Suvir Saran Opens Unico Tacos and More Intel

— Unico Tacos, a fast-casual, globally-inspired taco spot, opens today at 31-31 Thomson Ave. in Long Island City, a collaboration between the duo behind Tapestry in the West Village: chef Michelin-starred chef, Suvir Saran — of the now-closed Devi— and Roni Mazumdar, whose family owns The Masalawala. In conjunction with Unico’s opening, Tapestry is debuting a taco menu at the bar, with $7 tacos that are also available at the new restaurant, which include citrus shrimp tacos with jicama mango slaw, marinated beef tacos with kimchi and gochuchang, and adobo-style pork tacos with grilled shallots.

Sea Fire Grill photo

— Bill and Hillary Clinton dined at the Sea Fire Grill on Friday night, when, after dinner, a Kosovar Albanian busser dropped to his knee to thank former President Clinton for the US/NATO role in the Kosovo conflict in the 90s. The employee, who asked not to be named, had to flee his home with thousands of others, he told the Clintons in detail. Owners of the restaurant, Ben Sinanaj and Benjamin Prelvukaj are also partners in Benjamin Steakhouse. Prelvukaj started working in the US as a waiter at Peter Luger in the late 90s, after settling in New York from Montenegro. Much of the restaurants’ staff is from the region, manager and beverage director, Marie Florian confirmed. “Many of them have been through very tough times, and it meant so much to them to be able to thank them through their service,” she said.

— A few weeks after his leaving Del Posto, Mark Ladner has announced he’s hiring on Instagram. His fast-casual spot is slated to open in March.

— A customer of Max’s Es-Ca in Staten Island beat up a 60-year-old man after the victim jiggled a bathroom door to try to get him to hurry up, police said Sunday.

— Honey Badger (67 Fenimore St.) which opened for dinner in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens in January, is taking over the next-door space to build a provisions market to that will sell farmers market produce, breakfast items, baked goods, cheeses, and charcuterie.

— Tonight at Fancy Nancy, former Agern and Wassail pastry chef, Rebecca Eichenbaum and sous chef Brett Ellis are cooking Syrian and Middle Eastern dishes such as lamb and rice stuffed grape leaves, hummus, chicken shawarma, sourdough pita bread, and namoura made with semolina and oland wheat. It’s an a la carte menu with each item prices $15 or less at 1038 Bedford Ave. from 5 to 9 p.m. Proceeds with be donated to the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

— In case you missed it, Frank DeCarlo of Peasant and Bacaro is opening a restaurant on the North Fork.

— With tacos our lead story, here’s a video about Brooklyn’s Tortilleria Chinantla: