The Post Declares Mulberry St. a Hot New Dining Destination

We knew that NoLita was coming up, but today the Post declares that Mulberry St. is actually "the hottest restaurant row" in the entire city, right now. Sure, it's home to buzzy new eateries like Torrisi, Balaboosta, Rubirosa, and the recently opened Scoarrat Paella Bar. But the thing that really seals the deal are all the trendy, exclusive clubs and bars that have replaced all the tourist traps and old man hangouts. As they put it, it's like "the Meatpacking District in its early days— a sceney spot once celebrated for its sordid past."

And those buzzy clubs are: Le Baron, which hasn't opened yet, the bar at The Mondrian, which also hasn't opened yet, and the Mulberry Project, which opened three weeks ago.

And how do the neighbors feel about it? Well, "Cannoli King” John DeLutro of old-timer Caffe Palermo says that "Years ago, growing up, there was all Italians here" but now it's full of "hippies, yuppies, whatever you want to call them.” Hopefully the old guard and the new batch of trendsetters will be able to find a peaceful coexistence. For more on the subject, Jeremiah Moss just posted an excellent history of the Feast of San Gennaro, that touches on the development of the neighborhood over the years.
· Little Italy is back! [NYP]
· Nolita vs. The Feast [Jeremiah's Vanishing New York]
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