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Motorino
Crestfallen pizzanatics still mourning the loss of Una Pizza Napoletana won't need to pop the Zoloft anymore: Rave-worthy Williamsburg slice joint Motorino has now opened its second location at UPN's old stomping ground. The smaller space = a tighter menu. But you can expect the same rave-worthy Neapolitan pies—seven of them, including new varieties like smoked scamorzza with squash, pancetta and sage—plus antipasti and soft-serve ice cream. Vino to come, once they get their liquor license. (349 E. 12th St. near First Ave., 212-777-2644)
Macbar
Delicatessen is unleashing a mac attack! The Soho eatery has opened a next-door takeout counter serving a dozen types of gourmet mac 'n' cheese created by Delicatessen exec chef Michael Ferraro. And no cheese was left unturned. "We use everything from mascarpone, fontina, raclette, Vermont white cheddar, yellow cheddar," says Ferraro. "Even the ham 'n' cheese has a blend of cheddar and American. The cheese list is enormous!" They all pop up in whimsical varieties like "Mac Lobsta'" (lobster, cognac, mascarpone), "Mac Reuben" (corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss) and our vote for the best name: "Mac Quack" (duck confit, caramelized onions, fontina). Macbar opens on Sept. 17. (54 Prince St. at Lafayette St., 212-226-8877)
Pasta Bar at Ancora
Trend of the week: Adding the word "bar" to your restaurant name. Next up: Pasta Bar, which was once the second-floor private dining space at Wall Street Italian joint Ancora Ristorante but has now been converted into this casual, small-plates eatery. The food's cheaper than its downstairs sibling's ($7 to $19 a pop), with dishes that are meant to be shared: filet mignon carpaccio, risotto with porcini, mussels in white wine sauce. The wine list, of course, is all-Italian, and they'll also be serving homemade grappa and a selection of aged brandy. The décor is pretty classic (oak bar, antique wall sconces), but the main draw here is a collection of photographs by famed paparazzo Ron Galella, featuring celebs gallivanting in Rome—think Sofia Loren. Pasta Bar opens on Tuesday, Sept. 22. (11 Stone St. between Broadway and Broad St., 212-480-3880)
SD26
Legendary restaurant man Tony May (Rainbow Room) passes the San Domenico torch, so to speak, to his daughter Marisa with this new incarnation of their famed Italian eatery, which moves from its old Central Park South location to a sexier one near Madison Square Park. Modern Italian master chef Odette Fada is running the kitchen, dishing out plates like veal fillet and sweetbreads with pumpkin puree, and pan-roasted Guinea hen with chestnuts—available in small and large portions. For SD sentimentalists, they'll still be serving their popular egg-yolk-filled ravioli with truffled butter. As for the space, the Mays have pulled out all the stops, with three levels that feature a bar, main dining room and mezzanine. Not to mention a high-tech Enomatic wine-pouring machine that's supposed to preserve the wines and give them longevity. Kinda like San Domenico, no? (19 E. 26th St. between Madison and Fifth Aves., 212-265-5959)
Also open:
Onetime East Village yakitori joint Mr. Jones has now become Cantina Latina. Expect pitchers of sangrias and a wide variety of tequila, along with small plates like roasted prawns with ajillo salsa, tacos and tortas. (243 E. 14th St. between Second and Third Aves., 212-253-5708)
Jeffrey Chodorow has rebooted the former Center Cut steak house into Ed's Chowder House, a not-too-upscale seafood shack and chowder parlor helmed by eighty one's Ed Brown. (44 W. 63rd St. at Broadway, 212-956-1288)
Former Diner chef Caroline Fidanze stays local in Williamsburg with sleek takeout spot Saltie, which sells nautically named eats like The Captain's Daughter sandwich (sardine, pickled egg and salsa verde). (378 Metropolitan Ave. at Havemeyer St., 718-387-4777)
Wolfgang Puck protégé Richard Krause has opened Bueno, a bistro in the old Gravy space on Smith Street that hopes to succeed with (many) others have failed. The formula: French dishes with Italian and Spanish accents. (102 Smith St. at Pacific St., 718-596-8118)
Japanese cutlet spot Katsu-Hama now has a second location, in Midtown West, offering breaded-and-fried meats like pork with organic fried egg. (43 W. 55th St. between Fifth and Sixth Aves., 212-541-7145)
Fracophilia rules at Carroll Gardens bistro Sue Perette—a play on "superette," or countryside supermarket. The menu is seasonal, although the house-made pork pâté has a permanent spot on it. (270 Smith St. between Sackett and Degraw Sts., 718-643-2861)
A fusion of French, Asian and African tastes is on the menu at Lower East Side newcomer Blue Elm. (198 Orchard St between Houston and Stanton Sts.., 212-777-7733)
It's the fall (season) of Saigon in Williamsburg, where the folks behind Banh Mi 172 have opened Vietnamese spot An Nhau next door. (172 Bedford Ave. between N. Seventh and Eighth Sts., 718-384-0032)
Meals, deals, specials:
Michael Jordan's The Steak House: To celebrate Jordan's induction into the Hall of Fame, his Grand Central chophouse will be serving up some of the sports great's fave bites all throughout September, including a special sirloin-and chuck burger topped with fried green tomatoes. They'll also be raffling off two American Airlines tix to any domestic destination. (23 Vanderbilt Ave., 212-655-2300)
Per Se: On Sept. 18, Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster Garrett Oliver and Jonathan Benno of Per Se will team up in honor of Craft Beer Week to host an over-the-top seven-course dinner of food and beer pairings. It's $350! But hey…it's Per Se! (10 Columbus Circle,
212-823-9335)
Il Buco Pig Festival: On Sept. 20, Il Buco busts out a whopper porker—200 pounds!—at this annual fete. For $20 a plate, you get everything on the menu, which includes pork, wild arugula salad, apple ricotta fritters, porchetta panini and a farmer's market panzanella (fresh tomato salad). Beer and wine will also be served. (47 Bond St. between Lafayette St. and Bowery, 212-533-1932)
Joy of Sake: The country's largest sake-tasting event returns to Webster Hall on Sept. 24, with over 271 premium sakes. Tickets are $80 in advance, $90 at the door. (125 East 11th St. between Third and Fourth Aves., 888-799-7242)
Additional reporting by Matt Rodbard and Jeremy Cesarec; photo by Sam Horine
