Marlow Bistro
This Mediterranean restaurant has reopened after a pandemic sabbatical, during which it donated meals through organizations like Rethink Food and City Harvest. Now it has a new flower-adorned look and a new chef, Alexander Gallegos. His spring menu features salted tail bone; scallops with nettles and morels; disaster agnolotti done carbonara style; salmon with asparagus; and tenderloin with artichokes, sun-dried tomato pesto and green olives. There is attractive seating on the sidewalk.
1018 Amsterdam Avenue (Cathedral Parkway), 212-662-9020, marlowbistro.com.
Essex Pearl
Chef Daniel Le, who worked at the Tyger and Hanoi House, has opened this Southeast Asian spot in the Market Line area of Essex Market. Cambodian grilled pork cheek, crispy baby octopus, and garlic noodles are some of the highlights.
Essex Market (Market Line), Lower Level, 88 Essex Street (Delancey Street), 347-899-4998, essexpearl.com.
Martiny’s
Takuma Watanabe, who was at the now closed Angel’s Share, opened this bar in a carriage house. The name is not only a play on the classic cocktail, but also evokes a sculptor, Philip Martiny (1858-1927), whose studio was located in the space. Mr.’s cocktails Watanabe, like the Dirty Tonic with vodka, olive oil, herbs and tonic, and the Royal Horse’s Neck with Cognac, Champagne, ginger ale, orange, lemon and egg, are, like a food menu, divided into appetizers, desserts and so on; all entree prices, from $21 to $31. (Thursday)
121 East 17th Street, 917-472-7393.
Looking forward
noma
René Redzepi will bring a taste of his acclaimed Copenhagen restaurant to Brooklyn next month, May 16-20. A former foundry dating from 1912 will be remodeled to suggest the restaurant’s original industrial atmosphere. A multi-course tasting menu, $700 plus tax, is served to 50 guests each evening. Mr. Redzepi and some of his staff will be in attendance every evening. American Express Platinum and Resy have partnered on this roadshow, which is open to those enrolled in Global Dining Access by Resy or who hold US American Express Platinum, Centurion, Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire cards. Reservations can be made from April 27 at noon.
26 Bridge Street (John Street), Dumbo, Brooklyn, resy.com/noma-new-york.
Le Gratin
On May 6, Daniel Boulud will open this Lyonnaise bistro in what used to be Keith McNally’s Augustine, a French restaurant in the Beekman Hotel near City Hall that was closed at the start of the pandemic. The name is reminiscent of the Lyonnaise cuisine of Mr Boulud’s childhood, in his mother’s kitchen and in the restaurants and bistros such as the bouchons Lyonnais of that food-oriented city. He calls the restaurant casual, even rustic, and plans to serve baked gratins, both sweet and savory, on an a la carte menu and feature a special dish every month. The executive chef will be Guillaume Ginther, who worked at Restaurant Daniel and Le Coq Rico in New York. The wines of Southern Burgundy, Beaujolais and the Northern Rhone are featured, along with cocktails such as a Kir Communard, made with red wine. As for the lovely vintage decor, Mr. Boulud said he likes Mr. McNally’s environment. “I don’t do much; I want to keep the charm of the place,” he said.
5 Beekman Street (Nassau Street), 212-597-9020, legratinnyc.com.
