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The Capital Grille Wall Street
It's only fitting that a restaurant with the word "capital" in its name is located inside an old bank...in the Financial District. Double whammy! Just check out the photo above of the national steak-house chain's latest branch, which still includes the building's original vault. In keeping with the old-money feel, the restaurant features original portraits of bigwigs whose names appear on street signs—or scandalous New York Post headlines: Astor, Vanderbilt, Guggenheim. As for this Capital's edible assets, expect its signature lineup of tasty chops (dry-aged sirloin and porterhouse, Delmonico, lamb rib), along with seafood (lobster by the pound) and lotsa sides (three types of potatoes!). As befits a Capital Grille location, the 450-bottle-deep wine program is uber-distinguished (Wine Spectator loves 'em), and there's even a private membership for wine lockers, in which they store your vino in a locker with your own nameplate. Definitely a step up from our nameplates, which tend to remain on our luggage. Capital Grille opens on Sept. 28. (120 Broadway between Nassau and Pine Sts., 212-374-1811)
La Crepe Parisienne
In a classic NYC multiculti mashup, a trio of Mexican brothers is behind this new creperie in Soho. It's the first Stateside branch of a mammoth Mexican chain, which the brothers have franchised to over 200 moviehouses in Mexico (apparently, you can also get sushi at movie theaters there—go figure). They're personally operating this location, which has 10 sweet and 10 savory varieties: salmon, cream cheese and capers; prosciutto with raclette; and dulce de leche with banana—a subtle nod to their Mexican roots. They're also switching things up a bit by serving some crepes like ice-cream cones wrapped in cone-shaped paper. Not surprising, since they also top a few crepes with Van Leeuwen ice cream. (51 Spring St. between Mulberry and Lafayette Sts., 646-484-6897)
Long Grain
The old Lemongrass Grill on the Upper West Side has made a discreet switcheroo and is now called Long Grain. Same management, same chef, but the onetime Thai spot has expanded its menu to include a selection of Japanese bites. So while you can still get old staples like beef in black-bean sauce, there's now a menu section devoted to sushi, rolls and typical Japanese plates like teriyaki and katsu. The interiors haven't changed much—it's way brighter now—but the prices have: They're $2 bucks higher than before. Paying more for electricity, perhaps? (2534 Broadway between 94th and 95th Sts., 212-666-0888)
The Keg and Lantern
Hoping to re-create the social pub culture of his native Ireland in Greenpoint, Kieran Breen has teamed up with his wife, Lindsey deMaintenon, to open this indoor-outdoor space they hope will serve as a meet-and-drink spot from lunch to the wee hours of the morning. The 74-seat pub (there are 40 more in the beer garden) was mostly hand-built by Kieran and his friends and boasts a mural depicting the history of beer, as well as a bar and tabletops from 150-year-old reclaimed wood from a gutted townhouse in Manhattan. The brew-friendly spot includes 10 draught beers and 20 bottles, which including four Polish beers. "We are trying not to seclude anybody in the neighborhood," deMaintenon says. The grub is a menu of standard pub fare, burgers, sandwiches, huge salads studded with pastas and a signature 16-ounce grilled rib eye, topped with sautéed mushrooms and caramelized onions. But it may be the fruit trifle that's really the hidden gem: It's an homage to Kieran's mom, who made it for the first time she met his then-girlfriend. Says deMaintenon: "Maybe that kind of sealed the deal." (97 Nassau Ave. at Manhattan St., Greenpoint; 718-389-5050)
Also open:
An authentic Palermo pizzaiolo is behind the wood-fired pies at Williamsburg slice spot Vertuccio's Pizza on the Park. Emphasis on the "park" part: It's right by McCarren. (232 N. 12th St. between Driggs and Roebling Sts., 718-486-3900)
The Japanese chain behind awesome cream-puff-erie Beard Papa has gone udon at Onya, with freshly made noodles available in nine different broths, as well as kushikatsu: panko-crusted meat on a stick. For $2 a pop! (143 E. 47th St. between Lexington and Third Aves., 212-715-0460)
Think of Hibachi Tiki Hut at the love child of "South Pacific" and barbecue: an island-y Bushwick steak-and-'cue spot grilling a range of burgers, sandwiches, fish and steaks, cooked over a blend of mesquite, hickory and apple wood. (890 Broadway between Lafayette and Ellery Sts., 718-443-5027)
Meals, deals, specials:
Xie Xie: Angelo Sosa's new Asian sandwich joint is offering a "Beer & a Bun" promo that gets you—yep—a beer and a bun for $5 every day from 3 to 7 p.m. There's not end date yet for the promo, so munch away. (645A Ninth Ave. at 45th St., 212-265-2975)
2009 Vendy Awards: On Saturday, NYC celebrates the best in local street food outside the Queens Museum of Art, with a diverse selection of the city's best mobile eats—from Jamaican to Asian dumplings to Belgian waffles—all vying for the Grey Poupon People’s Taste Award and the coveted Silver Vendy Cup. $80 for advance tickets, $100 at the door. (Flushing Meadows-Corona Park along Grand Central Parkway, 718-592-9700)
Le Fooding d'Amour: This Sept. 25-26 evening event pairs an all-star lineup of NYC cutting-edge chefs (Chang, Dufresne) with their Parisian young-gun counterparts, featuring food, booze and live chef demos and tunes by Parisian DJ Kolkoz and local boy Paul Sevigny (Chloe's bro). $30 for general tickets, $60 V.I.P. (P.S.1 Queens, 22-25 Jackson Ave. at 46th Ave., Long Island City, 718-784-2084)
Additional reporting by Pervaiz Shallwani and Jeremy Cesarec; photo by Sean Ellingson
