Heading
YAO
From Canal Street to Wall Street, not so far apart, sums up the ambition behind this new restaurant from Kenny Leung, a chef, and his business partner Thomas Tang. They established their first, August Gatherings, in Chinatown nearly 10 years ago with a Cantonese menu that had a few creative twists. This time, they’re doubling down, adding additional global influences in a more formal setting and calling the food modern Cantonese. Mr. Leung, a native of Guangzhou who came to New York in 1988, pays homage with dishes such as salt-roasted chicken, many zucchini concoctions, fried rice with grilled eel and Hong Kong-style fish noodles. But he’ll also add black truffles to his Cantonese shrimp, toss octopus with fusilli and use balsamic vinegar. Equipment such as sous vide is also in his arsenal. “I keep the integrity of Cantonese food but add international ingredients and techniques,” he said. Among desserts, he has successfully crossed the classic Chinese egg tart with Portuguese nata, a similar confection popular in Macau that he serves at August gatherings. Michael Goff, the beverage director, has put together a tight list that starts at $50 but, with an eye on Wall Street, climbs to a $2,000 Burgundy. The restaurant’s fancy entrance is adjacent to the casual Courtyard by Marriott, which houses the restaurant on the second floor. The large, airy, tasteful venue seats 168 in a main room and smaller private rooms, and is furnished with banquettes and tables in quietly elegant tones of beige and salmon, with faux greenery and flowers and real Chinese ceramics. (Opening Monday)
213 Pearl Street (Maiden Lane), 917-265-8119, yaonyc.com.
Opening
Kanyakumari
After opening Kebab aur Sharab on the Upper West Side, a restaurant specializing in North Indian food, Salil Mehta, the founder of Fungi Hospitality, and the group’s executive chef and culinary director, Dipesh Shinde, are now heading to the South End. the food subcontinent of Tamil Nadu. Expect kochi vegetable stew, lots of fish curries, lacy nir dosa crepes, fried crab masala, fried chicken Hira Anna with green mango chutney and goat biryani. (Thursday)
20 East 17th Street, 212-641-0401, kanyakumarinyc.com.
Maria Mulata
A Colombian restaurant named after a tropical bird, also known as the long-tailed grackle, has moved into Swifty’s space on the Upper East Side. It’s from Diana Carrillo, who also owns Chicken Coop, a Colombian restaurant in Valley Stream, New York. Menu highlights include mixed meat platters such as carreta criolla, as well as an impressive pan-fried whole red snapper served, like many dishes, with green plantains. “There has been a lot of interest,” said Nicolas Farias, the director. “We’re something new in a part of town with mostly French and Italian restaurants, so people seem to want to try it.”
1007 Lexington Avenue (73rd Street), 646-946-4753, mariamulatanyc.com.
Wheat
This speakeasy-style bar with entertainment below Barn Joo, the Korean barbecue restaurant in Union Square, combines South Korean and American flavors in its drinks and serves a special dish of dried squid for bites. (Thursday)
35 Union Square West (17th Street), 646-398-9663, barnjoo.com.