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[title]Stalwarts are moving to new digs (Le Bilboquet, Il Gattopardo); beloved spots are branching off with fresh outposts (Totto Ramen, RedFarm); and Sunset Park is getting its own Wonka-worthy chocolate factory. Snack on duck-confit tacos, sink your teeth into barbecue, or sip cold-brewed coffee at these spin-offs and siblings launching in New York this fall.
RECOMMENDED: Full list of NYC restaurants opening this fall
Beast of Bourbon
Brooklyn’s white-hot BBQ scene shows no sign of cooling off. From nearby gastropub Black Swan comes this sprawling 6,000-square-foot smokehouse in Bed-Stuy. Pit master Frank Davis—who ran upstate’s Cha Cha Hut BBQ—mans the Southern Pride smoker, firing up brisket, ribs and pulled pork. Dive into sandwich specials like the PBR (pork, bacon and house-made relish) and the Gobble Gobble Hey (turkey, bacon and pickled cabbage) at communal picnic tables, or sidle up to the horseshoe bar for a selection from the 200 bottles of whiskey, 50 American beers and frozen cocktails. 710 Myrtle Ave at Spencer Ct, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn (347-789-9901, beastofbourbonbk.com). Late August.
Pagani
Restaurateur Massimo Lusardi (Uva) builds up his empire of casual Italian eateries with this canteen housed in the historic O Pagani & Bros. music store, boasting regional Italian fare. 289 Bleecker St at Seventh Ave South (212-488-5800, paganinyc.com). Late August.
Barbalu
The former Barbarini space—destroyed by Hurricane Sandy—will get a new look and name from husband-and-wife team Stefano Barbagallo and Adriana Luque. The duo—half the team behind the original Italian joint—will shrink the retail area, but much of the Italian menu (cold-cut plates, spaghetti with sausage ragù) will be recognizable to regulars. Drinkers in the nabe will also have reason to cheer, as the refab brings a larger bar area with more small plates available for munching. 225–227 Front St between Peck Slip and Beekman St (646-918-6565, barbalu.com). Early September.
Bluestone Lane Coffee
Melbourne native Nicholas Stone debuts a second location of his Aussie java joint. In addition to flat whites and lattes, the 15-seat café will offer organic green juices and a larger food menu. 30 Broad St between Beaver St and Exchange Pl (bluestonelaneny.com). Early September.
Creative Juice Tribeca
Danny Meyer opens a ninth location of his cold-press café, this one inside Tribeca’s Equinox. Gymgoers can benefit from fruit and veggie juices, like the Green Means Go, with Swiss chard, Tuscan kale and spinach. More substantial bites include an arugula-and-berry salad and a grilled chicken sandwich. 54 Murray St between Church St and West Broadway (creativejuiceflows). Early September.
Dogmatic
The food-cart-turned-quick-food-restaurant—famous for its stuffed artisan baguettes (try the truffle-Gruyère)—will relocate from Union Square to the Village. Health-food-focused Top Chef alum Nikki Cascone will act as consulting chef for the new location, which will also hawk grass-fed beef burgers made from a family recipe, and baked fries. 120 MacDougal St between Bleecker and W 3rd St Sts (212-414-0600, dogmatic.com). Early September.
Il Gattopardo
The 11-year-old Il Gattopardo will move its simple Neapolitan fare down a few blocks into the iconic Rockefeller Townhouses. Customer favorites (like cabbage-wrapped veal, beef meatballs and lemon sorbetto) are still on offer. 13–15 W 54th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (ilgattopardonyc.com). Early September.
It’Sugar Noho
This 7,000-square-foot emporium boasts a huge array of sweets (16-inch-long Twizzlers, Maria Sharapova’s candy line), along with tween-friendly novelty buys (Hello Kitty watches, gummy bear earrings). 655 Broadway between Bleecker and 3rd St (212-677-6181, itsugar.com). Early September.
Joe & MissesDoe
Owner Joe Dobias and his wife, Jill Schulster, will transform the old JoeDoe space—which will relocate in the spring—into a nostalgic blue-plate-special spot, offering comfort-food gone quirky: French-dip dumplings with roast beef and mozzarella, tacos with duck confit and radish, and chili topped with Fritos and jalapeños. At the black lacquered bar, find warm cheese plates, fried duck skins and marrow-butter toasts, along with drinks for two (a Mega-Michelada, a Double Sour Power) and mix-and-match cocktails available in three sizes (small, medium and Big Boy). House quaffs include a gin-spiked Honey Bee with salted honey and a Spicy Lady beertail, made with a light-bodied brew (usually Corona), cayenne, raw sugar and lemon. The kitschy space will be kitted out with a retro traffic light and a red-and-white “Food & Drink” marquee sign. 45 E 1st St between First and Second Aves (no phone yet). Early September.
