By all accounts, The Four Horsemen could’ve coasted. Ten years in, the Michelin-starred Williamsburg wine bar had established itself as one of the neighborhood’s most influential dining rooms—a place where people came to speak in low tones about Jura whites and leave with a faint sense of reverence. But the team wasn’t content to stay put. As of July 16, they’ve officially expanded across the street, opening I Cavallini at 284 Grand Street, a roomier, more colorful counterpart with a name that loosely translates to “The Little Horses.”
It’s a restaurant, yes—but also a kind of refraction. Where The Four Horsemen was all taut minimalism and vinyl rarities, I Cavallini is breezier, warmer, and looser-limbed, like a sibling who studied in Rome and came back with an affection for tomatoes, tile, and a deeper tan.
Inside, the space seats 64—across bar, table, and counter—with a larger kitchen that signals ambition. The menu leans into comfort with craft: bucatini with tomato and ricotta salata ($30), gnocchi sardi with shrimp and herb butter ($32), and fried eel toast with pine nuts and golden raisins ($24). There’s also a roasted golden chicken with garlic and grilled hearts ($49), and an olive oil cake with berries ($18) that tastes like someone remembered summer properly.
But it’s the drinks that mark the real departure. Unlike the Four Horsemen, I Cavallini has a full cocktail program, built around amari and Italian spirits, and helmed by Jojo Colonna (formerly of Manhattan’s Attaboy). Think: Shakerato Rickey (amaro, lime, soda, $18), the tomato-laced Pomozoni ($19), and the Dolce Amaro Fizz, a decadent post-dinner potion with amaro, hazelnut, egg yolk, and prosecco ($21). There are over 100 Italian wines, but also beers, NA options, and serious coffee.
If you’ve ever been to the Four Horsemen, you’ll know that sound matters—and at I Cavallini, it’s just as considered. James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem is still curating vibes, and the space—wainscotting, cork stools, checkered tile—is acoustically tuned. Co-owner Christina McMillan even commissioned three bespoke playlists for the opening, including one from Brussels-based DJ couple Norm and Linda, offering a softer, more Mediterranean mood.
As McMillan puts it: “If The Four Horsemen is Copenhagen, Tokyo, Berlin—I Cavallini is Rome, Kyoto, San Francisco.”
I Cavallini is now open Wednesday through Saturday, from 5pm to 10pm. You’ll find it at 284 Grand Street in Williamsburg. For more information, head over to the official website.
Other New York City Bar News:
Foolproof Opens in Williamsburg: A Whiskey Lover’s Playground That Doesn’t Take Itself Too Seriously
Dolores Brings Mexico City Cocktails, Street Food, and Spirit to Bed-Stuy
Peacock Alley Returns to the Waldorf Astoria, Reclaiming Its Place in New York’s Cocktail Canon
The Portrait Bar Debuts LIRR-Inspired Summer Cocktail Menu with Long Island Flavors and Retro Flair
Hello Hello Brings a Coffee-Fueled, High-Low Cocktail Playground to Chelsea
