FLATIRON — London restaurant chain Burger & Lobster is opening its first New York City location in Flatiron, its owner announced.
The European eatery, known for serving only grilled lobster dinners and burgers, is expected to open in a two-story space at 39 W. 19th St. between Fifth and Sixth avenues in August 2014, co-owner Vladmir Borodin told Community Board 5 at a recent meeting.
"After a successful launch in London with five locations in operation, the Burger & Lobster team collectively decided to open in New York City," Borodin said.
"New York City is known worldwide as the premier restaurant city.... Combined with New York City's demographics, we believe it is the perfect fit for Burger & Lobster and for our first location outside of London."
As in its London locations, the restaurant will only offer three entrees, each for $20 — a 10-ounce burger, a lobster and lobster roll. Each dish comes with fries and a side salad. A rotating signature dessert and drink menu will be offered each night as well.
The 7,000-square-foot restaurant will be open seven days a week, with space to hold up to 260 people, Borodin said. The last seating will be no later than midnight.
"The atmosphere is lively and fun," Borodin said. "Throughout the spacious and comfortable [restaurant], guests will enjoy the classic Burger & Lobster atmosphere people have become accustomed to in London."
Other recent and upcoming openings and closings in Union Square and Flatiron include:
Dairy Queen is opening a two-floor restaurant at Union Square — complete with a dining room, the chain said.
Dairy Queen recently leased the 2,500-square-foot space at 54 W. 14th St., marking the chain’s first location in Manhattan and the first two-story Dairy Queen in the United States, said company spokesman Dean Peters.
“Two stories is definitely unique,” Peters said. “We have a two-story location in Saudi Arabia, but the rest of our DQ restaurants are one story.”
Peters would not say what would be on each floor of the new Dairy Queen, but he said workers would bring food to the customers' table after it is ordered at the front counter.
“It’s going to be a relaxed, modern contemporary dining room,” Peters said.
SoulCycle — a source for high-energy, candlelit biking exercise — opened a 63-bike studio in Flatiron last week featuring a listening bar and a boutique, according to the company.
At the listening bar, customers can browse through instructor profiles and listen to playlists for each class using an iPad, said Kristyn Clark, a spokeswoman for SoulCycle.
Aside from the studio itself, the 5,000-square-foot space at 8 W. 19th St. between Fifth and Sixth avenues also includes locker rooms and 10 showers, she said.
SoulCycle has four other locations in the city, including one at 18th Street and Fifth Avenue, one on the Upper East Side, one on the Upper West Side and another in TriBeCa.
After 15 years in business, Benvenuto Café is closing its doors for good on Dec. 16 after losing its lease, MadParkNews.com reported.
Once its brick-and-mortar cafe, located at 950 Broadway, closes next week, it will continue delivery service from a temporary location at the Flatiron Green Café kiosk in the pedestrian plaza on 23rd Street and Broadway, according to a sign posted on its door.
Benvenuto also has a location in TriBeCa at 369 Greenwich St.
“To all our loyal friends and customers, we would like to thank you for your continued support and patronage for the last 15 years,” the sign read.
