Mr. Soft(Shell Crab)ee

It's that time of year again. Soft Shell Crab time! So drink until your hearts and stomachs desire greasy food and head down to our favorite late night grease fest at Great NY Noodle Town and devour an order of soft shell crabs. We're not talking about those frozen ones they serve all year. Real fresh ones. You know what we're talking about. But like all other late night food, expect prices to have increased from last season. Ouch.

Postcard from Dallas: La Condesa

We get so many reports from around the world, we had to figure out a way to get it to our faithful readers. May we introduce our Postcard From ... series, in which we keep you informed of the most recent happenings, openings, and events in the global scene. Today, a Postcard from Dallas. If you know anything about anything, then you know that Dallas is currently enjoying a real renaissance. Translation? It's hot. How hot? About 61 degrees. Scorching. An operator happened to dropped us a line from the Big D, and we thought it was beyond worthwhile. Operator? "I read the 2007 wrap up and couldn't help but notice you were hoping for some more great margarita places. Well, I just happen to be opening one next week here in Dallas. It's called La Condesa and is in Victory Park, almost adjacent to the American Airlines Arena. This thing is authentic all the way, tacqueria, full tequila service and margarita bar, even an authentic Caesar salad (created in Mexico). Think it's right up your alley." Looking at the menu, this does seem to be right up our alley. And the Caesar was invented in Tijuana in 1924 by Caesar Cardini. How about that? Amazingly enough, they didn't even have to open in a basement. Can you believe it? Good luck La Condesa. Send us some tacos.

Quick Hits: Weekend Recap

We know you missed it, so we brought it back. It's mofo Quick Hits, where we give you a lot of information at an above average pace. If you are ever in the sharing mood, please let us know. QUICK HITS!
1. In a shocking twist of events, the newspaper has come down from the Good Dog windows. A peek inside revealed what appears to be an espresso machine, so the likelihood of a small cafe seems high. Thankfully, the giant paper maché Good Dog mascot remains.

2. A Little Birdy tells us that Bagatelle, the currently in development French restaurant that will be adjacent to Kiss and Fly in the MePa, has unfortunately been delayed. Our LB says, "Bagatelle plans to open the week of the 14th. Lets see if they plan to open with sawdust still in the air as they did with Kiss & Fly." Let's see indeed.

3. Speaking of French restaurants, we happened upon, Antibes, a new one that has recently opened at 127 1st Avenue. In a shock for the neighborhood, they easily secured a beer and wine license before opening. May we propose checking them out - we love to support the little guy.

DeNiro's Hotel Hits the Web

Newyorkology (via Eater) comes through with the recently launched website for Robert De Niro and friends Greenwich Hotel. Ressies are being accepted for the first 3 weeks of April, when the hotel will then become the de facto home of out of town stars during the Tribeca Film Festival. Glamorous. Metro Travel Guide supplies the rest of the gory details about the rooms and property, including the Shibui Spa that "features a lantern-lit swimming pool and a lounge area". Best news - Ago will be delvireing room service to guests 24/7. Osso bucco all night. That's worth the $725 per night intro rate, right? Right.

Tossing the Boss

It's here. The folks from the Sunburnt Cow and Bondi Road have unleashed the time honored Aussie tradition of Toss the Boss on Lower Manhattan. To celebrate, they threw a little kick off party at both locations. We chose the Cow to coincide with out later plans, and indeed, the boss was tossed. They event went out and got themselves an ice slide for some overly-phallic ice shots. No thanks. We drank, we sampled some food, and at the end of the night, the barkeep ripped up our bill. You know why? Because we chose Coat of Arms. That's why! Good on ya.

Smith Slings the Bubbles

Early reports from The Smith, the new Third Avenue restaurant from Glenn Harris and Jeffrey Lefcourt (Jane), are giving the word that it's all bubbles. How's that? Yes, the restaurant is going green by not serving bottled water, and for those that want some gas with their H2O, Smith is serving up a house blend free of charge. How nice. The rub? The water is not very good. The mix of CO2 and water is off, giving you a drink that isn't quite bubbly and isn't quite flat. Not to critique, because we appreciate the effort, but it is hard to mess up water. But it is free, so you get what you pay for. Drinks from the bar were above average, with beers coming in a $5 a pint, and bartenders still trying to get a handle on how each specialty cocktail was made. One member of our party ordered the same drink 3 times, with it coming up twice and on the rocks once. The food was very solid. May we suggest the schnitzel? We just did.

