Dish Archives
Monday Opening Report: Rhong-Tiam, Broadway East, The JakeWalk Certified Open, Rusty Knot Getting Close
This is the Monday Opening Report, a regular feature that provides the precise status of venues reported as open elsewhere. As per standard operating procedure around here, your contributions are so very welcome.
Image via Fists With Your Toes
1) Greenwich Village: Yesterday, Bret Thorn’s blog Food Writer’s Diary detailed a meal at new Thai joint, Rhong-Tiam, near NYU. Here’s the lowdown: “Rhong-Tiam, whose name translates to something akin to "inn," is owned by a Thai chap who goes by Andy Yang, although his actual name is Rachapas Yangeksakul, and Erik Cheah, a Malaysian who's an owner of a bunch of the Penang restaurants in New York City.” Andy Yang is also the chef behind the upcoming Kurve, of wacky signage fame. Status: Certified Open. 541 LaGuardia Place; 212-477-0600. [Food Writer’s Diary]
2) Williamsburg: Gothamist has it that juice joint, Refresh, opened in Williamsburg last week, but our plywood files tell us that in this case it’s actually a re-open. Details: “Aside from the fresh juice, Refresh serves smoothies, sandwiches made to order, pastries, bagels and coffee; a few seats and tables will make a great pit stop on the way to the subway.” Status: Unknown, phone line is not in service. 287 Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg; 718-384-0430. [Gothamist]
Updates right this way>>
Monday Opening Report: Palm Court, Bistro Milano, Lomito Certified Open, Ippudo Needs a Few More Weeks
This is the Monday Opening Report, a regular feature that provides the precise status of venues reported as open elsewhere. As per standard operating procedure around here, your contributions are so very welcome.
Ippudo, image via alexkane, won't open until the end of the month
1) East Village: The debut of Japanese ramen chain Ippudo has been eagerly anticipated by so-called "rameniacs" throughout the city who are dying to get a taste of the chain's "signature pork-based tonkotsu served with spicy miso sauce." Lady Strongbuzz reported back in February that the plywood would come down for an opening date sometime in the first week of March. Status: Not Open. Actual opening date is March 31st. 65 4th Avenue; 212-388-0088. [Strongbuzz]
2) Midtown: Closed since 2005, The Plaza’s Palm Court reportedly reopened this weekend with chef Didier Virot and pastry chef Nicole Kaplan at the helm. According to NewYorkology: “Only a few people were eating, but The Plaza's famed Palm Court was indeed open and serving tea and brunch on Sunday, marking the weekend the historic hotel reopened after three years and $400 million of renovations.” Status: Certified Open. The Plaza Hotel, Fifth Avenue/Central Park South; 212-759-3000. [NewYorkology]
Bistro Milano, Lomito, and more, right this way>>Mashups Gone Postal: NY Stuffed Idaho and Urban Lobster
We've seen our share of ingenious/successful mashups over the years (S'mac/Pinch, Taco Bell/KFC) as well as some unlikely ones (see esp. American Grill/Go-Go Curry!). Somewhere nearing the far end of the unlikely spectrum we have the very new NY Stuffed Idaho/Urban Lobster combo. To review, Urban Lobster was the initially exciting but ultimately disappointing seafood shop on Avenue A and East Houston Street. You may remember them for their souped up delivery mobile or that split second where they almost entered the city lobster roll race. But didn't. Apparently the whole seafood racket just wasn't doing it for them, so the owners have newly launched NY Stuffed Idaho Potato, a place that not only specializes in baked potatoes and their possible fillings but also charges $10 for them, enforces a $15 delivery minimum, and has nothing else on the menu except a Caesar salad and a dubious list of generic desserts. So now, as God obviously intended, LES/East Village eaters can get their $20 lobster roll right next to their $10 baked potato and can even finish with a $4 bowl of rice pudding should the mood strike. Life is good.
· Mashups Gone Wrong: American Grill/Go! Go! Curry [~E~]
· Low-Hi-Low Tech Watch: Urbanlobster.com Launches [~E~]
Monday Opening Report:
This is the Monday Opening Report, a new regular feature that will provide the precise status of venues reported as open elsewhere. As per standard operating procedure around here, your contributions are so very welcome.
