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• The Red Hook vendors have returned! Prices are “ever-so-slightly higher” and only six out of ten stands are open, owing to pending DOH approval, but they’re back. [Eater]
• Apparently in Brooklyn it’s acceptable to rent out restaurants for nude dinner parties. [NYP]
• Club-related crime, general debauchery, and puking all appear to be on the rise in the still-not-dead club scene in Chelsea. [NYP]
Hasta la vista, El Cid.Photo: Robert K. Chin
Related: Ilan Hall to Be Chef at Spanish Meatpacking-District Venture?
Tapas to Settle Into Chelsea and Williamsburg
Amagansett: Eli Zabar is going to operate the farmers' market from now on, but promises to "preserve the old-fashioned character of the property." [Gridskipper]
Chelsea: Tocqueville and Bouley alum chef George Mendes is opening an Iberian spot called Aldea, which will actually serve meals instead of tapas and open by the end of the year at 31 West 17th Street. [NYT]
East Village: Billy Joel told Details he likes Ballato for Italian food. It's the same answer his wife gave in an interview last November, so at least we know they're on the same page. [Detailsvia Eater]
Long Island: The first outlet of what will be Bobby Flay's burger chain, Bobby's Burger Palace, opened yesterday in a Lake Grove mall. [Hamburger Today]
Midtown East: A steakhouse called Club A has opened in the townhouse formerly occupied by Bruno's Restaurant, at 240 East 58th Street. There's a Bobby Van's–trained chef in the kitchen and an American Kobe Tomahawk rib eye on the menu. [Bottomless Dish/Citysearch]
Times Square: The original location of speakeasy turned steakhouse Frankie and Johnnie's is closing, though the owners haven't confirmed when. The spot's been open for more than 80 years. [Lost City]
Williamsburg: Tapas will enter the 'burg by the fall when Bar Celona opens at 98 South 4th Street. The cocktail program is in the hands of the team that created the beverages for new taqueria Mercadito Cantina. [NYS]
At last, indeed.Photo: Daniel Maurer
The Biltmore Room as it was.Photo: Yun Cee Ng
When we last checked in with the Roxy, a Community Board 4 member told us it was looking good for the club to reopen and host roller skating nights, but the owners didn’t show to a meeting. Now almost a year later, it seems like they may have their paperwork in order, based on podcaster Joe Caro’s rallying call.
Astoria: Mundo's hosting a gluten-free dinner on July 9. [Joey in Astoria via Astorians]
Carroll Gardens: Some cocktail enthusiasts are already musing that the Clover Club gets it right, but there are a few critics scolding the spot for being too contrived. [Eater]
Chelsea: Big Booty Bread Company's going on vacation and, we hope, not a permanent one. The plan is to reopen July 17. [Blog Chelsea]
Murray Hill: Frank Bruni seems annoyed that Country's reinventing itself as a steakhouse and fears even more steak annexes, though he concedes, "Maybe the food at the forthcoming Country Steak will be more imaginative and surprising than that name." [Diner's Journal/NYT]
Park Slope: Check out the nice up-skirt snapshots of the pizza (and a Nutella calzone) at one of Rob and Robin's Brooklyn-pizza picks, Toby's Public House. [Slice]
West Village: The "hard"-frozen-yogurt spot opening on Bleecker and Grove streets is called Eskimix. [Eater]
At her old location.Photo courtesy of Frying Pan
Frying Pan Update: Not Sizzling Just Yet [Urbanist/amNY]
Earlier: Frying Pan Will Reopen This Weekend
At her old location.Photo courtesy of Frying Pan
1OAK, the almost-meatpacking lounge that revels in pistol imagery, is feeling some heat on the blogosphere — on Monday, Down by the Hipster reported the club was raided, and, although that seems to have been misinformation (denials were issued to both us and to DBTH), Gawker is now reporting on an actual incident that occurred there around 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday. An eyewitness tells the site that two individuals were attacked by a man who used a homophobic slur. One of the victims ended up needing stitches after being rushed to the hospital, and yet the eyewitness claims that 1OAK owners Scott Sartiano and Richie Akiva told him not to call 911 or take an ambulance. A 1OAK rep denied that version of events to us and sent the following official statement:
Chelsea: Appellation Wine & Spirits is hosting a summer-solstice wine tasting tonight, with help from Chelsea Market's Green Table restaurant, who'll provide the "duck rillettes on house-made blue-corn crackers, organic fresh crudités with seasonal dips, [and] cheese and grilled bread." [Strong Buzz]
Cobble Hill: The pop of the owner of Sam's Restaurant, at 238 Court Street, talks about pizza-making in this video about some of the neighborhood's old-school spots. [Slice]
East Village: Mercadito Cantina is opening on Monday at 172 Avenue B with a taco-centric menu that lets you make your own and pay by the kilo, plus specialty cocktails. [Grub Street]
Midtown West: To tenderize octopus for Kellari Taverna owner Gregory Zapantis's grilled recipe (which seems to be missing the grilling step), you should place it "in a washing machine, putting it through one cycle. Five octopuses can be done at one time in the machine." Who knew? [Restaurant Girl]
Tribeca: A potential diner is taking issue with Matsugen for not being able to hold his 11 p.m. reservation, even though the receptionist explained that "at that point [11 p.m.], it's going to be really awkward — you'll be the only people in the restaurant." [Eater]
Upper West Side: Eighty One has created a special summer prix fixe that's only $42, for two courses. [Zagat Buzz]
Astoria: A Brazilian spot called Samba Grill is opening soon at 29-17 23rd Avenue. [Foodista]
Chelsea: The waiters at new wine bar Bar Baresco could use a bit more training; somehow "the older one is probably better" doesn't really cut it. [Bottomless Dish/Citysearch]
Clinton Hill: Boca Soul on Fulton has closed, and a restaurant called Dajeh will take its place. [Clinton Hill Blog]
Flatiron: When ordering a pizza topped with chicken, bacon, and chipotle from Waldy's, you might want to try placing "two slices cheese side together" to pretend you're eating a sandwich, since the crust there is so tough. [Slice]
Gowanus: Work hasn't been done on the Whole Foods site in a year. [Gowanus Lounge]
Hell's Kitchen: NYC ICY opens Wednesday at 628 Tenth Avenue between 44th and 45th Streets with "flavors such as wild strawberries and cream (the berries, like the icy-making equipment, are imported from Italy), banana and dairy-free grape made from fresh Concords." But they've had an even larger shop open in the Kensington section of Brooklyn since last week. [TONY]
Lower East Side: Adam Kuban appreciates a slider list as much as the next burger lover, but "Shopsin's sliders are as good or better than many on Danyelle Freeman's list." [A Hamburger Today]
Tribeca: Matsugen's "menu ranges from the affordable (soba for $14) to the excessive (wagyu for $135)." [Eater]
East Village: Telephone Bar & Grill is hosting a benefit for the children of Nepal on Sunday, June 1. [Grub Street]
Hell's Kitchen: Soho's Mooncake Foods has opened a second, much larger location at 263 West 30th Street. [Flickr]
Lower East Side: Good luck re-creating wd~50's recipe for almond-ice-cream "rocks," which calls for twenty grams of dextrose and bitter foam, among other ingredients. [Restaurant Girl]
Meatpacking District: Scarpetta's off to a strong start. Even if someone steals a slice of steak from you. [Eater]
Midtown East: The Pranzo pizza truck is missing, because it's up for sale. [Midtown Lunch]
Midtown West: On Monday, a theater company will perform bits from its upcoming adaptation of Molière's Monsieur de Pourceaugnac at D'Or, in the Dream Hotel. [Zagat Buzz]
Nolita: The bartenders at the reincarnated Randolph, which will open at 319 Broome Street this weekend, have a Milk & Honey pedigree and the best in specialty ice, which is made to melt slower, so your drink stays colder (and less watery) longer. [Grub Street]
Tribeca: West Broadway's getting a Le Pain Quotidien; this could fill the void of the Chambers Street Ceci-Cela, which closed late last year due to rising rents. [Eater]
West Village: Pichet Ong serves serves house-made ginger, passion fruit, and calamansi sodas at P*Ong. [Grub Street]
Jamison Blankenship, left, and Robby Cook, right: the men behind Morimoto.Photo: Melissa Hom
Names: Jamison Blankenship and Robert Cook
Age: 37 and 29, respectively
Restaurant: Morimoto
Backgrounds: Blankenship, Morimoto’s chef de cuisine, grew up in New Orleans, but didn't start in the restaurant business until he was 31. He worked in Washington’s famous Citronelle, and for two years had his own restaurant in D.C., before joining Morimoto as a sous-chef when it opened two years ago.
Cook, the restaurant's head sushi chef, had a Lana Turner moment as a sushi assistant at Koi: Masaharu Morimoto came in, saw Cook working the line, and offered him a job on the spot.
