It was a busy week in Lower East Side restaurant news: Cherche Midi prepared for its opening tonight, Wylie Dufresne announced wd~50 will close this fall, Katz’s defended itself against a Florida imposter and Shalom Chai kosher pizzeria went to court. But there’s plenty more to report before the week gets away from us.
- The Late Late Bar has joined the East Houston Street party. After completely remaking the former National Underground space, proprietor James Morrissey is now serving–among other beverage options–Guinness over ice, garnished with mint. (He tells us that’s the way they drink it in Nigeria, a stronghold of the beloved Irish brew.) The bar is backed by guitarist Rob Ackroyd of the band Florence and the Machine.
- Russ & Daughters‘ annual celebration of New Catch Holland Herring began yesterday in both the East Houston Street shop and the new Orchard Street cafe. The buttery, mild fish is available for takeout as a sandwich or by the fish at the shop, while the restaurant will offer a variety of herring specials on its menu through mid-July.
- Rosette on East Broadway has launched a happy hour, featuring $5 beer, wine and special cocktails, as well as bar snacks like wild mushroom flatbread, roasted avocado and chicken wings. It runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
- Sweet Chick, the new outpost of a Williamsburg chicken and waffles joint at 178 Ludlow St., adds brunch to its repertoire beginning tomorrow. Weekend brunch start at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, while weekday brunch launches June 23 with service beginning at 10 a.m.
- Paulaner, the German brewery that just rebooted on the Bowery, launched a lunch menu this week. Served from noon to 3 p.m. daily, it includes bratwurst burgers with sauerkraut on a pretzel roll, open-faced sandwiches on rye bread and kasnudel, a cheese-filled pasta.
