Talking Points: The Breslin

Yes, the restaurant is opening this week – Thursday, at latest tip

By ELIZABETH BOUGEROL

Updated 12:00 PM EST, Tue, Oct 27, 2009

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-The Breslin is the restaurant opening in the lobby of the Ace Hotel on 29th Street near Broadway, brought to you by Ken Friedman and chef April Bloomfield of The Spotted Pig fame.

-It gets its name from the building itself, which was converted from the SRO Hotel Breslin.

-The Breslin’s opening has been majorly delayed – how delayed? We were fortunate enough to enjoy at preview stay at the Ace back when the paint was still drying in the spring, and while the Breslin’s bar at the back of the Ace lobby was running, everybody was convinced the restaurant would be open by May.

-The menu: Not for vegetarians (though per Gothamist, there will be “daily house-made pasta specials thrown in for the herbivores”). Expect lots of meat – rich, strong meaty meat. This expands on the Spotted Pig tradition (not for nothing does Reigning King of Offal Fergus Henderson guest-chef there), but is also very Ace: At a recent meal at Clyde Common, the restaurant at the Ace Portland, we tried to order the fried pork rinds with chili and lime but were told to come back in "a couple days, because we butcher our animals in-house and run out of rinds fast." (Needless to say, we wept.)

-The vibe: Mad zoologist’s library. Taxidermy for miles, deep rich woods, soaring ceilings, cozy banquettes. Check out Gothamist’s gallery.

-Today’s opening day has been bumped to Thursday (October 29) last we heard, at which time it will be lunch only, adding dinner service soon thereafter, i.e., whenever they feel like it.

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