Williamsburg restaurant veterans Joe Carroll (Fette Sau, St. Anselm) and Francesco Panella (Antica Pesa) are opening their 1970's/1980's themed Oleanders tonight at the McCarren Hotel & Pool. The pair went retro with design and the menu, channeling a "fern bar" vibe (the popular hangouts of prepsters 35 years ago), making over the room that used to hold Paul Liebrandt's spot The Elm. There's lots of seating indoors, including some seats looking into the open kitchen, but don't miss the 50 seats pool-side.
The Menu: Executive chef Kevin Chojnowski sticks with the retro theme, bringing back some classic plates like trout almondine with bean salad with toasted almonds, a pasta primavera made with peas, favas and mint, risotto Milanese, and lobster thermidor. Cocktails like a grasshopper, a long Island iced tea, and a Rob Roy come from cocktail pro Dale Degroff.