Springing up: Seasonal restaurant and bar preview

Photo: Meatball Shop's jumping LES location

The big-deal restaurant openings mostly happen in the fall, but spring 2011 is bringing a handful of exciting dining spots. This season will reveal a few add-ons to already compelling establishments — such as Lincoln Restaurant’s outdoor café at Lincoln Center and Eataly’s long-promised beer garden — as well as second locations from popular kitchens and new ventures from some of our favorite chefs.
 

Gotham 50 (late March)
Midtown East is gaining a contemporary American bistro in super-contemporary surroundings. All industrial steel and glass, the space employs a sleek design that belies the fact that owner Vincent DeGrezia’s family-restaurant roots are in a slice joint in Bensonhurst. In fact, an outpost of his grandpa’s J&V Pizzeria will be integrated into Gotham 50 — the back of the restaurant leads to an indoor atrium, where a kiosk will sell the pizza.
805 Third Ave.,
212-888-1788

The Dutch (April)
Chef-proprietor Andrew Carmellini (Locanda Verde) promises an April opening for this holdover from the fall preview roundups. Between Carmellini’s track record and his reported dedication to American classics (his blog details his recent menu-testing experiments in honey biscuits, sliced steak and lemon-meringue pie), the Dutch will be a guaranteed hit.
131 Sullivan St.,
no phone yet

Untitled (spring)
Museum eating has steadily improved during the last few years, and following his revamp of MoMA’s food services, Danny Meyer is opening a new cafe called Untitled at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Breakfast and lunch will be the main focus, with dinner served only on weekends. The downstairs space was designed by big-time architect David Rockwell, bringing even more aesthetic glamour to the restaurant.
945 Madison Ave.,
212-570-3600

The Smith (late spring)
Continuing its all-day/all-occasions status, the Smith is smartly heading to midtown for a second locale feauring its successful casual Americana concept. Always convivial, the Smith is just as enjoyable on a date as with a large party. The 10,000-square-foot space will allow for more breakfast and booze deals, namely the weekend brunch, which offers free Bloody Marys with an entrée.
956 Second Ave.,
no phone yet

Brushstroke (April)
New Yorkers are waiting with bated breath for genius chef David Bouley’s Japanese restaurant Brushstroke — a collaboration with the Tsuji Culinary Institute in Japan. It’s been three years in the making — more than 700 recipes have been tested, each with great respect to Japanese traditions. If Bouley, an American who revolutionized fine dining in NYC, can do for Japanese cuisine what he did for French food, we’re in for a delightful education.
30 Hudson St.,
no phone yet

Meatball shop (May)
The guys who run the Meatball Shop are charming and outrageous — and smart to follow up their major Lower East Side success with a new location in Williamsburg. (They have plans for the West Village too, but that’s a bit farther down the line.) Expect the same variety of the “It”item as well as sides over the river.
170 Bedford Ave., Williamsburg,
no phone yet

New Boozy spots, too!

Looking for a little drink with those eats? Check out these nightlife spots slated to open this spring.

Le Baron (late March)
This worldwide nightlife spot (with locations in Paris and Tokyo) was initially slated to open in October. Hopefully, André Saraiva and his crew will have their act together enough to open later this month, as they hope to do.
32 Mulberry St.,
no phone yet

Westway (late March)
This so-called “ironic-hipster strip joint” is opening in a space that has housed a few former strip clubs, including Mystique and the Westside Gentleman’s Club.
75 Clarkson St.,
no phone yet

Double 7 (April)
David Rabin (the Lambs Club) is re-opening an updated, larger version of nightlife spot Double Seven, which shuttered in 2007.
63 Gansevoort St.,
no phone yet

Theater Bar (April)
Albert Trummer (Apotheke) is bringing his cocktail prowess to TriBeCa.
114 Franklin St.,
no phone yet

Ouva Wine Bar & Beer Garden (late March)
Ouva’s main draw is its seasonal wine and beer garden located in this Inwood spot’s backyard, but indoor seating will be available year-round.
4957 Broadway,
no phone yet (AMNY)