SNEAK PEEK To be among the first to see what chef Cedric Tovar has cooking at the soon-to-reopen Peacock Alley in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel (301 Park Ave., between 49th and 50th streets, 212-355-3000), stop by on Tuesday, November 1, its first day of operations. It will only be open for lunch, although you can sample small plates at the bar. Full-on dinner service will begin November 15.

CAVE CUISINE Chef Terrence Cave, previously of the Cub Room, Blue Ribbon Brasserie, and Charlie Palmer’s restaurants, has opened his own place in SoHo. HQ (90 Thompson St., between Spring and Prince streets, 212-966-2755) opened for dinner last week and served its first brunch on Sunday. It’s a 60-seat bistro featuring Mr. Cave’s versions of New York favorites. His foie gras comes with pineapple chutney. His fettuccine is “hand cut” and served with glazed vegetables and truffle broth. His salmon is Irish and organic and is dressed with a lemongrass sauce. The restaurant will start serving lunch in November.

MIDTOWN ITALIAN Another venture by a veteran of Blue Ribbon and the Cub Room opened this week in Midtown. Aquaterra (209 E. 56th St., between Second and Third avenues, 212-644-4447) is the baby of Tony Acinapura, who recently worked for restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow, both at Rocco’s 22nd Street, which was the subject of the reality show “The Restaurant,” and at China Grill.

Mr. Acinapura is chef and owner of this new 125-seat restaurant, where he’s serving ingredient-focused, Italian influenced fare, including grilled, head-on shrimp, and pappardelle with walnut pesto. His salmon is grilled and served with chickpea puree.

BRUNO CAFE Bruno Jamais, who owns a semiprivate club on the Upper East Side that shares his name, has opened a Cafe B (135 E. 65th St., between Park and Lexington avenues, 212-774-1999). His chef and partner, Emanuele Simeoni, previously was at Barbaluc. The decor, featuring sand-colored walls and modern art, is meant to evoke St. Tropez. The menu features lots of northern Italian items such as prosciutto and melon, as well as prosciutto with grilled mission figs and cardamom.

ALL YOU CAN EAT If you want passion-fruit sauce with your salmon, check out Porcao Churrascaria (360 Park Avenue South at 26th Street, 646-746-7236), which opens tomorrow.

This New York outpost of a chain based in Rio de Janeiro provides all-you-can-eat roasted meats and a salad bar for $50.90. Porcao is also offering a $22.90 lunch that includes a choice of beef, chicken, or salmon.

Mr Thorn is food editor of Nation’s Restaurant News. He can be reached atbthorn@nrn.com.