Petraske's Mercury Dime, Pre-Plywood
1) East Village: The Hearth guys’ much-delayed wine bar, Terroir, of plywood fame, was listed in NYMag’s openings this week. As for the food: “Canora is reviving some of the Italian snacks he concocted at Craftbar, like his sausage-stuffed sage leaves and a signature panino of duck ham with hen-of-the-woods mushrooms and taleggio.” Status: Not Open. “Opening at the end of this week or early next week.” 413 E. 12th Street.; 646-602-1300. [NYM]
2) East Village: Sasha Petraske’s E. 5th Street project has been buzzed about for months, formerly as some Mighty Ocelot joint, a supposed beer and wine bar that was never to be (thanks to angry neighbors). According to NYMag’s Openings this week, Petraske teamed up with old friend T.J. Siegal to open The Mercury Dime, as it will be called, a coffee shop/cafe where: "Siegal plans to continue operating the café by day, with free Wi-Fi and a small menu of pastries and made-to-order sandwiches.” Status: Unknown. Listed number is out of service. 246 E. 5th Street; 212-533-3295. [NYM]
3) FiDi: The relative culinary void of Manhattan’s Financial District receives a new entry this week, (albeit just a burger joint), in the Burger Shoppe. NYMag reports on its opening with cheap eats details of: “$4 burgers, two-for-$5 hot dogs, and buttermilk-batter onion rings.” Status: Not open. Opening Friday the 29th. 30 Water Street; 212-425-1000. [NYM]
Updates, just a click away>>Adventures in Shilling #017: Commerce, La Zarza, Sakae Sushi
It's time for another edition of Adventures in Shilling, in which we fight shilling the best way we can, by shaming tasteless, unscrupulous shills into submission. Well, that's the plan, at least. Fight shills yourself by dropping offensive links to tips@eater.com.
This week the shills appeared in all the usual places: Yelp, Chowhound, the inbox, and include a surprisingly hostile thread from the comments on the new West Village restaurant Commerce. But let's start with our least suspicious shill and work our way to the top offender, shall we?:
The following, from Chowhound, could be an honest review, but keep in mind they are talking about The East Village NYU haunt, The Smith: "Agreed. It's a restaurant that has something for everyone, limited waits, friendly staff, and at a decent price point. Happy Food Slut pans it for a lot of the peripheral but doesn't focus on what the restaurant does best, which, as MomoMed points out is well-executed food (for the most part) at a good price. I've been there for both brunch and dinner and left satisfied both times..."Shills crossing into the 92% territory next.>>
Shill Probability: 34%And from the inbox, subject: dennis foy: "One of my favs that is a little out of the way but a jewel is starting lunch and brunch--this place is a sleeper with wonderful food so get it on your radar."
Shill Probability: 54%The comment thread on a post about Commerce is heavy on both the shill accusations and rebuttals. Here is the most suspect of the accused shills: "coming in the door on a cold night...great warmth and energy..lighting made us all look wonderful...meal was excellent cant get enough of the braised beef..wanted to slip the olive bread into my bag for breakfast....the sevice was good in spite of a full house...love the mural and the overall feeling of a friendly party going on around us! worth the trip from the upper east side...."
Shill Probability: 62%
Standard Hotel Approved for 2 Restaurants, 3 Bars, 621 Seats
From Standard Hotel's Construction Cam, updated every 15 min
Not everyone had a hard time at the full community board 2 meeting last night. Board members voted to approve full liquor licenses for both of Standard Hotel's planned restaurants. Both applications still have to go before the State Liquor Authority, but it's a good sign for team Balazs. The details for the two restaurants are still pretty thin, but here's what we've got so far:
1) The Standard Hotel and Ground Floor: The community board approved an "on premise license" for the 4,455 square foot restaurant with 375 table seats, one bar with 17 seats and a capacity 392. They squeaked in a sidewalk cafe but no backyard garden.
2) 18th Floor Bar and Restaurant: The nabe also approved this baby, coming in at a whopping 5,000 square feet. The 18th floor space will have 187 table seats, two bars with 42 seats and a capacity of 229.
· The Standard [Official Site]
· High Line Construction Chronicles: Step into the Standard [Curbed]
CB2 Has Their Way with Chris Eddy, Rejects Liquor License
Floor plans for the new space, submitted last month
Last we heard from 19 Kenmare, Nolita restaurateur Chris Eddy was appealing to the community to accept him and his vision to turn the ex-Forty Deuce space into a Japanese restaurant and a noodle bar with Omido chef Eiji Takase. The space will be divided into an 80 seat restaurant on one side and a 40 seat cafe and noodle bar on the other. Though Eddy has been campaigning all month to get the people behind him on this one, the full community board served up a conditional rejection of his liquor license application last night. As usual neighborhood crazies were out in droves calling Eddy dishonest and deceitful, citing quality of life issues, and saying the project is too similar to Forty Deuce. But Eddy still has a chance to get approval before going to the SLA, and by the sound of his speech at the public session—where he made the point that a sushi restaurant will be quieter than a lot of other possibilities out there—he's really trying here. To see what he's up against, we've got a sample of some of CB2's conditions.
