Eat the Weeks; Aug 26th - Sept 6th

We have lunch at Harvey Cedar's Clambar on Long Beach Island in Jersey | Pete Wells awards three stars to Betony, the midtown newcomer from Eleven Madison Park alum | Donde Dinner? - 285 Grand Avenue | In lieu of a review, Pete Wells pens a piece about the custom of tipping - we weigh in with some thoughts | Donde Dinner? - 85 Avenue A

Andy Ricker's Whiskey Soda Lounge is Coming to Brooklyn

Andy Ricker has been operating in New York City for just about a year now. Pok Pok Wing opened in January 2011, but morphed into Pok Pok Phat Thai in August after the demand for Ike's Wings proved too great for the small Rivington Street space. Ricker opened Pok Pok Ny in April, four months after Pok Pok Wing, on Columbia Street in Brooklyn. The restaurant's been packed ever since and the waits are rarely shy of an hour. That might change come spring time, as Diner's Journal confirmed earlier rumors that Ricker was bringing his Portland-based Whiskey Soda Lounge to New York.

The lounge will open this spring in the former Iro Sushi space at 115 Columbia Street, half a block north of Pok Pok Ny at 127 Columbia Street. The extra space provided by the new venue will help with the inevitable waits at Ny. Whiskey Soda Lounge will serve aahaan kap klaem, which is the drinking food of Thailand. Ricker described the food to Diner's Journal as "spicy-salty-sour." Don't worry, Ike's Wings will be on the menu. [DJ]