With the weather still fall-perfect and not too chilly, now’s the best time to book a table before the holiday tourists descend. And there’s no better time. For starters, Café Gitane is back! Plus, the Upper West Side is getting an Eataly Caffè, great comedy comes to Chelsea Market, Lady Delilah opens in the Meatpacking District, and more.
Café Gitane
After a long run and closure, downtown icon Café Gitane is back. Originally opened in 1994 by Luc Lévy, the storied French-Moroccan café reopened in Chinatown last week, thanks to partners Nima Garos, a longtime restauranteur, and The Walking Dead star Norman Reedus, a longtime patron.
Aside from being known as a cool Mott Street spot, the restaurant is also famous for the French-Moroccan menu. Fun fact, Café Gitane helped put avocado toast on New York’s culinary map, while signature dishes like Moroccan couscous and spicy meatball tagine earned a devoted following over the years.
Much of the original team is returning, including kitchen staff. A lot of the menu remains intact too, including, of course, the avocado toast and couscous. New additions shouldn’t be missed, such as the Gitane Burger. Bonus, for the first time in its history, Café Gitane will have a full liquor program. Cocktails include the Marrakech Noir, made with vanilla vodka, coffee liqueur, chai, and cinnamon. 162 E. Broadway, Chinatown, no website
Lady Delilah
The h.wood Group—known for celebrity hotspots Delilah and The Nice Guy in Los Angeles— are opening Lady Delilah on Tuesday November 3, a new supper club and the brand’s fifth location (following L.A., Las Vegas, Miami, and Dallas). The Meatpacking District opening is timed to the Delilah brand’s 10-year anniversary, and the 10,000-square-foot subterranean space will host live entertainment every night.
“New York has always been at the center of culture, with a rhythm and character unlike anywhere else,” said John Terzian co-founder of The h.wood Group. “With Lady Delilah, we saw an opportunity to build on Delilah’s legacy while reimagining the traditional supper club experience in a way that is reflective of the creative and cultural fabric of Meatpacking.”
The h.wood Group’s culinary director, chef Michael Teich, crafted a menu of American bistro fare with familiar favorites, plus a full bar and cocktail program, and yes, bottle service. 353 West 14th St., Meatpacking District, ladydelilahnyc.com
Ibérico
From wine director Tamy Rofe and chef Felipe Donnelly, the husband-and-wife team behind Colonia Verde in Fort Greene, comes Ibérico. The new Spanish + Portuguese wine and tapas bar opens this Thursday, November 5, in the same neighborhood.
The bar channels the vibe of Madrid’s lively neighborhood bars and the time the couple spent living in Portugal. The wine list also reflects this and their relationships with local winemakers there. In fact, Ibérico’s wine is a curated list of exclusively Portuguese and Spanish wines, plus a list of global vermouths. Alatz Ortega, formerly of The Ten Bells, created the cocktail menu and sourced the unique vermouths.
As for food, it’s not surprising the team went the tapas route. Bites include Pan con Tomate, Boquerones, and Tortilla Española
Eataly Caffè
Joining locations in Hudson Yards and the Upper East Side (among others), Eataly Caffè is set to open this Friday, November 6. Look for the signature coffee and espresso drinks, sweet and savory pastries, and many grab-and-go options for dinner or park picnics.
In celebration of the grand opening, at 3 p.m. the first 100 guests in line will get gifts and a complimentary mini hot chocolate. Over the weekend, look for gratis fall-inspired flower bouquets starting at 11 a.m., while supplies last, on both Saturday and Sunday.
Shoppers are encouraged to come early for limited-time-only autumn treats like Maple Cappuccino and Caramelized Apple Bomboloni. The new location is across the street from Zabar’s, making it another excellent addition to the Upper West Side for a serious shopping crawl. 2252 Broadway, Upper West Side, eataly.com
The Stand West
The Stand West opens this Friday, November 6, as an outpost of the comedy club and restaurant The Stand near Union Square, which was co-founded back in 2012. Ahead of its official launch, The Stand West has already welcomed Dave Chappelle, Dave Attell, and Michael Che from SNL.
“With the growing demand for live entertainment, particularly stand-up comedy, opening The Stand West is a natural extension of what we’ve built in Union Square,” said co-founder Paolo Italia. “Chelsea Market gives us an opportunity to bring The Stand experience to a new neighborhood, reach new audiences, and introduce more New Yorkers to what makes our club special.”
Upcoming shows include live podcast tapings, watch parties, interactive events, and special performances, in addition to stand up comedy. The 3,500-square-foot venue space seats between 150 and 170 nightly, allowing the room to maintain an intimate connection. The Stand West’s bar will feature approximately twice as many draft lines as the original location, offering an expanded selection of beverages on tap.
New cocktails created exclusively for this new location include: Clean Set, a lychee martini made with Arabian jasmine-infused vodka, clarified lychee, and elderflower; and Dirty Set, a whiskey sour made with bourbon, PX sherry, fresh lemon, olive brine, olive oil, egg white, tarragon, and Castelvetrano olives.
Menu highlights include a Karaage Fried Chicken with nanban sauce, tartar sauce, and lemon. Or, try the Fried Chicken Sandwich, which comes on a Stand West house-made bun with ranch, lettuce, tomato, and pickles, accompanied by fries and a signature Hot Ones House Hot Sauce aioli. Plus, belly laughs and plenty of comedy. 407 West 15th St., Meatpacking District, thestandnyc.com
