Union Square Hospitality Group’s Ci Siamo to Open

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/25/dining/nyc-restaurant-news.html

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This major restaurant from Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group is set to open in Manhattan West, the multiblock Brookfield Properties development opposite Hudson Yards, in September. It will be the group’s first new restaurant in New York City since Manhatta in 2018. The executive chef will be Hillary Sterling, 42, the executive chef at Vic’s in NoHo for the past seven years where she became known for her take on Italian food. She was at A Voce Madison before that. Mr. Meyer named the new restaurant after an expression that can mean “Here we are!” or “We’ve arrived!” in Italian, and, following suit, the menu will also be Italian with touches of France. Ms. Sterling said she would strive for simplicity, something that has increasingly informed her cooking. Pastas, like pappardelle with rabbit, will be essential, she said, but there will be no pizzas. Her wood-fired grill, a kitchen centerpiece, will sear vegetables, seafood and meats, like a crispy chicken with potatoes. The restaurant, on the second floor of a building at the center of the development, will seat 120, including outdoor tables on a terrace. A bar and lounge, where Ms. Sterling plans to serve aperitivo snacks, will have another 40 seats. Event space will take up part of the third floor.

435 West 31st Street.

Like the French Laundry, which was once a working laundry, this new restaurant, a transplant from Paris, occupies what was a laundromat. The word “fulgurances” means flashy or dazzling moments. It’s the umbrella name of a French culinary events agency, a magazine and restaurants in Paris and now New York. The restaurants do not have full-time executive chefs but operate with a chef-in-residence program to showcase up-and-coming chefs: sous chefs and those who have never had their own restaurants. The New York branch’s chef for its first three months will be Victoria Blamey, formerly the executive chef at Chumley’s and Gotham Bar & Grill. Is she still “up and coming”? She will prepare a five- to six-course menu for $80, with an optional wine pairing for $50.

132 Franklin Street (Greenpoint Avenue), Greenpoint, Brooklyn, 347-223-4106, fulgurances.com.

The chef Ly Nguyen and her husband, Patrick Lin, have created this companion to Em Vietnamese Kitchen, a mere swatch of a place, which they opened in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, in 2017. The spacious restaurant offers some dishes served at the other spot — what Ms. Nguyen describes as Vietnamese comfort food — and a number of new items. Highlights are chao so diep, a rice porridge with scallops; ngheu xao bo, butter clams with banh mi for dipping; and bo kho, a beef stew the couple calls beef Bourguignon Vietnamese-style. (Opens Thursday)

57 Front Street (Main Street), Dumbo, Brooklyn, 718-875-7888, emrestaurants.com.

Ioannis Chatiris, known as Yiannis, a native of the island of Rhodes, has had a hand in a number of New York’s Greek dining spots, including Mykonos Blue and Kyma. Now, he is the chef and owner of this space, which was Charlie Palmer Steak. Greek classics like assorted spreads, spanakopita, fried calamari and flamed halloumi are featured, in a setting with whitewashed island décor replacing dark wood. Seafood, notably whole fish sold by the pound and grilled over charcoal, is also on offer. The spacious room seats 200, and there’s also outdoor seating. (Wednesday)

5 East 54th Street, 212-777-5454, skorpiosny.com.

Nick Morgenstern has expanded the menu at his flagship ice cream parlor in Greenwich Village, and starting next week is adding burgers (seven varieties, including some made with pork, with assorted seasonings and toppings), fries and pies, like seasonal rhubarb.

88 West Houston Street (LaGuardia Place), 212-209-7684, morgensternsnyc.com.

The Gerber Group, known for running high-end bars and lounges, is increasingly involved in restaurants. For the sleek, modern dining room in a new Arlo hotel, it has enlisted Corey Becker, a Culinary Institute of America graduate who worked at the chef Jonathan Waxman’s Barbuto. His concise menu is mostly Italian, with pizza, a few pastas and dishes like crisp artichokes and chicken parm. (Thursday)

Arlo Midtown, 351 West 38th Street, 212-933-4495, nearlyninthnyc.com.

How long has it taken for Rick Bayless, the Chicago chef and restaurateur famous for his Mexican food since 1987, to venture onto the New York stage? It will finally happen in September. He will open a branch of his informal restaurant, which features warm tortas a la plancha, toasted sandwiches usually made with a variety of meats, avocados, chiles and cheeses; Oaxacan tlayudas, large tostadas with various toppings; and churros.

1123 Broadway (25th Street), tortazo.com.

This venerable property is undergoing a $150 million makeover that includes a partnership with Major Food Group to develop a number of dining venues. First out of the gate in a few weeks will be the Flamingo Grill, a chophouse. Sadelle’s, known for brunch, will follow. There will also be Japanese and Italian restaurants.

501 East Camino Real, Boca Raton, Fla.

This Hudson Valley barbecue joint with a dedicated following for nearly 20 years has closed. Its owners said they could not hire enough help.

1475 NY-22, Wingdale, N.Y.

Many, but not all, of New York’s food halls went into hibernation as a result of the pandemic. They’re now reopening at a clip. Look for new vendors on board.

Urbanspace’s three locations (with more to come) are opening at Vanderbilt, 230 Park Avenue (46th Street); 570 Lex, 570 Lexington Avenue (51st Street); and 152 West 52nd Street, urbanspacenyc.com.

Gotham West Market is welcoming Mikey Likes It Ice Cream and an agave bar and cevicheria run by La Palapa, already in the market; 600 11th Avenue (44th Street), gothamwestmarket.com.

Time Out Market New York has 12 vendors in its reopening lineup, including newcomers Sugar Hill Creamery, Fornino, Wayla and Tiki Chick. The Migrant Kitchen will donate a meal to someone in need if you spend $12 there; 55 Water Street (Dock Street), Dumbo, Brooklyn, timeout.com.

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