La Petite Maison

The New York debut of this breezy French restaurant, imported from Nice, signals the resurrection of two victims of the city's fickle food scene: the elegant space that housed the short-lived Grayz, and chef Alain Allegretti, whose eponymous restaurant shuttered last summer. The expansive bi-level eatery—with fireplaces and private dining rooms on the main level and a cocktail lounge, courtyard atrium and dining room below—is appointed with olive-green banquettes and distressed-wood shelving stocked with Provencal products. Allegreti will execute staples from La Petite Maison's France location, including stuffed baby vegetables and côte de boeuf with marrow bones, and plans to eventually add his own dishes.