A buzzy Chinese restaurant that debuted in Westchester and expanded to Long Island is headed to Manhattan. Hartsdale’s O Mandarin — where chef Eric Gao, who was named a James Beard Award semifinalist for several years — will soon have an Upper East Side sibling called Cafe Mandarin at 1239 First Avenue, at East 67th Street. Signage is up, and the space is hiring, according to the restaurant’s website. Owner Peter Liu said the 40 or so seat restaurant will feature dumplings, duck, Sichuan hot pots, and fried whole fish. The Manhattan opening brings the restaurantto a competitive stretch of the Upper East Side, where Chinese restaurants ranging from fast-casual to regional specialists continue to expand. Eater has reached out for more details.
O Mandarin, which opened in 2017 in Hartsdale, has drawn attention from Esquire writer Jeff Gordinier, who described repeat visits and highlighted dishes like dan dan noodles, thousand-layer tofu, and Sichuan peppercorn tofu skin. In Forbes, critic John Mariani called the restaurant “remarkably ambitious,” noting whole fish with fermented black beans, cumin-dusted pork ribs, and handmade dumplings as standouts.
A new flagship location for a coffee pioneer
Devoción has opened a new 2,500-square-foot flagship café at 148 Grand Street in Williamsburg, relocating from its original 69 Grand Street location a block away after that lease ended. The Colombian coffee brand — known for flying beans from Bogotá to New York —now includes a public coffee lab inside the cafe, offering free brewing classes, tastings, and coffee flights as part of its new education-focused program. The original Williamsburg shop, which opened in 2014 and helped establish the company’s U.S. footprint, has closed
Rubirosa’s expansion continues
Rubirosa, the Nolita Italian American staple since 2009 from Maria Pappalardo, is heading west. Known for its tie-dye pizza and fresh pasta, the restaurant is expanding following the always crowded Camp Rubirosa in East Hampton that opened over the summer. Mt. Rubirosa, co-owned with Hamptons partner, Brian Bedol, and presented by Resy in Aspen, opens December 7 at the base of the Aspen Mountain gondola in the Residences at Little Nell. Expect a a heated outdoor piazza and fire tables; a full menu for lunch, apres ski, and dinner; private dining, and seasonal programming for Resy Amex members. The restaurant will operate through winter and summer seasons.