New York - June 14, 2002

Britney's Spot

Nyla Restaurant Opens

Oops!

Perhaps that’s what Britney Spears said to her restaurant partners, Bobby Ochs and Morris Moinian, when she broke up with Justin. Seems the split made it necessary for a speedy little name change: from Pinky (Justin’s pet name for her) to Nyla (the combined abbreviations for New York and her home state, Louisiana).

The owners are adamant that Nyla, which opens today, is no theme restaurant. You may think otherwise when you see the logo (rendered in the pop diva’s handwriting), the color scheme (mango, cranberry, and orchid), and the dining room’s gold-framed, eight-by-six-foot movie screen. (Reeks of Britney, if you ask us.)

The cuisine is Southern-hued American: Louisiana crab cake, roasted striped bass with lobster mashed potatoes, braised short ribs, Southern fried chicken. And, if you’re not too full after that, hang around: The DJ comes on at 10 p.m.

Culties? Sure. Just don’t expect to see Mr. Timberlake dancing here.

Nyla, in the Dylan Hotel, 52 East 41st Street, between Park and Madison Avenues (212-682-2860).