Powerhouse trio Rich Torrisi, Mario Carbone and Jeff “ZZ” Zalaznick continues its hot streak of neo-
Italian-American spots (including
Carbone and
Parm) with
ZZ's Clam Bar, opening June 15th. Scrapping an initial lobster-club concept, the 12-seat spot highlights first-rate cocktails and crudo. At the marble bar, acclaimed barman
Thomas Waugh (
Death & Company) concocts a beverage program decidedly more eclectic than the classic one a few doors down at Carbone: rum, housemade coconut cream, acacia honey and lime juice served in a frozen coconut; a gin tipple of fresh and freeze-dried strawberry, calamansi puree, rosemary-infused vermouth and Pernod pastis. In bar-friendly small plates, the chefs explore raw fish in all forms, with East Coast oysters on the half-shell and Santa Barbara spot prawns. Composed crudos include cured
Japanese sardines alongside Cara Cara oranges; tuna carpaccio with bone marrow and foie gras; and
shimaaji (striped horse mackerel) tartare topped with whipped ricotta and
Petrossian caviar.
169 Thompson St at Bleecker St (212-254-3000)