The Swanky, Clubby Village Newcomer The Lion Now Open

62 West 9th St., Greenwich Village
Phone: 212-353-8400
Status: Opened to the public last night

After weeks and weeks of celebrity previews, The Lion, the new project from chef John DeLucie and big wig backers Dan Abrams and Dave Zinczenko, opened to the public last night. The bi-level 120 seat venue was once a gay cabaret hosting the likes of Barbra Streisand and Bette Midler and was most recently home to the neighborhood restaurant The Village.

Now, it's covered in expensive art, is lined with plush banquettes, and serves up a menu of salads, aps like artichoke fritters and foie gras torchon, pastas ($21 - 25), and entrees ($20 - 30) like lobster pot pie, strip steak, mussels in thai curry, and a $20 'special blend' burger. See the full menu below, and see the first blogger run down of the opening night scene.
Previous Coverage: Spring Tracking, 4/26; Spring Tracking, 4/20;
Further Coverage: NYT; W; DC

APPETIZERS
LOBSTER BISQUE 14.00
white polenta, sherry wine, tarragon
YELLOW FIN TUNA TARTARE 14.00
pickled asian vegetables, ginger lime vinaigrette,
sesame chips
GREEN AND WHITE ASPARAGUS
14.00
black trumpet mushrooms, slow cooked egg,
hollandaise sauce
FOIE GRAS TORCHON 15.00
kumquat marmalade, homemade panettone
ARTICHOKE FRITTERS
14.00
yukon gold potatoes, baby leeks, lemon confit,
béchamel

SIDES
POTATO GRATIN 8.00
FRENCH FRIES 8.00
SPRING VEGETABLES 8.00
ROASTED MUSHROOM AND SALSIFY 8.00
SPINACH CASSEROLE 8.00
ROASTED CARROTS 8.00

SALADS
GARDEN 12.00
shaved spring vegetables, pistachio nuts,
sweet mustard vinaigrette
ROASTED BABY BEETS 13.00
beet greens, chêvre mousse, hazelnut crumbs,
LITTLE GEM LETTUCE 11.00
olive oil croutons, creamy herb dressing,
parmigiano reggiano
COBB 14.00
grilled amish chicken, applewood
smoked bacon, red wine vinaigrette

RAW BAR
OYSTERS
daily selection
1/2 dozen...
dozen... 36.00
18.00
SHRIMP COCKTAIL 15.00

PASTA
HOMEMADE SHEEP’S MILK CAVATELLI chèvre beurre noisette, oregano 22.00
PASTA ANNUNZIATA braised octopus, guanciale, san marzano tomato 23.00
ENGLISH PEA SOUP RAVIOLI pea shoots, melted leeks, truffle foam 19.00

ENTREES
PAN SEARED HALIBUT
artichoke barigoule, petite salad, gremolata 27.00
MUSSELS red thai curry, coconut milk, cilantro 19.00
AMISH CHICKENspring onions, ramps, morel mushrooms, poultry jus 25.00
BURGER ‘SPECIAL BLEND’ tomato, caramelized onion, crisp pork belly, provolone and smoked cheddar 17.00
LOBSTER POT PIE fingerling potatoes, peas, carrots, brandy cream sauce
29.00
NEW ENGLAND SCALLOPS
crushed english peas, warm green and yellow wax bean salad, olive oil emulsion 27.00

A LA CARTE
28 DAY DRY- AGED DELMONICO STEAK
cipollini onion agrodolce, béarnaise sauce
45.00
LAMB PORTERHOUSE tempura ramps, natural jus
35.00
ROASTED WHOLE DOVER SOLE grilled scallions, sauce meunire 49.00
28 DAY AGED COTE de BOEUF FOR TWO roasted garlic, unfiltered virgin olive oil
95.00
BERKSHIRE PORK CHOP fermented black garlic, “applewood smoke”
38.00