• Today in restaurant reviews: Frank Bruni gives Zak Pelaccio's new Fatty Crab two stars; the Post's Steve Cuozzo is pretty pleased with Josh DeChellis's La Fonda del Sol; and Jay Cheshes hits up Minetta Tavern. [NYT, NYP, TONY]
• The good news/bad news about the Cooper Square Hotel's Table 8. [Eater]
• Ryan Sutton on Monkey Bar: "A-listers and alcohol are the main event" while the "food is a simian sideshow." All things you knew, undoubtedly. [Bloomberg]
• It's what every chef dreams of: Tom Colicchio is on the new cover of Guitar Aficionado magazine. Yes, the mag exists and, yes, Tom loves guitars. [GS]
• It looks like the space once occupied by Florent/R&L will reopen as 69 Gansevoort Cafe shortly. It will probably remain a 24/7 diner, too. [Eater]
• NYC will look like LA pretty soon: A second Baja Fresh is on the way. [ML]

• The Ace Hotel is open; the bar and restaurant are not. [Eater]
• The Ivy crew from Chloe 81 is taking the party to Montauk this summer. [GS]
• The Senate may apply a tax on soda to pay for an overhaul of the health care system. If cigarettes are any guide, a can of Coke will soon cost $10. [WSJ]
• A few tips on consuming absinthe (if you insist on drinking the stuff). [NYT]
• You can now nominate your fave street cart for a Vendy Award, AKA the Oscar of the hot dog/shawarma world. [Vendys]