David Chang’s Delivery-Only Ando Expands Downtown, and More Intel

— The Waldorf salad costs $1.20 in 1959, that today is $19, reports the New York Post. Lore says that the dish that includes apples, celery, grapes, and walnuts, was created at the hotel in the early 1890s. The factoid is part of a listicle about the Waldorf Astoria that’s closing in the spring, following its purchase by Chinese insurance company Anbang, which bought the building for $1.95 billion — the highest amount paid for a U.S. hotel.

— Delivery-only restaurant from David Chang, Ando is expanding Downtown, delivering cheesesteak, fried chicken, bowls, spicy noodles, chicken tenders, and vegetarian curry. Let’s hope it has improved since Ryan Sutton’s review. “Not everyone who orders delivery wants culinary bliss,” he wrote, “and that's fair enough. Sometimes the nice thing about delivery is that it provides you with a reasonable supply of calories to keep you chugging through until dinner during a busy workday.” Sign up here to learn more.

— Online mag Taste has launched with Matt Rodbard, co-author with Deuki Hong of Koreatown: A Cookbook, as the editor. The cooking-focused online publication is created in partnership with Clarkson Potter and Ten Speed Press. A short list of debut stories include: During Denmark's Dark and Hungry Winter, Hygge Is More Than A Comfy Sweater; The Art of Malaysian Meat on a Stick; The Cult of Instant Pot Is Real, and Cold Fried Chicken in the "2 Broke Girls" Writer’s Room.

— It’s been a minute since we last heard about chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s planned renovations for JoJo, his original standalone NYC restaurant. Now, Vongerichten posts on Instagram that despite the initial six-week estimate, JoJo should reopen this spring from its “casual and fun” makeover that will end up taking nearly a year. Meanwhile, we impatiently await the gas company to finally visit abcV, Vongerichten’s impending vegetarian ABC Kitchen spinoff restaurant. — ST

— Masked men robbed Maspeth Deli & Grocery on 56th Ave. Saturday evening, while the deli employee’s nine year old daughter was asleep in his lap. They made off with $3,000.

— A chain from Hong Kong, Clay Pot is opening in late February at 58 St. Mark’s Pl., serving “traditional Hong Kong style open-flame cooked clay pot rice.” It’s the spot that had been Hakata Hot Pot and Sushi Lounge that closed last year and combined with sister restaurant, Zen 6 on the same street.

—Nerai, the Greek restaurant at 55 E. 54th St., is expanding, adding a new wine bar, to be called Cava Nerai, opening mid-March. Owner Spiro Menegatos says it will be a 40-seat underground space. "When Oceana had this location, it was a wine cellar, but we gutted it.'' Cava Nerai will serve international wines and champagnes, along with a selection of small plates, including octopus, spanakopita, cheese, and cured meats. — BL

In Other Openings. . .

— A “Latin gastropub” dubbed Malcriada (Spanish for bad-mannered) opened on Super Bowl Sunday at 185 Avenue C. The restaurant’s menu includes items like shrimp quesadillas, chicken tacos, and a pulled pork burrito — PD; Dig Inn has opened at 856 8th Ave. in the Theater District, its 14th location in the city; Le Bilboquet will open Café Bilboquet at 26 East 60^th St., a stone’s throw away from the flagship, in the space that had been Gene’s Coffee Shop; and Popina will open at 127 Columbia St., from co-owner Chris McDade, an alum of Maialino and Cafe Altro Paradiso. As Popina is getting ready to open, they’re periodically popping up at Humboldt & Jackson.

— Meat expert, Nick Solares sizes up McDonald’s new Grand Mac: