April plant‑forward openings
April’s restaurant calendar is getting a plant‑forward lift — Chronogram flags new openings across the Hudson Valley in Beacon, Poughkeepsie and Kingston as part of an April roundup of cafes, markets and specialty food events (chronogram.com). Connecticut adds six new restaurants this month — including a celebrity‑chef project and an NYC group — with many new menus leaning vegetarian or vegan (middletownpress.com). London alone is rolling out seven new restaurants in April, and Restaurant Online flags spring launches from big names including Gordon Ramsay and the Thesleff Group that emphasize sustainable, plant‑based options ( ).
Hudson Valley pick‑ups named in recent roundups include Cornerstone in Pawling, which celebrated a New Year’s Day grand opening, and Lola’s Cocktails & Kitchen’s Eastdale Village expansion in Poughkeepsie as owners push for larger, bar‑focused footprints. (hvmag.com)) A New York City group opened its first Connecticut outpost when Felice Westport launched at 38 Main Street on March 2, 2026, bringing the Tuscan‑inspired menu and curated wine program the brand is known for. (winebusiness.com)) A celebrity‑backed project arrived in Connecticut in mid‑March when The Bedford by Martha Stewart opened at Foxwoods Resort Casino on March 14, marking Stewart’s first East Coast restaurant. (norwichbulletin.com)) State tourism and food guides note Connecticut’s plant‑forward momentum, pointing to a flourishing plant‑based scene and directories of vegan/vegetarian spots such as Three Girls Vegan Creamery and It Only Natural as evidence that many new menus are leaning vegetarian or vegan. (ctvisit.com)) In London, Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen is scheduled to debut at The Cumberland on April 2 in a roughly 7,500 sq ft dining room seating more than 200 covers, marking the brand’s first UK site. (artvoice.com)) The Thesleff Group’s MA/NA will open at 30 Upper Grosvenor Street in Mayfair with a 156‑cover contemporary Japanese concept, and industry trackers say the capital has dozens of new launches this April (Hot Dinners counts roughly 30 openings across the month). (diningandcooking.com))
