Openings:
Nationally acclaimed, Philadelphia-based chef Jose Garces is scheduled to open three outposts at the renovated Tropicana in Atlantic City on March 3.
Olon Restaurante will be a fine-dining seafood restaurant that includes a raw bar. Okatshe will be a Japanese sushi, sake and noodle bar. A Japanese candy shop will stand at the entrance to the restaurant. La Cerveceria will be a double-sided bar serving diners at both Olon and Okatshe. It will feature 24 taps of craft beer. Garces won the 2009 James Beard Award for Best Chef/Mid-Atlantic for Amada in Philadelphia. Garces had four successful restaurants at Revel when it closed in 2014. He was briefly involved with The Playground, the former Caesars Pier taken over and remade by developer Bart Blatstein. An Iron Chef, Garces operates more than 15 restaurants nationwide. He also runs a 40-acre farm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, that produces ingredients for his restaurants. For information, call 609-340-4507.
Piattino: A Neighborhood Bistro has opened at 67 Union Place in Summit, next door to The Office Tavern Grill. Serving modern twists on traditional Italian fare, the 5,200-square-foot restaurant seats 160 people. Both restaurants—as well as Piattino in Mendham and other branches of The Office—are owned by the Morristown-based 40 North Restaurant Group. Piattino, Summit, is open for lunch and dinner daily, plus brunch on weekends. 908-219-4801.
Habit Burger Grill has opened inside the Mercer Mall at 3371 Route 1 in Lawrenceville. The chain’s signature “charburgers” anchor a menu that also features sandwiches and salads. Open daily for lunch and dinner. 609-356-0497.
Angels Recipe Ice Cream has debuted at 79 Hudson Street in Hoboken. Thai-style ice cream is on the bill of fare, and made with ingredients sourced at local markets and farms; it is produced without additives, GMOs, chemical stabilizers or preservatives. Popular flavors include Dark Angel (dark chocolate and raspberry), Cocomo Kokomo (vegan, with a coconut base, roasted almonds and toasted coconut flakes), and Knocking on Heaven’s Door (vanilla, Nutella and banana). 201-792-4504.
Closing (temporarily):
BURG, located in Military Park at 55 Park Place in Newark, is on hiatus until spring. The fast-casual eatery known for its signature burgers will reopen with the launch of a new 100-seat outdoor bar and stone patio. The 40-seat restaurant will remain intact, as will the phone number: 973-482-2874.
You would try Shaka Sushi in Hoboken, a part of the poke trend across the country. It’s getting some great reviews.