Openings

Ñ Opens Dumbo Outpost With Free Tapas and Sangria

Ñ, the 15-year-old tilde-loving tapas joint in Soho where the French Culinary School’s finest hang out when they’re not in the trenches, soft-opened its second location yesterday, replacing Speak Low (formerly Low Bar) underneath Rice in Dumbo. David Selig, who is an owner of both ñ and Rice, tells us the move brings him full-circle in a way — after enjoying pitchers of sangria at ñ back in 1999, developer Jed Walentas left a scribbled note on a napkin asking Selig if he’d be interested in opening a similar restaurant in Dumbo.

After tomorrow’s launch party (free tapas and sangria from 7 p.m. till 10 p.m.), the lounge will be open seven days per week, 5 p.m. till midnight from Sunday through Thursday, and until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Selig says the menu will initially be the same as the Soho location’s; this summer some “culinary nerds” from the Basque country (where Selig has spent time surfing) will help him retool it.

Elsewhere in Selig’s world, we’re told Rice’s Gramercy location will not be reopening after closing earlier this month. Selig said he got tired of daily challenges such as broken windows and “trying to mop up the bathroom from someone pooing on the floor,” and is considering an entry into the West Chelsea area.

Ñ Opens Dumbo Outpost With Free Tapas and Sangria