1) Morningside Heights: Reps announce that Mel's Burger Bar will open to the public next Thursday, August 26 on Broadway between 110th and 111th. They say they'll offer a "solid selection of tasty burgers, American favorites and a killer bar experience seven days a week for lunch, dinner and late-night dining." They'll serve seven burgers and 18 beers on tap, and the space will seat 140 with an outdoor patio. [POST-PLYWOOD]
2) West Village: An operative sends in the above Cafe Minerva photo in old Left Bank Books space at 304 West 4th Street (near Bank St.) next to La Focaccia. Tables and chairs inside. Looks like they are setting up. [PLYWOOD]
3) Financial District: Midtown Lunch hears that Boston-based Milk St. Cafe is opening a branch in the Trump Building on Wall Street between Broad and Williams streets. The cafe will be both vegetarian and kosher friendly and is slated to open in early 2011. [PLYWOOD]
4) Lower East Side Bowery Boogie reveals new signage at 101 Stanton Street for macaroon shop Bisous, Ciao. The new bakery, which already has a fancy website, is taking the space that was going to occupy Melted, a grilled cheese centric restaurant. It seems the owners of that restaurant gave up on the space after being denied a liquor license at April's CB3 meeting. [PLYWOOD]
5) Fort Greene: Brownstoner brings word of L'Epicerie replacement BaguetteAboudit. The new restaurant will maintain the "Paris-meets-Brooklyn" concept of its predecessor and will feature standard fare like breads, soups and salads. [PLYWOOD]
6) East Village: EV Grieve notices a sign announcing a taqueria in a former Western Union location on First Avenue near 10th Street. [PLYWOOD]
7) Greenwich Village: Bowery Boogie also reports that a new Vietnamese sandwich shop called Saigon will take over the former Esperanto Cafe space on MacDougal Street between Bleecker and West Third streets in about six weeks. [PLYWOOD]
8) Midtown East: Zagat files on Dee Daa, a new Thai spot slated to open in late September or early October on Third Avenue near 45th Street. Along with Thai staples like curries and noodles, the 'fast-casual' restaurant will also have an iced-tea bar. [PLYWOOD]