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Trattoria Cinque
Apparently, good things come in fives at Trattoria Cinque, the latest brainchild from Alfredo of Rome's Russell Bellanca. The tightly edited menu features only five items per section—and we mean every section—from small plates to pasta to white wine, and even coffee drinks. "If you control your menu and limit its size," Bellanca says, "you can give amazing food and keep the costs very low." True that: Most of the items here are under 20 bucks, with a focus on Roman bites with a down-home twist like short-rib ravioli, ricotta-stuffed eggplant, and penne with cold, summery checca sauce made with tomato, basil and buffala mozzarella. (Glam factor alert: Chef Mirco Grassini cooked at a private Dolce and Gabbana club in Italy.) Bellanca's all revved up for Cinque—literally: The interior was inspired by an old Italian automotive factory, with vintage photos of iconic Italian vehicles. Vroom vroom! (363 Greenwich St. near Franklin St., 212-965-0555)
Gospel Uptown
Joseph Holland has the gospel truth, and it is this: Good food always tastes better with jazz and Broadway ditties! That's the mantra at his new supper club–ish Harlem spot, which he's nicknamed "'Harlem's Inspirational Place' because gospel means good news." Good news, for sure, for an area that has recently seen a welcome restaurant boom (SpaHa Café, Chez Lucienne, Trattoria Amici). The menu leans Southern/soul food/comfort-y, with beer-braised short rib and Cajun-style tuna alongside fusion bites like yam ravioli and smoked-duck roll with tamarind sauce. As for the entertainment, Holland—who's lived in the nabe for almost 30 years—has plans for jazz nights, open-mic nights and Broadway-themed dinner theater. (2110 Seventh Ave. between 125th and 126th Sts., 212-280-2110)
Oceana
After 18 years at its 54th Street home, Oceana swims downstream to Rock Center, ditching its old multifloor digs for a streamlined, single-level space done up in creamy tones. The biggest change: a new, 14-seat raw bar, offering up six types of oysters, littleneck clams and composed bites like a Hawaiian-inspired poke trio of tuna, hamachi and wild salmon. There are four private party rooms here, and in a nod to Rock Center's sleek aesthetic, the new Oceana features Art Deco column flanking white-tablecloth two-tops and four-tops. They're open for lunch now and will serve dinner beginning Saturday, and diners get 20 percent off their food bill until Sept. 15, when the place officially opens. (1221 Sixth Ave. at 49th St., 212-759-5941)
Also open:
Bed-Stuy speakeasy SarahJames serves up eclectic bites (citrus teriyaki pork chops, baked mac 'n' cheese), with a downstairs lounge slated to open in September. (305 Throop St. at Pulaski St., no phone)
Picnick teammates Will Goldfarb (Room 4 Dessert) and Kevin Pomplun (Thor) have expanded to Wall Street with Picnick, Smoked: a food truck serving Texas-style barbecue with a gourmet twist, like 48-hour brined Kobe-brisket and heritage pork. (Wall Street Park, near Water St.)
East Village slice joint Iggy's has the usual pies, but for something different, go for the lasagna pizza with mozzarella, ricotta and meat sauce. (173 First Ave. between 11th and 12th Sts., 212-353-3331)
There's food on Roosevelt Island? Better believe it, says River Walk Bar & Grill, serving American grub from breakfast until dinner and featuring a sport bars-y vibe (14 flat screens) and grub (wings, wings, wings). (425 Main St. near Road 5, 646-833-7050)
Part coffeehouse, part cafe, part sit-down eatery, Panaché Café features a menu that's equally diverse: La Tazza Italian coffee combined with Moroccan, Mediterranean and American fare. (182 Avenue B between 11th and 12th Sts., 212-904-0206)
Meals, deals, specials:
Barbounia: The Flatiron spot celebrates mucho pomodoro with a $35 three-course dinner prix fixe from Aug. 19 to 30, featuring bites like tuna tartare with plum tomato. (250 Park Ave. S. at 20th St., 212-995-0242)
Bondi Road: On the heels of the opening of Permanent Brunch comes even more permanent brunch! Bondi Road is now offering its popular $18 all-you-can-drink brunch special weekdays noon until to 6 p.m. (153 Rivington St. at Essex St., 212-253-5311)
All-you-can-eat Argentinean meat: Industria Argentina, Azul and Libertador are now offering an unlimited-meat brunch for $21.95 on weekends from noon to 5 p.m.
Photo by Sam Horine
