Atera and the Forest Have a Lot in Common

While Erik Torkell waits to review Atera, the new, wildly popular Tribeca restaurant from chef Matt Lightner, the guys at immaculateinfatuation think it's best to save your money for Brooklyn Fare.  "For that much money, we need every bite to be an out of the park home run, and there are some singles and doubles on this menu that had us wishing we could order a la carte."

Kickstart Your Way to Dinner

Eater reported yesterday that Erik Torkells, the man behind the Tribecacitizen blog, was trying to raise $300 on kickstarter so he could dine at the new Tribeca hot spot Atera.  Dinner at Atera runs $150 for the prix-fixe and another $90 for the wine pairing.  It turns out he's hit his goal, he's raised $315, so it looks like there's squab claw in Erik's future.

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.

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.

Despite a Few Dull Moments, Jungsik Manages Two Stars From Pete Wells

Chanterelle was open at 2 Harrison Street for 20 years, and for 10 years in Soho before that.  The 30 year run came to an end in the summer of 2009. 

Jung Sik Yim took over the space, opened Jungsik, and started serving fancy Korean food to New Yorkers.  His efforts received a dull two stars from Pete Wells today.

Brushstroke Makes It Out Alive

GQ food fellow Alan Richman gives us his names out of a hat list of The Ten Best New Restaurants in America.  Brushstroke (#2), the masterful, Japanese spot from David Bouley, is the only one to make the list from NYC.

Michael Voltaggio's L.A. restaurant Ink took the #1 spot.

Gefilte Fish Fetches a Star

Pete Wells gives one star to the 4-month-old Kutshers, where chef Mark Spangenthal serves a modern take on the cuisine of Eastern European Jews.