Astoria: El Jamon has yummy garlic-shrimp toast. [Joey in Astoria]
Chelsea: There's a singles wine-tasting event at 16 West 23rd Street next Thursday, and it includes cheese and chocolate. You can get tickets by e-mailing info@swirlevents.com. [Grub Street]
Downtown Brooklyn: At Juniors, "I am sure there was a time when the burger here was quite good, but sadly that time has passed." [Hamburger Today]
East Village: A self-serve, pay-by-the-ounce frozen-yogurt spot called 16 Handles is coming to Second Avenue between 9th and 10th. Does that mean sixteen flavors!?! [Eater]
Flatiron: Hill Country is serving brunch, featuring house-smoked bacon, chicken-fried steak, huevos rancheros, and other Texas grub. [Grub Street]
Over at Vanishing New York, Jeremiah Moss suspects that restaurateur Danny Emerman is behind a new restaurant on 17th Street and Ninth Avenue. A mangled spelling of Barocco is on some documents taped to the building, but Emerman denied involvement to us, adding that his relationship with Barocco ended a decade ago. Barocco's current owner, Cristina Orosco, says the new outpost, a slightly larger and more upscale version of the Union Square standby, will be called Barocco Café. Barring delays, she expects to open the restaurant at the end of May or beginning of June.
The Emerman Cometh [Vanishing New York]
Chelsea: After nine years, the Red Cat will start serving lunch Tuesday through Saturday; look for chopped salmon salad with sprouts and spicy mayo and a barbecued corned-beef sandwich covered in Gruyère and sided by homemade chips. [Grub Street]
Dumbo: Hecho en Dumbo is hosting Jarana Beat and Mexico City’s Nacotheque and serving special menus tonight to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. [Dumbo NYC]
East Village: Matilda's looking to highlight "fierce" chefs à la Iron Chef at a monthly Cooking Slam "where contestants create a TUSC-MEX meal with a minimum of three courses, using ingredients previously chosen." The winner's dishes get stolen featured on the restaurant's menu. [TONY] Bowery Electric was raided early Saturday morning but was open again later that night. [Down by the Hipster] The formerly American Grill, formerly Kiev space has already reopened as Song 7.2 to serve Asian cuisine. [Eater]
West Village: Market Table makes a mean chocolate pudding, with mellow hazelnut notes and whipped cream. [Bottomless Dish/Citysearch]
Astoria: Ovelia's added its lunchtime fav, the Kobe Beef slider, to its happy hour menu. [Joey in Astoria]
Chelsea: 1 Oak is hosting a fundraiser tonight for pint-size victims of AIDS in Africa, and one of the raffle prizes is a session with Diddy's stylist. Way to help while keeping it trendy guys. [Down by the Hipster]
Coney Island: The Island is about to get cheesier, but in a bad way, with help from the Hard Rock Cafe, Virgin Records, and Madame Tussaud's. [Brownstoner]
East Village: The American Grill/GoGo Curry hybrid has given up its space to new owners and Asian cuisine, but is there any hope for the next incarnation of the corner spot with a "Kiev Curse?" [Eater]
Lower East Side: A poll of over 100 people concludes the Box has become sort of lame with one commenter noting "I know clubland regulars who get hassled at the door, while friggin Russians and Lithuanians who can barely speak English have bribed their way in." Not cool. [Down by the Hipster]
Chelsea: Even nightclubs make late-night liquor runs: Suzie Wong's supposedly did last night. [Down by the Hipster]
East Village: Dirty corner restaurant Bamboo, believed by some who once lived down the block to be a front, finally closed, and an outlet of the Thai chain Spice is moving in. [Eater]
Fort Greene: If Brooklyn Flea's sweets and treats are not enough to hold you over for a day of bartering on Sunday, you can head to one of these nearby spots for brunch. [Zagat Buzz]
Midtown West: Kellari Taverna (and Parea) will have live music and lamb feasts this Sunday to celebrate Greek Easter. [Grub Street]
Soho: Grandaisy has started selling iced coffee. [Grub Street]
Last week it was announced Rick’s Cabaret bought Scores-Las Vegas for $21 million, and there’s reason to believe a similar buyout may occur here. The Observer today reports that testosterzone Scores West has between $1 million and $10 million in debt and has filed for bankruptcy on the heels of being busted for prostitution, losing its liquor license, and getting sued for tip skimming and sexual harassment. It’s hard out there for an alleged pimp.
