George Mendes Opens Lupulo Friday; Kerry Heffernan Joins Floating Hot Spot Grand Banks

With its sign newly hung, Lupulo, chef Georges Mendes's new beer-centric casual Portuguese restaurant is now slated to open Friday on 6th Avenue and 29th Street.. When it does, it will serve classic Portuguese dishes like sardines and caldo verde, alongside beers, ports, and madeiras at a large, oval bar, plus some scattered tables. Plus a takeout window will offer at least coffee to start with, all of which will make it a notable addition to the relatively sparse dining options around Penn Station and Madison Square Garden.

Meanwhile, Flo Fab also reports a couple big chef moves that just took place. French chef/restaurateur Alain Allegretti has signed on as the consulting chef at the rich people favorite Beautique. Allegretti has been absent from the New York scene since he shuttered his French Riviera-inspired Chelsea restaurant La Promenade des Anglais in early 2014, and more recently lost his restaurant Azure in the Revel Casino when the whole casino closed down last year. He'll oversee the menu not only at the Midtown Beautique, but also, as Eater learns, at the outpost it's opening in the Hamptons this summer.

Meanwhile, Kerry Heffernan, the opening chef of Eleven Madison Park, who was more recently the chef at South Gate on the edge of Central Park, has signed on to be the chef at Grand Banks, the seasonal oyster bar floating aboard a historic ship off of Pier 25. He's been a free agent for a few years now, so this new position may be the jumping off point for something new, or it may just be a good short term gig. Grand Banks should be returning next month.