The long-rumored opening in Clayton of Gerard Craft's newest restaurant, Pastaria by Niche, was finally confirmed today, as was the plan for his flagship Niche.

Both restaurants will be in the new Centene Plaza building at the corner of Hanley Road and Forsyth Boulevard. Niche will move from its current Benton Park location in the spring and add about 50 percent more capacity. Pastaria, which will seat about 130, will open in the summer.

Craft will continue to operate Brasserie by Niche in the Central West End and, at least this month, has the majority interest in the high-end bar-and-restaurant hybrid Taste, which is next door to Brasserie on Laclede Avenue just off of Euclid Avenue.  (Trying to track the ownership of Taste in the past year was almost as involved as trying to pin Craft down on the new restaurants.) Craft hasn't disclosed his long-term plans for the original Niche location, which he owns.