Show Me Your Assets! Busted Strip Club Bares All in Bankruptcy Filing [NYO]
Astoria: In honor of Tax Day, Dunkin' Donuts is giving away a free doughnuts with each purchase of a hot cup of joe. Luckily, the chain has plenty of locations in the neighborhood where you can take advantage of the special. [Joey in Astoria]
Chelsea: Looking for a good venue to host a party with kids in tow? This party planner ignored a blogger's suggestion to go to Buddakan, of all places, but Ruby Foo's didn't make a much better alternative. [Bottomless Dish/Citysearch]
Cobble Hill: Cobblestone Foods will prepare brisket with dried apricots, poached salmon, and caramel matzo among other Passover-friendly foods for your Seder, as long as you place an order by tomorrow. [Strong Buzz]
Harlem: On April 22, the Hudson River Café will host a spring festival that combines outdoor grilling and lots of wine tasting. [Grub Street]
Tribeca: Rockwell Group didn't actually have much to do with the design of the Greenwich Hotel and, within it, Ago ; the design firm Grayling is responsible for the thousands of corks, which no one noticed, among other details, such as the entire exterior of the building. [Down by the Hipster]
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain...Photo courtesy Bar Baresco
The hipster's Coyote Ugly.Photo: Gerhard Stochl
Astoria: Winegasm wine bar opens Saturday at 31-86 37th Street; the owners hope to be welcomed into the community, despite having chosen a "controversial" name. [Joey in Astoria]
Chelsea: Taking a step back from scrutinizing restaurant faux pas (like refilling almost-full wine glasses), Bruni spotlights a good deed at Crema as evidence of how some restaurants also go beyond what they are obliged to do. [Diner's Journal/NYT]
Gramercy: Jason Denton's Italian trattoria, Bar Milano, hopes to make an early-April debut. [Eater]
Greenwich Village: The Waverly Restaurant is getting a new neon sign, but hopefully it won't differ too much from the old one. [Lost City]
West Village: Fedora on, West 4th Street, is a throwback to the fifties in look and clientele: "Aside from the sprightly, nearly-ninety Fedora Dorato — who owns the restaurant and still makes all the food — it was ALL men." [Eater]
Bay Ridge: Symphonia Restaurant opens today at 6762 Fourth Avenue, with gyros! [Bay Ridge Blog]
Carroll Gardens: Jake Walk is already buzzing with drinkers, and "wine, cheese, and little snacks are keeping the yuppies happy," in a good way. [A Brooklyn Life]
Chelsea: Soul Fixin's Restaurant is open on West 28th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, whether or not you appreciate the apostrophe in its name. [East Village Idiot]
Long Island City: Hunter's Point Wines & Spirits is hosting an organic- and biodynamic-wine tasting tonight from 6 to 8, but you should RSVP. [Joey in Astoria]
Midtown East: Benjamin Steakhouse in Grand Central is open for late lunch from 3 to 6. [Grub Street]
Midtown West: Fred Dexheimer has been appointed national wine and beverage director for the BLT group. [Grub Street]
Soho: On April 1, Sanctuary T will start a monthly series on the origins and harvesting of tea. A $10 suggested donation goes to City Harvest. [Zagat Buzz]
West Village: True, this mint cookie from Milk and Cookies looks awesome, but better than a Thin Mint, blogger? Thin ice. [NewYorkology]
Williamsburg: Are Anytime's tots safe from Realtors?! [I'm not saying, I'm just saying]
Earlier, we reported a rumor that Passerby is closing this next Saturday. We’ve now received word from owner Toby Cecchini, whose book Cosmopolitan chronicles a day in the life of the bar, that the last night will actually be March 29, though it will probably be a private affair. Although Cecchini still has seven years left on the lease, he says his landlord is prying him out under a “demolition clause,” since he’s demolishing the building in order to convert another building down the block to condos. Cecchini doesn’t have plans or a space for a new bar yet, and, even if he did, he says, “It could take me a year and a half. What I really want is the bar I’ve nurtured for the last ten years, and that ain’t gonna happen.” It’s undetermined whether patrons will be allowed to pour one out on the bar’s light-up dance floor.
Take one last look..Photo: Shanna Ravindra
Related: Passerby Hasn't Quite Passed On
Bedford-Stuyvesant: Egg didn’t make this list of top southern eats, but Five Spot Soul Food at 459 Myrtle Avenue was picked as a fave since dishes like Kentucky Turkey Chops and Charleston Low Country Smothered Chicken "sound good" even if they’re not necessarily authentic classics. [Gridskipper]
Chelsea: Klee Brasserie's open for brunch and dinner on Easter, and you can order the "Thinly Sliced Easter Ham & Bio Egg," which combines honey-glazed ham, deviled eggs, and capers, at both seatings. [Grub Street]
Lower East Side: The new vegetarian restaurant Broadway East adds to its sustainability cred by featuring local beer and wine. [Zagat Buzz]
Midtown East: The first soft-shell crabs of the season are now available at the Oyster Bar. [Grub Street]
