Summer 2014 Restaurant Preview

It’s no secret that summer tends to be a slow season when it comes to restaurant openings.  Since so many New Yorkers go away on extended vacations, eateries usually prefer to save their grand debuts for the fall.

Not this summer.  There’s a slurry of highly anticipated spots all slated to launch in the next two months, so don’t you worry if you’ve yet to schedule that dream getaway.  Because a summer spent in the city means you’ll be first in line to try them all!

Dirty French: It seems the Major Food Group has no plans of slowing down any time soon. There’s Torrisi Italian Specialties.  Multiple Parms.  Carbone.  ZZ Clam Bar.  And an upcoming, Barney Greengrass-style appetizing shop, boasting bagels from Per Se’s Melissa Weller.  And this, their first foray into French fare, debuting this summer in the Ludlow Hotel, and offering inventive riffs on Gallic specialties, such as Lamb Carpaccio with Apricots and Goat Cheese, and Roast Chicken served with Crepes.  Sounds pretty major.

Elan: Apparently you won’t have to wait any longer as this Gramercy restaurant literally just opened its doors, marking David Waltuck’s official return to the New York dining scene.  Remember Chanterelle?   That was Waltuck’s baby — a pioneer of fine dining before Tribeca became a place to eat — and now he’s back to run Elan with his old general manager, George Stinson.  Focused on modern cooking, the menu features Seafood Sausage with Sauerkraut, Grilled Mackerel with Clam-Dashi Risotto and Sea Urchin Guacamole.  (Sounds original, that’s for sure.)

ABC Home Grown: Jean-Georges Vongerichten is at it again, converting the evidently endless space within the ABC Carpet and Home complex into yet another restaurant.  The newest, 4,000-square foot sibling to ABC Kitchen, ABC Cocina, and ABC Market will serve globally inspired dishes, that happen to be 100% vegetarian, raw and/or vegan.

Palm Court: Granted, the supremely elegant Palm Court dining room, located in New York’s iconic Plaza hotel, has been a Midtown fixture for years, but the food’s been mediocre at best. So it’s big news that The Lambs Club owner and Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian is taking over culinary duties this summer, breathing new life into the staid breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea menus, overseeing room service, curating food and beverage options in the Oak Bar and Rose Club, and eventually relaunching the currently closed Oak Room.

Cosme: It’s often lamented that New York’s Mexican food options don’t begin to compare with California’s, but that may change now that one of Mexico City’s most respected culinary stars is coming our way.  Enrique Olvera’s Flatiron District eatery will serve forward-thinking versions of classic dishes, such as Sea Urchin Tostadas with Smoked Tomatillos, and Chilaquiles with Burrata, accompanied by tortillas made in Cosme‘s very own factory in Brooklyn.

Root and Bone: A collaboration between two hot, blonde Top Chef contestants (Yardbird’s Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth), this East Village eatery will serve “Southern farm and garden-to-table fare,” such as Caramelized Brisket Meatloaf with Smoky Plantain Crème, Sunchoke and House-made Ricotta Tater Tots, and Carolina Gold Rice Risotto with Butter Beans and Pickled Egg Yolk.  Sounds like a modern, southern comfort counterpoint to this East 3rd St. spot’s previous tenant, Mama’s Food Shop.

Arrogant Swine: A slew of excellent barbecue spots have popped up in New York in recent years, but this upcoming Bushwick pit-stop, owned by Hog Days of Summer founder, Tyson Ho, will concentrate on East Carolina’s signature whole hog style.  The sprawling beer and BBQ hall will boast communal ‘Pig Picking Parties,’ and hopes to otherwise establish itself as a ‘church of pork’ by sourcing various Country Hams from across the U.S.

Berg’n: The Smorgasburg brand will expand yet again this July with a 9,000-square foot beer hall in Crown Heights.  The massive space will also serve as a permanent home for a number of the food fair’s most popular vendors, including Mighty Quinn’s, Blue Marble, AsiaDog, Pizza Moto, Ramen Burger and Dough, with beer pairings curated by Brooklyn Brewery’s own James Beard award-winning brewmaster, Garrett Oliver.