FLATIRON — ABC Cocina, superstar chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s new expansion of his highly acclaimed Union Square restaurant ABC Kitchen, has pushed back its expected opening date in a bid to avoid excess buzz, restaurant staff revealed.
DNAinfo.com New York got a sneak peek at the new Latin-style restaurant inside ABC Carpet and Home at 35 E. 18th St., which was slated to open on April 15, Zagat reported.
But on Monday afternoon, ABC Cocina's general manager said it has yet to choose an opening day.
“We don’t have an opening date set yet. We want to open quietly,” explained the manager, who declined to provide to his name. “We don’t want any fanfare.”
New York Magazine reported that the restaurant would be open by October of last year, and the New York Post reported a February opening date.
The ABC annex's windows are still lined in paper, but the inside appeared fully decorated and furnished with a bar, partially open kitchen and a large, open seating area on Monday.
The interior is mostly white with white walls, exposed brick, and a number of large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
ABC Carpet and Home's flagship in Flatiron carries two restaurants, including ABC Kitchen and what used to be Pipa restaurant, located behind ABC Kitchen.
Pipa closed in September to make way for ABC Cocina, which is expected to serve small tapas-like dishes.
"We will have paella, croquettas, a lot of small plates,'' Vongerichten told Grub Street last year. "I have worked so much with Asian food and this is the same latitude, so you find cilantro and chiles. Chiles are my passion now.''