Le Bilboquet
A Midtown East mainstay since the ’80s, the French bistro located on 63rd Street will move three blocks over. Four times larger than the 40-seat original—which has spawned outposts in Sao Paulo and Dallas—the new location will stick to Gallic standards, including tuna tartare, steak frites and lobster bisque, along with signatures like smoked salmon with guacamole from chef Julien Jouhannaud (Adour). The restaurant’s popular weekend brunches will also be reincarnated at the new digs. 20 E 60th St between Madison and Park Aves (no phone yet). Early September.
MexiBBQ
Find Southern barbecue with a Mexican kick at this Upper East Side outpost of the brick-laden Astoria canteen. Chef Jonathan Van Sleet (MexiQ) will consult on a menu of classics (smoked-brisket tacos, adobe-rubbed ribs) and new items, including a grilled Chilean sea bass. The bar will be stocked with more than 40 tapped craft beers, tequila (Herradura, Milagro) and jazzed-up margaritas, such as a passion-fruit–jalapeño variety. 1633 Second Ave at 85th St (no phone yet, mexibbq.com). Early September.
Pink Tea Cup
Film director Lawrence Page opens a Brooklyn outpost of this storied soul-food restaurant. The Fort Greene location boasts a similar menu of Southern staples (chicken and waffles, fried okra), but swaps out the Victoria decor for Gallic accents, including a ten-seat copper bar. 120 Lafayette Ave at Cumberland St, Fort Greene, Brooklyn (no phone yet). Early September.
The Supply House
Restaurateurs Ryan O’Flaherty and Robbie Gillin—of the Hamptons’ Saltwater Grill and Pete’s Park Place Tavern in Bronxville—pull hits from their other spots for this Upper East Side restaurant. The 70-seat joint—lined with reclaimed wood and tin—will offer surf-and-turf options like fish tacos, lobster rolls and a coffee-crusted burger. 1647 Second Ave between 85th and 86th Sts (no phone yet). Early September.
Bo’s
The team behind Crave Fishbar and Montauk’s South Edison will bring Big Easy flavors to Gramercy. With inspiration from Andrew “Bo” Young III, the menu will highlight Creole flavors with dishes like Florida red-snapper crudo with pequin pepper, pickled chanterelles, crispy okra and herbs. Jeremy Strawn (Mulberry Project) will man the cocktail menu behind a zinc-topped bar. 6 W 24th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (no phone yet). Mid-September.
Bubby’s High Line
The brunch favorite opens a second Gotham location. The new joint is dressed as an ode to the Southern porch, with the ceiling painted in robin’s-egg blue. The beloved pies are available all day, along with classic gussied-up picnic eats like cold fried chicken and biscuits. Meatpacking clubgoers can grab tacos, burger and pulled-pork sammies at a late-night takeout window. 73 Gansevoort St at Washington St (bubbys.com). Mid-September.
Lucy’s Whey Carnegie Hill
East Hampton’s beloved cheese shop will open a second Manhattan location. This Upper East Side storefront will stock an extensive selection of artisanal curds, including—for the first time—Europeans classics. In the evening, the 18-seat café will transform into a bar, pouring wines and American craft beers. 1417 Lexington Ave between 92nd and 93rd Sts (212-289-8900). Mid–September.
Pierre Loti Wine Bar & Restaurant
Slide into a red banquette at this Mediterranean spot for Turkish-inspired fare. The menu features dishes like feta-and-blue-cheese phyllo rolls, beef dumplings in yogurt sauce and Cornish hen with bulgur pilaf. In addition to more than 30 wines by the glass—hailing from France, Spain and South Africa—sip cocktails such as the Quickdraw (bourbon, honey, curaçao and cardamom) and the Dragon’s Breath (tequila, kiwi and lavender bitters). 78 Fifth Ave between Prospect and St. Marks Pls, Park Slope, Brooklyn (347-885-6526, pierrelotiwinebar.com). Mid-September.
