American Flatbread Tribeca Hearth, as the local outpost of the Vermont-born American Flatbread chain is known, opens Monday for lunch and dinner. Delivery won’t be available until the second earthen, wood-burning oven is ready—at least a month away—but you can order takeout (when the kitchen can handle it), either completely baked pizzas or parbaked “Take & Bake” ones.

The brand is very Vermont, emphasizing the local, sustainable, organic, humanely-raised, and community-minded since it was founded in 1985. (Starting in the spring, they’ll source more local produce, including from the farmer’s market.) If you’ve been to other American Flatbreads, this one isn’t that different: The menu—it’s at the end of this post—has salads, flatbreads, dessert, and drinks. New for New York: two additional salads, a more robust wine program, and spirits (only some restaurants offer hard liquor). This is also the first American Flatbread to have an espresso machine, perhaps because, come summer, this will be the first location to serve breakfast.

The Tribeca restaurant is on Hudson between Canal and Desbrosses, where Hudson Square Deli most recently was, although any sign of what I recall as being a skeevy deli is gone. The high ceilings are left exposed, and the windows offer wonderful street views. (You enter on Hudson, but if you’re coming from the south, don’t go in the first door you see.) There’s seating for around 140, at tables, at counters facing the ovens—sure to be a hit with kids who want to watch the action—and at a bar on the north side of the room. Downstairs will mostly be used for large parties and special events. Amy Troiano, co-general manager, said she’s hoping to host tastings and other wine-related events.

Two last pieces of information: Gluten-free folks will be pleased to know you can order a GF beer or cider, a GF pizza (with dough from Peace of Mind Bakery, so as to avoid contamination), and a GF brownie or whoopie pie for dessert. And non-profits will want to email lopi.asch@afbnyc.com for information about the restaurant’s Benefit Bakes, when a percentage of each pizza sold goes to nonprofit; they’ll occur at least twice a month.

American Flatbread Tribeca Hearth is at 205 Hudson (at Canal), 212-776-1441; americanflatbread.com.

Recent New Kid on the Block/First Impressions articles:
• Shigure
• Drybar
• Rosie Pope
• Bikini Bar
• Benares
• The Cricketers Arms
• Tribeca Canvas
• Nish Nush
• Scissor