Obviously, The Smith is brand new. Kinks are being worked out. It doesn't mean The DBTH can't tell you how it is.

Jigga Goes 40/40 Again

Not to be outdone by their cross town rivals, it seems that after a bit of embarrassment, Noah T. and Jason S. are getting back to business. This time, they are sharing the spotlight with the Jigga himself, Jay Z. A little birdy files a report from the desert, saying "Jay-Z's 40/40 is opening at the Venetian's new Palazzo Resort Hotel and Casino on December 20, 2007. What isn't known is that Jay will be sharing the nightlife spotlight with a two-story restaurant and lounge (maybe NY's Stanton Social) run by Tao managing partners Jason Strauss and Noah Tepperberg of Strategic Group, as well as with a full-scale nightclub and live music venue." Talk about a stacked lineup. We imagine that investors have been desperate to get the Strategic boys involved with another Vegas spot, especially since Tao is the most profitable establishment in the country. The Palazzo was a natural fit. However, we aren't sure if the Stanton Social brand is strong enough to make it on a Vegas level, but Strategic certainly has the weight to pull it off. We shall see.

Quick Hits: Weekend Recap

It's Monday morning. YAY! Time for another edition of Quick Hits. You're probably pretty tired so we will make it quick.

1. It's tough to be the new guy on the block, especially in the East Village Hot Dog war. Good Dog, the upstart newcomer on St. Marks Place, may be done for. A Little Birdy says, "walked by Good Dog late Saturday night, there is newspaper covering the glass door and wall." It was going to be an uphill battle to beat the neighborhood statesmen Crif Dog, and it looks like Good Dog has lost the good fight. Thankfully, their large dog mascot still remains.

2. A very special Little Birdy filed a report from Max Fish, saying "I was just walking out of one of the nasty bathrooms at Max Fish when I overheard a guy in the bar say: 'I would never fuck a girl who peed in that bathroom'. Too bad for me." Yes too bad. Too bad.

3. Finally, a tale from our own weekend. As we ambled home after a evening of food and beverage, we were approached on the street by a cheerful young man from Chile, who was looking for the Beatrice Inn. In his best English, he explained he was with also with a Brit and a Spaniard, and if they would have fun there. We told him yes, you probably would enjoy yourself. Then he asked what kind of music. Rock and roll mostly. Their faces lit up and after a hearty hand shake, they were on their way. How lucky we were to have met new friends. How lucky they were to happen to stop everyone's pal, DBTH.

Nobu Expansion Plans

A bit of news from around the globe. Nobu, arguably the world's most popular upscale sushi chain, is ready to spread its wings globally. A Little Birdy tells us to "expect Dubai, Moscow and Mexico City. All are currently in the design or build out phase." Well, bully for Nobu. A few things to remember is that these are not all part of the New York's Myriad Group, but may instead be licensed franchises. This also reinforces that Nobu should no longer be considered an option for serious dining or drinking. It is simply a place for tourists and expense accounts, and that ain't us.

Quick Hits: Weekend Recap

It's Monday, time for a Weekend Recap edition of Quick Hits. Did you feel that? We just hit you.

1. More tales from Upstairs, no one's favorite exclusive club above Cafe Bari. A Little Birdy reports, "My friends and I were walking past Upstairs at 2:30 Friday morning and decided to see what it is all about. We approached the bouncer, who asked what party we were with. I replied, 'we are the party', which set the bouncer off on some crazy rant about something or other. After going on for a few minutes, he offered to let us in if we agreed to buy a bottle - for $1600! We laughed at him and kept walking." Jesus Wayne! $1600 is by far the most expensive bottle of anything in NYC. And we know he was talking Absolut here.

