new york | september restos, part two.

thirty days hath september and there are almost as many new restos popping up in the city this month. there's still more than enough time to cheese it up, drink new wine, snack on fries and enjoy high tea.

so cheesy. it was only a matter of time before soho hot spot delicatessen branched out. the mac ('n cheese) at macbar comes in versions like the mac reuben, made with braised corned beef and pickled sauerkraut with swiss; the mac stroganoff, made with a hearty helping of braised beef, stewed mushrooms and sour cream sauce; and the mac quack, a luscious mac and cheese dish made with duck confit, fontina, caramelized onion and herbs. now open. 54 prince street. at lafayette. 212.226.8877. www.macbar.net

salt to taste. caroline fidanza (diner, marlow & sons) is the force behind saltie, a cash café in williamsburg. chef fidanza is partnering with baker elizabeth schula and chef rebecca collerton (egg) on a menu featuring quick-serve foods like sandwiches, pastries, homemade ice cream and coffee from crop to cup and fresh fruit sodas. now open . 378 metropolitan avenue. at havemeyer. williamsburg. 718.387.4777.		crosby show. giant glass windows and metal sculptures decorate the lobby of the crosby street hotel. but your focus will be on the hotel's dining den, the crosby bar. featuring a long pewter bar manned by marshall altier (fatty crab, insieme, tailor), the spot will not only serve drinks, but all three meals and an afternoon tea, too. choose to have your cuppa inside or out in the leafy courtyard garden. opens late september. 79 crosby street. at prince. 212.226.6400. www.crosbystreethotel.com
rebirth. if you were a fan of soho's now shuttered cendrillon (pictured), make your way to BK to indulge in the filipino pan asian fare once more at purple yam. owners romy dorotan and amy besa have transplanted the resto to ditmas park. reclaimed wood floors are flanked by handmade booths and benches, and the room also boasts tall windows and a bamboo-covered backyard. and while the menu does brings back some of cendrillion's sig dishes, new ones like avocado and mushroom quiche, korean tofu soup and soju-based cocktails remind you to look to the new. opens late september. 1314 cortelyou road. between rugby and argyle. ditmas park. 718.940.8188. www.cendrillon.com		wine mixer. old and new play nicely at ardesia , hell's kitchen's newest wine bar located on the ground floor of a new residential building. a mix of new and classic wines make up the vino list, and there's an emphasis on region highlights. and to complement the pours? a bar menu of cheeses and charcuterie is also avail. opens late september. 510 west 52nd street. between 10th and 11th. 212.247.9191. www.ardesia-ny.com

prêt-a-boire. "ready to drink" is the motto at bar henry, and with a 100 bottle menu, that should be pretty easy to deliver. the list was developed by john slover (blue hill, cru) and is bookmarked with an ameri classics menu including roast chicken and steak. brass and copper emphasize the old world theme, as does the black-and-white marble floor and neon signage. now open. 90 west houston street. between thompson and laguardia place. no phone yet.

little star. fresh on the summer opening of his resto piccola cucina, chef philip guardione is already opening a spinoff. this time, foccacia is the focus for guardione at piccola cucina focacceria. tradish two-layer, thin crust focaccia di recco (a type of focaccia unique to the italian town of recca) is filled with italian crescenza cheese along with items like pesto, prosciutto and gorgonzola. want something sweet? save room for tiramisu and nutella crepes. opens late september. 120 macdougal street. at minetta. no phone yet.

New Opening: Upholstery Store

july 21, 2009 for julib.com

new york | up and at 'em.

making the most of every square inch, kurt gutenbrunner has expanded his resto empire and opened the upholstery store. 

next door to gutenbrunner's notable wallsé, the upholstery store sits in what was once the resto's storage room. but now it's ready to store you. the snug wine bar, which got its name from the sign above the 30-year-old shop (kurt couldn't bear to take it down), features a narrow bar with steel stools and an exposed brick wall where wine bottles are displayed on carved out shelves. make your way to the back and round the corner to find more seating in the form of a small communal table surrounded by a wooden banquette. the only addition to the sparse room is a set of photos from clifford ross, a longtime friend of gutenbrunner. for the moment, gutenbrunner is serving wine-friendly bites including meats, cheeses and olives to complement his 35-plus list of pours from around the world. miss some of wallsé's slow-cooked lobster and spaetzle? be nice and you might just get a plate from next door. but note: no credit cards, no ressies here. but regular customers have the option to open a house account. 

what you waiting for? you know the drill. the upholstery store. 713 washington street. at west 11th. no phone. now open. www.wallserestaurant.com

New Openings: André

André restaurant opened last night in the Upper East Side. The menu, Contemporary-French with American accents, directed by new Executive Chef Ted Pryor. Seasonal appetizers include Peekey Toe Crab Salad with pea puree, zucchini blossom’s and a mango vinaigrette; Jambon de Bayonne and Melon Trio with poppy seed vinaigrette and tender Lobster Ravioli with summer squash, baby basil and lobster bisque. Main courses feature several seafood options, including a Warm Poached Lobster Salad with baby golden beets and osetra caviar; Herb-Encrusted Rack of Lamb with haricot vert and pomme sarladaise; and Poached Copper River Salmon with marinated local tomato, snap peas and sauce vierge. Pasta lovers will appreciate Lightly Braised Maya Shrimp with fresh Tagliatelle and Fresh Pappardelle with morels and Jersey asparagus.

Since breakfast is the new power meal, stop in for homemade buttermilk pancakes or a yogurt and fruit rise & shine shake.

Designed by Jordan Mozer and nestled into the newly branded Renaissance Hotel, André will be open for breakfast Monday – Friday 7am – 11am and Saturday – Sunday from 8am – 11am; Brunch on Saturday & Sunday from 11:30am – 4pm; Lunch Monday – Friday from 11:30am – 3:30pm and Dinner Monday – Saturday from 5:30pm –11pm, closed for dinner on Sundays. For reservations call 212-688-3939 or visit www.opiarestaurant.com.

New Openings: The Standard Grill

as the song goes, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere, right? new york's newest hotel is hoping that's the case at the standard grill, opening friday.

the standard hotel reveals is dining digs this weekend, just in time for new yorkers eager to get a glimpse of the city from the nearby brand spanking new high line park. chef dan silverman (of lever house fame) is manning the proverbial and literal grill which will be full of the standard chophouse fare. think pork chops, whole fish and filet mignon, along with the seasonal slant that is the must-do these days. duck fat smashed potatoes and sautéed spinach are served up as sides, while decadent chocolate shakes and new york-style cheesecake will top off your calorie capacity. old world cocktails like the "gibson" and "bee's knees" will be the focus of the bar room, but don't miss the floor of the vast dining room, inlaid with more pennies than the trevi fountain. and as a nod to the city, look up to see subway tiles lining the vaulted ceiling. expect a magnificent roof deck and sausage-focused food court later this summer.

consider it a tough seat to beat. the standard grill. 846 washington street. at little west 12th. 212.645.4100. soft opening june 19th. reservations accepted starting june 22nd. www.standardhotels.com

DBGB Opens

new york | boulud gesture.

contributed by fabiana santana for julib.com

get your metro cards ready. daniel boulud brings his brand of burger to the bowery with DBGB kitchen and bar, opening friday. a little bit country and a little bit rock-n-roll, the menu at DBGB (for us, short for "daniel boulud good burger") is a touch of brasserie with a touch of bistro. exec chef jim leiken (db bistro moderne) will be executing the french american fare of charcuterie and shellfish platters, the world tour of house-made sausages and "tete au pied." don't know what that is? leave it for the diners who simply must have their fill of offal (veal tongue, bone marrow and pig's trotters dijonnaise). but if you're coming here for the burgers, then line up for the "yankee" (a traditional offering), the "piggie" (topped with daisy may's pulled BBQ pork and served on a cheddar corn bread bun), or the "frenchie" (topped with pork belly, arugula and caramelized onions). and proving that beer and burgers are the best of friends, boulud offers 22 beers on tap, 30 types of craft beers, and of course, a 70-bottle strong wine line. designed by thomas schlesser of design bureaux (who also did bar boulud (pictured)), appreciate the space's brooding medley of gray walls, dark muted accents against rich wood furniture and wrought iron metal details. still living in a white bread world? time to head downtown. DBGB kitchen and bar. 299 bowery. at east 1st. 212.933.5300. opens june 5th. www.danielnyc.com