Kat & Theo's, Lorenzo's, Avant Garden, Puebla, and More Open

1) Flatiron District: Chef Paras Shah — who spent time in the kitchens of Per Se, El Bulli, and Momofuku Noodle Bar — recently opened a New American restaurant with partner Andreas Typaldos called Kat & Theo's. The menu is broken up into three sections: "raw," "small plates," and "mains." The entree options include chicken with vegetables, duck with foie, cod in a saffron broth, and a flatiron steak. Mains are priced from $26 to $30. The space has a somewhat industrial vibe with an open kitchen, metal arches, and exposed brick. Status: Certified Open; 5 W 21st St., 212-380-1950

2) Bushwick: The team from Mother's Ruin just opened a new Latin-themed bar at 19 Wyckoff Ave near the Jefferson L station called Lorenzo's. The beverage menu includes a frozen drink for $10 called the "Not Too Sweet."  The food menu has crudo, ceviche, nachos, meat skewers, and rotisserie chickens. The kitchen stays open till 3:30 a.m. nightly. Status: Certified Open; 19 Wyckoff Ave. No phone yet.

3) East Village: Tonight, cocktail mastermind Ravi DeRossi will open a new vegan restaurant/bar at 130 East 7th Street called Avant Garden. The restaurant is right around the corner from De Rossi's new bar Mother of Pearl. Andrew D'Ambrosi, the chef who helms the kitchen at DeRossi's Carroll Gardens restaurant Bergen Hill, is serving a number of toasts and cold dishes as well as a few pastas and vegetable-based entrees. The opening of Avant Garden coincides with the launch of DeRossi's new non-profit geared at raising money for groups that are fighting to end animal cruelty.  Status: Opening tonight; 130 East 7th St., 646-922-7948 .

3) Lower East Side: East Village Mexican restaurant Puebla closed a few months ago when the landlord raised the rent. But now, the 25-year-old operation has found a new home inside the Essex Street Market. Chef/proprietor Irma Marin is serving burritos, enchiladas, tortas, and other favorites from the old restaurant inside the space in the market that formerly housed Brooklyn Taco. The menu is a work in progress. Status: Certified Open;120 Essex Street. No phone.

[Photo: Facebook]

4) Flatbush: Thomas Ferlesch, a chef who earned four stars from the Times in 1981 when he was in the kitchen of Vienna 79, just opened a new Austrian bar and restaurant on Coney Island Avenue called Werkstatt. The restaurant serves four varieties of schnitzel, plus salads, a burger, cheese plates, roasted chicken, and sure, why not, tacos and a quesadilla. The restaurant is open for dinner nightly starting at 5 p.m. As you may or may not recall, Ferlesch was also the proprietor of Thomas Beisl in Fort Greene. Status: Certified Open; 509 Coney Island Ave., 718-284-5800.

5) Soho: Popular market-driven dosa shop Hampton Chutney Co. was forced out of its home on Prince Street a few months ago, but the restaurant recently reopened just a few blocks away at 143 Grand Street. The menu and overall vibe are the same. Status: Certified Open; 143 Grand St. 212-226-9996.

6) West Village: And in other reopening news, Japanese yakitori champion Hakata Tonton sprung back to life over the weekend. The team temporarily closed the restaurant for a few weeks to make some upgrades to the dining room and the kitchen. Status: Certified Open: 61 Grove St, 212-242-3699.