Food &amp; Dining

City Bakery founder Maury Rubin has spent the past weeks in a "Wonka-ish frenzy," Grub Street tells us, as he prepares to launch his latest venture: the Wonderbon Chocolate Co. Rubin and his partner have taken out a three-month lease on a storefront at 257 Bleeker Street—most recently occupied by Sugar and Plumm—which will feature a menu of twelve hot chocolate flavors in an espresso-bar setting. The opening comes just in time for February, the month Rubin made famous for his hot chocolate festival at City Bakery, a tradition he began in 1992 that attracted more than 50,000 customers each year.
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Food & Dining

Angel’s Share speakeasy owners open sit-down Japanese restaurant at Industry City

Photo courtesy of Industry City

January 29, 2020

Angel’s Share speakeasy owners open sit-down Japanese restaurant at Industry City

A new sit-down restaurant has opened in the Japanese food court at Sunset Park's Industry City complex. From the owners of popular speakeasy Angel's Share, Wakuwaku is a 3,200-square-foot izakaya at Japan Village with 60 seats and private tatami mat rooms. Wakuwaku, currently just serving lunch as part of its soft opening, will offer Japanese-style tapas and shochu-based cocktails when the full dinner menu launches.
See inside

Food & Dining

Chef José Andrés will open two new restaurants at the forthcoming Ritz-Carlton in Nomad

Rendering courtesy of Flag Luxury Group; portrait of José Andrés by Blair Getz Mezibov

January 29, 2020

Chef José Andrés will open two new restaurants at the forthcoming Ritz-Carlton in Nomad

Renowned chef José Andrés is growing his presence in New York City with two new restaurants in The Ritz-Carlton hotel currently rising in Nomad. Andrés' ThinkFoodGroup has been tapped by developer Flag Luxury Group to oversee all food and beverage at the 250-room hotel which is slated to open in 2021. In addition to the two restaurants, the group will run a rooftop bar, lobby lounge, and in-room dining services. Andrés made his NYC debut in 2019 with the opening of Mercado Little Spain at Hudson Yards, a 35,000 square-foot food hall encompassing three restaurants, tapas kiosks, a Spanish goods market, and several bars.
Details here

Food & Dining

In Gramercy’s new Fotografiska museum, Verōnika restaurant takes a creative approach to preservation

Photos by Adrian Gaut

January 28, 2020

In Gramercy’s new Fotografiska museum, Verōnika restaurant takes a creative approach to preservation

On the second floor of the new Fotografiska outpost in Gramercy—a branch of the Swedish photography museum—is a sumptuous new restaurant that's quickly becoming one of the city's most sought-after reservations. Verōnika (named after the patron saint of photography) was designed by Roman and Williams (known for their work on similarly chic Le Coucou, Upland, and La Mercerie) who worked closely with restaurateur Stephen Starr to define the space. Informed by the tradition of grand European cafés, the 150-seat restaurant is filled with elegant details and textures: soaring 20-foot ceilings, warm brass chandeliers, wood-trimmed arched doorways, velvet banquettes, and leather chairs.
Take a closer look

January 14, 2020

Pioneering juice bar Liquiteria appears to shutter all NYC locations

The Liquiteria at Fourth Avenue and 13th Street closed down last week, the last of five remaining New York City locations that have now shuttered, Eater reports. The juice bar chain opened its first location in the East Village at Second Avenue and East 11th Street in 1996, making it an early pioneer in the celebrity-fueled juice craze that eventually followed. There has been no mention of the closures from the company (their social media accounts haven't been active in months or years, depending on the platform) but their website is no longer active and phones at every location are disconnected. The Fourth Avenue storefront appears largely emptied in photos captured by EV Grieve.
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Food & Dining

Midtown East’s newest cocktail bar was designed by SHoP Architects with a nod to old New York glamour

Photos of Bergamo’s by Rachel Vanni

January 13, 2020

Midtown East’s newest cocktail bar was designed by SHoP Architects with a nod to old New York glamour

