The creepy/sexy Williamsburg mainstay Savalas—where a man once publicly displayed his pierced foreskin—closed in January after six years of DJs, dancing, and debauchery on Bedford Avenue. A nation mourned. And everyone wondered, what would take its place? If you've been observing the ongoing Manhattanization of Williamsburg, you may not be shocked to see that Savalas has been completely gutted and transformed into some sort of bourgy cheese, wine, pasta, and protein restaurant called Masten Lake.
The new venture opened last night for "friends and family," but the menu, below, is posted on the wall outside. We snapped a shot of the interior the night before; as you can see it's been completely remodeled with the exposed brick, urban rustic aesthetic that's de rigueur these days. The official grand opening is Wednesday, and we really can't tell you much more than that, because the manager on duty last night wasn't talking. We tried to get a phone number to ring back and speak with an owner at their convenience, and were told, "We don't have a phone number." When asked if she was certain the owners wouldn't want to speak with us in the next couple of days, she telepathically replied, "Yes, I'm certain."
Suffice it to say, we won't be writing much more about Masten Lake unless/until some bitter Savalas refugee organizes a boycott or something. And that snobby French/New Orleans barstaurant across the avenue with the absinthe and oysters can go to hell, too. If you're on the Southside and want to check out a new restaurant that isn't too cool for school, we recommend Morgane; it's no Stinger bar, but it's got a big back yard and great garlicky escargot. There's also Cadaques around the corner, and Lucky Dog is just a block away.
