The Nomad Will Bring Wanderers

The Nomad is the new project from Eleven Madison Park chef Daniel Humm and Will Guidara, EMP's manager.  The two started their own company together, appropriately named MadeNice, and the NoMad restaurant is the second property to their name.  The other being Eleven Madison Park, which the team bought from Danny Meyer last year.

The restaurant is opening in the hotel, at 1170 Broadway (at 28th Street), in the neighborhood with the same name, which stands for north of Madison Square Park.  It is in the vein of The Breslin and John Dory Oyster Bar, a hotel/restaurant concept with food as enticing as the decor.

Daniel Humm plans a more casual menu than EMP and will offer a la carte options that include a chicken dish with black truffles and foie gras that showcases his ability to pamper the palate.  As if the project needs any more credibility, they get Brooklyn cred for the Le Poulet, a beer made by Brooklyn Brewery specifically designed to wash down said chicken.

The restaurant opens Monday and will start taking reservations tomorrow.

North End Grill Fires Up Two Stars

This week, Pete Wells heads to North End Grill, the newest addition in Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group.  Floyd Cardoz is the chef.  He and his spice rack used to run the kitchen over at Tabla, before it shut its doors in 2010 after a 12 year stint.

No one is too pleased about the restaurant's location.  And despite a couple hiccups in the form of the dull room and lamb that seems to be an afterthought, Wells still finds much to revel in and awards two stars.

Perla Turns One Week this Week

Perla is the much buzzed about new restaurant from Gabe Stulman.  At 24 Minetta Lane, it's the fourth restaurant in his Wisco empire, along with Joseph Leonard, Jeffery's Grocery, and Fedora. 

Michael Toscano made the move from Manzo to helm the kitchen at Perla, and with only a few nights of service under its belt, the city has plenty of (mostly good) things to say.

It's Dinner Time at Back Forty West

After just about a month of lunch service, Back Forty West, Peter Hoffman's Savoy replacement, is now serving dinner.

Part of the renditions to the quaint corner space at 70 Prince Street included the addition of a smoker and chef Shanna Pacifico is taking full advantage.  Pork ribs, beef brisket, and chicken legs and thighs are allup for grabs on the new dinner menu.

Lucali's Mark Iacono Lets Things Roll Off His Back

Lucali is the epitamy of a neighborhood joint.  It's on Henry street in Carroll Gardens.  It's small, casual, delicious.  From 6pm - 10pm all they do is make pizza and calzones.  If they run out of ingredients, they run out of ingredients.  Despite the lines that have been out the door since they opened in 2006, Lucali prefers to be closed on Tuesdays.

Chef and owner Mark Iacono was the talk of the town last spring.  But not for serving the likes of Jay-Z and Beyonce on a somewhat regular basis, not for his incredible pizza, but because of what he refers to as "an altercation."  He was involved in a knife fight in April of last year, and although we know he's back to making pizzas, there's still a lot of grey area surrounding the issue. 

Catch up with the man behind the pizza in this great interview Grubstreet did with Mark last Friday.

Here's to Sunday's Hangover

In the midst of shlepping down pint after pint this weekend, don't forget to eat.  Wherever your St. Patrick inspired travels take you, there's likely to be a good corned beef sandwich a Blarney Stones throw away.

Pastrami Queen, Carnegie Deli, 2nd Avenue Deli, Sarges, and Katz's cover a good chunk of the island and offer reliable takes on the sandwich.

It's Bottarga to Cheese Curds for Michael White

A community board meeting held last night granted Michael White a liquor license for The Butterfly, a space at 225 West Broadway he's planning to open this summer.  It will be a break from fusilli with octopus and bone marrow, and will give Chef White a chance to wow us with the foods of his Wisconsin upbringing. 

The Butterfly will be 55 seats, small and cozy, with Prime Rib Wednesdays and Fish Fry Fridays driving home that Midwest feel.

Where Were You When The Great Googa Mooga Happened?

Tickets are officially available for The Great Googa Mooga.  The event is happening May 19th and 20th in Prospect Park and general admission is free.  The $250 Extra Mooga ticket gets you all-inclusive food, wine and beer, access to Main Stage viewing, a one-year subscription to New York Mag, and an "Extra Mooga sack filled with goodies."