Gramercy Tavern Vets Debut Wood-Fired Grill Restaurant Rolo in Ridgewood | Eater NY

"Set to open mid-October in Ridgewood, the new wood-fire restaurant Rolo’s, located at 853 Onderdonk Avenue at Cornelia Street, is run by four Gramercy Tavern alums — Howard Kalachnikoff (the chef and one of the owners, formerly chef de cuisine at Gramercy Tavern), Rafiq Salim, Paul Wetzel, and Ben Howell — and will focus on simple, well-executed, approachable wood-fire–grilled food at a good value. The restaurant will offer a changing weekly pre-set menu (likely about $17 per person) with three to five complementary family-style dishes cooked on a wood-fired grill — examples include meatballs with spicy tomato sauce, fried chicken with a side of jalapeño focaccia, and garlicky greens — plus several à la carte options. A grocery component in the front will sell prepared items like fresh pasta, spreads, dips, condiments, a small selection of breads, and housemade ice cream, and there will be a bar serving beer, wine, coffee, and tea; afternoons will shift to takeout and delivery and the team may add outdoor seating weather permitting. The 100-seat space (about 40 seats at half capacity) is designed to be casual and neighborhood-y — the team emphasizes humility over fame — and they are currently waiting on permits with the hope to open in October." - Tanay Warerkar