Hot-Chicken Joint Opens In Louisville; Restaurant And Movie Theater Combo Coming To Brooklyn

We're always on the lookout for restaurant news here at Food Republic. And news we often receive — we're constantly pitched on restaurants that have pledged to open their doors in the near future, only to eventually learn about inevitable roadblocks and delays that have us questioning whether we should cover a restaurant during our fall preview — one that we may have already mentioned in our spring preview, months before. Such is the unpredictable nature of the restaurant world.We've worked diligently to assemble this short roundup of promising restaurants that we are certain have recently opened for business and of the newest announcements we've come across regarding restaurants certain to open in the near future. Well, fairly certain. Take a look and be sure to reserve your table today!

Aspen Kitchen

The Watershed Group has opened Aspen Kitchen, which will feature a menu showcasing all-American ingredients with items sourced locally from in state to pair with an inspired beverage program and handcrafted cocktails. Executive chef Matthew O'Neill, who has worked for Daniel Boulud in New York City and Tony Maws in Boston, is offering elk tartare with quail egg, confit shallots, capers and toasted garlic; poached rabbit cavatelli with wild mushrooms crème fraîche and shishioto gemolata; and pan-roasted Colorado striped bass with roasted fennel and chickpea panisse as some of the current menu options. Meanwhile, celebrated pastry chef Zac Young oversees a diverse dessert program. 515 Hopkins Ave., Suite 200, Aspen, CO 81611; kitchenaspen.com

BeetleCat

There's no bigger name in Atlanta dining than Ford Fry, and the longtime restaurateur has opened his tenth restaurant, located in the city's Inman Park. As the sister restaurant to Fry's west-side spot the Optimist, BeetleCat features a large oyster bar, wood oven for roasting fish and outdoor patios on each section of the two-floored space. The seafood-focused menu is full of Thai and Vietnamese influences, including a selection of crudo and snacks to start (blue crab claws with nuac chaum, yuzu and lime zest aioli, and octopus dip with labneh, cilantro, broad beans, lemon conserva and warm pita, for example). The rest of the menu is divided into three sections of larger plates: shellfish, fin fish and meats. The drinks program highlights house-made punches, tiki cocktails and updated versions of '80s-inspired oceanfront bar classics. 299 N. Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30307; beetlecatatl.com

Harvest by Roy Ellamar

"Farm to table" isn't exactly what comes to mind when discussing Las Vegas, but that's the type of cuisine that local chef Roy Ellamar has on tap at his new namesake restaurant in the Bellagio Resort & Casino. A "snack wagon" is a quick, fun way for diners to enjoy small, innovative delights, such as smoked salmon belly dip and broccoli rabe pesto. A "freshly picked" section will reflect seasonal offerings, and there will also be an extensive assortment of seafood from American waters. In addition to choice meat cuts chosen from select farms, Harvest will feature items cooked in both its stone oven and contemporary rotisserie, such as 24-hour local-ale-brined slow-roasted porchetta. The beverage program emulates the chef's dedication to a sustainable and timely menu, including a selection of "farmers' market cocktails." 3600 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89109; bellagio.com

Royals Hot Chicken

We've been on the hot-chicken bandwagon for a while here at Food Republic, despite decreeing last week that the Nashville original dish as we know it may be in danger. We're always excited to hear that chefs outside of Music City are making their own personal homages to the dish, and we're especially intrigued that this marks Louisville's second foray into the hot-chicken movement (Joella's Hot Chicken opened last year). Ryan Rogers, co-owner and founder of the city's popular Feast BBQ, is the man behind the deep fryer here, and he's certainly done his research. He and his chefs visited a dozen or so hot-chicken joints in Tennessee before coming up with their own recipes, which range in heat from classic fried to "gonzo," which is made with ghost, Carolina Reaper and Trinidad Scorpion peppers, three of the hottest available. He'll also have a variety of homemade sides on the menu, as well as a selection of milkshakes, designed to ease the burn of the flaming-hot poultry. 736 E. Market St., Louisville, KY 40202; royalschicken.com

Grato

James Beard Award–nominated chef Clay Conley is arguably the biggest culinary name in Palm Beach, having opened the eclectic Buccan in 2011 and the intimate Asian-focused restaurant Imoto next door in 2012. His first West Palm Beach venture, the modern Italian concept Grato, is now open. Conley hopes Grato will become a neighborhood favorite, serving a number of antipasti and crostini meant to be shared, as well as house-made pastas and wood-fired oven and rotisserie-cooked main plates. Staples include roast porchetta, a 16-ounce bone-in New York strip and a brick oven–roasted daily fish. The big, open space accommodates 150 and features a full bar that offers a variety of local and Italian craft beers. 1901 S. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach, FL 33401; gratowpb.com

The Bywater

Opened earlier this week, the Bywater marks acclaimed Manresa chef-owner David Kinch's first casual bar and eatery (watch a clip from his current starring role on Mind of a Chef below). Located just minutes from his Michelin-star restaurant, the space is named for the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans, the city where Kinch grew up and got his start in the culinary industry. The menu showcases classic French- and New Orleans–inspired dishes, as well as Southern staples reimagined with ingredients from Northern California, plus a raw bar. Look for gumbo z'herbes; po' boys dressed with fried oysters; homemade hot links or shrimp; fried chicken and butter beans; and red snapper courtbouillon with andouille and shrimp. Nightly specials feature chef's favorites, and the cocktail team offers a list of classic and sometimes eclectic New Orleans cocktails, including tropical drinks that reference the Caribbean influence on the city. 532 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95030; thebywaterca.com

Syndicated

"Dinner and a movie" has a familiar ring to it, but the two have never quite gone together so seamlessly. Opening tomorrow, Syndicated is bringing a new dining and entertainment venue to burgeoning Bushwick with a restaurant, bar and independent movie theater. The restaurant's menu will offer chef Bret Macris's seasonal spin on American comfort food, along with a number of smaller items (think popcorn-crusted fried oysters, bacon butter maple meatballs and duck confit nachos). Cocktails from bar manager Kenneth Vanhooser are inspired by the classics and take their names from the world of film. Just down the hall, an intimate 50-seat cinema features a 280-inch screen, film theater–quality digital projector and surround-sound speakers, along with custom-designed banquettes with leather headrests. Handcrafted tables for two allow viewers to order and enjoy a wide selection of food and drinks in their seats. The frequently changing selection of films will include recent indies, everyone's favorite blockbusters and classics in every genre. 40 Bogart St., Brooklyn, NY 11206; syndicatedbk.com

Aunt Jake's

Mulberry Project is home to some of NYC's most interesting drinks and buzzy scenes. This week, owner Nick Boccio is planning to open Aunt Jake's next door, a casual restaurant serving up classic Italian fare and counter service. Appetizers — many of them vegetarian — are all in the single-digit dollar range, while no entrée costs more than $19. A create-your-own-pasta section allows diners to combine different pasta shapes with one of five house sauces. 151 Mulberry St., New York, NY 10013

El Che Bar

Chef John Manion has helped define the term "Latin-local" in Chicago since opening La Sirena Clandestina in the Fulton Market neighborhood back in 2013, bringing with him a Brazilian menu featuring New American touches. This March, he'll honor the traditions of Argentinian steakhouses, seen through a local lens. A custom-built open hearth will serve as the dining room's signature focal point, with nearly everything on the menu touching the open flames. The restaurant will also serve Pinguinos, a large-format cocktail offered in an Argentinian ceramic penguin picher with sugarcane Coke and Fernet. 845 W. Washington Blvd.; elchebarchicago.com