1) The Mermaid Inn: Restaurateur Danny Abrams gives the Upper West Side dining scene hope with an uptown version of his excellent East Village seafood spot The Mermaid Inn. The menu at the Amsterdam location was designed by chef Laurence Edelman and mirrors the offerings at the downtown outpost. 568 Amsterdam Ave at 88th St; (212) 799-7400 [Flo Fab; TONY]
2) ilili: Some more info on ilili, a restaurant we dished about last week, from Flatiron Bid's newsletter: The place's official opening is Friday, November 16th but they're currently in "soft open" mode and the menu includes dishes like "grilled quail with garlic whip and lemon and duck shawarma with pomegranate molasses, fig and green onion." Intriguing. 236 Fifth Ave between 27th and 28th Sts; (212) 683-2929 [Eater Inbox]
3) Clubhouse Cafe: American Kosher eatery Clubhouse Cafe wants to bring some "panache" to the Kosher restaurant scene. To that end, they are offering a menu featuring standard items like burgers and chili as well as slightly more exotic tapas-style bar plates such as duck empanadas and shish kebabs. 155 W 46th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves; (212) 354-3838 [Eater Inbox]
4) Il Passatore: We don't have too much intel on Il Passatore except for what was sent in by a reader: "New Italian restaurant opened 3 days ago in Williamsburg. Fresh made pasta, cute place." Sounds worthy. 14 Bushwick Ave between Devoe St and Metropolitan Ave, East Williamsburg, Brooklyn; (718) 963-3100 [Eater Inbox]
5) Red Stripe: Another eatery has popped up on the little dining stretch of Orchard Street between Broome and Grand. A tipster writes: "Jamaican finger food—little beef patties and jerk chicken/buffalo wings. So nice to have real food (and Dragon Stout!) on the LES. Nice owners and a cool decor. Beer and wine only for the moment." 76 Orchard St between Broome and Grand Sts; (212) 477-9979 [Eater Inbox]