Chef John Fraser, whose 701West holds
Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence, opened Iris April 21 in Midtown Manhattan. The restaurant offers Aegean-style dining, influenced by Turkish cuisine and Fraser’s Greek background, with an emphasis on plant-based dishes.
“This restaurant is such a direct expression of my heritage and passion, as seen through the lenses of cuisine and travel,” Fraser told
Wine Spectator.
Leading the wine program is the group’s beverage director, Amy Racine, who also oversees 701West’s 650-selection list. Iris features about 180 labels highlighting regions along the Aegean Sea, with Greek and Turkish bottles making up about half the selections. There is a diverse selection of sparkling wines as well, plus picks from Napa, Piedmont, Burgundy, the Rhône Valley and beyond. “It was a privilege and very fun to explore these new varietals, to introduce our guests to something new,” Racine said. “We really wanted a ‘If you like Sance
Crain’s Business Forum: NYC’s Restaurant Revival
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New York City restaurants have been devastated by the pandemic – hundreds of businesses have closed, and thousands of employees have lost their jobs. As the restaurant industry begins to recover, there are questions about Covid-19 s impact and what the future has in store. Join
Crain’s as we examine which establishments have been hit the hardest, how businesses are evolving and what eateries are doing to bring back diners. Additionally, attendees will learn what actionable steps the government, business community and public can take to help local food entities get back on their feet.
Legendary Zuni Cafe gets rid of tips, joining a wage-equity movement in Bay Area
Legendary Zuni Cafe gets rid of tips, joining a wage-equity movement in Bay Area
But not all staffers think the new model, where diners get a service charge, is in their best interest
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Legendary S.F. restaurant Zuni Cafe will add 20% service charge to bills when it resumes indoor dining in a few weeks.Kimberley Hasselbrink/Special to The Chronicle 2020
When Zuni Cafe reopens for indoor dining in a few weeks, it’ll shift from a traditional tipping model to adding a 20% service charge to diners’ bills a way to boost wages for the restaurant’s lowest wage workers. The San Francisco institution will join a long list of Bay Area restaurants that have switched to a service charge in the past several years, though some businesses have struggled to maintain a tipless model because of higher taxes and difficulty in retaining staff.
Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio is pushing to have the entire city including restaurants and bars fully reopen this summer.
“Our plan is to fully reopen New York City on July 1st. We are ready for stores to open, for businesses to open, offices, theaters, full strength,” de Blasio said during a Thursday appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, pointing to the state’s progress in distributing vaccines. The mayor clarified in a Thursday press conference that the reopening plans include a full comeback for restaurants and bars.
“This is going to be the summer of New York City,” de Blasio said.