Grilled Eel Specialist Debuts in Midtown on Friday

A restaurant all about unagi is coming to Midtown

This Friday, Japanese restaurant Unagi-Ya Hachibei will open at 238 East 53rd St. near Second Avenue, serving a menu entirely focused on grilled freshwater eel. At dinner, it comes as part of a small set for $55, served over rice with sauce, salad, a clear soup, and pickles. The large set for $75 also comes with eel liver. The restaurant will seat 40 in its black-walled, red-accented space with a wood counter and tables. Only 100 orders can be filled at lunch due to eel conservation efforts.

Other openings, coming attractions, and closings

A new Indian-inspired fast-casual spot called Manchi opened in Midtown at 224 West 35th St., serving the rice and lentils dish kitchari as well as various customizable bowls and wraps. Signage has also gone up on the Upper East Side for a new Indian restaurant named Bombay Chowk. Meanwhile, brewpub Heartland Brewery’s Port Authority location will close by the end of the year.

A new brunch in town

Starting Sunday, November 4, the historic West Village speakeasy Chumley’s will serve Sunday brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. In September, the restaurant tapped Milk Bar alum Heather Pelletier as the new chef. The brunch menu will include an English muffin pizza, a labneh and lox crepe with caper hollandaise and “everything” spice, and a pancake with creme anglaise and a poached pear. There will also be a selection of toasts that intentionally does not include avocado toast.

Cider tasting comes to Bedford Cheese Shop

It’s cider season, and the cider brand Cider in Love is hosting a tasting at Bedford Cheese Shop’s Manhattan location at 67 Irving Pl. on Tuesday, November 6. Tickets are available now and cost $10, which includes tastes of several ciders from four different producers as well as paired bites like cheese and dumplings.