Keith McNally's Cherche Midi Is Almost Ready for Liftoff

At last, after months and months of delays, it looks like Sir Keith McNally is finally getting ready to open his Gallic revamp of the space that once housed his misunderstood Bowery beauty, Pulino's. Within a matter of weeks, New Yorkers will be feasting upon saucy French food from Shane McBride (currently executive chef of Balthazar) and Daniel Parilla (currently head sous chef of Minetta Tavern) at Cherche Midi. It's one of the most-anticipated restaurant openings of the year, and one of the top three biggest projects of McNally's entire career, if you don't count Morandi, Schiller's, Minetta Tavern, or Balthazar London.

You might want to take a seat and put down any hot beverages before you take a look at the inside of this space. Let's go:

So immediately, right off the bat, it appears that this will be a lighter, airier, perhaps more brasserie-like restaurant than Pulino's, which rocked a towering bottle wall and columns of brick that looked like they were caving in on themselves. Will the new restaurant have a wood-fired oven, like the last one? Will the bar still be in the same place? And where will the A+++ table be? In the corner or...in a back room? So many questions, so few answers.
· All Coverage of Cherche Midi [~ENY~]