Reopenings

Royalton Brings ‘Cocktail Collective’ to Its New Forty Four Bar

44 doorman Fabio Brienza.
44 doorman Fabio Brienza. Photo: Melissa Hom

The folks at the former Brasserie 44 write in to tell us that its new incarnation, Forty Four, opens in mid-September. The cocktail program will be helmed by not just one cocktail star, but six of them, including Richard Boccato (Dutch Kills, Painkiller), John Lermayer (from the Florida Room in South Beach and Woodward in Boston), Simon Ford, Willy Shine (who also had a hand in Painkiller), Misty Kalkofen (from Drink in Boston), and Eric Alperin from the Varnish in L.A.). As for the programming, we’re told New York Diet alum Susanne Bartsch will have a monthly fête, and there’ll be weekly dinner parties “with a sixties French pop music vibe.” Diner’s Journal has more about the so-called Cocktail Collective’s plans: “There will probably be classic cocktails on the menu, as well as exclusive liquid inventions. There will also be punch bowl menu, and a ‘custom boutique barrel program,’ which will be spirit-based and may or may not involved barrel-aged cocktails.” Executive chef Scott Ekstrom (formerly of Daniel and Oceana) will be in charge of the food.

Royalton Brings ‘Cocktail Collective’ to Its New Forty Four Bar