Kitchen Dish

By BRET THORN | October 31, 2007

SMOKED FISH, DOWNTOWN

A partner in Murray's Bagels plans to open a new operation early next month. True to its name, the Original Zucker's Bagels & Smoked Fish (146 Chambers St., between Hudson and Greenwich streets, 212-608-5844) will sell bagels and smoked fish.

MOROCCAN FARE

Casaville (633 Second Ave., between 34th and 35th streets, 212-685-8558) is expected to open tomorrow. Chef and owner Lahsen Ksiyer — formerly of Café Noir, Cal's, and La Cité, will be dishing up reasonably priced French-Moroccan food. Dinner entrées, such as falafel-crusted salmon, lamb steak, and paella, are $12–$19. The focus of the wine list is Mediterranean, though some California wines are available, too. Many small plates will be available, as well.

PEANUTS FOR ALL

Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries, which has restaurants in Queens and Brooklyn and is known for giving bags of peanuts to waiting customers, will open its first Manhattan unit (44 W. 55th St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-459-9600) on Friday. Franchisee Five Points Partners also plans to open units in January (296 Bleecker St. at Seventh Avenue South) and February (496 LaGuardia Place at Houston Street).

DELICIOUS COSTUMES

In honor of Halloween, Chipotle Mexican Grill is offering a free burrito to customers who visit any of their restaurants dressed up as a Chipotle burrito, taco, taco bowl, or salad from 5 p.m. until closing today.

RUSTIC CUISINE

Brasserie 44, at the newly renovated Royalton Hotel (44 W. 44th St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-944-8844) opened for dinner last Wednesday, although it started serving breakfast at the beginning of the month.

Executive chef Scott Ekstrom, who was chef de cuisine at Oceana under Cornelius Gallagher, and at Daniel for about four years before that, is focusing on finding top ingredients and mostly letting them speak for themselves. "My favorite food is rustic, clean, country French," Mr. Ekstrom said.

The chef hopes to start serving lunch in mid-November.

MANHATTAN VENTURE

Lunetta, an Italian-American restaurant on Smith Street in Brooklyn, opened a location in Union Square on Monday (920 Broadway at 21st Street, 212-533-3663). Pastas — including cavatelli with lamb and cream, and tagliatelle alla Bolognese — are $13–$18. Main courses — including mussels with saffron and pancetta, and veal saltimbocca — are $14–$23.

SARDINES AND FOIE GRAS

Smith's (79 MacDougal St., between Bleecker and Houston streets, 212-260-0100), a joint venture between Cindy Smith and Danny Abrams, opened this week under the culinary direction of Bouley alumnus Pablo Romero. Among the menu items are Portuguese sardines with Parmigiano-Reggiano, tomato confit, and olive oil; foie gras with fig jam and black pepper; olive oil-poached cod with black pepper tagliolini and lemon gremolata, and boneless pork chop with celery root-apple purée, mustard greens, and braised pork cheeks.

Mr. Thorn is food editor of Nation's Restaurant News. He maintains nrnfoodwriter.blogspot.com.