Sekt, Play, Reserve Cut, and More Certified Open

1) Park Slope: Otto Zizak, the owner of Korzo and its East Village sister restaurant Korzo Haus, has opened Sekt in Park Slope. It serves small plates of the same Eastern European fare as Korzo, but unlike Korzo, the focus here is on its namesake sparkling wine rather than beer. Status: Certified Open. 651 5th Ave., Brooklyn, 347-987-3670.

2) Crown Heights: A veteran of Smorgasburg and Dekalb Markets, Pelzer's Pretzels opened its first brick-and-mortar shop over the weekend. Right now it's serving Philly-style soft pretzels in four different flavors, plus coffee and "silly regional snacks" from Philly. Owner Barella Kirkland tells DNAinfo that eventually it will also have sandwiches made on pretzel buns. Status: Certified Open. 724 Sterling Pl., 718-552-2998.

[Photo by Greg Morabito]
3) Williamsburg: A Spanish and Asian-influenced restaurant called Baoburg soft opened last week, and will hold a grand opening party this Saturday. The chef, Suchanan Aksornnan, who has worked under Jean-Georges and Daniel Boulud among others, is cooking a menu that ranges from seared duck ramen to roasted octopus with chorizo. Status: Soft Open. 126 North 6th St, 718-782-1445.

4) Flatiron: The Museum of Sex debuted its cocktail bar, Play, last week. The bar, tucked behind the museum's cafe, Nice & Sweet, has a menu divided into categories like "Flirting" and "Fondling," with cocktails developed by Jim Kearns of Pegu Club, Death & Co., and Freemans. There will also be two artist-designed "exhibited cocktails" on rotation every few months. At the moment one of those is a cocktail made from the juice of grapes crushed by the feet of a notable New Yorker (like Alan Cumming or Sasha Frere-Jones). Status: Certified Open. 1 East 27th St., 212-447-7529.

5) Upper East Side: The Tuscan restaurant and wine bar Felice 83 has now opened its "more casual hangout," Felice Next Door. It serves small plates, craft beer, wine, and cocktails, and Zagat reports that the inside is outfitted with leather banquettes and a flat screen TV. Status: Certified Open. 1591 First Ave., 212-249-4080.

6) FiDi: The owner of the the Brooklyn butcher shop The Prime Cut has opened Reserve Cut, a kosher steakhouse in the space that once housed SHO Shaun Hergatt. The menu is French and Asian-influenced, with dishes like glazed veal sweetbreads, and pistachio-crusted duck confit. The restaurant has a 200-seat dining room, plus a wine room, a sushi bar, and two private dining rooms. Status: Certified Open. 40 Broad St., 212-747-0300.