Acclaimed London Chef Jason Atherton Dubs His NYC Restaurant The Clocktower

London chef Jason Atherton, who teamed up with Philly-based restaurant man Stephen Starr for his first venture across the pond, has finally revealed the name of his first New York restaurant: The Clocktower. The restaurant, needless to say, takes its name from the building it's in, the clocktower overlooking Madison Square Park, where Ian Schrager is opening an outpost of the Edition Hotel.

When Atherton opens the restaurant (complete with a billiards room) in three former Met Life offices on May 17 it will be with a "tavern" menu with dishes like a stewed lamb shoulder. But, not everything is as informal. There will be king crab with dashi jelly, and Dover sole. "It's not precious food...It has to be delicious," Atherton told Flo Fab. Desserts will come from French Laundry alum Sebastien Rouxel.

Downtown, Fabricant notes that Simpson Wong reopened his eponymous restaurant after a nine month shutter. During the hiatus he dropped plans for a Vietnamese restaurant called Vuong and opted instead for a Singaporean restaurant concept called Chomp Chomp. In true Singaporean hawker tradition, the menu draws from several of the country's culinary influences (Malay, Chinese, and Indian) in dishes like fried wings with shrimp paste, pork belly cooked in soy with garlic, rotis, and a daily crab dish.

And, way, way downtown, the second floor rooms of Pier A Harbor House are getting ready for their debut. The Harrison Room, with its vintage look and leather bar will open next week and the Commissioner's Bar, with drinks by The Dead Rabbit will be ready for sunset viewing soon.