Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s haute Chinese 66 was perhaps ahead of its time when it opened in Tribeca in 2003 with its four enormous fish tanks and high-end dim sum. Then the English critic A.A. Gill rolled into town and gave the place a sesquipedalian flogging in Vanity Fair. So, the Richard Meier–designed restaurant retreated and reopened as the soba-centric Matsugen in 2008 until contract and visa issues brought the buckwheat party to a standstill once and for all last spring. But now, it looks like the next restaurant coming to the space could have a Russian accent.
The St. Petersburg and New York–based creative agency Global Point NY is “involved with ten restaurants worldwide” and seeks to transplant one of those concepts to the space at 66 Leonard Street, says Tribeca Citizen. Candidates include the Northern Italian Barbaresco and the eclectic 22-13, both located in St. Petersburg. A rep tells the blog the unidentified restaurant will open at 7 a.m. for coffee and become a bar at night; additional details will be made clear at next week’s CB1 Tribeca Committee meeting.
About the Restaurant Coming to the Matsugen Space…. [Tribeca Citizen]
Earlier: Matsugen to Shutter This Saturday
