For well-to-do foodies, fall is about more than just the leaves changing color in Central Park. It's about the shifting of seasonal menus, and nobody takes seasonal change more seriously than Park Avenue Autumn, which was previously Park Avenue Summer. The restaurant has been redesigned for a warm, natural look--at least until late November, when it will transform yet again, into Park Avenue Winter.

What's new on the menu? Acorn-fed Iberian ham with grilled cheese toast, Kentucky fried quail with pear slaw, crispy Arctic char with swiss chard in maple-soy brown butter, and filet mignon with Wellington strudel, chanterelles and creminis, among many other dishes. It's almost enough to make you glad summer is over ... almost.

Photo of Pop Burgers borrowed from Flickr.

Every culture has its signature dish, and in this country there is perhaps no food more American than the burger. What beats a minced meat patty, properly seasoned and sandwiched in a bun? Maybe a minced meat patty, properly seasoned, sandwiched in a bun and served on a gold platter by Brad Pitt. But that's about it. Inevitably, in a city like New York, with so many restaurants, it's easy to become flustered by all the varieties out there. We know which spots we like for red meat, but what about our fellow New Yorkers? We took to the streets and talked to locals to find out about the best in burger breeds. Consult our findings in our Battle of the Burgers feature. The opinions might vary, from the advocate of the get-what-you-want-on-it DuMont Burger, to the traditionalist with a preference for Corner Bistro. But if you're craving a burger and need some inspiration, here's a little guidance from your fellow citizens.  

The filet mignon at Club A Steakhouse--and if your steak gets lonely, try adding any three sides for $24

Some diners probably shed a tear when lauded midtown Italian spot Bruno Restaurant closed its doors last year, after nearly 30 years in business--among them, regular patrons like former mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Robert De Niro and John Gotti. But politicians, A-list actors and mobsters alike need weep no longer, because the man behind that much-loved haunt, Bruno Selimaj, has just opened Club A Steakhouse in its place.

A tipster tells us that after a comprehensive renovation, Club A officially opened for business last Monday in the three-story townhouse formerly occupied by Bruno's at 240 East 58th Street. The menu has been overhauled courtesy of Executive Chef Jean Christophe Villard--of Bobby Van's fame--but the emphasis is still on hospitality. Entertainment in the second floor bar and lounge will include live music (every Wednesday through Saturday), courtesy of in-house musical director and renowned pianist Daniel Nye. Other notable perks include a special late-night menu served until 2am and a wine cellar.

There's a lot of information provided on the Club A website, including the complete menu, but unfortunately for us, unless we're dining on someone else's dime, we'll be ordering the $7 one-pound baked potato, and imagining it's the $99 American Kobe Tomahawk ribeye.

Eater reported on some of the gossip Daniel Boulud divulged at the Cafe Boulud press luncheon yesterday, which introduced chefs Gavin Kaysen and Raphael Haasz along with Jim Leikin, who will be behind Boulud's Bowery burger spot. Here's another tidbit: As Cafe Boulud embarks on its 10th anniversary this summer, it will undergo a full renovation. Until then, here are some highlights from the spring menu:

Kona Kampachi Sashimi--delicate slivers of fish set on gingered carrot puree with cubes of lime gelee, tiny avocado rounds and coriander blossoms.

Yukon Gold Potato Gnocchi--light and luscious, with butter-poached shrimp and green asparagus. The remaining sauce was bisque-like; many (including me) couldn't resist sopping it up with bread.

Jamison Farms Roasted Saddle of Spring Lamb--the standout dish (pictured). A great usher into the season with sugar snap peas, flagolets (which our waiter called "jelly beans"), tomato confit and morel jus.

The meal ended with a chocolate hazelnut bar with Meyer lemon sorbet, and Daniel's signature mini madeleines, of course.

We've just received word of a chef shuffle at Geisha, the Upper East Side fusion spot (and Gossip Girl shooting location). Out is four-year vet Michael Vernon, who's "off to pursue seafood," according to the release. Taking his place as executive chef is Richard Lee, who has been with the restaurant since 2003. Some dishes to look forward to on Lee's spring menu: a Kumamoto oyster shot with honeydew water, melon relish and fresh grated wasabi; pan-roasted filet of striped bass with sunchokes and osetra caviar butter; and boneless rack of lamb with ginger braised red cabbage and fingerling potatoes.

(Photo by Alessandra Rotondi)

In celebration of its fifth anniversary, davidburke & donatella has launched a $55 three-course menu featuring some of the restaurant's classic dishes and a few new ones from chef de cuisine Eric Hana. Accompanying wine flights run $25, or a reasonable $5 a glass. One of the new appetizers is this lobster and sea urchin "BLT," made with sourdough gnocchi, oven-roasted tomatoes, sauteed pancetta, uni and lobster, prepared in a lettuce emulsion. Perhaps someone's been digging El Quinto Pino's much-discussed uni 'wich?   

This airy looking space is an artist rendering of Savarona, an upscale Turkish restaurant coming to 420 East 59th Street in March. Chef Tevfik Alparslan hails from Bolu, in the Northwestern part of the country, and according to the PR materials, his cuisine bears the Western influences of time spent with Gordon Ramsay. Expect lobster stuffed artichoke hearts, Wedding Soup, with roasted almonds, ginger and red beet foam, and aubergine stew topped with swordfish skewers. Let's just hope Alparslan hasn't picked up any personality traits from Ramsay, as well.

(Rendering courtesy of Savarona/David Howell Design)

Upper East Side restaurant and club Bruno Jamais is giving away a $50 gift certificate and several beauty products from David Scott Cosmetics to one of our readers. Never been to Bruno Jamais? Here's a little background: Chef John Keller (formerly of Nobu and Le Bernardin) whips up Asian-accented French fare until 3am Monday through Saturday, and a reduced price menu is served on "Disco Sundays" from 6pm to 2am. Additionally, live bands and DJs play throughout the week, encouraging a supper-club atmosphere. In 2004, the space won an award for its interior design from Hospitality Design Magazine.

How to win? The first reader to leave a comment with a valid email address will nab the goodies.

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.

Call it an early Christmas gift. This week we offer a whopping four new reviews, kicking off with a two-fer in the East Village: Back Forty, from Savoy chef Peter Hoffman, and Matilda, an unlikely fusion of Italian and Mexican fare. Also on tap, antojitos across the Manhattan Bridge at Hecho en Dumbo, and a decidedly non-boys-club steakhouse on the Upper East Side. Click through to read reviews of 10 new and notable restaurants.