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“A Social Club for the East Side”

Just in case you need a dose of family other than your own this week, stop in at the newly opened and family-run restaurant, East Side Social Club. This Italian-American spot, inspired by the 40s and 50s film noir era, comes to us from the brothers Gilroy-Billy (Employees Only), Devon, the chef, formerly of Chanterelle and A Voce, and Jim, former barman of Raul's, as Maitre d'. Billy's daughter Grace Gilroy, formerly of La Bottega is the general manager, and while technically not family, Patrick Fahey, of Naked Lunch and Macao, is also an owner. Devon and Grace's mother, former vintage clothing store owner Mary Miscikoski, sources authentic pieces for the staff outfits. Employees Only bar chef Dushan Zaric created the restaurant's list of classic cocktails.

Devon's menu includes buffalo ricotta on sourdough bread ($10< an escarole Caesar salad ($9), and eggplant stuffed with pecorino, red pepper and balsamic ($12). On the hot app side, there are crispy sweetbreads with baby fennel, leeks, and capers ($14), sea urchin arancini ($12), and a porcini salad with arugula, fontina and hazelnuts ($12). Pastas stay pretty simple with the likes of spaghetti tossed with cured San Marzano tomatoes and herbs ($17), ricotta gnocchi Bolognese, and Linguini with clam sauce fired up with Calabrian chiles ($19). Secondi include a Berkshire pork chop with chanterelle mushrooms, chestnuts and faro ($28), and Branzino alla plancha with Cerignola olives and olive oil confited Yukon gold potatoes ($25).

The design team of  Billy Gilroy, Shana Hoffman, Happy Massee fully transformed the former Montparnasse space in The Pod Hotel into three distinct sections: a bar area in front with an Art Deco wall, a fine dining room in the center, and an elevated, semi-private back room divided by ironwork.  The 113-seat restaurant features burgundy leather booths, mahogany walls and checkered tablecloths that evoke the classic restaurants of Little Italy.

The East Side Social Club is located at 230 E. 51st Street, 212-355-9442.

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Posted: November 23, 2009 - 3:47 pm

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