Pop @ Pod
The Pop Burger franchise will bring its jazzed-up fast-food riffs to the funky confines of Midtown East’s Pod 51 Hotel. With an emphasis on craft beer—expect around ten taps—the 120-seat space will peddle signatures, including lobster nachos and the Gobble Gobble (two turkey sliders topped with lettuce, tomato and cheese). The Pod Hotel, 230 E 51st St between Second and Third Aves (no phone yet). Mid-September.
RedFarm
One popular Pan-Asian joint replaces another—Ed Schoenfeld’s West Village dim sum den will launch an Upper West Side outpost in the old Fatty Crab space. While the Hudson Street location will revamps its menu this fall, the uptown satellite will feature RedFarm greatest hits from chef Joe Ng: spicy crispy beef, Katz’s pastrami egg rolls and Pac-Man shrimp dumplings. Similar to its sibling, the 80-seat spot is furbished with blond-wood communal tables, gingham-upholstered banquettes, whitewashed brick walls and outdoor seating. 2170 Broadway between 76th and 77th Sts (212-724-9700). Mid-September.
Shaka Burrito
Hang ten at this burrito joint from gourmet grocer Garden of Eden. Like its Long Branch, New Jersey counterpart, the Gramercy hangout will boast island accents—a Tiki-hut bar, hanging surfboards and a coral reef aquarium. Burritos are packed with island-inspired fillings like shrimp and grilled pineapple or chicken with Manchego cheese. For dessert, cool off with a cup of Hawaiian shaved ice. 210 E 23rd St between Second and Third Aves (212-213-4612, shakaburrito). Mid–September.
Tutto Il Giorno Tribeca
A Hamptons breeze will blow into Tribeca with this modern Neapolitan eatery, joining popular locations in Southampton and Sag Harbor. Taking over the old Theater Bar space, the 150-seat room will serve upscale Italian fare: grilled prawns with baby spinach and sesame vinaigrette, and New York strip with rainbow kale and green-peppercorn sauce. 114 Franklin St between Church St and West Broadway (no phone yet). Mid-September.
Felice Next Door
The Felice family is growing—Jacopo Giustiniani and Gherardo Guarducci will launch a bar-lounge next to their Upper East Side wine bar. Styled with Italian leather stools, banquettes and high-top tables, the spot will have artisanal Scotch whiskeys and European craft beers on offer, as well as wine-infused quaffs from mixologist Salvatore Tafuri (Circolo). A pair of flatscreens above the bar will show major European and American games. For food, find American classics including lobster rolls, salads and a chicken BLT from chef Simone Parisotto (Milan’s Michelin-starred Ristorante Tivoli). 1593 First Ave at 83rd St (212-249-4080, felicenyc.com). Late September.
Jacques Torres Factory
Master chocolatier Jacques Torres will debut a Wonka-worthy chocolate factory at Sunset Park’s Brooklyn Army Terminal. The 39,500-square-foot space will consolidate manufacturing from his Dumbo and Soho locations, equipped with a five-ton melter, a chocolate-powdering room, a 70-foot-long packaging tunnel and an ice cream room peddling frosty sandwiches made with Torres’s famous chocolate-chip cookies. 140 58th St at First Ave, Sunset Park, Brooklyn (mrchocolate.com). Late September.
Tao Downtown
Tao’s Pan-Asian hits will arrive in the Meatpacking District this September, when the clubby bistro takes over the sprawling space that once housed Matsuri and Hiro Ballroom. 92 Ninth Ave between 16th and 17th Sts (212-888-2724). Late September.
Totto Ramen
Branching off its popular ramen-ya, the Totto team will debut a second, larger location, not far from the 52nd Street original, outfitted with an open kitchen and oak tables. Along with menu staples (chicken-broth ramen, a kombu-shiitake number), the 30-seat Japanese haunt will have a heightened seafood focus—noodles tangled around blue crabmeat and plump shrimp in briny broth. Dumplings and buns will also be on offer at the ramen counter, fit to pair with a selection of beer, wine and sake. 464 W 51st St between Ninth and Tenth Ave (no phone yet). Late September.
Whitman & Bloom Liquor Company
With his former watering hole Bruckner Bar & Grill destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, Alex Abeles embarks on a new project with the owners of Cask Bar & Kitchen. Bearing a name that references Ulysses, the lit-themed bar will display bookstore antiques. The drinks program will highlight local wines, along with tweaked classic cocktails by Darryl Robinson. 384 Third Ave between 27th and 28th Sts (212-725-4110). Late September.
