Highlands Team Wins Approval for Allen & Delancey Space

Here's an addendum to last night's Community Board 3 meeting report: At 2 AM, the committee approved the owners of newish Scottish gastropub/bar Highlands to open a new bar and restaurant concept in the Allen & Delancey space on 115 Allen.

The lease is signed, demolition starts on July 1, and the new operation, Mary Queen of Scots, will open sometime in the fall. Owner Brian McGrory describes the future space as "Kind of Highlands meets Vivienne Westwood and the Sex Pistols."

There will be sizable scotch and malt offerings with an emphasis on carefully crafted whiskey cocktails. Meanwhile Highlands chef Will Hickox (an alum of Public and Blue Hill) and a friend who has just returned from a three year stint at El Bulli will run the kitchen. McGrory describes it as more of a brasserie than a gastropub, "highlighting the best of Scottish produce," with an average entree price of $19.

As for that beautifully designed Allen & Delancey space: they're gutting it.
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