New Openings: New York

september 13, 2011 new york | new restaurant openings.

with fall comes the end of fasting in the name of bikini season. celebrate autumn in new york with a burger on bowery, allegretti's rich french fare, john delucie's crown jewel, and then some. and the new restaurants this month are: delucie-ous.   john delucie (think waverly inn and the lion, pictured) has turned what was once bruno jamais into crown, his version of upper east side american. that means a wood-paneled lounge, mirrored bar, lots of vintage pics and drawings circa the 1890s, all surrounded by luxe velvet, leather, and loads of candlelight. as for food, the menu is executed by former gotham bar and grill chef de cuisine jason hall, with desserts by heather bertinetti (marea). now open. 24 east 81st street. between fifth and madison. 646.539.4880.     dream cuisine. indie film fare.   chef and neurologist miguel sanchez (of michelin-starred l'esguard in barcelona) seeks to satisfy your stomach and your senses at romera. expect a raw-centric menu and signature "aqua gourmand" pairings (arty water options, we think). the zen space is showered in white with a hanging herb garden, and custom light canopies over each table. the rooftop holds another garden and "estudio," a place to reflect with nature. opens mid september. at the dream downtown hotel. 355 west 16th street. between 8th and 9th. 212.929.5800.www.romeranewyork.com   jason denton ('ino, 'inoteca, corsino and betto) is running the david rockwell-designed eatery indie food and wine at lincoln center's new film forum. but it's chef rebecca weitzman (of park slope's thistle hill tavern) sending out the italian focused cafeteria-style lunch and dinner plates. think olive-oil poached tuna and slow roast beef in a sleek and minimal room with lots of wood accents. and for those who must have their popcorn fix, indie is offering up parmesan black truffle and salted caramel varieties at the concession stand. now open. 144 west 65th street. at broadway.     parlez-vous anglais. fine diner.   chef alain allegretti (petit maison, pictured) named his upcoming resto after a prominent boulevard in his native nice, france. naturally, the décor and menu follow suit. sea blue velour banquettes and murals brighten up la promenade des anglais which is also adorned with rich dark wood, brass, and a black-and-white marble floor. try scallops and zucchini provencal, plus snacks like lamb sliders on the bar menu. opens mid september. 461 west 23rd street. between 9th and 10th. 212.255.7400.www.lapromenadenyc.com   he mastered pizza at motorino. now, michelin-starred chef mathieu palombino is set to sling burgers, grilled cheese, belgian waffles and his favorite diner dish, the reuben, at the bowery diner. the 140-seat space is an ode to americana: red leather booths, giant globe lights and formica furnishings trimmed in stainless steel. a glass dessert case houses homemade doughnuts and mile-high meringues. opens late september. 241 bowery. at prince. 212.388.0052.www.bowerydiner.com

NY Openings: SL East Opens

june 29, 2011 the hamptons | SL east opens. even if you have no intention of reverting back to your night club days, you can still make a mental note that the tenjune team has landed in the hamptons with their latest venture, SL east. the part indoor, part outdoor space (opened courtesy of nightlife denizens eugene remm and mark birnbaum) will only be open on saturdays (and holiday weekend sundays). since music is the main draw, expect world-travelled DJs, plus a peppering of live performances. a separate bar and large, luxe cabanas set the scene outside and U-shaped banquettes punctuate the behemoth interior that will no doubt be packed this weekend with a gen of twenty somethings. been there, done that. but at least you can recommend it to your inner 24 year-old. SL east. 44 three mile harbor road. east hampton. 631.413.3538. now open.www.sleast.com

New Openings: The Dutch

may 17, 2011 new york | the dutch opens.

andrew carmellini's long-awaited soho hot spot the dutch has finally opened and it sticks to its roots. american ones, that is. un-upholstered chairs and benches set the front bar room, but try for seats at the blue-tiled oyster bar. got ressies? you'll dine in the back dining room that's decked out with oak furnishings and a working fireplace. (there's also a private room downstairs with its own entrance.) carmellini calls the menu american (not "new"). for dinner, try cornmeal-crusted oyster sandwiches, tripe simmered in beer with avocado, burgers using la frieda meat and orwasher's buns, braised grouper, rabbit pot pie and a selection of dry aged beef. when it comes to the bevs, it's all about the dark drinks, and the dutch has a long list of whiskeys and bourbons (corn, irish and even white moonshine varieties) to prove it. pies are made fresh daily, but the devil's food cake with black pepper icing, fudge sauce, and white russian ice cream brings some euro flair to the american list. don't pass on this dutchie. the dutch. 131 sullivan street. at prince. 212.677.6200. www.thedutchnyc.com



NYC Openings: What Happens When...Part 3

april 05, 2011
new york | what happens when opens.

an indecisive artist's fantasy, what happens when is an installation resto by john fraser (you may know if from dovetail). this month, it gets a design, cuisine and soundscape revamp just in time for spring.

movement three (the third in a series of nine) was inspired by renoir's "the luncheon of the boating party," and that means taking a trip to 1880s france without your passport or a time machine. elle kunnos de voss re-created the communal experience set in the painting by installing a 25-inch antique-looking awning across the space and a string of miniature bulbs like a garden party en provence. branch-like light fixtures and wall sconces made to look like still life, and a soundtrack by a brooklyn band (ball of flame shoot fire) complete the dining room's french feel. make sure to visit the boudoir-inspired restrooms for the complete experience. fraser's menu (presented on an artist’s palate) follows suit, as do the server uniforms sponsored this time around by betsey johnson, brandy melville and cole haan. the designer-clad crew will be presenting dishes that feature ingreds from classic 19th century banquets like artichoke salad with haricots verts, rabbit in filo, veal braise with herbs de provence and grilled swordfish with cranberry beans. come quick, this "movement" will be on the move in 30 days.

who knows what'll happen next. what happens when. 25 cleveland place. between kenmare and spring streets. 212.925.8310. now open. www.whathappenswhennyc.com



New Opening in NYC: Rockography

new york | rockography opens in chelsea.  fabiana santana.

don't be fooled, this is not a cheesy hard rock repeat.  yes, classic rock is celebrated at rockography café, but here it's done by those in the know.  photojournalist chris walter, who toured with the beatles, the who, and zeppelin, is responsible for the photos on the wall. and those unique shots from woodstock? taken by pulitzer prize nominated photog jason laure. trust3 hospitality (also known for spots like the griffin) brought these industry stars together.  as for the food, think americana with a rock-n-roll inflection. with options like frito pie chili with cheddar cheese and chipotle sour cream, or the monster 16-ounce "F.U. burger” topped with fried tomatoes, onion rings, velveeta, maple-glazed bacon and a fried egg, you may not even have room for deep-fried P.B. and J. for dessert. classic music videos, concert footage, and a vintage 1979 KISS pinball machine will keep you entertained while you wait for your table. or grab a spiked milkshake at the bar (which happens to be fashioned out of blue-lit marshall guitar amps). a beatles-themed brunch is on the weekend lineup, complete with a D.I.Y. bloody mary bar. when you want the music loud and the food at full tilt. rockography café. 504 sixth avenue. at 13th street. 646.360.4143. opens march 21st. www.rockographycafe.com