With September in full swing and RARE Steak Championship NYC sadly behind us, it’s time to turn our attention to the fall bounty of bars and restaurants that keep sprouting up around town.
By all means, please do savor the final days of summer sunshine dining, but be sure to keep these brand-new hot spots on your radar. This week, look out for a new family-friendly, gluten-free dining option in Tribeca, the return of a beloved iconic delicatessen in Midtown, something new from chef Andrew Carmellini at the Public Theater, and more.
Friedmans
Family-run business Friedmans finally brought their gluten-free offerings to one of the most family-friendly NYC neighborhoods in the city, Tribeca, and it has been warmly welcomed since opening last month. The mini chain, which started in Chelsea Market back in 2009, is known for being a gluten-free haven for New Yorkers.
At the new Greenwich Street spot, look for the same hearty menus with dishes like gluten-free pancakes, mac n’ cheese (also sans gluten), salads, steaks, grain bowls, and burgers. The menu has something for everyone, whether or not they can tolerate gluten. What’s more, Friedmans Tribeca is open all day so everyone from office workers to school parents can pop in for a bite. 378 Greenwich St., Tribeca, friedmansrestaurant.com
Carnegie Deli
Carnegie Deli returns to Midtown on September 15 in the former home of another legendary NYC delicatessen, Stage Deli. The famed deli, which started back in 1937 near Carnegie Hall, was once a fixture in the Theater District and fed many performers epic sandwiches.
“We always knew the timing and the opportunity had to be right,” said Sarri Harper, CEO and granddaughter of Carnegie Deli owner Milton Parker, who took over the business in 1976. “When the former Stage Deli space became available, it felt incredibly fitting. There’s so much New York deli history in this space, and the opportunity to continue that legacy on Seventh Avenue made this feel like the right next chapter for Carnegie Deli.”
Some of these original creations will be for sale again, including The Reuben, matzo ball soup, latkes, and knishes. Carnegie Deli’s famous hot dog also returns, featuring an all-beef footlong frank served with sauerkraut. In fact, that dog was a favorite of Parker, who started each workday with one and called it his “lunch before lunch.” New to the lineup is the Carnegie Deli Colossus: a mega sandwich layered with pastrami, corned beef, turkey, Swiss, coleslaw, and Russian dressing on rye bread. 834 7th Ave., Midtown, carnegiedeli.com
The Astor and Bar Torino
NoHo Hospitality Group and The Public Theater are unveiling The Astor and Bar Torino this week. The two new dining and drinking destinations at The Public were conceived as extensions of the theater, and replacing The Library. The openings on September 15 builds on a creative partnership that began in 1998, when NYC late-night impresarios Serge Becker, Josh Pickard, Paul Salmon and Kevin Abbott launched the now-iconic Joe’s Pub alongside the theater. Today, NoHo Hospitality partners Luke Ostrom and chef Andrew Carmellini have joined Pickard to shape said hospitality.
“The Public has so much history and creative energy already embedded in the building, and I’ve been fortunate to be a part of its modern evolution since we opened Joe’s Pub,” said Becker. “For The Astor, the idea was to create a place that feels as though it has always been here, with layers of stories that have been collected over time. We wanted it to have the warmth and character of an old New York tavern, drawing on what came before it, while looking ahead to the next chapters of this already epic story.”
Downstairs, Bar Torino brings a lively, all-day counterpart to The Astor, with fun ice-cold riffs on old-school cocktails and at the Astor, Carmellini brings his modern perspective to a golden age of NYC dining with a menu of familiar American fare and recognizable favorites, like Devilish Eggs and Steak Diane. 425 Lafayette St., NoHo, theastornyc.com
GALO
Opening on West 10th Street in the West Village this week is GALO: a 66-seat adega-style Portuguese restaurant. It’s the second concept from chef Nuno Sousa, following Leitao, his northern Portuguese-style taberna on nearby Hudson Street. GALO is the only restaurant in New York serving its namesake dish: galo recheado: Portuguese whole-stuffed rooster. Other notable dishes include pig ear (orehla de porco), razor clam rice (arroz de lingueirão), and Portuguese-style octopus (polvo à lagareiro).
GALO’s wine program includes over 100 selections from distinct winemaking regions of Portugal, including Vinho Verde, Madeira, the Azores, and the Port lodges of the Douro.The wine list is among the most extensive and diverse Portuguese wine selections outside of Portugal, and the cocktail program puts a contemporary spin on classic Portuguese spirits and liqueurs. The mosaic design under the chef’s table is dotted with homeland motifs like wine, olives and, of course, roosters. 142 W. 10th St., West Village, galonyc.com
Jam & Jaggery
This Friday, September 18, chef Aarthi Sampath (Food Network’s Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay) will open Jam & Jaggery. The cocktail lounge and private event space resides below her debut restaurant, Drāvida, which opened earlier this summer. Like the first concept, this one brings together regional Indian and South Asian diaspora flavors with global influences.
The name “jaggery” is a nod to the cane sugar that’s one of the most distinctive ingredients in South Asian cooking and “jam” brings sweetness, fun, and energy. Cocktails include the Dirty Currytini (made with Lustau Fino sherry, sake vermouth, olive vermouth, and curry leaves) and a Goa Highball. 211 1st Ave., East Village, dravidanyc.com
