If necessity is the mother of invention, then perhaps longevity is the mother of reinvention. Marc Meyer and Vicki Freeman's first attempt at resurrecting Soho's Provence didn't quite work out as planned. But the tenacious couple won't give up the spot just yet. It's now Hundred Acres, a farm-forward eatery much in the vein of their Cookshop and Five Points restaurants. At the unveiling last night, new design details were exposed, like the subway-tiled bar, potted herbs galore (pictured) and warm wood paneling. Passed snacks: potato and wild nettle croquettes; asparagus tempura (billed as "Long Island asparagus fries"); oysters with smoky cocktail sauce and cheddar-topped sliders. Oh, and my sluggishness today reminds me of the nice pinot poured.

With a chef who's spent time at Le Bernardin and a former sommelier from Babbo, there was little doubt that Dell'anima had the skills to churn out satisfying meals. The big question mark was the overall look and feel of the place. Was its minimalist aesthetic going to be a subtle backdrop upon which the crowd and food could play out their drama, or was it just a boxy, drab room? Click through to read our review, plus looks at Cantina (featuring the return of Jason Neroni, a prime candidate for some kind of "Chef's Gone Wild" reality show), Sanctuary T and seven more new and notable restaurants.

(Photo courtesy of Dell'anima)

Sometimes PR photos boggle the mind. This here is Shorty's.32, the Soho spot that replaced dearly beloved (by us, at least) Goblin Market last year. Though we preferred the broken plate/Grandma chic decor of that restaurant, the Shorty's space is not nearly as fugly as this photo would indicate. The lampshades are overkill, no doubt, but when the room is full, they're eclipsed by a genuinely jovial mood. And, of course, by Josh Eden's refined comfort food. Click through to read our full review, plus looks at East Village noob Belcourt, Naruto Ramen on the Upper East Side and seven more new and notable restaurants.

Though the comeback of rustic Italian was definitely the big trend of the year, a few shakeups at more high-end Italian restaurants made headlines as well. Michael White, formerly of Fiamma, moved over to take over the kitchens of Alto and L'Impero after the departure of Scott Conant. Taking White's place at Fiamma was Fabio Trabocchi, a James Beard-award winning chef from Virginia. With their new chefs going full steam, can these haute destinations still compete with popular dressed-down counterparts like Morandi and Gemma? Click through to read our reports on recent visits to Fiamma, L'Impero and more restaurants worthy of a second look. We haven't made it over to Alto yet, but would love to hear the thoughts of anyone who has.

(Photo courtesy of Fiamma)