Just in time for the forgiving sweaters and double-chin concealing scarves of autumn, this fall’s new restaurants are ready to indulge New York’s hungry masses.
In late September, Chef Simpson Wong of the Asian fusion spot Cafe Asean will open Wong at 7 Cornelia St. in the West Village. “All I wanted to do was cook and feel like I’m having people over to my place,” he says, and he means it: Wooden beams from his apartment renovation are now a waiter’s station, and low counters invite diners to pull up a chair and watch the kitchen churn out affordable, locally sourced dishes like green curry pizza or raw bonito fish with purslane and Japanese crackers. Everything reflects Wong’s commitment to sustainability — even the wine, which is served from a tap to avoid shipping heavy glass bottles.
Farther south in the stroller-heavy blocks of Park Slope chef Dale Talde will bring the skills and smarts from Buddakhan and two seasons on “Top Chef” to his first restaurant, Talde. The Asian-American menu has a foot firmly planted in each tradition, drawing from Talde’s heritage. “It was a very Filipino household; there was a pot of rice going all the time,” he says. “This restaurant is about where I’m from professionally and personally — on a plate.” There will be many plates strewn on tables at Talde, where the menu encourages diners to share small dishes, like Korean fried chicken with seasonal green-market vegetables or Talde’s take on his favorite hangover food: bacon and oyster pad thai.
Diners can pretend they’re summering on the French Riviera at La Promenade des Anglais, a restaurant helmed by Alain Allegretti when it too opens in late September. The laid back but elegant restaurant will serve Mediterranean fare inspired by Allegretti’s French upbringing, but with influences from his Italian background as well. Visitors to the Chelsea eatery will be able to taste the simplicity of the Mediterranean diet with seasonal ingredients providing fresh, full flavors.
Bread and brew to go
To satiate the craving for a frothy beer and some autumnal carbo-loading, the German bakery Landbrot will open in October on the Lower East Side and in the West Village, serving up traditional German fare like bretzels and bratwurst as well as tarts and pastries. The West Village spot will be open morning to night, with growlers of German micro-brews to go; the LES location will be open late for the munchie-prone scenesters.
Upscale uptown
For fans of the uber-exclusive meal heavy on celebrities and their ilk, the newest endeavor by John DeLucie of the Lion will open in September on the Upper East Side. The restaurant takes over a townhouse from the late 19th-century accented with corresponding art and decoration. Chef Jason Hall, formerly of Gotham Bar and Grill, will be in the kitchen, perfecting dishes to serve the palate of discerning diners with upscale, uptown tastes.
