Todd Mitgang Gears Up for the Opening of Crave Fishbar Upper West Side

Before the end of the year, Amsterdam Avenue will have three new additions; Crave Fishbar at 428 Amsterdam Ave. (646.493.2750), Olma Caviar Boutique and Bar at 420 Amsterdam Ave., and Playa Betty's at 320 Amsterdam (212.721.0777).

"We are opening any day,'' promises Todd Mitgang, chef/owner of sustainable seafood spot Crave. "I try my best to create food that is familiar but different, bold but balanced. Often seafood restaurants have a lot of standard fare and we try to push the boundaries a little more.'' Among the dishes at his new spot will be spicy local dayboat scallops — hand chopped scallops mixed with homemade Japanese style mayonnaise, resting on crispy fingerling sweet potatoes and a mix of homemade oyster crackers and nori powder — and market fish a la plancha with a burnt onion and smoked oyster sauce, served with cara cara orange, red mustard greens, and cippolini onions.

Eugene Ashe and Tom Wilson are bringing a concept similar to that of their Reunion Surf Bar — which sits underneath Simon Oren's Marseille — to the former Citrus space, also owned by Oren. Apart from tacos and queso, Playa Betty's "California beach cuisine'' menu will feature dharma bowls, where diners can select a grain, green, bean, and protein.

Olma is an offshoot of the caviar bar in the Plaza Food Hall.