1. Faustina
25 Cooper Sq., nr. 5th St. 212-475-3400
Scott Conant’s Italianate remake of the short-lived Table 8 mingles hotel chic with gourmet grub like lobster “susci” and date pudding.
2. Hecho en Dumbo
354 Bowery, nr. 4th St. 212-937-4245
Dumbo General Store’s in-house cantina relocates to the old Marion’s space this week, with an expanded menu of homey but sophisticated Mexico City cooking. Some new and noteworthy dishes include camarones a la diabla on radish slaw, and guinea- hen confit in a mole made from chiles grown by chef Danny Mena’s mother.
3. Restaurant at Great Jones Hotel
25 Great Jones St., nr. Lafayette St.; open date TBA
Todd English is attached to this pending project, which has already ruffled some neighborhood feathers.
4. Japan Premium Beef, Inc.
57 Great Jones St., nr. Bowery; 212-260-2333
This boutique butcher displays its pristine cuts of Washugyu, an Oregon-raised cross between Japanese Wagyu and American Angus, like precious (and pricey) jewels.
5. Bohemian New York
57 Great Jones St., nr. Bowery no phone
Quasi-private restaurant and lounge, with a civilized vibe, cool design, and eclectic menu that runs from soy-glazed, deep-fried Japanese sweet potatoes to smoked meats from a Brooklyn-based French charcutier.
6. Freemans project; name TBA
325 Bowery, at 2nd St. opens late spring
Freemans partners Taavo Somer and William Tigertt, and chef Preston Madson, bring American food (and taxidermy?) to the bi-level former Kelley & Ping space.
7. Double Crown and Madam Geneva
316 Bowery, at Bleecker St. 212-254-0350
British Colonial–themed cuisine and cocktails from the Public-AvroKo crew.
8. Bespoke Chocolates
6 Extra Pl., nr. 1st St. 212-260-7103
Pretzel-covered, sea-salted caramels and other finely wrought bonbons in a semi-hidden location.
9. Veselka Bowery
9 E. 1st St., nr. Bowery opening late 2010
A more upscale version of the beloved East Village coffee shop will supplement pierogi and cabbage soup with vodka and caviar.
10. DBGB Kitchen and Bar
299 Bowery, nr. Houston St. 212-933-5300
Daniel does burgers, dogs, and ice-cream sundaes with all the requisite refinement, plus a serious beer list.
11. Pulino’s Bar and Pizzeria
282 Bowery, at Houston St. 212-226-1966; opens for breakfast and lunch March 10, dinner March 29
Two wood-fired ovens, a butchering room, and Beard Award–winning chef Nate Appleman inhabit Keith McNally’s latest extravaganza (see more here). The twelve-inch pies will be, says Appleman, crisp, thin, resolutely unfloppy, and crafted from cheese and tomato sauce sourced from Jersey, and dough will be made there as well (at Balthazar Bakery HQ).
12. The National
8 Rivington St., nr. Bowery 212-777-2177
A tiny, stylish nook nabbing Freemans overflow with fish tacos, lobster rolls, and a well-received blue-cheese burger.
13. Rhong-Tiam @ Collective Hardware
169 Bowery, nr. Delancey St. opens this spring
Andy Yang has a 30-year lease on this five-floor building, where he’s planning a Thai restaurant and a rooftop bar.
See Also:
The Restaurant Auteur: Keith McNally on Opening Pulino’s