Week of November 26-Decemeber 2

Photos: Caroline Voagen Nelson

East Side Social Club
It’s a family affair for Employees Only partner Billy Gilroy, who teams up with his brother Jim, son Devon and daughter Grace (along with partner Patrick Fahey of Macao Trading Co.) to open an old-school Italian-American restaurant in midtown. The concept references a bit of Gilroy family history: Billy’s grandmother once owned Little Italy’s century-old Grotta Azzurra restaurant, Frank Sinatra’s former stomping grounds. Devon (Chanterelle) will run the kitchen, executing dishes that go beyond your typical red-sauce fare, such as sea-urchin arancini. Cocktails, created by Employees Only’s Dushan Zaric, also look toward Italy, with drinks like the Marciano (bourbon, bianco vermouth, almond syrup, tonic and lemon juice). 230 E 51st St between Second and Third Aves (212-355-9442)

Café Blossom
An offshoot of Blossom Vegan Restaurant opens on the UES. The 30-seat café will offer a menu of animal-free (and kosher) fare, including black-eyed pea cake, and a tofu BLT, along with prepared foods to take home. 1522 First Ave between 79th and 80th Sts (212-988-2221)

Café Gitane
Nolita’s popular Moroccan-French café has opened a sister location in the Jane Hotel, with the same menu (baked feta with tomato, olives and thyme; roasted chicken sandwich with chipotle mayonnaise and Parmesan) as the hipster-flooded original. For now the restaurant is serving only breakfast and lunch, with dinner coming later. The Jane Hotel, 113 Jane St at West St (212-255-4113)

Lautrec Bistro
Chef-owner Rafik Bouzgarrou (Angelina) reopens his shuttered wine bar, Absinthe, as this French bistro. Expect classics like steak au poivre, along with global dishes, such as an appetizer of merguez sausage, and tuna steak with shiitake mushrooms. 111 First Ave between 6th and 7th Sts (646-429-9243)

Compiled by Daniel Gritzer