Busy but relatively dry Midtown East got a new cocktail bar last week with Bergamo’s at 26 Vanderbilt Avenue. Located on the ground floor of the Company building—a tech incubator designed by SHoP Architects—the sprawling 8,530-square-foot lounge was inspired by old New York glamour and features a vaulted ceiling with custom tiles that nod to the historic Guastavino vaults at nearby Grand Central Terminal.
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Food & Dining

The city helps save Queens’ 190-year-old Neir’s Tavern from closing

Photo by CaptJayRuffins on Wikimedia Commons

January 13, 2020

The city helps save Queens’ 190-year-old Neir’s Tavern from closing

This past October, Neir's Tavern in Woodhaven, Queens celebrated its 190th anniversary. But last week, the Woodhaven Cultural & Historical Society reported on Twitter that the beloved and historic establishment would close its doors for good on Sunday. Originally opened in 1829 as a saloon called the "Old Blue Pump House," Neir's considers itself NYC's oldest bar. When the tavern was in danger of closing in 2009, a local FDNY member and a group of friends bought and restored it, but in December of 2018, the building was sold unbeknownst to them. According to a Facebook post by Neir's, they were unable to negotiate a new "affordable long-term lease" with the new owners. But when Mayor de Blasio heard the news, he and the city stepped in and saved the bar from closing.
How'd they do it?

Food & Dining

See inside Urbanspace’s new food hall in Midtown West

Photos by Laura Fontaine

January 10, 2020

See inside Urbanspace’s new food hall in Midtown West

A new Urbanspace food hall opened up in Midtown on Wednesday with 15 vendors and plenty of options for the lunch crowd and beyond. It’s the fourth permanent location for the company that’s also behind many of New York City’s seasonal markets and food halls. Located in the space formerly occupied by Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain at 152 West 52nd Street, the list of vendors offers a mix of new and established names “aimed to cater to New Yorkers and visitors alike,” most notably classic Flatiron sandwich shop Eisenberg’s first offshoot.
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Food & Dining

See inside The Deco, an eclectic new food hall in Midtown West

Photo by Max Lau

January 3, 2020

See inside The Deco, an eclectic new food hall in Midtown West

A new food hall opened this month in Manhattan's Garment District, adding some bold flavors to the mostly lackluster options in the neighborhood. Located at 231 West 39th Street, The Deco Food + Drink features eight family-owned vendors, a cocktail bar, and event space. An ode to 1920s New York, the Carpenter & Mason-designed space features an Art Deco aesthetic, with geometric tiles, bright blues, and brass accents framing each section.
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Food & Dining

Dumbo’s Time Out Market adds rooftop igloos for festive cocktails

Ever since Instagram made popular Midtown bar 230 Fifth's rooftop "igloos" an international sensation, other drinking and dining establishments have been hopping on the dome train, too. The latest comes from Dumbo's Time Out Market food hall, where guests can enjoy a special wintery cocktail menu in an enclosed bubble overlooking the Manhattan Bridge and skyline. Called the Rooftop Iglounge, the three domes are available on a first-come basis and can each accommodate eight guests.
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Chase, Joe Coffee, and By CHLOE. are now open in former Union Square Coffee Shop location

Photo by 6sqft

December 18, 2019

Chase, Joe Coffee, and By CHLOE. are now open in former Union Square Coffee Shop location

The prominent Union Square storefront on 16th Street and Union Square West that was home to sceney restaurant Coffee Shop for 28 years has changed quite a bit since the former diner closed its doors last October. Reports that yet another Chase branch and an outpost of vegan chain By CHLOE. would open in its place were confirmed a few months ago, and now the transformation is complete. A new location for Joe Coffee is also open in the building, and, interestingly, is part of a partnership with Chase, according to the Wall Street Journal. With an entrance on 16th Street, By CHLOE.'s colorful storefront stands where the former diner's back dining room used to be, while the Union Square side has lost its iconic neon sign for ubiquitous Chase branding.
Find out more right here

