The Feed first look: Alder

Wylie Dufresne, the brains behind LES trailblazer wd~50, brings his mad-scientist moxie to a pub setting. This 56-seat East Village den, expected to open March 6th, serves innovative reimaginings of casual American pub grub: Clam chowder bobs with oyster crackers made from actual oysters; Caesar salad is transformed into bite-size mackerel nigiri topping a rib of lettuce; and port-infused pub cheese comes with chips made from Martin’s potato rolls. Overseen by wd~50 alum Kevin Denton, the cocktail program has a woodsy bent: Pimm's cup gets shaken with pine-infused rum, while another tipple muddles Iranian berries with grape-musk molasses. The pub's moniker is the old-English form of Ellery, the name of Dufresne's daughter. 157 Second Ave between 9th and 10th Sts (212-539-1900)