Little Sal's Skips the Pop-up, Takes Over Chat 'n' Chew

After more than 20 years as Chat 'n' Chew, 10 East 16th Street will morph into Little Sal's at the end of the month. Although owner Andrew Silverman (who also owned Chat 'n' Chew) had originally planned to open the red sauce Italian restaurant as a late summer pop-up, he's since changed direction and decided to move straight into a permanent concept. "It will be a home-style, culinary driven neighborhood Italian joint,'' he explains.

Apart from red banquettes and a mixture of Dean Martin and contemporary music in the background, the place will open with a $35 prix fixe menu of six appetizers and six entrees, including Tuscan chicken under a brick with parmesan polenta, short rib bolognese with fresh parpardelle, house-brined pork chops with swiss chard and figs, fluke oreganata with cockles and pistachio arugula pistou, and meatballs with pignolis and currants in a tomato sauce. Little Sal's will start with dinner, then add lunch and eventually roll out breakfast and brunch. "Where else in Union Square can you get food like that?'' asks Silverman, who has previously likened the restaurant to a family-oriented Parm.