Headliner
Benno
Jonathan Benno’s latest, the crown jewel of his collection of spots in the restored Evelyn Hotel, is finally poised to open. Finally is the operative term here as the chef, who cooked at Per Se and Lincoln Ristorante, said he has been waiting about 30 years to open his own restaurant, spending the past five or so years on this project. The dining room, at the back of the hotel — past his Leonelli Focacceria e Pasticceria and the informal Leonelli Taberna — is fairly intimate, with 45 seats and another 10 at the bar. The décor suggests Art Deco and Modernist design, and includes original walnut woodwork, restored mosaic floors and a dramatic light fixture that hangs from a central skylight. Mr. Benno has tapped his French and Italian training and experience for a Mediterranean menu with a focus on Liguria, in Northern Italy, and Provence, in Southern France. There’s a risotto with squash and chestnuts; skate almondine; olive oil-poached steelhead trout; a terrine of sweetbreads, rabbit and foie gras; and short ribs niçoise-style. Pastas include spaghetti made with burnt wheat (grano arso) and dressed with seafood, lumache with lobster fra diavolo, and classic agnolotti del plin with duck and foie gras. “I could not resist doing the pastas,” Mr. Benno said. The pastry chef, Lindsey Bittner, also taps into Mediterranean fare with a rosemary flan, chocolate babka with pistachio halvah, and pears with goat cheese. (Opens Thursday)
7 East 27th Street, 212-451-9557, bennorestaurant.com.
Opening
Devon
Oliver Zabar, who has participated in several cafes and wine bars on the Upper East Side with his father, Eli Zabar, the food-market titan, has moved his ambition south with a cocktail bar and restaurant on the Lower East Side. The cocktails are the work of Sean Saunders. The food is by Josh Blum, and the décor, involving elements of modern midcentury Paris, has green lacquer, pink terrazzo and polished steel. The cocktail list features punches and riffs on classics like a tiki manhattan. Bar snacks and more substantial fare like a chicken au jus sandwich and a toasted farro and pumpkin salad are on the menu. Mr. Zabar’s wine selections are all organic and Old World, paying particular attention to nebbiolos from Northern Italy. (Wednesday)
252 Broome Street (Orchard Street), 212-427-3997, devon-nyc.com.
Bang Bar
David Chang’s new takeout spot, unlike anything else he has created, has opened in the Time Warner Center. It’s alongside a location of Momofuku Noodle Bar, which is to make its debut in a few weeks. The focus here is on well-seasoned, layered spit-roasted meats — Korean-style gyros, if you will. Pork or chicken are the choices to have wrapped in Korean flatbread with assorted dips. Breakfast options include smaller, pita-style griddled wraps with smoked salmon and cream cheese or mortadella, cheese and mustard, as well as a sort of filled cinnamon bun based on a Korean snack. A few high-top tables are available for immediate munching.
Shops at Columbus Circle, Third Floor, 10 Columbus Circle, bangbar.xyz, momofuku.com.
Fava Bistro
Though the food at this two-story Mediterranean bistro offers hints of Italy, North Africa and Spain, the flavors of Greece, including garlicky tzatziki, saganaki and feta, dominate. The whitewashed look also evokes the Greek islands.
74 Seventh Avenue South (Barrow Street), 212-776-9965, favabistro.com.
The Ash Room at Sushi Noz
The serene Sushi Noz, which opened in the spring, has added a new seven-seat counter in a separate room. It serves a somewhat abridged omakase, created by Junichi Matsuzaki, a Sushi Yasuda alumnus, for $175 per person. (Wednesday)
181 East 78th Street, 917-338-1792, sushinoz.com.
GupShup
This new Mumbai-inspired Indian spot serves street food from the chef Gurpreet Singh, who was recruited from India. (Sunday)
115 East 18th Street, 212-518-7313, gupshupnyc.com.
Hall
The chef Hiroki Odo, who was at Kajitsu, is opening this Japanese bistro serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu offers some inventive fare like a meatball sandwich made with Washugyu, beef from a breed of black Wagyu crossed with American black Angus, and ice cream made with the lees of sake. On the sake front, he will serve Brooklyn Kura on tap. (Friday)
17 West 20th Street, 646-870-0383, hall.nyc.
The Richmond
Massimo Felici, who owns Vinum, a wine bar and restaurant, has acquired new partners and has opened this Franco-American bistro across the street.
