cicchetti (tapas), as well as classic antipasti, pastas and entrees, with boutique vino. Expect an October debut.

Mia's Pizzas: At this American bistro opening on September 26th, brick-oven-baked pizzas and wood-roasted fish and fowl will be served in a modern, airy Bethesda setting (4926 Cordell Ave.) with french doors leading to an appealing courtyard.

Montsouris: This fall, the Dupont Circle space vacated by Johnny's Half Shell is being transformed into this offshoot of Capitol Hill's Montmartre; a French bistro and wine bar, it will offer classic Gallic small plates like bone marrow (eaten with a little spoon), charcuterie and, bien sûr, hanger steak.

Santo Pecado: Mauricio Fraga-Rosenfeld will add South American pizzazz to the burgeoning Clarendon-Ballston corridor (3409 Wilson Blvd.) with this Argentinean-themed restaurant and lounge, whose name translates as "holy sin"; its menu will focus on grilled meats and wine. It's slated to open in March 2007.

Also in the works... Super-chef Eric Ripert (of NYC's Le Bernardin) is working with the Ritz-Carlton (1150 22nd St. NW) on plans to revamp its restaurant, The Grill, into an organic American bistro with a setting modeled after NYC's Balthazar...A yet-to-be-named Paris-inspired bistro will open in the Willard InterContinental in early 2007, where it will offer an upbeat alternative to the more formal Willard Room.