New Restaurant to Fill Space Vacated by New Canaan's Pine Social

A former New York City chef part of the Danny Meyer empire is bringing new life into the space recently vacated by Pine Social in New Canaan.

Chef Nicholas Martschenko—who has honed his culinary skills at the Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck and both Gramercy Tavern and i Trulli, located in Manhattan—hopes to open his new restaurant, South End, by late August.

“It’s going to be all about great food, great atmosphere, great service and great libations in a comfortable setting,” said Martschenko, 38, who moved to New Canaan with his wife and three young children. “The approach is new, American, contemporary, approachable dishes.”

Martschenko attended the Culinary Institute of America from 1996 to 1998 and started off at Primo Restaurant in Rockland, Maine.

Martschenko gave Patch a sneak peak at the menu, which features appetizers like fried baby artichokes, roasted garlic aioli, spit-roasted pancetta with grilled nectarines, and rocket greens in saba syrup.

Dinner? Pan-seared, black sea bass with panzanella salad and gazpacho vinaigrette.

Drinks? A full bar.

South End will also serve lunch during the week and brunch for the weekends. 

“I’m very excited about this deal,” said Pyramid Restaurant Group broker Steven Matsis. “I have a sense for these things, I’ve been doing it for 27 years, and I believe this is going to be a very hot location in town. It’s right on the money and just what we need in town.

“I’d say it’s a bit of upscale, American tavern atmosphere, not too stuffy,” said Matsis, founder of Capital Restaurant Group in 2004. “Nicholas is a very, very high-end chef, comes from high-end operations in New York, and he’s a young guy. He’s partnering with a very experienced pastry chef and they’re looking to do some very cool stuff.

The space is currently undergoing renovations that Martschenko says will “really open up the place," and give it a "home-style feeling.”

Martschenko also has a partner, Keith Siskind, who runs Tarry Lodge, which is located in Port Chester and Westport.