Restaurant Openings Report: Week Of September 7, 2014
New York
Lincoln Center Kitchen from chef Ed Brown opens September 18 inside Avery Fisher Hall. While Ed is the Chef/Innovator of Lincoln Center Kitchen, chef Daniel Anconetani (formerly of The Plaza and Tavern on the Green) will be the day to day chef. The menu will feature classic American fare with dishes like wild mushroom popovers, crispy baby chicken, jumbo lump crab cakes, bacon blue mac and cheese, and Bell & Evans chicken pot pie. The beverage menu will feature a selection of distinctive beers and local brews, acclaimed American and international wines, and cocktails. Signature bar snacks will complement the beverage menu and provide a light dining option. The restaurant will be open Tuesday through Saturday, 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. Lunch will be served on Fridays and Saturdays when there is a matinee show at Lincoln Center.
New Yorkers can now enjoy an artisanal Mediterranean meal or snacks in Midtown. Simit + Smith is introducing its latest location in the city at 1400 Broadway on Tuesday, September 16. This is the fourth Simit + Smith cafe to open since its debut to the city in 2012. A popular street food throughout the Mediterranean, simit is a thin twist of tasty artisan bread coated with crunchy sesame seeds. Crispy on the outside with light, fluffy bread inside, simits are made with all-natural ingredients, without fat or preservatives, and are hand rolled and baked fresh locally each day. The traditional simit is coated in healthy sesame seeds, but New Yorkers can also savor whole wheat and multigrain simits.
Mulino a Vino, the new Italian wine restaurant, has opened in the Meatpacking District with its kitchen headed by chef Davide Scabin. Guided by waiters in mini-sommelier capacities, guests can choose from among 50 different wines and experiment with different pairing options according to their personal taste. All wines are accompanied and enhanced by a Food List, which presents an extraordinary cuisine created exclusively for the wine menu and signed by Davide Scabin. Dishes are not categorized as appetizers, mains, or desserts, but instead presented as small, medium, and large plate options.
The French Cheese Board in midtown is showcasing The Cheeses of Europe campaign with a two-day pop-up shop located at 26 West 39th Street on September 12 and 13 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fragrant cheeses such as Comté Président, Butter Sea Salt Président, Fromage D'affinois, and many more are on sale; the photo exhibition Les Filles à Fromages is also on view in the space.
Closing
Celebrate the last warm days of the year on Saturday, September 13 as La Brisa in Montauk prepares to shutter for the season. There will be a guest DJ and the full dinner and cocktail menus will be available one last time. Enjoy traditional Sonoran-style tacos, classically served with thin slices of chicken, beef, and pork on paper thin corn tortillas, as well as local-caught fish tacos and ceviche.
Atlantic City, N.J.
Internationally celebrated chef, restaurateur, and television personality, Gordon Ramsay has announced a partnership with Caesars Entertainment to open his first restaurant in Atlantic City at the iconic center-Boardwalk casino resort of Caesars. Located in the space currently occupied by Mia restaurant, Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill will offer guests a sophisticated environment with a bit of "Garden State flair." Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill will take advantage of its location with a patio area extending onto the casino floor where guests can be in the middle of the action. Kegs will serve as a major part of both the dining experience and the design, while pop culture relics from both England and the United States will line the walls. The 250-seat restaurant will include a bar, vintage-style lounge, a series of casual dining rooms, and a private dining room, giving guests a variety of culinary experiences to fit any mood.
Starting September 15, Haru Sushi's Third Avenue location will be temporarily closing for renovations, which will include a new interior design complete with a full cocktail bar. Haru's Sake Bar, located just across the street from Haru Third Ave, will remain open and delivery service will be uninterrupted. Haru Third Ave is slated to re-open within two months of the renovation start date.
San Francisco
Chef Joshua Skenes and Adam Fleischman are announcing their joint plans to open the first Fat Noodle (面有福) restaurant at 92 Second Street. Slated for an end of 2014/early 2015 opening, Fat Noodle will be a fast-casual Chinese restaurant serving hand-pulled/ripped noodles and other bold interpretations of Chinese food classics. The restaurant will also offer infusions such as "five flower" tea, "pantyhose milk" tea, and yinyeung coffee, as well as beer and wine options. This will be the first collaboration between Skenes' Saison Group and Fleischman's AdVantage Restaurant Partners, and will be the first Chinese food concept from Fleischman, who has already opened the Umami Burger chain, 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria, and ChocoChicken.
101 California in San Francisco's Financial District is the new home of a dual dining concept, featuring Ken Tominaga's renowned ramen, and a stunning izakaya, bar, and lounge by Michael Mina. Architects have completed the renovation for the 10,000 square foot space, opening up the restaurant to the grand plaza, and creating outdoor patio seating and street level views into the bustling kitchen.
Kate Kolenda is the Restaurant/City Guide Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @BeefWerky and @theconversant.