![[The dining room at Beaubourg in the Financial District]](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CuB8m2Q9sRM2B8xJvceiGYmXCSE=/271x0:4644x3280/1200x800/filters:focal(271x0:4644x3280)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50036851/16828633580_eb89a519b5_o.0.0.jpg)
— The Waldorf Astoria Hotel is gearing up for a massive renovation that will include the conversion of over a thousand rooms into condos. The hotel’s trio of restaurants — La Chine, Bull & Bear, and Peacock Alley — will close before the work begins next spring. No word yet on whether these establishments plan to relocate during the construction, stay shuttered until the renovations are complete, or close for good. Eater is reaching out to the restaurants; stay tuned for more details on the shake-up at the Waldorf as they become available.
— The NYPD released a video of the suspect in the murder of L & B Spumoni Gardens owner Louis Barbati. The surveillance footage shows a white male wearing a black hoodie and shorts outside Barbati's Dyker Heights home. Right before the shooting, he got out of his car, smoked a cigarette, and took a call on his cell phone. The FBI is helping the NYPD find the killer. An unnamed police source tells the Post: "They don’t know who did it yet....This case will take some time. [But] someone will talk sooner than later — they always do." The police still think that this was a botched robbery attempt. Barbati had over $10,000 in cash on him when was shot. The Daily News notes that he did not typically bring home that much cash, but it was something that might have happened around six times a year.
— UberEats is expanding delivery service to North Brooklyn today. The list of participating restaurants includes Delaney Barbecue, Van Leeuwen, Casette, Saltie, Littleneck Outpost, and Kings County Imperial.
— Steve Cuozzo loves that Manhattan now has a handful of new fine dining restaurants for grown-ups, including Le Coucou, Agern, and Günter Seeger. The Cuozz-man writes: "There will always be some who prefer the pack-'em-in, push-'em-out style of well-reviewed spots, such as Wildair or Estela, where the owners' goal seems to be to rake in as much dough as possible before the crowd moves on. But for my money, a mob scene only makes it difficult to love food, even when it's not merely good, but great." His headline is: "Suck it hipsters — fine dining is back."
— Spring Street hot spot Cafe Altro Paradiso is now serving lunch Wednesday through Sunday. Ignacio Mattos’s menu includes grilled cuttlefish, roasted mackerel, calf’s liver with chanterelles, and bucatini alle vongole. Starters are priced from $11 to $18, and mains run from $21 to $28.
—Fredrik Berselius’s hotly-anticipated revival of Aska is now slated to open next week at 47 South 5th Street in Williamsburg. The restaurant will have a 24-seat main dining where tasting menus will be served. The space will also include a bar/lounge area where small plates will be offered a la carte, and when the weather’s nice, a back garden will be open.
— Paper is up in the windows of the new version of Ess-A-Bagel that’s slated to open at 326 First Ave later this year. Unlike the old shop, which closed after a 39-year run because of dispute with the landlord, this one will have a toaster.
— Hot, unconfirmed Astoria rumor: Burnside Biscuits is turning into a barbecue restaurant.
— Last week, East Hampton Town’s Justice Court dismissed six noise violations filed against Surf Lodge. And now, the owners got a permit to play live music after 8 p.m. nightly, although they had to agree to lower the capacity from 450 to 395 people.
— The Coffeed mini-chain, which now has over a dozen stores in the NYC area, is expanding to 26-08 Hoyt Ave. South in Astoria.
— And finally, here’s a look at one of Robert Sietsema’s favorite Midtown Japanese restaurants, Katsu-Hama 47: