Tennis fans will get an early taste of the US Open with a new format for mixed doubles – giving them a sneak preview at the new dining options that will also debut next month.
The upscale and usually pricey scene will add James Beard-nominated rising star Robbie Felice’s pastaRAMEN, a new spin from Simon Kim’s COQODAQ and the long-awaited return of famed chef José Andrés, Side Dish has learned.
They will join regular favorites like Alex Guarnaschelli, Kwame Onwuachi, Ed Brown, David Burke, Josh Capon, Pat LaFrieda and Masaharu Morimoto, according to United States Tennis Association officials.
The mixed doubles tournament will begin during Fan Week on Aug. 19 and 20, and will feature the return of Venus Williams — on the 25th anniversary of her first US Open. She will be seeking the $1 million grand prize with partner Reilly Opelka.
The food front is just as well matched.
Andres, returning to the US Open for the first time since 2019, will showcase Oyamel. The restaurant from the José Andrés Group will team up with the Dobel Tequila Club to create a restaurant/lounge with diverse Mexican food and cocktails. Dishes will include Oyamel’s taco cohinita, made with Yucatan-style pit barbecued pork, achiote, Mexican sour orange and pickled red onion.
Felice, known for his secret $350 per person, 14-course omakase pop-ups in New York, Miami and Los Angeles, celebrating Italian-Japanese fusion cuisine, runs four different restaurants in New Jersey.
His mystery pastaReman menu for the US Open will be available through hidden drops on social media, Felice exclusively told Side Dish.
“We have three appetizers, izakaya-style finger food that people know and love, along with a ramen,” he teased, adding that there will also be two dessert options including his famed zeppoli bao buns and a new strawberry yuzu Japanese-Italian ice that will be “cool, new and fun.”
“Who wouldn’t want something cold and iced when you are out in the heat,” he said.
Kim – the founder and CEO of Gracious Hospitality Management, which includes Michelin-starred Cote Korean Steakhouse in New York – is returning for his second year with a second location and a twist to the elevated fried chicken served at COQODAQ.
The revamped “CQDQ” will be located in the Food Village, where it will serve a new chicken sandwich, while COQODAQ will still be offering favorites like its “golden nuggets” paired with caviar at its original spot in the club level of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“It’s a massive undertaking, and we can’t wait for everyone to experience it,” Kim said.
The popular dining hall Aces — which opens after Fan Week — will boast a roster of culinary all-stars, including Michelin-starred chef Ed Brown, Iron chef Masaharu Morimoto and James Beard Award-winning chef Kwame Onwuachi.
Guarnaschelli, the Michelin-starred “Iron Chef” returns for her fifth year with dishes and cocktails from her Mediterranean bistro, Fare. David Burke’s Cuban-American fusion hotspot, Mojito by David Burke, is also back, along with Josh Capon’s Fly Fish, featuring lobster rolls, tuna poke, oysters and more.
There will also be new dishes and returning faves from LaFrieda Meat Co., Champions by Benjamin’s Steakhouse, Carnegie Deli, San Matteo NYC, Dos Toros Taqueria, Red Hook Lobster Pound, Fuku, Eataly, Korilla BBQ, Poke Yachty, Hill Country BBQ, King Souvlaki, The Migrant Kitchen, The Nourish Spot, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream and more.
Meanwhile, other stars in the 16-team mixed doubles field include Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alacaraz, Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek, Emma Navarro and Anna Ansimova.
The move to fan week “enables top singles stars to compete together and to give this Grand Slam championship center stage,” said USTA’s Brendan McIntyre.
Main draw ticket sales are already up more than 10% over last year, McIntyre said, adding that subscriptions for the full tournament at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the equivalent of season tickets, are at “98-99%.”
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