THE JAKEWALK: This romantic Carroll Gardens wine, cocktail and cheese bar is named after a Prohibition-era malady called the “Jake Walk”: a stiff-legged gait that afflicted drinkers of Jamaica Ginger, an alcohol-based “tonic” tainted with a leg-paralyzing neurotoxin. It’s the third in a growing “Smith Street empire” run by the owners of nearby haunts Smith & Vine and Stinky Bklyn. Their new venture, which opened last night, boasts (deep breath) 50 wines by the glass, 120 kinds of whisky, a rotating specialty cocktail list and a menu bulging with 40 cheeses, 20 cured meats, caviar and a “fondue of the day.” 282 Smith Street, Brooklyn, (347) 599-0294.
BROADWAY EAST: An organic Chinatown restaurant opens tonight and the design sounds good enough to eat, if you like your greens: Co-owner Ron Castellano has installed a 240 foot "living green wall" in the dining room, bursting with plants. Chef Lee Gross’s menu features fish and chicken entrees alongside veggie dishes like golden-beet tartare with shallot-hijiki puree. And what a dainty environmental footprint: the downstairs bar is made from wood salvaged from a NYC water tower, the restaurant composts, filters and carbonates its own water, uses a green linen company, and donates waste cooking oil to the Environmental Energy Recycling Corp. 171 East Broadway, (212) 228-3100
REFRESH: It may not seem like a big deal to Manhattanites, but South Williamsburg residents craving fresh juice will be happy to welcome Refresh, which opened yesterday on Bedford between South 1st and Grand. The diminutive café hopes to break the curse of this particular hole-in-wall, which has seen two eateries go bust in as many years. Aside from the fresh juice, Refresh serves smoothies, sandwiches made to order, pastries, bagels and coffee; a few seats and tables will make a great pit stop on the way to the subway. 287 Bedford Avenue.
Photo of The JakeWalk: Carolyn Fong