Food & Dining

David Rockwell-designed food hall to open at Manhattan West complex

Rendering courtesy of Brookfield Properties

December 4, 2019

David Rockwell-designed food hall to open at Manhattan West complex

A new food hall designed by David Rockwell is coming to Manhattan's West Side. Brookfield Properties announced on Tuesday plans to open a 40,000-square-foot venue at Manhattan West, a six-building development currently under construction that includes space for office, residential, retail, and a hotel between 9th and 10th Avenues. Dubbed "Citizens" and run by hospitality company sbe, the concept includes two full-service restaurants, multiple bars, and a fast-casual market.
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Food & Dining

December 4, 2019

NYC’s 11 most festive bars and restaurants

By Rebecca Fishbein

With its lit-up streets and sidewalk tree-sellers, New York is at its best during the holidays, especially if you can avoid tourist-clogged areas like Rockefeller Center and Times Square. There are lots of lovely festive spots to celebrate seasonal cheer, including local bars and restaurants that transform their spaces into holiday wonderlands, complete with themed drinks, bites, and lots of Christmas lights. Here are some of our favorites.
11 spots to get festive

December 2, 2019

Iconic Bronx Kosher deli Loeser’s faces an uncertain future

Street View of Loeser's in August 2017; Map Data © 2019 Google Usually, when we talk about historic mom-and-pop businesses closing up shop, it's due to a rent increase. But in the case of Loeser's Kosher Deli, the issue comes down to a potentially faulty gas pipe. As the Riverdale Press tells us, the Department of Buildings issued a violation to the 60-year-old Bronx establishment and a shutdown notice as of November 20th. Now, facing high repair costs and loss of business, the fate of Loeser's seems uncertain.
The whole story

Food & Dining

After City Bakery closure, founder will host hot chocolate pop-ups

Modified version of photo by Shawn Rossi on Flickr

November 27, 2019

After City Bakery closure, founder will host hot chocolate pop-ups

If there was one thing City Bakery was known for, it was the hot chocolate. The thick and creamy beverage (with the option to add a massive, homemade marshmallow) was created by founder Maury Rubin when he had a fortunate accident while working on a chocolate mousse recipe, Grub Street tells us. They also tell us that Rubin, who closed City Bakery last month due to debt, will be launching a series of pop-ups around town to sell his famous hot chocolate.
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Photo courtesy of QuallsBenson

November 22, 2019

The Market Line food hall is officially open at Essex Crossing

After years of anticipation, The Market Line food hall at Essex Crossing is officially open to the public today. Like most large-scale food halls in the city, there are plenty of options to choose from (24, to be exact), and the space is a stylish spot to hang out. But where The Market Line is most successful is in its curation of "locally-sourced vendors and restaurants reflecting the character, culture and grit of the Lower East Side," as the press release says. From long-time local favorites like Nom Wah and the Pickle Guys to establishments that are important to the cultural history of other NYC neighborhoods--the Upper East Side's Schaller & Weber and the East Village's Veselka--to newcomers making their mark on the small-business food scene, The Market Line really does feel like a neighborhood space.
Check out all the vendors

Food & Dining

Where to go out for Thanksgiving dinner in NYC

Photo by Dana Balding, courtesy of The Smith

November 12, 2019

Where to go out for Thanksgiving dinner in NYC

The city that never sleeps also doesn't take a rest for the holidays. Though we tend to assume most businesses are closed on Thanksgiving, in New York City, there are plenty of restaurants keeping their doors open and their ovens full of turkeys. Ahead, we've rounded up 40+ places where you can enjoy a holiday meal if you don't plan on spending the day in the kitchen. From New York classics like Tavern on the Green and the ridiculously cozy Freemans to splurge-worthy picks like Gramercy Tavern and Union Square Cafe to affordable options like Veselka and The Smith to something with a little twist on the traditional like Ginny's Supper Club's jazz buffet and pizza spot Emily's Turbo Turkey Sandwich.
Check out all your options

