An Upstate James Beard Nominee Is Headed to the Upper East Side

"Hartsdale's O Mandarin - where chef Eric Gao, who was named a James Beard Award semifinalist for several years - will soon have an Upper East Side sibling called Cafe Mandarin at 1239 First Avenue, at East 67th Street. Signage is up, and the space is hiring, according to the restaurant's website. Owner Peter Liu said the 40 or so seat restaurant will feature dumplings, duck, Sichuan hot pots, and fried whole fish."

"O Mandarin, which opened in 2017 in Hartsdale, has drawn attention from Esquire writer Jeff Gordinier, who described repeat visits and highlighted dishes like dan dan noodles, thousand-layer tofu, and Sichuan peppercorn tofu skin. In Forbes, critic John Mariani called the restaurant "remarkably ambitious," noting whole fish with fermented black beans, cumin-dusted pork ribs, and handmade dumplings as standouts."

"Devoción has opened a new 2,500-square-foot flagship café at 148 Grand Street in Williamsburg, relocating from its original 69 Grand Street location a block away after that lease ended. The Colombian coffee brand - known for flying beans from Bogotá to New York -now includes a public coffee lab inside the cafe, offering free brewing classes, tastings, and coffee flights as part of its new education-focused program."

O Mandarin will open Cafe Mandarin at 1239 First Avenue on the Upper East Side with about 40 seats, offering dumplings, duck, Sichuan hot pots, and fried whole fish. Chef Eric Gao has been a James Beard Award semifinalist for several years. O Mandarin opened in Hartsdale in 2017 and expanded to Long Island. Critics have praised dishes such as dan dan noodles, thousand-layer tofu, Sichuan peppercorn tofu skin, whole fish with fermented black beans, cumin-dusted pork ribs, and handmade dumplings. Devoción opened a 2,500-square-foot flagship at 148 Grand Street in Williamsburg featuring a public coffee lab with classes, tastings, and flights. Rubirosa is expanding west.

Read at Eater NY