Restaurant Openings Report: Week Of December 7, 2014
Dallas
East Hampton Sandwich Company, with three locations in north Texas, has plans to expand in the Dallas metro area with three new locations in 2015, and four more locations covering other areas of the state in 2016. Founder and Dallas native Hunter Pond found a niche in the sandwich market by fostering a culture of excellence in every ingredient that goes into their sandwiches, not just the bread. The menu boasts a variety of contemporary options including the turkey, bacon, and avocado sandwich, a lobster roll, and a fried chicken and Monterey Jack cheese.
Japan and Taiwan
Portland, Ore.'s beloved Voodoo Doughnut plans to open 12 to 20 stores in both Japan and Taiwan over the next three years, with their flagship locations opening in Tokyo and Taipei around June 2015, reports The Oregonian. Their fritters will be fried in-house and will be allowed to create their own varieties that tailor to local culinary traditions. Voodoo Doughnut is also planning to open a fifth domestic brick and mortar location, though they will only divulge that it will be the farthest east outpost, and will open around June 2015, as well.
Los Gatos, Calif.
David Kinch's two-Michelin-starred restaurant, Manresa, will reopen on New Year's Eve after suffering major kitchen damage during a two-alarm fire in July. Read the full story here.
Miami
The Miami Beach outpost of chef Michael Mina's award-winning Las Vegas restaurant, StripSteak, is now open, located off the historic chateau lobby of the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. The menu offers à la carte cuts of steak (many of them from the hotel's on-site aging room and butcher shop), as well as signature specials that often stray from expected steakhouse fare.
New York
Food truck Takumi Tacos, which frequents Madison Square Eats and Smorgasburg, is opening its first permanent location in Chelsea Market. Co-owner Derek Kaye will be opening an expanded version of the food truck with Bond Street executive chef Marc Dixon called Takumi, which will include a full menu of burritos, burrito bowls, and bento boxes. An array of Mexican beer, wine, and soju will be added in the upcoming weeks. Takumi will be taking over the space occupied by Liddabit Sweets in the kiosk portion of the market with a 12-seat countertop. Liddabit Sweets is moving into the seasonal spot usually occupied by People's Pops.
Seattle
Partners John Sundstrom, JM Enos, and Kelly Ronan have announced the opening of their restaurant Lark in its new home, as well as Bitter/Raw, an amaro and crudo bar situated on a mezzanine above the restaurant. The larger space for Lark means a larger menu—one similar to the menu on 12th Avenue, but with a few more options available, like house bread with salted butter and smoked lardo ($5); Lark's first burger, made with St. Helen's beef and served with cheddar and smoked mayonnaise on a duck cracklin' bun ($14); and chittara with Meyer lemon, scallion, uni, and bottarga ($20).
Closing
New York
Tea Lounge, on Union Street near Seventh Avenue, will be shutting its doors on Sunday, December 14, reports Here's Park Slope. News of the closing came as a surprise to customers and staff alike, and the popular neighborhood hangout will be missed.
Kate Kolenda is the Restaurant and City Guide Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @BeefWerky and @theconversant.