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Bistro Vendome
French hubby-and-wife team Pascal and Virginie Petiteau extend their partnership into the kitchen at this Midtown French bistro, located in the elegant townhouse that once housed Nish. (The couple met 15 years ago at Jubilee, where they both worked until recently.) The appetizing menu hews closely to tradition: escargot, sole meuniere, steak frites, cassoulet. There's also a sizeable mussels section, with variations that go from Provencale (in garlic and parsley butter) to Thai (curry, lemongrass, coconut milk). Oui, that last dish doesn't scream "Francophilia," but, as Virginie says, "in France more and more now, it's like New York. They use spices from everywhere. Everybody likes food from all over the world, so you don't want to stick only with just the classics." (405 E. 58th St. between First Ave. and Sutton Place, 212-935-9100)
Meatball Shop
What's the logical business plan for two restaurant guys who first became friends as delivery boys for a vegan restaurant? Open a shop that sells meatballs in all their varied forms, obviously. Co-owners Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow have years of experience in the food business, at impressive spots like Le Bernardin and Frank respectively, but now they're turning their attention to serving up a panoply of meats in spherical form. Permutations are almost endless, with beef, pork, salmon, chicken and even vegetable ball varieties; sauces ranging from a classic tomato to a mushroom gravy; plus your choice of serving options including "naked," slider or hero. After you've mixed and matched your main dish you can choose a side like mashed potatoes and risotto, then grab a beer (or Barq's root beer) on tap. Just make sure you leave room for a scooped-to-order ice cream sandwich—another chance to mix and match from a range of homemade cookies and ice cream flavors. (84 Stanton St. between Allen and Orchard Sts., 212-982-8895)
Black Market
Details are hard to come by at this brand-new East Village hang— owner Johnny T (Niagara, Bowery Electric) isn't talking much— but we can tell you this: Black Market—he's still toying with names, but seems to be zeroing in on this one— is taking over the now-closed Pizza Shop above T's speakeasy, Cabin Down Below. Oysters and burgers are the stars of the food menu, and there's a full cocktail list on its way. It's dim and sexy, and everyone is seated—no barstools here. If the type of crowd that haunts T's other joints (musicians, leather-clad hipsters, models, etc.) are any indication, place'll be a cool, hush-hush hit. (110 Avenue A at Seventh St.)
Bistro De La Gare
A Mediterranean menu with strong French-Italian touches is the focus at this West Village bistro—an homage to the late Café De La Gare on Perry Street, which closed 18 years ago and where Gare 2.0's partners first met (awwww). They've also been pretty chatty, actively blogging about the project since last August. The dishes themselves are hearty and accessible, like roasted chicken with walnut butter and braised lamb shank. The Italian influence kicks in with pancetta-flecked chicken cacciatore, as well as corn tagliatelle with braised leeks. And if you love their cassoulet, Gare's partners are equally generous with their secrets: They're posted a recipe for cassoulet—along with several other favorite recipes—online. (626 Hudson St. near Jane St., 212-242-4420)
Also open:
Upper East Side eatery Gina La Fornarina now has an Upper West Side sibling on Amsterdam Avenue. Expect the same carb-centric Italian menu of pasta, panini and pizza (including their popular mozzarella, mascarpone and truffle-oil pie). (279 Amsterdam Ave. at 73rd St., 212-595-6900)
Euro-style sandwich shop Press has opened a second location in the Flatiron district, with a focus on a handful of hot, pressed sandwich wraps with relatively simple ingredients like chicken breast, angus steak and eggplant with goat cheese. (34 E. 23rd St. between Park and Madison Aves., 212-677-5775)
The Dessert Truck peeps flip the script and go from mobile to brick-and-mortar shop with DessertTruck Works, with the same menu of gourmet sweets (chocolate bread pudding, Nutella-filled donut holes) alongside Counter Culture coffee drinks. (6 Clinton St. at Houston St.)
Recently relocated to the Columbus Circle "Lolly Pop" building, the Museum of Arts & Design now has an upscale restaurant to call its own: Robert, featuring a range of pricey fare like a lobster tagliatelle and pan roasted duck breast. (2 Columbus Circle near 58th St., 9th floor, 212-299-7730)
Meals, deals, specials:
Valrhona chocolate tarts and freebies at Village Tart: For a week beginning Sunday, Feb. 14, the new sweet-savory café helmed by Pichet Ong will be serving four Valrhona-inspired treats, and will also be offering free Valrhona Grands Crus chocolate squares. (86 Kenmare St. near Mulberry St., 212-226-4980)
Tap & Taco Tuesdays at Piquant: The Southwest-themed eatery in Park Slope is offering $3 pints and $3 tacos for lunch and dinner on Tuesdays, with four types of tacos to choose from. (259 Flatbush Ave. between St. Marks and Sixth Aves., 718-484-4114)
Vegetarian Food Festival at Brick Lane Curry House: From Feb. 17 to March 3, the East Village India spot will be offering, in addition to its regular menu, a full vegetarian menu spotlighting bites a bevy of Indian regions (306 E. Sixth St. near Second Ave., 212-979-8787)
Additional reporting by Jeremy Cesarec and Jamie Feldmar; photo by Sean Ellingson
