True Food Kitchen Comes To NYC; Catbird Seat Names New Chef

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!

True Food Kitchen

Phoenix's Sam Fox (read our recent interview here) is bringing his True Food Kitchen to New York City. Slated for an early fall 2016 opening, Fox's first NYC restaurant — the latest in his 15-concept portfolio — is collaborating with revered health and lifestyle guru Dr. Andrew Weil to bring shareable appetizers, organic produce salads and anti-inflammatory menu items with expansive health benefits to Brookfield Place in Battery Park. 200 Vesey St., New York, NY 10080

Insa

A top-notch Korean BBQ restaurant, bar and karaoke all under one roof? Believe it! Chef Sohui Kim and her designer husband, Ben Schneider (of the Good Fork in Red Hook), are opening the dining, drinking and dancing venue Insa on December 15 in Gowanus, Brooklyn. A seasonal BBQ menu will feature a selection of meats sourced from sustainable and humane purveyors. Chef Kim will also focus on banchan, the traditional Korean side dishes, having up to 15 varieties on the menu at one time. The restaurant is inspired by traditional Korean design elements and even includes an elaborate traditional diorama of a bucolic scene in the Korean countryside. Insa will have a strict no-tipping policy, instead instituting a 20 percent administration fee. 328 Douglass St., Brooklyn, NY 11217; insabrooklyn.com

The Catbird Seat

Okay, so it's technically a reopening, but Nashville's most innovative dining experience will once again offer dinner to the public beginning on January 20, 2016 (with the reservation line opening exactly a month before this date). This announcement comes on the heels of the news that current chef Trevor Moran is heading back to Copenhagen to be Rene Redzepi's right-hand man at the new iteration of Noma in 2017. Meanwhile, the Catbird Seat has hired Ryan Poli as its new executive chef. Poli has worked at and opened several award-winning restaurants in his native Chicago, including Butter, Perennial, Tavernita and Barcito. He's spent the past two years traveling the world to learn from other great chefs, including Marc Vetri, Dan Barber and Redzepi. 1711 Division St., Nashville, TN 37203; thecatbirdseatrestaurant.com

Sexy Taco/Dirty Cash

Yes, that's a real name. Chef-owner Brian Washington-Palmer has brought his hometown Bay Area street food to Harlem — think Cali-style burritos, tacos, nachos, guac and more. Burritos will draw on multicultural influences, including Indian and Korean. The bright 50-seat room juxtaposes casual California style and sexy imagery to create a lively, playful vibe for dining, drinking and socializing. 161 Malcolm X Blvd., New York, NY 10026; sexytacodirtycash.com

Yona

Chefs Jonah Kim and Mike Isabella have opened Yona, a Japanese/Korean noodle bar and small plates restaurant. The menu reflects Kim's Korean heritage and Japanese culinary training; items include a variety of ramen dishes, as well as steamed pork jowl buns, Korean-style beef tartare and dry-fried chicken wings with aged rice vinegar. Kim was most recently executive chef for Michael Mina's izakaya-style restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, while Isabella operates multiple establishments in the D.C. and Virginia areas (he also appeared on season six of Top Chef). 4000 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22203; yonava.com

Arts District Brewing Company

Joining the community as one of L.A.'s few craft brewpubs is Arts District Brewing Company, located in — you guessed it — the city's downtown historic Arts District. The brewery will debut with nine original beers, with a 15-barrel brewhouse producing 3,300 barrels of brew annually. The 17,000-square-foot space will seat 390 (including 90 on the outdoor patio) and will also showcase chef Neal Fraser's latest culinary venture, Fritzi, which will specialize in rotisserie items. Bar snacks such as a jalapeño-chicken dog, sous vide carrot dog, ham fries and potato waffle will complement an exclusive entertainment area featuring a variety of classic bar games. 828 Traction Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90013; artsdistrictbrewingco.com