1) Mezzaluna Amg. beat its own predictions by opening its doors last night. A call to the restaurant revealed that they were open for dinner and hoped to be open through the weekend. Almost certified open. [CurbedWire]
2) More on the impending arrival of Animal's Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo: The LA chefs plan to open a pop-up from August 12-18 at the Solé East in Montauk. Named Backyard, the restaurant will serve some of Animal's most famous dishes including 'melted petit basque cheese with chorizo and garlic bread, balsamic ribs with blistered corn and herb butter, bacon-chocolate crunch bars with salt-pepper custard sauce', as well as some just-for-Montauk fare. [F&W]
3) Thunder Jackson's, the West Village banker-fest sports bar and home of The Dirty Burger, is heading east. Plans for a soft opening next week at the restaurant's new East Quogue outpost are in the works. [GofG]