Draft Barn in Park Slope [Photo Credit]
1) Chelsea: As Lady Strongbuzz/TONY reported the other day, Alex Raij of Tia Pol and Quinto Pino is set to open a new restaurant called Txkito this week. The Times calls the opening for today. They write: “Alexandra Raij, who was the chef at Tía Pol and El Quinto Pino nearby, and her husband, Eder Montero, also a chef, will open their own Basque-style spot Nov. 13. Its name is pronounced chee-KEE-toe, meaning “little” in Basque. There are red patent leather stools at a limestone counter for canapés called pinxos, tapas and regional dishes meant for sharing.” Status: Certified Open. 240 Ninth Avenue; 212-242-4730. [NYT]
2) Midtown East: As the Strongbuzz reported yesterday, a branch of Vermilion in Chicago called At Vermilion is coming to NYC. Flo Fab has a brief write-up: “This branch of Vermilion, in Chicago, owned by Rohini Dey, specializes in Maneet Chauhan’s fusion of Latin and Indian food. It is to open Friday.” Status: Not Open. Grand Opening is Monday the 17th. 480 Lexington Avenue; 212-871-6600. [Strongbuzz; NYT]
3) South Slope: Via a tipster, Gowanus Lounge has it that a beer bar featuring over 200 beers called Draft Barn has finally opened. They write: “It’s the sister bar of a place down near Bay Ridge [317 Avenue X] and is owned by the same guys. It just opened Sunday (my friend and I happened to be walking by, taking bets on when in 2009 it would finally open) and it’s great. Nice, oak interior with a general ‘draft haus’ style. They also have food (which isn’t blowing the doors off anything) and the owner told us he’d be opening for brunch soon." Status: Signs point to Open. 530 Third Avenue; Park Slope; no phone yet. [GL]
4) Midtown East: The Times reports today on a new bistro called Zé Café, opened by a florist named ZéZé and his wife in a former flower shop. They write: “ZéZé, a florist, above, and his wife, Peggy O’Dea, have turned their former shop into a bistro with barn wood, brick walls and, of course, topiary and floral sprays. (ZéZé is shown in his new shop on First Avenue.) On Nov. 10 the chef, Roberto Bellissimo, and his wife, Monica, both Le Cirque alums, started serving breakfast pastries and lunch. Dinner, featuring pastas, risottos and cassoulet, will follow in a few weeks.” Status: Certified Open as of Monday. 398 E. 52nd Street; 212-758-1944. [NYT]
5) Chelsea: TONY checks in with a few openings, notably the Kyotofu for BoConcept. They write: “Hell’s Kitchen’s dessert-driven Japanese restaurant unveils its first kiosk in the Chelsea location of BoConcept, a Danish furniture store. Shoppers can choose small bites such as cupcakes, plus Japanese teas and coffee. Kiosks are planned for BoConcept’s six other NYC locations.” Status: Unknown, no phone. 144 W. 18th Street; no phone yet. [TONY]
6) Upper West Side: Also opening this week is B. Café West, a sister location to B. Café on the east side. From TONY: “The UWS welcomes this Belgian beer café, a sister to B. Cafe across town. Diners can sip more than 60 Belgian brews between bites of moules frites, or any number of affordable sandwiches and salads." Status: Not Open. Opening Monday. 566 Amsterdam Avenue; 212-873-0003. [TONY]
7) Williamsburg: TONY writes on the opening of biker café, Boneshakers in the ‘Burg. They write: “Spandex-clad cyclists and bike messengers get their own vegetarian café courtesy of the people from LES bike store Trackstar. Expect a menu of coffee, sandwiches and Balthazar breads.” Status: Certified Open. 134 Kingsland Avenue, Williamsburg; 718-963-0656. [TONY]
8) Greenwich Village: And finally, Lost City reports with horror that the old Le Figaro Cafe space has been replaced by a Qdoba. His remarks: "Ugh." Status: Certified Open. 184 Bleecker Street; 212-677-9015. [Lost City]For more stories from Eater, go to eater.com.
