Double Duty for Pete Wells This Week

Pete Wells files a double review this week on Peter Hoffman's Back Forty and Back Forty West.

Back Forty West comes to us as the replacement to Peter Hoffman's Greenmarket visionary Savoy, which operated in the same building, on the corner of Crosby and Prince, for over twenty years before closing last June.

The menus at the BF and BFW share "an overall philosophy," but are no means identical.  "Back Forty West isn’t a total clone. It’s more like a fraternal twin, sharing the logo and the look of the first place, along with a few menu items and an overall philosophy."

"Over the last month or so, I’ve had a string of extremely pleasant meals at second-generation Back Forty West, and a succession of sloppy, careless ones at the place it was modeled after. It’s as if Back Forty has gone into a long, jealous sulk, like a family cat that responds to the arrival of a new baby by hiding under the couch and scratching at anybody who gets too close."

His experiences at the restaurants leave Wells awarding zero stars to Back Forty, who gets pegged 'Fair', while Back Forty West receives a solid two stars.

It's Dinner Time at Back Forty West

After just about a month of lunch service, Back Forty West, Peter Hoffman's Savoy replacement, is now serving dinner.

Part of the renditions to the quaint corner space at 70 Prince Street included the addition of a smoker and chef Shanna Pacifico is taking full advantage.  Pork ribs, beef brisket, and chicken legs and thighs are allup for grabs on the new dinner menu.

Back Forty West Open for Lunch

Peter Hoffman closed his Savoy space last summer after a 20 year run.  Now, after a lengthy hibernation and a face lift, the space is home to Back Forty West.  You can get in for lunch now, dinner will start in a couple of weeks.

The menu is laid out in categories, broken down by what you use to eat what; i.e. your hands are for the flash fried rock shrimp, a spoon and laddle will take care of the green curry fish stew, and a spoon should work nicely with the devil's food cake.

Check out the menu.

Let the Countdown Begin; Back Forty, Back Thirty-Nine, Back Thirty-Eight...

Peter Hoffman's Back Forty West is going to open next thursday, March 1st.

Back Forty West will first be open for breakfast and lunch.  As Grubstreet points out, a new bar and a smoker have been added to the former Savoy space and dinner will come later in the month with a focus on one pot dishes. 

Savoy to Open as More Casual Back Forty, Dubbed Back Forty West

After a 20 year run, Savoy shut its doors last June and but will soon emerge from hibernation.

The new digs will be called Back Forty West and offer a similar menu to Hoffman's Back Forty in the East Village in a more casual setting.  Chef Shanna Pacifico will make the move from Back Forty and get Back Forty West up and running in a couple of months.

Is it too much to ask for an honorary cassoulet?