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Po crosses the river

By Jordana Rothman
for The Brooklyn Paper

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Good news, Brooklyn! Po, that beloved vestige of Mario Batali’s early career, is on its way to Cobble Hill.

The restaurant, at 276 Smith St., is expected to open in mid-March.

Magic Carpet Day Camp

The original Manhattan trattoria opened in 1993 with a pre–Food Network Batali at the helm, but was later sold to Steve Crane and Jonathan Casteel. The restaurant, now piloted by Executive Chef Lee McGrath, continues to provide budget-conscious diners with thrilling house-made gnocchi, savory lamb paillard and Porcini-crusted cod.

Clocking in at 1,000-square-feet, the Brooklyn outpost will do little to improve on the West Village mainstay’s cramped quarters, a conceptual choice, Casteel contends.

“Po will have the same menu with the same wine list,” he told GO Brooklyn. “We want it to feel as much like the Manhattan restaurant as possible.”

Po’s Brooklyn pilgrimage is yet another triumph for the borough, now fully established as a dining Mecca for even the most stubborn island-dweller.

“You look at the New York Times or New York Magazine and you’re seeing reviews of little places in Brooklyn,” said Casteel. “Cornelia Street is a little street with lots of little restaurants. Smith Street is reminiscent of that.”

Though Batali is no longer part of the Po empire, we wonder how long it will be before the famed chef marches his orange Crocs across the bridge. It’s only a matter of time.

©2007 Community Newspaper Group

←Fort Greene: Barb and cue at a Smith Street pub
→Bay Ridge: Gentile is the new critter ridder

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