Is Los Angeles the pizza capital of the planet? Do you want to pretend to be in summer camp in the middle of Rockefeller Center? Would you like to dance to Madonna while drinking vodka martinis? Are grilled peaches the ingredient of Summer 2026? These questions and more news answered below.
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The 411
5 Acres of Summertime Fun
This week, chef Greg Baxtrom of 5 Acres launched a summertime program called Camp 5 Acres, an outdoor space that transforms 30 Rockefeller Plaza into a summer camp of sorts. Faux camp counselors roam the premises as “campers” munch on Wagyu Corn Dogs, nacho-cheese-drenched Tater Tots, and Maine Lobster Rolls. And there’s plenty of ice cream to finish off the meal, plus frozen boozy libations. Walk-ins are welcome or you can make a reservation here. Homesickness is not included.
Is LA the Pizza Capital of the World?
First Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports curiously claimed that New Haven, CT makes the best pizza in the world and now there’s a documentary arguing that Los Angeles—yes, LA—is the best city in the world for pizza. Let’s hope that filmmaker Pete Ferriero has better taste than Portnoy.
Whatever the case, we think New York, Rome, and Naples would like to have a word. The Best Pizza Is in LA is available now on various streaming services, including Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and YouTube Movies. This might be a good time to get reacquainted with pizza in New York and ready yourself for a debate.
Le Costco
The New York Post recently reported that a New York-based content creator was in Le Parisien, a Midtown bakery, when she saw a delivery man bringing in boxes of croissants bearing the name and logo for Costco. A 12-pack of croissants from Costco costs $7. Le Parisien sells croissants for $12 each. You can do the math. The bakery has denied The New York Post reports. On a semi-related note, this city is sprinkled with great croissants, including at the new Frenchette Bakery in Nolita.
Saverne Is Back
Chef Gabriel Kreuther, known for his acclaimed eponymous eatery on Bryant Park and for his work at The Modern, opened up Saverne in April, 2026, but it abruptly closed due to a fire. The restaurant re-opened this week at The Spiral in Hudson Yards, offering wood-fired dishes inspired by Alsace in eastern France.
Sayonara Brooklyn
After 26 pioneering the once low-key Greenpoint neighborhood in Brooklyn, Wasabi Japanese Restaurant has closed. , Brooklyn’s pioneering sushi standby for 26 years, will close on Monday, July 27. Owners Robby and Cristin Wijaya lost their lease, claiming the landlord wished to “market the building.” Donate if you can, and learn more about the family’s story on the GoFundMe page, which was started in order to help pay for recent construction and hopefully, a new location in the area.
On the Menu
Supra Dupra
If you want to experience a real Georgian supra, or traditional feast, you can do one of two things: get on a plane bound for Tbilisi or head to one of the five locations of Chama Mama in New York City. The Georgian restaurant has just announced that they’re offering supra packages for groups of diners. The various packages are priced based on quantity of people and wine packages. You can even feast on a whole roasted piglet. Find out more here.
The Georgian restaurant chainlet has also recently announced that would-be picnickers can pick-up Takeout Picnic Boxes, in case you want to have your own Georgian feast in the park. Some of the picnic packages include ample amounts of khinkali (dumplings), others a mix of menu items, and even a dessert-only package. Click here to order.
Benoit Welcomes the Summer
Chef Alain Ducasse’s Midtown bistro, Benoit, is celebrating the season by kicking off some Gallic-inflected, summer-inspired menu items. Have a seat at the table for Roasted Duck Breast with Cherries and Vidalia Onions, Grilled Octopus with Eggplant Caviar and Bell Peppers, and Salmon Gravlax with Cucumber and Dill.
Nomadic Lunch
Nomads of all kinds (digital, hunter-gatherers, and everyone else) should flock to 28 nomad around lunch time starting this week. The restaurant, located in the NoMad neighborhood, just began lunch service. Diners can get one of a handful of bento sets, highlighted by pork jowl, spicy calamari, or tomato and egg, among others. All the bento sets include seasonal side dishes, miso soup, and Saechungmu rice.
PSSSSSST…Pizza Studio Tamaki Unveils Lunch
Pizza lovers in New York began salivating the moment it was announced that Pizza Studio Tamaki (or PST), the famed Neapolitan-style pizzeria from Tokyo, would be setting up shop in New York. And then reservations were impossible to come by. But now we have some good news: PST is now open for lunch from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. In mid-August, the pizzeria will begin opening on Sundays for lunch, too.
To celebrate the launch of weekend lunch, PST has unveiled a few new dishes: A5 Wagyu Meatballs, Butter Chicken Pizza, and Cacciatore Pizza, which comes with fresh mozzarella, homemade chicken sausage, olives, onions, and basil. In all, there are five new pies to try. If you still can’t get a seat at this hard-to-reserve restaurant, there are plenty of slice spots sprinkled around the city.
Your Summertime Confidant
The Brooklyn Heights restaurant, Confidant, wants to confide its new summer offerings in you. These include Scallop Crudo (with rhubarb and serrano chili), Black Cod (with sorana beans and mushroom garum), and Gemelli Verde (laced with spring onions, English peas, pistachio, and mint).
Don’t Miss This Week
Need some dining out recommendations? Try these three hot spots, and make sure to check out the week’s events.
Tuesday: Jac’s on Bond, a great first-date spot, is celebrating all things Madonna tonight, July 28. With a little help from Absolut, the NoHo bar and restaurant will have a DJ spinning tunes and pouring specialty cocktails (made with Absolut vodka, of course) from 7 to 10 p.m. I will be there sipping vodka drinks and bopping my head Like a Virgin.
Thursday: It was recently reported that Julia Roberts and friends dined on Butter Chicken and sipped Lychee Martinis at the exclusive Ambassador’s Clubhouse. If all of us could have such access! There are alternatives to the uber-exclusive eateries in New York and many of them are just as satisfying. You’ll find me at one of them tonight, if my attempt at sidling up to Ambassador’s fails.
Friday: Crevette, the West Village restaurant that channels the French and Spanish coasts, has added a very summery dish to the menu: mozzarella, grilled peaches, and a sprinkling of basil. Expect me at the bar tonight, tucking into this dish and other coastal delights.