2.We aren't afraid to pass along this report from Scoopy's Notebook in the Villager, saying "that Mannahatta bar on the Bowery may be moving out soon and that the operator who hopefully will take over the space has a great record of running community-friendly establishments in the ’hood." That's bound to be an improvement.

3. A Little Birdy was at Beatrice Inn on Friday night, one night after being shut down, and seems to have had a bad time, reporting, "the place was way overcrowded, very hot, and every guy in there was rocking skinny suspenders. Awful." To each his own, we guess.

4. Finally, yours truly walked past the San Loco on Avenue A recently, and we are proud to report that they are serving booze once again. Viva San Loco! Viva El Guaco Loco!

Mr. Biggs Wants to Get Bigger

A sleepy little corner of the Upper East Village may get a little less sleepy if the folks behind Mr. Biggs get their way. We have heard that the sports bar, who's head quarters is in Hell's Kitchen, is attempting to open a second branch on the corner of 13th and Avenue A in the space formerly occupied by Nopal Del Este. Problem is the Mr. Biggs team has run into some stiff opposition from the neighbors and Community Board, who have little interest in having a maxed out sports bar that is known for its burgers and karaoke nights. While the old Alphabet City would have no interest in a Mr. Biggs type spot, times have definitely changed. Just ask the people who pack another uptown sports bar that opened up a few blocks away.

Consider this one developing.

Quick Hits: Stephen Starr Goes Taavo in Philly

You live in a house or apartment, but you only stay in a hotel room for a few nights. Damn that's a quick visit. This is a hotel edition of Quick Hits. Do you have a tip or link that may rock our world? Our telefax is always plugged in.

1. Stephen Starr, everyone's favorite Philly blowhard, is reaching into Freeman's Alley to bring a little Hell Square cachet to the Ill D. Starr has signed up Freeman's own Taavo Somer to help redesign his space at 706 Chestnut in Philly, which has been the home of a few previous Starr concepts that have bit the dust. Not only that, but Starr is planning to turn the rest of the property into a very intimate boutique hotel. Wonder where the Wonder Boy got that idea?

2. The Kor Group, the LA based boutique powerhouse, is expanding the Viceroy Hotel brand way beyond the beach. After a lengthy and difficult battle, the company recently got approval for the Viceroy Snowmass. As in Aspen. As in boo yah.

3. Our friends at Curbed don't believe there's any chance that Gild Hall can open its door by the end of this year. Oh yeah? Then why are they hiring?

We Weren't Aware

Fergus Henderson is cooking on Wednesday at the Spotted Pig. We were't aware of that. Oh wait, we were.

The Wolf Heads West

Wolfgang Zwiener seems to have this whole steakhouse thing figured out.

1. Serve as head waiter at New York City's dominant steakhouse for decades.
2. Partner up with your sons and a few coworkers to open your own joint.
3. Get a killer review.
4. Open multiple locations.

Mission accomplished. But that doesn't mean the Wolfgang's crew is going to rest on its laurels. Two locations? Not enough. Manhattan? Can't contain them. So what's the next step? LaLa land baby. DBTH has learned that Wolfgang's is bringing its show to the West coast, with plans to open a third location on Canon Drive, smack dab in the middle of the Hills. Beverly that is. Ohhhhh! Target opening is late 2008, and the folks at the Palm, Mastros and Wolfgang Puck should take note. The dry aged porterhouse for two doesn't play around.

Fergus Henderson Crosses the Pond

Fergus Henderson, the chef that taught us about eating The Whole Beast, is back at it. The head chef of St. John in London has written a new book, Beyond Nose to Tail . . . , and to celebrate its release, Henderson is having himself a little book party at The Spotted Pig. If you're expecting passed hors d'oeuvres and frilly drinks, think again. A Little Birdy tells us, "Fergus is having his book party at the Spotted Pig on October 10. The night will have him as the head chef of the Spotted Pig, cooking up whatever types of animals he can find at the butcher that day. Not only that, April B will be his line cook for the night." Hmmm. "Whatever kind of meat" is a dangerous thing with this guy Fergus. Ox heart? Pig tails? Most def. The man has and will cook almost anything. We suggest making your reservations now if you want to enjoy this once in a blue moon event. If they took reservations.