Counter Culture Coffee Training Center
Coffee lovers can boost their java knowledge at this Nolita spot, the Durham, North Carolina roaster’s second New York City location. In addition to classes, the center will host cuppings and food pairings by guest chefs. 376 Broome St between Mott and Mulberry Sts (counterculturecoffee.com). Early October.
Melt Shop
Spencer Rubin’s growing grilled-cheese chain will open its third location, in Midtown West. Fromage fans can expect gooey staples including a three-cheese melt (Gruyère, Havarti and goat cheese) with oven-roasted tomatoes; a pepperjack-Muenster variety with pickled jalapeños; and an aged-cheddar sammie topped with maple-glazed bacon. A trio of tots (original, cheesy and sweet potato), New York–style deli pickles and hand-spun milk shakes (black and white, coffee) are also on the menu. 135 W 50th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (212-265-6358, meltshop.com). Early October.
Pinot’s Palette—Ellis Street
Grab a wineglass and summon your inner Picasso at the Staten Island outpost of this paint-and-drink chain. Instructors lead a step-by-step art lesson, ensuring everyone takes home a masterpiece. A wine and beer bar loosens creative juices, and guests can bring food to nibble on throughout the night. 20 Ellis St at Arthur Kill Rd, Staten Island (pinotspalette.com/EllisStreet). Early October.
Saul
This beloved Boerum Hill eatery will join the Modern and M. Wells Dinette in the growing ranks of not-your-average museum restaurants. Saul Bolton will reprise his seasonal New American favorites, including the restaurant’s signature baked Alaska, as he creates a menu for the Brooklyn Museum’s café. 200 Eastern Pkwy at Prospect Park, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn (saulrestaurant.com). Early October.
Simit + Smith
Simits (Turkish bagels) will arrive in the Financial District with the fourth location of this café. Grab a doughy simit—dipped in molasses and rolled in sesame—or focaccia-like pogaça stuffed with kasseri-olive or feta-parsley. Turkish drinks, including coffee and ayran (a yogurt drink) are also on offer. 100 William St between John and Platt Sts (simitandsmith.com). Early October.
Calexico
Having started with a Vendy Award–winning cart, the street-burrito purveyors add a fourth location to their minichain. Joining Red Hook, Greenpoint and the Lower East Side, the Park Slope outpost will have 60 seats, as well as a similar teal-and-tin decor and menu as its siblings: soft corn tacos filled with beer-battered Baja fish, carne asada rolled quesadillas, huitlacoche-topped grits and Sloppy Jose sandwiches piled with ancho-cumin ground beef and fried green tomatillos. Expect to find Pacifico beer and margaritas at the bar. 278 Fifth Ave between Garfield Pl and 1st St, Park Slope, Brooklyn (calexico.net). Mid-October.
Empire Steak House
The steak boosters behind Ben & Jack’s Steakhouse open a second location of their popular Rockefeller Center meat-and-seafood emporium. 237 W 54th St between Broadway and Eighth Ave (empiresteakhousenyc.com). Mid-October.
Grand Central Oyster Bar Brooklyn
The Manhattan stalwart debuts in Brooklyn, complete with its iconic archway entrance. Encompassing the ground floors of three buildings, the expansive spot will serve hits like oyster stew and pan-roasted lobster, along with 16 varieties of the star bivalve. Seafood pastas will join the classics. 254–256 Fifth Ave between Carroll St and Garfield Pl, Park Slope, Brooklyn (oysterbarbrooklyn.com). Mid-October.
Luzzo’s BK
Michele Iuliano (Luzzo’s, Ovest Pizzoteca) brings his Neapolitan-style pizza to Cobble Hill. This fall, the third-generation baker will also partner with TONY to produce La Sagra Sunday Slices, Gotham’s first pizza festival. 145 Atlantic Ave between Clinton and Henry Sts, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn (718-855-6400, luzzosbk.com). Mid-October.
Max
This East Village favorite debuts a Brooklyn offshoot, serving Italian classics like lasagna and spaghetti and meatballs. The Billyburg menu will showcase a few new items, including dinner panini (chicken or eggplant Parmesan). 740 Driggs Ave at South 2nd St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (max-ny.com). Mid-October.
