The Leadbelly: The Feed first look

When Ben Towill and Phil Winser—the Brits behind Fat Radish and Ruschmeyer’s in Montauk—open a new spot, they like to build the concept around an imagined character who would ideally frequent the place. The inspiration for their latest locale (opened yesterday) is an aristocratic mid-20th-century traveling gentleman, with a taste for bubbly, bivalves and bons vivants. It’s a theme reflected in the sailcloth-colored walls, curving, Airstream-modeled copper bar and raw-wood floors. A seafood-inflected menu from Fat Radish executive chef Nicholas Wilber is split between East and West Coast oysters and dishes like a Maine mussel potpie with leeks and heritage-smoked bacon. Pair the small bites with a bottle of champagne, sourced from small-production houses, a seasonal cocktail or a locally brewed beer. Meanwhile, the place allows ample opportunity for indulging in a life of sporting leisure: You can play hearts with a pack of “Leadbelly” cards available for purchase at the bar, while away an hour listening to a musician plink at the piano built into the wall, or even attend a weekly poetry reading. 14 Orchard St between Canal and Hester Sts (646-596-9142)