A restaurant addition and a change in ownership at another eatery are occurring on the Upper West Side. These events could perk up an area of New York long referred to as a culinary desert.

eighty one (opening mid-fall 2007)
45 West 81st Street

After 14 years at The Sea Grill and a total of 14 stars from The New York Times (Marie Michelle, Tropica, JUdson Grill, Sea Grill), Chef Edward Brown is opening his own restaurant, which is scheduled for a mid-fall 2007 opening. Eighty one will feature a menu of modern American items in a space designed by Chris Smith of CMS Designs (Dylan Prime, Nobu, NYC; Buddakan, Phila).

Overseeing the dining room and the restaurant’s beverage program will be Nick Mautone, former managing partner of Gramercy Tavern and consultant to many of the city’s great restaurants, as well as author of Raising The Bar.

Ouest
2315 Broadway
After officially leaving ‘Cesca in January of 2006 and making Ouest his full-time home, Chef Tom Valenti is now the restaurant’s owner. Longtime devotees of the restaurant should know that Valenti has no plans for major changes.

Related posts:

1. Upper West Side Restaurants: Tired of Playing Second Fiddle to Downtown
2. Upper West Side: Two Restaurants Get Some Michelin Love
3. New York City Restaurants: What’s New (Fiamma Osteria, Bobo181, Savarona)