New York Journal

Welcome back to Restaurant Outlook, a periodic, highly subjective listing of restaurants we’re paying attention to.

Sheridan Square — We already posted our first impressions, but we’re going back for a closer look. Reservation: Tonight.
Scarpetta — Italian restaurant by Scott Conant, formerly of Alto and L’Impero. Early reports are promising, but it’s in the Meatpacking District, which hasn’t seen a serious restaurant in years. Reservation: tomorrow.
Hundred Acres — This Marc Meyer/Vicki Freeman follow-up to Provence opened a few weeks ago. It will be in the Five Points–Cookshop haute barnyard vein. Reservation: June 27.
Talay — Pan-Asian food in Harlem, and how often does that get a mention from Florence Fabricant? No plans to visit yet.
Persimmon — David Chang isn’t the only one doing an Asian-inspired prix fixe in the East Village. No plans to visit yet.
Duane Park — This sequel to Duane Park Café looks interesting, though there aren’t many reviews to go on. No plans to visit yet.

All of these restaurants have been announced or mentioned in the press, but some of them may be a long way off.

Matsu Gen — Jean-Georges Vongerichten does Japanese in the old 66 space. Opening is a couple of weeks away. Naturally, there’s no website yet.
Lever House — Bradford Thompson is taking over the kitchen this month. We’ll wait for the early reports before we decide whether to pay a visit.
Corton — Paul Liebrandt in the former Montrachet space in early August, or thereabouts. ’Nuff said.
Bouley 3.0 — David Bouley’s move to the Mohawk Atelier Building at 161 Duane Street. Expected “by the fall.”
La Fonda del Sol — Mexican you can take seriously? Gael Greene thinks so, and so does Adam Tihany, who’ll be designing the space. Expected in “late fall.”
Susur Lee’s first New York restaurant at 200 Allen Street on the Lower East Side, as yet unnamed, but also expected “come fall.”
Brushstroke — another Bouley restaurant, at 111 West Broadway. Given the well chronicled problems getting this restaurant off the ground, I would be surprised to see it before 2009.

Merkato 55 — Now that it’s officially a certified disaster, we’re in no particular hurry to visit. If we happen to be in the neighborhood, then maybe…
The Redhead — Despite a mostly enthuisiastic 29-page Mouthfuls thread about the Thursdays-only family-style meal, we’ll wait till after a forthcoming expansion.
Greenwich Grill — Near the office, but more likely a choice for a rainy day.