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Stephen Starr’s ‘Grand European Cafe’ Opens in a Photography Museum in December

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Plus, B Bar is not closing, at least not yet — and more intel

Church Mission Building rendering CetraRuddy/Fotografiska

Stephen Starr christens his new European “grand cafe”

More details are out on big-time restaurateur Stephen Starr’s restaurant inside upcoming Stockholm-based photography museum Fotografiska. The museum is opening its first U.S. location in Flatiron this year with a grand European cafe from Starr — the guy behind restaurants like Le Coucou, Buddakan, and Upland — that will be called Veronika, named after the patron saint of photography.

Fotografiska, and the 115-seat Veronika within it, will occupy the Church Missions House building at 281 Park Avenue South, a striking Renaissance revival structure. Chef Robert Aikens, of Starr’s Philly pub the Dandelion, will prepare Veronika’s menu of Viennese, Hungarian, and French dishes; design studio Roman and William will set the scene, featuring lots of photography. Veronika opens in December.

No, B Bar isn’t closing (yet)

Lower East Side mistake-making destination B Bar & Grill is not, as some onlookers feared, being demolished. Yes, the former Gulf station-turned-hit-aughts-nightlife spot at 40 East Fourth Street is eventually slated for development, with B Bar’s owner selling a $60 million share to developers and buying up air rights in the area with hopes to build it up. But a representative for B Bar explains that crews at work on the bar yesterday weren’t knocking the place down — just doing repairs on its patio. No comment on a timeline for the closure, but it’s probably best to make those last visits to B Bar soon.

In other news

— LaGuardia Airport’s new Delta concourse opens today with dining options including H&H Bagels, Birch coffee, and a pizza and calzone place called Rossi Pizzeria from consulting chef Mark Iacono of Lucali.

Maison Yaki, a sequel from Olmsted chef-owner Greg Baxtrom, is now serving a new late-night menu (chicken karaage, wagyu burgers, grilled trumpet mushrooms with shiso chimichurri) from 10 p.m. to midnight Wednesday through Saturday. It’s also available for delivery on Caviar.

— Williamsburg’s M Noodle Shop has expanded with a new branch at 92 Rivington Street, replacing the short-lived Chamusca with Shanghai-style street food.

— How NYC restaurant lawyer Jasmine Moy got her job.

— An Apotheke bartender is set to open his own cocktail bar, La Bas, in a Chinatown basement at 324 Grand Street this November.

They’re baaaaack:

Veronika

281 Park Avenue South, New York, New York (646) 993-6993 Visit Website