Image by Leif Knutsen on Wikimedia Commons

November 12, 2019

More businesses to shutter in LIRR concourse amid Penn Station renovations

Beginning next April, at least 17 additional businesses in Penn Station's LIRR concourse will shutter to make way for the station's $600 million revamp. As the New York Post reports, the closings will impact the north-side of the concourse, which is operated by real estate developer Vornado. Commuter-favorites like Shake Shack, Pret a Manger, and two Starbucks locations are among the merchants who will close shop, leaving commuters with significantly fewer fast-food options. Papyrus, Godiva, and Le Bon Cafe are also on the list.
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Zagat New York City restaurant guide returns to print after three years

Photo by Emily Schindler for Zagat

November 12, 2019

Zagat New York City restaurant guide returns to print after three years

The iconic pocket-sized guide to New York City restaurants has released its first print edition since 2016. Zagat's 2020 New York City Restaurants guidebook, available on Tuesday, includes more than 1,400 new reviews and a compilation of reports from the past 40 years of the beloved "burgundy bibles." Google purchased Zagat, which first launched in 1980, from its founders in 2011, expanded its digital presence over the next seven years, and then sold it last year to The Infatuation, which plans to rebuild the guide's online platform.
More here

Food & Dining

Essex Crossing’s Market Line food hall will open to the public before the end of the month

Images courtesy of QuallsBenson

November 11, 2019

Essex Crossing’s Market Line food hall will open to the public before the end of the month

A few months after it was initially expected, Essex Crossing’s expansive and bazaar-like food hall, The Market Line, finally has an opening date. Phase one of the rollout is set to open its doors to the public on November 22, offering an initial mix of 30+ local vendors and restaurants, including NYC institutions like Ukrainian diner Veselka, family-run German butcher shop and Grocer Schaller & Weber, and 1920s tea parlor and bakery turned hip dim sum eatery Nom Wah.
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Urbanspace will open two new Midtown food halls

Urbanspace Vanderbilt, photo by Shinya Suzuki / Flickr

November 5, 2019

Urbanspace will open two new Midtown food halls

Though most New Yorkers know the company Urbanspace for its food halls, it actually started out when founder Eldon Scott set up the Grand Central and Union Square holiday markets in 1993. Now, the company has holiday markets in Columbus Circle and Bryant Park, runs seasonal pop-up food markets like those at Madison Square and the Garment District, and has expanded to DC and Chicago. Scott smartly opened his first permanent food market, Urbanspace Vanderbilt, in 2015 adjacent to Grand Central, and in 2017, opened another at Lexington Avenue and 51st Street. Back in January, Urbanspace announced another Midtown location on 52nd Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, and just yesterday, Commercial Observer reported that they'd open their fourth location just two blocks away on 50th Street.
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Food & Dining

November 5, 2019

Best of the Bronx: What to do and see in the northernmost borough now

By Michelle Cohen

You're probably familiar with the big attractions in the Bronx: Yankee Stadium, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Bronx Zoo. But the borough has a lot more going on, from historic and cultural treats and treasures to new breweries and restaurants and acres of beaches, parks, trails, and gardens. Read on for a collection of destinations in the city's northernmost, greenest, and most diverse borough that are worth the trip, wherever you’re coming from.
More to do in the Bronx, this way

All photos by Floto + Warner

November 1, 2019

Check out the cocktail bar at Nordstrom’s new Billionaires’ Row flagship

After much anticipation, Nordstrom opened its new NYC flagship last week. Located inside Billionaires' Row supertall Central Park Tower (the current world's tallest residential building), the seven-story department store offers such perks as stroller cleaning and shoe repairs and stocks "more than 10,000 handbags, 100,000 pairs of shoes, and 6,000 pairs of jeans," according to amNY. And in addition to all this retail excess, the store also has seven food and beverage options, including Broadway Bar, a cocktails and small plates restaurant on the third and fourth floors. Designed by Rafael de Cárdenas / Architecture at Large, Broadway Bar uses muted hues and subtly curved geometry to create a calm escape within the store. Ahead, get a better look at the space.
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Upper West Side favorite Boat Basin Cafe has permanently closed

Photo by WalkingGeek on Flickr

October 24, 2019

Upper West Side favorite Boat Basin Cafe has permanently closed