Thursday Opening Report: Daruma, Nirvana Certified Open, Salumeria Rosi Next Week


Daruma, in Plywood Days

1) Upper East Side: The latest from the guys at Serafina, Mañana is a new Mexican eatery slated to open on Saturday, per the Times. They write: “The Serafina guys, Vittorio Assaf and Fabio Granato, keep expanding their culinary portfolio, first with Geisha, then with Brasserie Cognac and now with this brick-walled Mexican spot. It will open on Nov. 8. Stephanie Gout is another partner; her mother, Enriqueta Méndez, a consultant in Mexico City, helped create the menu, with dishes like a zucchini flower quesadilla and orange-infused chicken.” Status: Not Open. Opening Nov. 8. 27 E. 61st Street; 212-752-8900. [NYT]

2) Upper West Side: TONY has a short write-up on the opening of Salumeria Rosi, a new market/eatery from Cesare Casella. They write: " Chef Cesare Casella (Maremma) unveils an Italian market and eatery on the Upper West Side, with a focus on cured meats from Parma, Italy. Patrons can order antipasti, a tasting menu and drinks in the café."Status: Not Open. They are shooting for the 14th. 283 Amsterdam Avenue; 212-877-4800. [TONY]

3) Midtown East: Metromix reports that Indian eatery Nirvana, (seemingly no relation to the Sri Lankan resto of the same name) has opened near Grand Central. They offer the following: “On the menu: bites like rabbit stew in coconut sauce and rum-marinated venison chops. On weekdays, the restaurant lures Midtown workers with its sleek first-floor lounge; on weekends, it woos the brunch crowd with refreshingly un-omelet-ish options like panipuri (traditional fried bread), plus unlimited Screwdrivers and Bloody Marys.” Status: Certified Open. 348 Lexington Avenue; 212-983-0000. [Metromix]

4) Nolita: As reported previously, a new teeny tiny yakitori bar called Daruma has set up shop in what was once another yakitori spot on Mott Street. Metromix reports it open and writes: “Yakitori goes Mini-Me at this teeny sliver of a restaurant, with its tight counter-like seating (a la Momofuku Ko) and three tables at back. But what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in menu selection: Over a dozen skewered items are on hand, from grilled squid balls to grilled shrimp-and-pork shumai to chicken tenders. (Everything is cooked on a coal grill and doused with a secret Japanese sauce.) Go ahead, load up all you want: Each yakitori stick goes for a recession-friendly $2.” Status: Certified Open. 227 Mott Street; 212-219-9288. [Metromix]


5) MePa: UrbanDaddy had it yesterday that a new subterranean lounge called RDV has opened for private parties beneath Bagatelle. They write: "Short for rendezvous, breeze into RDV and you'll feel like you've walked into an elegant turn-of-the-century European hotel. Mismatched antique couches abound for you to pick your seating poison—leather, cow fur, velvet or Thai silk (we know you don't sit in anything but Thai silk these days)." Status: Open for private parties only. 409 W. 13th Street; Call Kiss & Fly for reservations, 212-255-1933. [UD]

6) Astoria: A PR rep writes in with word that a new Italian resto called Vesta Trattoria and Winebar opens today in Astoria. From the press release: "Vesta’s kitchen will be under the leadership of Michelle Vido, another Astoria resident. Trained at the Culinary Institute of America, Michelle has worked throughout New York City, in such famed restaurants as the River Café, AIX, Monkey Bar and most recently, Little Giant. Vesta will offer a wide selection of trattoria-inspired food – thin crust pizzas, inventive pastas, seasonal antipasti and sides and tasteful entrees." Status: Certified Open. 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria; 718.545.5550. [Eater Inbox]For more stories from Eater, go to eater.com.

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