Kitchen Dish
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
STEAK SURPLUS Just a couple of weeks after transforming Porchetta, in Brooklyn, to an Argentine-style steakhouse called Carniceria, chef Alex Garcia officially opened a similarly themed restaurant called Gaucho Steak Co. in Hell’s Kitchen (752 Tenth Ave. at 51st Street, 212-957-1727) last night. Featuring grass-fed beef from Uruguay in a variety of cuts, the restaurant also offers chorizo, blood sausage, shrimp ceviche, and half a dozen empanadas. This is the second unit of Gaucho Steak; the original is in Montclair, N.J. Owners Felix Ortiz and Arthur Pereira hope to turn it into a national chain.
THE OTHER FIFTH AVENUE Several restaurants have managed to open under the radar on Park Slope’s highly trafficked Fifth Avenue. A La Turka (381 Fifth Ave. at 6th Street, 718-499-2660) is touting its house-baked sesame-seed coated whole wheat bread, on which it serves chicken and lamb sandwiches as well as falafel. Kebabs, stuffed grape leaves, humus, and baba ghanoush also are available. Mura (369 Fifth Ave., between 5th and 6th streets, 718-965-1288) and Jpan Sushi (287 Fifth Ave., between 1st and 2nd streets, 718-788-2880) both serve Japanese food. Jpan Sushi, despite its name, has a more extensive non-sushi menu. Its $6 “Surprise Roll” is made with spicy tuna and grilled banana. Mura offers its sushi rolls — including a $3 peanut avocado roll — with sushi rice or brown rice.
MORE BURRITOS New York’s newest Chipotle opens tomorrow in the financial district (100 Maiden Lane at Pearl Street, 212-742-2690). As the burrito chain normally does the day before it opens a restaurant, it is holding a fundraiser today at its new location. The beneficiary is Futures and Options Inc., a nonprofit organization that places high school juniors and seniors in paid internships. This will be Chipotle’s 16th restaurant in New York City.
CREAM FOR A CAUSE If you would prefer to eat ice cream for a cause, buy a large ice cream or sorbet at a participating Ciao Bella Gelato, starting tomorrow and for the entire month of June, and $1 of the sales will go to the Autism Speaks Foundation. Participating Ciao Bellas are at 27 E. 92nd St. (between Madison and Fifth avenues, 212-831-5555), the lower level food court at Grand Central Terminal (212-867-5311), and at the World Financial Center Winter Garden (212-786-4707).
Mr. Thorn is food editor of Nation’s Restaurant News. He maintains nrnfoodwriter.blogspot.com.
