Saraghina Team Opens a Bar; The Bronx Brewery Adds a Big Beer Garden

1) BED-STUY — Beloved pizza spot and bakery Saraghina has added a third member to the family. Saraghina Bar opened last Wednesday and the team plans to add small plates soon. The idea here is to give guests waiting for a table at the original a place to grab a drink before dinner. Status: Certified open. 348 Lewis Avenue.

2) THE BRONX — The Bronx Brewery opened its 6,000-square-foot backyard beer garden earlier this month, reports DNAinfo. The Backyard, as it's nicknamed, has been in the works for two years. For the moment, it will be open only during warmer months, but the owners are considering how they might use it during the winter. Status: Certified open. 856 East 136th Street.

3) SOHO — Jacques 1534 has expanded next door with a cocktail bar called Shorty. The drink lineup includes the spring south side (gin, St. Germain, cucumber, mint, citrus, yuzu bitters) and the smoke & fire (tequila, mezcal, lemon, honey, red chili, and smoked salt). There are small plates like tarte flambe and truffle fries to snack on from Jacques. Status: Certified open. 20 Prince Street.

4) MIDTOWN EAST — Fast-casual Indian chain Indikitch opened its second location recently, notes Midtown Lunch. A diner's choice of curry is served with dosa, salad, or biryani. Nothing's terribly spicy and there are a few vegetarian options. Status: Certified open. 940 8th Avenue, 646-918-7778.

Courtesy of The Ellington

5) RIVERSIDE PARK — The Ellington has taken over the old Hudson Beach Cafe space and opened Ellington in the Park. During the day, there's a beach club vibe and at night it's more of a bar. There are drink options that can be ordered by the hour – like, for example, two hours of unlimited house wine. There are also food packages for groups, so this is a place to come spend a few hours with friends, not for flying solo. Status: Certified open. Enter Riverside Park at 105th Street.

6) LONG ISLAND CITY — Villa Enrico, the new restaurant at the Z Hotel, just opened serving a classic Italian-American menu with dishes like penne bolognese and clams oreganata. There's also a stunning view from the rooftop area, says We Heart LIC. Status: Certified open.11-01 43rd Avenue 212-319-7000.

7) DITMAS PARK — The owners of Ox Cart Tavern opened an Asian fusion restaurant called Bashi Channel last Friday, reports Ditmas Park Corner. There's ramen, dumplings, and a whole lot of noodles on the menu. Status: Certified open. 1120 Cortelyou Road.

Official Site

8) PARK SLOPE — Carnem Prime Steakhouse just started dinner service. There are several steak options, a cheese platter from Murray's, and the curiously whimsical cotton candy-spun pork belly served on a stick. The liquor license is still in the works, so it's BYOB for now. Status: Certified open. 318 Fifth Avenue.

9) CHELSEA — The Fillmore Room has an art deco theme going on in a space that the team believes was once a bordello and mob hangout. The menu, from BLT vet Liran Mezan, includes a house burger topped with bacon marmalade, roquefort, and Worcestershire onions, and a grilled chicken muffaletta with olive salad, giardiniera, and pepper jack. Status: Certified open. 146 10th Avenue, 212-921-7772.

10) SOUTH STREET SEAPORT — Ambrose Beer and Lobster has a pretty summery vibe. There's lots of outdoor seating in the seaport and a simple menu of lobster rolls, lobster grilled cheese, grilled hot dogs, and watermelon and feta salad. Status: Certified open. 18 Fulton Street, 212-785-0018.

11) MIDTOWN — Beijing-based burger spot Uncle Sam's just opened its first NYC location, serving Asian-inspired burgers like their signature topped with sautéed mushrooms, oyster sauce, and Swiss cheese. The team is calling the location its flagship, so more outposts may be in the works. Status: Certified open. 307 Fifth Avenue.