695 Bay Street (Broad Street), Stapleton, Staten Island, 718-489-8805, therichmondsi.com.
People on the Move
Sue Torres
A well-known chef on New York’s Mexican restaurant scene, Ms. Torres is now at Madre Cocina & Mezcales, which moved last spring into the former El Atoradero space in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. She is joined by Phil Ward, formerly of Death & Co., who is head bartender. The restaurant has been redecorated.
Suzanne Latapie
Ms. Latapie, who recently closed her Bistro Chat Noir on the Upper East Side, has become the restaurant director at the nearby Pierre hotel.
Ivy Mix
Diego, the spacious cocktail bar in the Public hotel on the Lower East Side named for the artist Diego Rivera, has put its cocktail program in Ms. Mix’s experienced hands. Her drinks reflect the various places that the artist and Ms. Mix have visited. Chris Reyes will run the bar.
Tabitha Yeh
Ms. Yeh, who has cooked for more than 15 years in the kitchens of Per Se and Bar Masa, among others, is now the executive chef at the newly revived Playboy Club.
Closing
Dell’Anima
There’s still time to sample the pastas and sip the wine at this vest-pocket West Village spot before it closes on Dec. 23. A rent increase and other mounting expenses made it no longer viable, according to a notice posted online.
38 Eighth Avenue (Jane Street), 212-366-6633, dellanima.com.
Petite Abeille
Yves Jadot has closed this long-standing Belgian-style bistro, formerly one of a group, after nearly 15 years. The restaurateur has plenty else to keep him busy, including partnerships in Raines Law Room, Jones Wood Foundry and the Shakespeare.
Looking Ahead
Time Out Market New York
This food hall occupying the ground floor and roof of the Empire Stores complex in Brooklyn, which opens early next year, has started gathering its vendors. Nearly half, 11 of a projected 21, are confirmed. There’s Juliana’s, a pizzeria from Patsy Grimaldi; Reserve Cut, a kosher steakhouse in the financial district; Alta Calidad for Mexican fare; Miss Ada, serving Israeli specialties; Bessou with home-style Japanese; Clinton St. Baking Co. & Restaurant, the pancake specialist; Mermaid Oyster Bar, from Mermaid Inn; Felice for Italian fare; Jacob’s Pickles for comfort food; Do with cookie dough confections; and Avocaderia featuring toasts and bowls.
55 Water Street (Main Street), Dumbo, Brooklyn, timeoutmarket.com/newyork.
Michelin Rankings
The star rankings for the 2019 Michelin Guide New York City have been announced. Le Coucou and Sushi Nakazawa, both highly praised by Pete Wells in The New York Times, each earned one star, the first time they have been elevated to this ranking. Ichimura at Uchu, Gabriel Kreuther and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon received two, bringing the total number of two-star restaurants to 14. Tetsu Basement was also awarded two stars. It will appear in the guide, but it closed and was reconceived after the guide went to press. Atomix, Bouley at Home, Claro, Jeju Noodle Bar, Kosaka, Le Grill de Joël Robuchon, Noda, Okuda, Oxomoco, Sushi Noz and Tuome were also awarded one star. The list of restaurants with three Michelin stars (Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare, Eleven Madison Park, Le Bernardin, Masa and Per Se) remains unaltered. But the leadership of the Michelin guides globally (there are 32 of them) has changed: Gwendal Poullennec, who has been at Michelin since 2003, became international director in September, replacing Michael Ellis. Mr. Poullennec remarked that since the New York edition was first introduced in 2004, the number of starred restaurants has gone to 75 from 39. The guide, $18.99, goes on sale Thursday.
