NYCFeature
photo credit: Noah Devereaux
Openings to Get Excited About
Frank Prisinzano, of East Village restaurants Lil Frankie’s, Frank, and Supper, is opening a new grocery store on 1st Avenue between 1st Street and 2nd Street, next door to Lil Frankie’s. The new Frankie’s Grocery will sell all of Frank’s favorite ingredients to cook with, including a lot of the prep items used in the restaurants, deli products, sandwich options, gelato, and meal kit bundles. In addition to the store, Frank is also plotting a new pizza-focused restaurant with an undisclosed name that’s set to open sometime during the spring of 2021. Follow this dedicated Instagram page to stay tuned for more details on when the store is set to open.
Priyanka Chopra announced she’s involved in opening a new Indian restaurant on 20th Street in Flatiron called Sona later this month. The kitchen will be run by Hari Nayak, a cookbook author and chef who has worked in Indian restaurants in Dubai, Bangkok, and Hoboken.
Restaurants Coming Out of Winter Hiatus
Bernie’s in Greenpoint, a favorite neighborhood spot of ours that’s been closed since the beginning of the pandemic, reopens for takeout and delivery on Friday, March 12th. While they adjust to starting back up again, they’ll only be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 5pm-9:30pm. You can stop by their location right next to McCarren park or preorder online ahead of time here. Word to the wise, get mozzarella sticks and a takeout dirty martini for two.
Starting Wednesday, March 17th, Ruffian will be available to fulfill all of your East Village wine bar needs. They’ve built out a new outdoor space with a full bar seating arrangement and windows. You can book a reservation ahead of time for dinner or drinks and a snack here.
Superiority Burger is back for weekend service beginning Friday, March 12th. In addition to classics like their “Sloppy Dave” and burnt broccoli salad, they’ll be selling gelato and sorbet by the scoop, as well as wine and beer (which they weren’t offering this past summer and fall). You can stop by for walk-up orders or order ahead online here.
Events to Check Out
There’s an outdoor drag BBQ happening at Icon in Astoria on Saturday, March 13th. Performances start at 2pm, and all the funds benefit the Ali Forney Center, a non-profit that provides shelter and healthcare to LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness in NYC.
In case you’re looking for weekend activities that extend beyond watching a reality show about the shenanigans of a crew on a private yacht, the chef of Veeray da Dhaba in the East Village is hosting chaat and chai cooking classes in the restaurant’s dining room every other weekend for $35 per person. You can make a reservation for an in-person, hour-long session by calling 212-777-1420.
Restaurant Closings
After just eight short-but-sweet months (and time on our Hit List), L’itos in Chinatown is closing down after service on Sunday, March 14th. They’re still hosting a collaborative takeout dinner with Sorella on March 21st. Otherwise, you can stop by on Sunday for one last sandwich hurrah and some fresh pizza.
Unfortunately, L’itos isn’t the only restaurant to have closed recently. Keep up with all of the city’s restaurant closures on our weekly-updated guide.
NYC Guide
NYC’s New Restaurant Openings
Suggested Reading
We read through the legislation so you don’t have to.
Shelley Worrell, founder of I AM CARIBBEING and lifelong Flatbush resident, points out the best Caribbean food at Black-owned restaurants in Flatbush.
Governor Cuomo announced that the city’s restaurants can seat their indoor dining rooms at 50% capacity beginning Friday, March 19th.