Little Tong Noodle Shop’s Chef Plans New Chinese Restaurant in West Village

Little Tong Noodle Shop’s Simone Tong is set to open a new restaurant in the West Village — this time going beyond the noodle soups of her previous restaurant.

Opening in 2019 at at 20 Cornelia St., between Bleecker and West Fourth streets, the yet-to-be-named full-service restaurant will serve Chinese fare in a small space that includes a dining room and an outdoor garden.

The project is still in development, and a rep for Tong says the chef is exploring tasting menu options and a chef’s counter that would incorporate experimentation. Cheeses, charcuterie, and breads will be made in-house, and the restaurant will have an extensive wine, sake, and beer program.

Tong’s mixian — a long, round rice noodle from China’s Yunnan province — became a critical hit at the original Little Tong Noodle Shop in East Village, which opened in 2017. In July, the Wd~50 alum opened a second location in Midtown East, and it recently added weekday dinner service. This will be the third restaurant for Tong. The new restaurant sounds like it will be distinct from her noodle shops, which have been pioneers of the rising mixian scene in NYC.

Stay tuned for more details.