Weekly Opening Report: The Week Of October 7, 2013
Every week, we take a look at some of the restaurants that have opened or will soon open across the country. Here's this week's roundup:
Kokum: Featuring the original and authentic cuisine of the Kerala region in Southern India, this restaurant, named after an Indian fruit often used as a souring agent in Indian cooking, just opened in Curry Hill, according to a press release. Some items on the menu include goat curry, pan-fried fish in red masala, and lentil coconut soup.
NUCHAS: Marking the two-year anniversary of its flagship empanada kiosk in Times Square, Nuchas is opening a kiosk in Greeley Square on Nov. 11, according to a press release. Open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., the new kiosk will offer empanadas such as shitake curry, jambalaya, and apple, cranberry, and Nutella to name a few on the menu.
The Rink at Rockefeller Center: In its 77th year, the international landmark will be opened on Oct. 14 by the Rockettes and two-time Olympic medalist and World Champion figure skater Elvis Stojko, according to a press release. The Rink offers new entertainment and dining packages with advanced reservations available that can be booked for the first time online.
Suite 36 Restaurant & Lounge: A restaurant and sports bar during the day that transforms into a nightclub, Suite 36 offers a "sleek and edgy vibe" and a "cosmopolitan atmosphere without the hassle of the velvet rope," according to a press release. The venue boasts a 50-foot bar and communal tables as well as 38 TVs. Chef Kirk McKinney creates a "refined gastro menu with Hawaiian influences" with more than 50 items, ranging in price from $8 to $32, to choose from, including lobster corn dogs, Hawaiian pulled pork sandwiches, and grilled grass-fed rib-eye.
TAO Downtown: Able to seat 400 people, this newly-opened Asian restaurant in Chelsea consists of "throbbing beats" and theatrical decor," according to Grub Street. Some items on the menu inlcude hot edamame, lobster wontons, and pork belly black rice.
Florida
Blackbrick: Presenting "classic, soulful Chinese cuisine with a modern twist," this restaurant is opening in Midtown Miami in November, according to a press release. Authentic dishes including soy-milk pancakes with smoked pork and house-made, hand-cut noodles prepared by chef Richard Hales will be featured on the menu.
Bocce Bar: The first official bocce court in Miami along with a Mediterranean-style outdoor café will open at Bocce Bar in Midtown Miami in December, according to a press release. Chef Timon Balloo of SUGARCANE raw bar grill offers a small plate sharing menu of crudos, house-made pastas, and fresh-baked breads among other Italian dishes.
Lure Fishbar: Featuring a "swanky yacht-inspired design, fresh creative seafood dishes, and a bustling atmosphere," this restaurant, whose flagship is located in New York City's SoHo neighborhood, is opening in November at the Loews Miami Beach, according to a press release. The menu will include raw bar and sushi bar items, Miami-inspired dishes, and SoHo signature favorites such as Taylor Bay Scallop Ceviche with Cucumber and Golden Pineapple Salsa.
Meat Market Palm Beach: A new outpost of what Condé Nast Traveler praises as one of "Miami's Buzziest Restaurants" is opening in Palm Beach in November, according to a press release. The new restaurant guarantees the same quality of food and atmosphere as well as chef Sean Brasel's signature dishes and a crudo bar, offering diners a place to relax and sip cocktails and wines by the glass while tasting an "eclectic" raw bar menu that focuses on coastal seafood items.
New Hampshire
PINE Restaurant at Hanover Inn: This restaurant that cooks by a farm-to-table philosophy is open at the newly renovated Hanover Inn, according to a press release. For fall, the menu features seasonal local and sustainable New England ingredients including slow-roasted lion of lamb; grilled calamari with roasted tomato and celery leaf salad, cannellini beans, and lemon vinaigrette; and butternut squash and shallot cannelloni with Tuscan kale, Parmesan, and fried sage.
Santa Monica, Calif.
ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen: Developed by Chipotle Mexican Grill, this restaurant, which is influenced by traditional ingredients, flavors, and cooking methods of Southeast Asia, is opening its second West Coast location on Oct. 17, according to a press release. Modeled closely after Chipotle, the restaurant is committed to serving only the highest-quality ingredients from sustainable sources, preparing food in an open kitchen with classic methods, and serving customers interactively.
Monsoon: The 14-year-old Vietnamese restaurant is expanding next door with the addition of 30 dining room seats and a bar that seats eight, according to a press release. During construction, which begins on Oct. 15, it will remain a full-service restaurant and will only close briefly before its official reopen in the spring of 2014. The added space means there will be room for a full bar, offering a full cocktail list.