This week we take note of where celebrities like to eat and drink in New York, say “hasta la vista” to a vegan Mexican restaurant, and welcome into the world a Harry Styles-themed cocktail as we prepare to get all Teutonic.
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The 411
Celebrities Get Hungry and Thirsty, Too
Last week, celebrities decided they were hungry and dined out in New York. Don’t believe us? Well, A$AP Rocky was spotted at Mēdüzā Mediterrania in the Meatpacking District while Cardi B partied it up at The Ripple Room on the Lower East Side. Celebs Mary Beth Barone, Avantika, Ego Nwodim, and Kate Mara were also there.
Wonder Hank’s
Salt Hank’s, the viral West Village sandwich shop that makes only a French dip, has been sold to the ghost kitchen company, Wonder. In a couple of months, the famous French dip sandwich will be available for delivery and pick-up at various Wonder locations around New York City. We’re not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but you can bet we’ll give it a try.
Brunch Fit for a Titán
Dumbo’s new Mexican restaurant, Titán, has just begun serving brunch. The restaurant, a collaboration between chef Alan Delgado of Oxomoco and Burritos Juarez and bartender Ivy Mix of Whoopsie Daisy and Speed Rack, will serve Breakfast Tacos, Masa Pancakes, Steak and Eggs, and Chilaquiles Verde during weekend brunch. There will also be frozen cocktails and drink specials.
Little Fish Cheeks
The consistently solid Thai restaurant Fish Cheeks has just opened Little Cheeks, a delivery-only Thai food service that’s perfect for when you’re craving Southeast Asian flavors but can’t be bothered to get off the couch. Even more intriguing, the menu is totally separate from the dishes in the sit-down restaurants. For Manhattan delivery, order here. And for delivery in and around Williamsburg, Brooklyn, you can order right here.
Get Lucky at Sirrah
The Meatpacking District’s Sirrah is inviting you to get happy—and hopefully lucky. The restaurant has just begun offering a happy hour, Monday through Thursday, from 5 to 7 p.m. During this two-hour “happy hour,” the modern French steakhouse will be offering martinis for $16, and various mixed drinks for $14.
It’s also dishing out a mishmash of snacks, including Streak Tartare, Tuna Tartare, and the Sirrah Burger. Even better, come to the happy hour with six or more people before August 31 and you’ll get the chance to roll the Sirrah die. And if it lands on the lucky number, the entire happy hour bill is on the house.
No Laughing Matter for JaJaJa
JaJaJa, the vegan Mexican restaurant that first opened on East Broadway in Dimes Square in 2017, will serve its last order of vegan cheese nachos on August 30. The restaurant’s other locations, in the West Village and Williamsburg, remain open.
On the Menu
If Harry Styles Were a Cocktail
From August 26 until October 31, Harry Styles is doing a residency at Madison Square Garden (MSG). To celebrate it, Blackbarn, located on the northern end of Madison Square (not to be confused with the arena), will be welcoming fans with a Harry Styles-themed drink.
Meet the Watermelon Sugar cocktail, a concoction of Altos reposado tequila, watermelon juice, Aperol, lemon, and agave. Harry fans can also pose with a life-size cardboard cutout of the singer. So, you can indulge in a cocktail, get a photo with cardboard pop star, and then walk 15-minutes to see the real thing at MSG.
Michelin is Back in NYC
After moving around the northeast to announce its awards and dole out its stars, Michelin has announced this year’s ceremony will be in New York City once again. The awards ceremony will be held on December 13.
Dust off Your Lederhosen
It might not feel like it, but in New York, Oktoberfest is upon us. That’s right, it’s time to shimmy into that pair of lederhosen or that dirndl and then point yourself to Watermark in the South Street Seaport. Between September 12 and October 26, Pier 15 will transform into an Oktoberfest fantasy land, offering a Teutonic-sized menu and various fall festivities.
With a liter of beer in one hand, you can use the other to gobble up a Giant Beer-Braised Turkey Leg, Chicken Schnitzel, or Kolsch Beer Mac ‘n’ Cheese, among other German-accented offerings. Reserve your spot here.
So Corny That its Good
East Village Filipino restaurant Naks has a corn-themed drink that you should definitely try. Meet the Mango Royal, a drinkable riff on the Filipino staple, Maize con Hielo. In the drink, Naks beverage director, Adam Kissner, blends coconut water, Alphonso mango puree, graham cracker syrup, and lime juice, and then tops it with a soft-whipped condensed milk cream.
New Dishes for Brazil’s Independence
From September 7 to 13, head to Berimbau Brazilian Table to celebrate Brazil’s Independence Day. The restaurant will serve some never-before-seen (or tasted) dishes, including Cuzcuz Paulista con Lagosta (lobster, tomatoes, green pease, and jambu), Arroz con Costela (slow-roasted beef ribs with black-eyed peas and pickled pumpkin), and Pudim de Tapioca com Coco (tapioca, orange caramel, and coconut tuile).
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.
Wednesday: I love Spanish wine. Txakoli from the Basque Country, bold Riojas, smooth Mencias from Galicia. And so on Wednesday, I’ll be headed to Ernesto’s for a primer on all things Spanish wine. Plus, there will be plenty of pintxos to fill the belly.
Thursday: Red Hook, perhaps because of its relative geographical isolation in New York, doesn’t get enough love. If you love this Brooklyn neighborhood and you love horses, check out Pony’s, a new horse-themed venture. I’ll be there sidle up and saddled to the bar.
Saturday: With August winding down, I’m going to be spending one last Saturday on Governor’s Island, imbibing and snacking at Six Coasts, one of a handful of great seaside or floating bars in the city.
