Taim’s Celebrity Chef Infusion, Drama at the Plaza Hotel, and More Intel

— Taim’s about to get a big dose of celebrity chefs. Starting in September, chef Einat Admony’s casual falafel spot will be serving a falafel created by a different hot chef every month for the next year — including Jessica Koslow from Sqirl LA, Mads Refslund, and Bobby Flay. First up, Mario Batali. A dollar from each sandwich will go toward a charity of the chef’s choice. Here’s the full line-up: Mario Batali, Amanda Freitag, Bobby Flay, Gail Simmons, Molly Yeh, Jessica Kroslow, Floyd Cardoz, Mads Refslund, Elizabeth Falkner, Scott Conant, Fany Gerson, Ann Redding and Matt Danzer.

— East Village’s Edge Bar is closing after 29 years in business. EV Grieve hears the bar had an issue with its landlord.

— The Plaza Hotel’s legendary Oak Room and Oak Bar — closed since 2011 — may not open to the public again for a while due to drama in ownership over the years, Steve Cuozzo reports. One of the three people who own the place, one spent much of the last two years in jail, while the other ones barely escaped time behind bars. After cocaine busts, tantrums, burlesque parties, and illegal campaign contributions, ownership has not managed to keep things in check at the restaurant. See the full storied history here.

— Looks like East Village stand-by Kotobuki is reopening its doors. The sushi restaurant at 56 Third Ave. shuttered in 2014 and was replaced by Saki, a project produced by hotspot Sushi of Gari. Saki closed, and now a sign on the restaurant says "Kotobuki NYC/August 2016." Kotobuki’s website also now lists the Manhattan location.

Nick Solares

— Hit sushi spot Shuko is popping up in East Hampton this month. Chefs Nick Kim and Jimmy Lau will be bringing their crew to Highway Restaurant and Bar for a $200 tasting menu on August 13.

— Ice and Vice has teamed up with Kossar’s Bialys to create an Everything Black ice cream sandwich, a $5 concoction made with black and white cookies and the seasoning from an everything bagel. Proceeds go to Edible Schoolyard Project.

— A new Prospect Heights seasonal Italian restaurant called Faun opened as a no tips establishment, but people are still trying to leave tips. Owner David Stockwell tells DNAinfo: "There are always going to be people who insist, no matter what you do — who leave money on the table. When we catch them in the act, we ask them to take it back." The chef at the restaurant, Brian Leth, previously worked as executive chef at Vinegar Hill House.

— West Village matcha and coffee cafe Chalait closed its location at 224 West 4th Street at the end of July. It’s not the end for the cafe though. It will soon be opening new locations in Nomad at 30th and Broadway and in the Chelsea Market.

Robert Sietsema

— Sweetgreen co-founder Nicolas Jammet drinks a lot of green tea, and over a course of a week, he ate at places like Mimi Cheng’s, Cafe Altro Paradiso, Mimi, Mission Chinese, and Pasquale Jones.

— East Village Brazilian restaurant Esperanto has now opened its to-go outpost at 58 East First St. Esperanto Fonda offers cocktails, tacos, burritos, and more.

— And finally, here’s how to make fried chicken like Pies ‘n’ Thighs