UPDATE: Like some other people we know, our Monday morning reading comprehension is a bit off. Fortunately, ours was a simple mistake and not a sign of plain stupidity. Fergus's book party is 10/8 at the Spotted Pig. He will be cooking at the Pig on 10/8. DBTH apologizes for the mistake.

Quick Hits: Weekend Restaurant Wrap Up

Time for another Quick Hits, a very special feature where we hit you. Quickly. Ka-Pow.

1. The Kingswood recently opened on the inner edges of the West Village. A Little Birdy checked it out on Saturday night, saying, "the Kingswood: lousy service, lousy food, good music." Great report. One out of 3 ain't bad sometimes. This time it is though.

2. A Little Birdy says, "Market Table is now serving dinner." Boring.

A Royale Price Raise

Royale on Avenue C had so much going for it. Outstanding burgers. An outstanding backyard in which to enjoy those burgers. Acceptable juke box. And most importantly, $3 cans of Butternuts , specifically Pork Slap Pale Ale, a super malty beverage brewed in upstate New York. Butternuts is one of the few beer makers to use the can these days, and we salute them for it. It is a clean taste, not too thin and not overpowering, despite the heavy malt, and at $3, you knew you were getting value. Until now. A recent trip to Royale revealed a price increase to $4! When asked, a bartender replied "we should have done it a long time ago." Is that so. $3 is the perfect price for a can of beer, about $1.50 over the distributor's price and not so much that you would question your choice. But $4, now that is a head scratcher and enough to have us looking at the menu for a beer pulled from the tap. Consider this developing.

Quick Hits: La Esquina Booked Up, Boulud Doing it Doggy Style, The Iron Pig

Time for a very special restaurant edition of everyone's favorite, Quick Hits. If you have ever wanted to hit something quickly, please do let us know.

1. La Esquina may be open once again, but that doesn't mean you can get in. A Little Birdy writes, "What's the deal with La Esquina? I called at 10:00 AM the day you announced they reopened, and I can only get tables at 6 or 11:30. It doesn't matter what size my party is, or the day of the week. They only have 6 or 11:30. Ridiculous." That is ridiculous Birdy. Stop saving tables for your VIP list and let anyone book a table.

2. As our friends at Eater point out, Daniel Boulud is planning on bringing his oh so famous uptown hamburger to his new downtown spot, DBowery. When it opens of course. But friends, countryment, Birdies, please do not overlook the hot dog. You know why? A Little Birdy tells us, "Boulud is planning on reinventing the hot dog in the same way he reinvented the hamburger at DB Bistro. It's going to be over the top luxurious." Luxurious hot dog, that's crazy.

3. Finally, a quick word of good luck to one of our favorite chefs, April Bloomfield of the Spotted Pig, who is stepping into the battle zone known as Kitchen Stadium this morning to battle the Iron Chefs. We would think she would be a natural against Batali, but he is gone so who knows? A burger and those pasta things that are made out of 100% cheese should do the trick, no matter what the secret ingredient is.

Tao Heads South

Hypothetical. You own and operate the most successful restaurant and nightclub in the United States. Your New York City flagship is wildly popular with expense accounters and celebs. Your brand has broken through to become a hospitality institution. What is left for your to do? Head to Miami of course. That's what the folks at Tao are planning to do. According to a Little Birdy in the know, "they have signed a lease for a space on Lincoln Rd. off Washington somewhere. No timing yet, sounds like its going to take a while." South Beach get up! We asked our Miami Seagull, who isn't too surprised, saying, "big, open space that has been vacant for years. It was kiss steakhouse, which was 'owned' by Janet Jackson." And we all know how that worked out. Or maybe we all don't. No matter, sometime next year we will all be able to enjoy swordfish skewers by the beach. Delicious.

BREAKING: La Esquina Reopens

A note came over the Hipster Wire Service so important, we deemed it worthy of an evening post. Little Birdy says, "The downstairs at La Esquina has reopened. I ate there last night before I went to the Box. Both were fun." WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW. The downstairs at La Esquina is back in action. We confirmed it ourselves early this evening just to be sure. Give them a call tomorrow between 10-5 to make yourself a reservation.