When Floyd Cardoz’ restaurant Tabla closed in December after 12 years, Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group dropped plenty of hints that something new was coming for the chef, who lives in Verona. Yesterday we found out what it was: USHG will open a new restaurant in Battery Park City towards the end of the year and Cardoz, who will soon be appearing in “Top Chef Masters“, will be the restaurant’s executive chef and partner. Called North End Grill, it will feature grill cooking with an emphasis on seafood, and will be located at the northwest corner of North End Avenue and Murray Street.
“Floyd Cardoz is one of the most gifted chefs with whom I have ever had the privilege to work, and I’m thrilled we’ll be collaborating again,” said USHG Chief Executive Danny Meyer in a prepared statement. “North End Grill will be another shining chapter in Floyd’s career and I can’t wait to see and taste what’s next.”
New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg might need to consider renaming Battery Park City for Meyer, however: In addition to North End Grill, USHG will be bringing its Blue Smoke and Shake Shack restaurants to the neighborhood, and its catering and events company will be the exclusive caterer for the new Conrad New York hotel that is opening there. The hotel will have a garden on its roof that will provide vegetables and herbs for North End Grill’s menu.