Sant Ambroeus Soho
The Upper East Side stalwart comes to Soho. Expect the menu here to mirror the one at its uptown counterpart, with Milanese specialties such as a Parmesan-and-artichoke salad, chilled veal carpaccio and risotto primavera. 265 Lafayette St between Prince and Spring Sts (no phone yet). Mid-October.
Snack Taverna
The quaint Greek café will branch out to Hell’s Kitchen with an expanded menu of grilled fare and international wines. 522 Ninth Ave at 39th St (no phone yet, snacktaverna.com). Late October.
Carmine’s Sports Bar
Carmine Gangone will expand his family-run Williamsburg pizzeria—opened by his Salerno-born pop in ’79—to include a next-door sports bar. Sharing a kitchen, the brick-laden lounge will feature the same Italian dishes (thin-crust Grandma slices, sopressata-stuffed calzones, baked ziti) as the pizza parlour, along with bar-menu staples (burgers, wings) and wood-fired gourmet pies (Philly cheese steak, buffalo chicken). The 21-foot-long bar will have ten beers on tap (Brooklyn Lager, Budweiser) and happy-hour specials such as half off drafts and beer-and-slice combos. The 3,000-square-foot venue is decorated with wine-barrel tables, French doors, wooden booths and 13 flatscreens broadcasting games—the house roots for the Yanks. 356 Graham Ave between Conselyea St and Metropolitan Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-782-9659). Early November.
Shake Shack
Danny Meyer’s prolific burger chain will pull into iconic Grand Central Terminal for its ninth NYC depot, taking over the former Zocalo space in the downstairs dining concourse. While waiting for the perpetually late Metro-North, you’ll be able to load up on Angus-beef ShackBurgers, split-and-seared Shack-cago Dogs, frozen custards and ShackMeister Ales from Brooklyn Brewery. 87 E 42nd St between Park and Lexington Aves (shakeshack.com). Early November.
Pirates and Poets
Veritable odd couple Barbara Sibley (owner of La Palapa) and Pirate’s Booty popper Robert Ehrlich (Robert’s American Gourmet Food) will take over the 150-year-old Holiday Cocktail Lounge space for their own craft drinkery. Previously functioning as a Prohibition-era speakeasy, a burlesque bar in the ’40s and an Allen Ginsberg–frequented beat dive, the 60-seat spot will honor the space’s rich history with classic cocktails, as well as salvaged furnishings like Holiday’s horseshoe-shaped bar, wooden phone booth and iconic awning. For bites, find seasonal small plates like scallop tartare and smoked salmon, as well as burgers on house-baked buns. 75 St. Marks Pl at First Ave (no phone yet). Early November.
Ladurée Tea Salon
Go pinkies up at the macaron house’s elegant downtown outpost, its second in New York City. Modeled after the Paris flagship, this larger location will feature an expanded menu of sweet offerings (like dainty macaron cakes), along with a restaurant serving black-truffle omelettes, tea sandwiches and more. 398 West Broadway between Broome and Spring Sts (no phone yet). Mid-November.
Hill Country Barbecue Market
Brooklyn’s barbecue boom intensifies with the downtown opening of Manhattan’s hit Texas smokehouse. The 11,000-square-foot joint will serve Hill Country classics: dry-rubbed brisket, beer-can game hen and Kreuz Market sausages shipped from the Lockhart, Texas, institution. A second-floor mezzanine will host Americana bands. 345 Adams St near Joralemon St, Downtown Brooklyn (718-885-4608, hillcountrybk.com). Late November.
Hill Country Chicken
At the same address as its forthcoming barbecue shop, the Lone Star–themed minichain opens a Brooklyn outpost of its fried-chicken restaurant. The soul-food specialty is available in two varieties: the crispy Hill Country Classic and Mama El’s, which comes skinless with a cracker crust. Southern sides include pimiento cheese and mashed potatoes, along with house-made pies in flavors like bourbon-pecan and double cherry. 345 Adams St near Joralemon St, Downtown Brooklyn (718-885-4609, hillcountrychicken.com). Late November.
Pilar Cuban Restaurant and Bar
This family-run eatery is moving to larger digs in the same neighborhood, where they’ll continue dishing out Cuban standards like pernil, paella and arroz con pollo. 397 Greene Ave at Bedford Ave, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn (718-623-2822, pilarny.com). Late November.