Chris Leahy (LYON) has been named executive chef at Lexington Brass. Pan-Asian Yunnan Kitchen opened with Travis Post (Franny’s) overseeing the kitchen. Fratelli la Bufala Neapolitan pizzeria, Proto’s Pizza, Kimchi Grill, a location of A.J. Black’s Italian-focused Il Tesoro, Bar Seven Five Terrace, Puerto Rico inspired Casa Ventura, a new location of Jebon Sushi & Noodle, and a sidewalk cart version of Kelvin Natural Slush Co. all opened. ZirZamin is now welcoming guests in the Bar Henry space with an “Austin-themed menu.”

Tavern 29 opens next week with a German-focused menu and Demi Monde will open at the end of the month. Cock & Bull is taking over the old Goodburger location in Midtown; opening date TBD.

Pete Wentz’s Angels & Kings and Mikey’s Burger both closed.

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Photo of A.J. Black, Il Tesoro.

Per Se alumnus Brian Nasworthy has signed on to be the chef at Beatrice Inn, which will open in about a month. Sam Talbot rode the waves out of The Surf Lodge down to the Caribbean, where he’ll be opening a TBA restaurant. Mangia, mangia! Italian-influenced Arthur on Smith with Joe Isidori, the classic Italian restaurant Bottega, pizza ‘n’ pasta chainlet Serafina Meatpacking, and international Italian chain Fratelli la Bufala all opened. Pounds & Ounces weighed in this week in the former Viceroy space with Executive Chef Ted Cipollone (The Smith) handling the American menu. Stonyfield Farm founder Gary Hirshberg opened the health-focused café Chelsea’s Table. Jean Claude II, the pan-Asian Singapura, bar-restaurant Donna with Jessica Wilson (Prune) handling the food, and French ‘n’ Spanish themed Oregano Bar & Bistro all opened, as well.

Chinese restaurant Café Evergreen will close in mid-May, but will reopen in late summer in a new location. Lenox Social will now be Corner Social when it opens in mid-May. Food writer Harris Salathas joined forces with Ryuji Irie (Matsuri) to open a ramen joint called Ganso this July. The Meatball Shop will reveal another location sometime later this year.

Bar Breton has said “adieu.”

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Photo of Sam Talbot, The Surf Lodge.

Mark Lapico was promoted to executive chef at Jean-Georges, while Erik Battes (Perry Street) nabbed the chef de cuisine title. Julien Jouhannaud (Adour DC) scored Didier Elena’s old top spot at Adour, while the Japanese-American izakaya Zutto welcomed Joshua Smookler onboard. Periyali’s original opening chef, Charles Bowman, is back after leaving in 1999. Clinton Street Baking Company’s Zachary Kell has moved over to sister restaurant Community Food and Juice, where he is the executive chef. Brasserie Pushkin arrived with Andrey Makhov (Maison Dellos) overseeing the traditional Russian menu. Former New York Knicks star-turned-sportscaster-turned-restaurateur Clyde Frazier cut the ribbon on Clyde Frazier’s Wine And Dine, which features a starting lineup of eats from David Waltuck (Chanterelle). Le Bernadin Lounge has started to offer a three-course lunch. A spate of Asian concepts opened, including the high-end izakaya Yopparai, Jim Ramen, and Sushi Mikasa from David “Kevin” Yong (Sushi Seki). Christian Vautier Le Concept chocolatier and café began welcoming chocoholics. New locations of Gyu-Kaku, The Kati Roll Company, 16 Handles, Little Town NYC, and Go! Go! Curry! all made their debut.

Atera will only offer a $150 tasting menu when it opens next week with Matthew Lightner (Castagna) in the kitchen. Felipe and Tamy Donnelly (Worth Kitchen) have signed a lease to open the Latin-inflected Cómodo in the former Salt space; they’re aiming to open the doors before summer. Michael White will open The Butterfly this summer, featuring cocktails by Eben Freeman. Brooklyn Fare will open a second location in Manhattan this summer, while Michael Psilakis is set to debut two new locations of MP Taverna in the same timeframe in Astoria and Irvington, N.Y.

