Burger King released plans to join the on-premise world with Whopper Bar, a Burger King concept set to compete with casual dining restaurants in South Beach, Miami. The bar is scheduled to open mid-February. More Whopper Bars could pop up in places like New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, USA Today reports. A beer at Whopper Bar will run $4.25; as part of a Whopper combination meal, the total will be $7.99 (about $2 more than the combo with a fountain drink). The South Beach location will have outdoor dining, a walk-up window and delivery. A Whopper Bar in Orlando opened last year but does not serve beer. www.bkwhopperbar.com.
The Gerber Group announced the opening of Stone Rose Bar & Grill in the Delta terminal of New York’s JFK International Airport. The venue is to provide a “stylish yet relaxed spot” for travelers to enjoy cocktails and meals before their flights leave. It offers a full bar and a food menu that includes house-made Yukon potato chips, steak flatbread sandwich, roasted chicken and mozzarella salad and brisket sliders. Stone Rose’s interior features warm, cherry wood and rich leathers, including a leather-upholstered bar. www.gerberbars.com.
Philadelphia’s Café Spice, a critically acclaimed Indian restaurant recently purchased by executive chef/owner Paul Sakaralingam, will offer a new menu at the beginning of February featuring some of Sakaralingam’s own recipes. Some of the new menu updates will include Aam peneer tikka (homemade cheese stuffed with mango, mint, fennel and raisin cooked in Tandoor — $7); Madras Fish Curry (grilled talapia served over tamarind flavored coconut sauce — $17); and Malai Kofta (vegetable dumplings cooked in cashew almond gravy — $14). cafespicephilly.net.
Marketing itself as a socially responsible eco-lounge, pinkroom South Beach is set to open this month. As the color pink has become synonymous with pink ribbon breast cancer research charities, pinkroom will commit a portion of its profits to breast cancer research and also offer a monthly “Pink Drink with a Cause;” half of the drink’s price will go to cancer research. The venue will offer a “Female Concierge” to female patrons in the VIP area. It features a pink runway, an LED-covered DJ booth and a cutting-edge sound system. www.pinkroommiami.com.
One of the first big announcements out of Atlantic City, N.J., in a while is the debut of One Atlantic, an over-water event venue. One Atlantic stands atop the Pier Shops at Caesars, extending 100 yards out over and 80 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. The concept is taking full advantage of its location with floor-to-ceiling windows and a 2,000-square-foot outdoor terrace. One Atlantic will offer full-service planning and production services for all events, including eco-friendly catering service with a 100-mile menu, where all foods come from no farther than 100 miles. www.oneatlanticevents.com.