• A bunch of expensive restaurants are slated to open over the next few months. That kind of sucks for them, yes, although construction costs are down and rents are now negotiable, so it's not all bad news. Sort of. [NYT]
• Frank Bruni offers up his take on a bunch of "recession beaters" in today's Times, including Anthos Upstairs, Craft's DFF, and the lounge at Per Se. [NYT]
• Will swine flu finally kill the pork-belly trend? [GS]
• Despite the recession, steakhouses still seem full, says the Post's Steve Cuozzo, and Wagyu beef is still selling, "strangely." Strange, indeed. [NYP]
• Snapple is giving away free pizza from May 4 to May 7. [Slice]
• More immediately: 31-cent scoops at Baskin-Robbins tonight. [TFB]

• Danyelle Freeman is pleased with the burgers at Minetta Tavern. [NYDN]
• Ryan Sutton takes on Minetta Tavern as well, although he's not impressed with the black label burger, "a workout for all those celebrity jaw lines." [BN]
• Gael Greene's impressions of Graydon Carter's Monkey Bar. [IC]
• A roundup of new West Side restaurants with sidewalk seating. [GS]
• Is Jacques Torres using the threat of a suit to drum up PR? Perhaps. [Eater]
• Pinkberry may have lots of new money in the bank, but Red Mango will soon have a new flavor on its menu. So there. [GS]