Nightlife wiz Ravi Derossi is turning the former Gin Palace space into a tiki bar, according to the Times. His ode to all things juniper, which closed for remodeling in November after the building actually started to sink into the ground, is set to reopen as Mother of Pearl in late May or early June.
There will be a 10 to 12 drink menu developed by Dram's Thomas Chadwick and the NoMad Bar's Jane Danger. And Derosso is bringing in bartender talent from next door's Amor y Amargo — Sother Teague and Austin Henelly — to make your rum-filled, tropical dreams come true. And, chef Andrew D'Ambrosi of Derossi's seafood and cocktail spot Bergen Hill has been charged with handling the food.
As for the service, Derossi says it is going to get more formal than the bar's former laid back, gin-soaked iteration, in a space with a lighter, airier tiki vibes: "The idea for this was like sitting in a fancy hotel in Hawaii or somewhere." No word yet on a drinks menu, but given the theme and the projected level of luxury, you can probably bet on some elaborate garnishes.