Eating & Drinking: Thursday Edition
• The Grill at the Standard hotel is in friends-and-family mode at the moment. (It should be open to the public sometime next week.) In the meantime, though, you'll be pleased to hear (and see—left) that some serious bartender training is currently underway. [HotelChatter, Flickr]
• New York's very first spot for 24-hour-a-day pho is coming soon. [GS]
• Chocolate mousse is popping up all over town, according to Kate Krader. Exhibits 1-4: Monkey Bar, Minetta Tavern, Bar Artisanal, and Kefi. [F&W]
• Another list of downturn-friendly bars offering free food with drinks. [NYT]
• Good news for strip club fans: Drink prices, cover charges are down. [WSJ]
• Some breaking news from Tuesday evening's screening of Food, Inc.: Rocco DiSpirito says he's been known to occasionally eat a Cinnabon or two. [NYDN]
• The NYC restaurant world's biggest foe, labor lawyer Maimon Kirschenbaum, has two new targets in his sights: Frank Prisinzano, the owner of Frank and Supper; and Sean MacPherson and Eric Goode's Matsuri. [GS]
• Jarnac on West 12th Street will close its doors on June 27. [Eater]
• New details—and the menu—for Matt Levine forthcoming LEVANTeast. [GS]
• If Jennifer LeRoy gets to keep the Tavern on the Green lease, she says she plans to make the restaurant more environmentally friendly. [P6]
• A Q&A with the big man himself, Drew Nieporent. [RG]