The saga continues.>>Eater PSA: Most Socialista Patrons Already Screwed
In the wake of the Socialista Hepatitis A scare, widely reported on the blogs and the evening news, we decided to educate ourselves on the disease with a phone call to an epidemiologist and a check of the CDC website. Turns out there are two major issues at play here: the bartender was contagious for 15-50 days before feeling sick, and the window one has for getting a shot after being exposed is two weeks.
DICEY: Hepatitis A Scare at Socialista
According to news reports, one of the bar tenders at exclusive West Village restaurant and bar Socialista has come down with the very contagious, though for the most part non-fatal, disease Hepatitis A. Health department officials are offering free vaccinations to anyone who visited the place after 8pm on February 7th & 8th and after 10pm on the 11th. The Newsday article explains how you'd get it: "The hepatitis A virus is found in fecal matter. If someone with the disease doesn't wash his or her hands properly and handles food or drinks, the virus can be spread. Hepatitis A is rarely fatal. Most people recover within a few weeks." The real question: how did this "Hep A" dude get past the doorman?
· NY Health Department Offers Hepatitis A Shots to Bar Patrons [Newsday]
Help Wanted: Eater Intern
Junior eaters, your day has come: Eater is in the market for new editorial interns. Your job will incorporate various facets of real life blogging and journalism: pitching in with new features, gathering intel, and, we promise, so much more. Hours are incredibly flexible but we're looking for around 10-15 a week. Duration is indefinite; the pay is nonexistent. Do it for the glory.
If you're interested, drop an email to jobs@curbed.com with the subject header "Intern," explaining your interest in the gig in no more than two paragraphs. (If you've got a blog, be sure to tell us about it.) No resumes or other attachments, please. If we like what we see, we'll get back to you quickly.
Thursday Opening Report: Olana, Weather Up Certified Open, NY Steak and Burger on Monday
This is the Thursday Opening Report, a new regular feature that will provide the precise status of venues reported as open elsewhere. As per standard operating procedure around here, your contributions are so very welcome.
1) Tribeca: Potential trademark infringement notwithstanding, spanking new meatery NY Steak and Burger plans to open in Tribeca "next week" according to Bottomless Dish. Menu details are scarce but a full bar will accompany the obvious array of steer-driven specialties. Status: As of now, opening Monday. 369 Greenwich Street; 212-625-1010. [Bottomless Dish]
2) Prospect Heights: Cutty has it that Weather Up, the eagerly anticipated schmancy Brooklyn cocktail bar is open for business. The pedigree here, with a partner from East Side Company Bar and bartenders trained by cocktail king Sasha Petraske, is reason enough for all the pre-opening buzz. An accidental Yelp walk by confirms the open. Status: Certified Open. 589 Vanderbilt Ave., Brooklyn; no phone. [Cutlets]
And to review Tuesday's listings:
3) Murray Hill: The much delayed opening of Olana finally went down on Tuesday night. Bottomless Dish checks in with a preview: "The lowdown: vast cherry-wood accented space with red-shaded chandeliers and an intriguing menu with the likes of burnt orange and goose ravioli; monkfish osso buco; and rabbit stuffed with dried apricots and foie gras." Status: Certified Open. 72 Madison Avenue; 212-725-4900. [Bottomless Dish]
4) Cobble Hill: TONY had the scoop on the new Red Deli: "This casual delicatessen from chef and restaurateur Charlie Statelman (Wombat, Patois) and partner Matthew Murphy opens next door to their recently revamped Café on Clinton." Status: Remains unconfirmed, no phone yet. 264 Clinton St, Cobble Hill; No Phone Yet. [TONY]
Children, Wearing Cute Chefs Hats, Battle for Iron Chef Title
We may focus a lot of attention on celebrity chefs, successful New York restaurateurs, and characters like Dave "Mayor of the East Village" Chang, Danny "Future Mayor of New York" Meyer and Keith "Mayor of Whatever he Pleases" McNally, but you know who the real stars are? Do you? We'll tell you: The children. And more specifically, New York children and soon to be rising star chefs who competed in the precious "Manhattan After School Iron Chef" competition yesterday. The city pitted winners from 11 after school programs against one another to win the coveted title of Iron Chef (though we'r guessing they won't have to defend the title against challengers in the coming weeks). The secret ingredient: milk! The celebrity judge: Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe! The winning dishes: Majarete, a Dominican-style corn pudding and a “blueberry razzle” smoothie! Congrats kiddos, and welcome to the big leagues.
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