Savoy's Replacement Will Be Dubbed Back Forty West

Hopefully Pacifico will bring her burger... 

By James Mulcahy

Thinks are shaping up at Peter Hoffman's redo of the SoHo Savoy space, which he has promoted as a more casual eatery in the vein of his popular Alphabet City restaurant, Back Forty. A couple weeks ago, we broke news that Back Forty chef Shanna Pacifico had left the kitchen at that restaurant to helm the new project. Well, today we have word that the new digs should be at least somewhat familiar to her, as Hoffman has dubbed the project Back Forty West. While the menu won't be exactly the same as the one at the current Forty, it will be similar - we can't imagine a place like this would be complete with a kick-butt burger designed by Pacifico. The opening is still a few weeks off, so stay tuned for more developments. Over in Alphabet City, chef Michael Laarhoven has been promoted from within the kitchen to the new head chef (70 Prince St.).