Contents
Off the Menu
Crawfish cakes with Creole aioli, a classic wild shrimp po’ boy and grits with red-eye lamb gravy are also on the menu.
Opening
Lavitta’s Creole
A 1940s barbershop is being given new life as this Creole restaurant from Jimmy Thomas, who was schooled in Creole cuisine by his mother and grandmother while building his career at such places as Blackbird in Chicago, and in New Orleans and Paris. He named the intimate restaurant for his mother. His take on Creole cooking includes crawfish cakes with Creole aioli, a classic wild shrimp po’ boy, grits with red-eye lamb gravy and beignets. With a mere 32 seats, intimacy rules. An open kitchen and vintage touches enliven the space. (Opens Thursday)
218 Malcolm X Boulevard (121st Street), 347-903-8299, lavittascreole.com.
Amo Seafood
Rosario Procino and the chef Pasquale Cozzolino are opening another Italian spot about a block away from Ribalta, in Greenwich Village, where they serve Neapolitan pizza and appetizers. This time they’ve cast a wide net for seafood, some of it imported and prepared Italian-style on an ambitious menu. Sicilian red shrimp tartare; Neapolitan ceviche with branzino and Sorrento lemon juice; octopus Genovese with ziti; risotto di mare; and swordfish Milanese-style are a sampling of what they’re serving.
15 East 12th Street, 212-871-6877, amonyc.com.
Ikigai
The entrepreneur Dan Soha has long had an ambition to open a Japanese restaurant, one that would give back to the community. With his wife, Paige Soha, he has realized it with this 12-seat kaiseki counter serving 12 to 14 courses ($165) prepared by the chef Rafal Maslankiewicz, who worked at Masa and Eleven Madison Park. The Sohas are donating all profits to Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, which has been doing what its name suggests for more than 10 years and donating food to other nonprofits.
87 Lafayette Avenue (South Portland Avenue), Fort Greene, Brooklyn, ikigai.nyc.
The Saloon at Clover Club
Julie Reiner has added an annex with a twist to the Carroll Gardens bar that opened in 2008, just as the cocktail revival began. Though open now for private events, pop-ups and cocktail classes, it won’t welcome the public until next month with a weekend pop-up series called Tiki Rodeo. Guest bartenders will mix tropical drinks to be served with executive chef Sam Sherman’s sticky pork and pineapple skewers. The dates are Aug. 8 to 10, 15 to 17, and 22 to 24. When open to the public and not doing special events, the bar will serve classic drinks in a somewhat vintage-style saloon settings complete with swinging doors.
208 Smith Street (Baltic Street), Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, 718-855-7939, cloverclubny.com.
Ninepin Cafe
This all-day cafe and bakery has opened in the front area of the Evelyn Hotel. There are just three sandwiches, devised by Jeremiah Stone and Fabián von Hauske Valtierra: a summery pan bagnat, porchetta with salsa verde, and caulini and ’nduja with mint, pickled raisins and Fontina. Starting next week more choices and longer hours will be added.
7 East 27th Street, 212-971-9746, instagram.com/ninepincafe.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.