• The Tavern on the Green auction kicked off today and continues through Friday. Expect long lines if you plan on checking it out yourself. (But forget about meeting Regis Philbin if you go; he was already there today.) [Crain's]
• Four Seasons chef Fabio Trabocchi is out after only three months. [NYP]
• The critics: Sam Sifton of the Times gives one star to the Breslin; Bloomberg's Ryan Sutton also weighs in on the Breslin, as does the Village Voice's Robert Sietsema; Adam Platt of New York takes on Maialino, giving it three out of five stars; Time Out awards four stars to Purple Yam; and the Post's Steve Cuozzo makes the case that Robert in Columbus Circle offers the best views in town.

• Openings/closings: Recette opened tonight in the WV; Balade is now serving Lebanese in the EV; Telephone Bar & Grill is closing at month's end; and rumor has it Koi has abandoned its plans to open a location on the Bowery.
• A dozen former Gourmet editors have been saved; they're joining AOL. [P6]
• Kosher food is growing in popularity with non-Jews, apparently. [NYT]
• The last few years haven't been kind to gay bars in the city. [Gawker]
• Warning: You may not be able to order a Manhattan for much longer. [NYP]