The tasting menu concept Romera has said “adios” and 14 Carrot was uprooted permanently after only two weeks in business. Over in Times Square, Planet Hollywood will close and lay off its entire staff in June; it will reopen as a much smaller Planet Hollywood and a large Buca di Beppo.

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Photo of Adour’s Julien Jouhannaud.

Elizabeth Falkner (Citizen Cake) is coming to the Big Apple to open a pizzeria and craft cocktail bar. Jason Lawless (Tabla) is getting bumped up to the chef de cuisine position at Tocqueville. Peter Serpico, the director of culinary operations for David Chang’s Momofuku empire, is leaving “to pursue independent ventures” after opening Momofuku restaurants in Toronto later this year. Frankies 17 will become Basque bar Francesca with Ryan Bartlow (Spuntino) in charge of the pintxos-heavy menu. Guy & Gallard’s Howard Cheng has opened Kitchen M, while San Matteo Pizza and Espresso Bar, falafel joint Soom Soom, and the carnivore-friendly The Cannibal all welcomed their first guests. Tom Colicchio rolled out two ‘wichcraft food carts. Matthew Maddy will open a new restaurant and bar in Brooklyn once he finishes opening Weather Up Austin.

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Photograph of Elizabeth Falkner.

Restaurateur Inder Singh (Devi) opened Benares with Peter Beck (Tamarind) handling the Subcontinent-focused menu. Peter Hoffman debuted Back Forty West in his former Savoy space with in-house star Shanna Pacifico handling the menu. Cyril Renaud has turned Bar Breton into Quenelle, a classic French restaurant. Presentation-shmesentation: Dans Le Noir has finally opened, offering adventurous New Yorkers a meal in the dark.

The Russian Tea Room is getting some competition in the form of Brasserie Pushkin, which Muscovite Andrey Makhov will helm when it opens later this year. Another outpost of Koi will take over the Quattro Gastronomia Italiana space in the Trump Soho Hotel with an eye toward a summer opening. Jason Hennings (Diablo Royale) is set to open a French small plates restaurant this spring. Hugue Dufour and Sara Obraitis, a.k.a. the team behind M. Wells, are reportedly hard at work on a steakhouse-type concept in a warehouse in Long Island City; look for it in late fall.

Meanwhile, the Spanish spot Oliva and South China Garden both shuttered. Grandaisy Bakery closed its flagship location on Sullivan Street; the Tribeca location remains open and plans remain in place to open two further locations in the next year.

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Photo of Back Forty West’s Shanna Pacifico.

We’ll start with the Italians, who ruled this week. Lady Gaga’s father, Joe Germonatta, and Art Smith (Art and Soul) opened Joanne Trattoria. Two pizza palaces began welcoming guests: Don Antonio by Starita and Numero 28 Pizzeria Napoletana. And Stuzzicheria converted into the sandwichery Pane Panelle, by the same owners. Hummus & Pita Co., the Asian-themed gastropub The Toucan & The Lion, the Greek-ish Thymari, and a second location of Ted & Honey Café at Bldg 92 all opened. Cassa Hotel has partnered with Laurent Tourondel to open a BLT American Brasserie.

Shanna Pacifico confirmed her new kitchen’s name; Back Forty West will open in the old Savoy space with a menu similar to the original Back Forty. Michel Richard is scouting addresses for a new Central location. Dani Garcia and Yann de Rochefort will open an outlet of the gastrobar Lamoraga this fall. Tom Colicchio will take over the restaurant space at the former Bull’s Head Inn in the Hamptons to open a new veg-centric concept called Topping House Rose. Francois Payard will open a third FPB bakery in the next six months. And changes are afoot for the old Elaine’s space, which will be the site of a casual fine dining restaurant from the owners of The Parlor Steakhouse this fall.

The Cobble Hill location of Sweet Melissa Bakery, Sam Bahri’s Steakhouse and Dallas Jones BBQ have all closed. Ellabess is set to close following Valentine’s Day after less than a year in business; guests at the Nolitan Hotel will get complimentary delivery service from nearby restaurants while Epicurean Management works on a new concept, set to open this spring.

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