Viand Diner Bucks the Trend With Second Location — and More Intel

Upper West Side diner to expand

At a time when they’re on the decline, a popular Upper West Side diner is reversing the trend and adding a second location. The 15-year-old Viand Cafe will take over 517 Columbus Avenue in addition to its original location in the Hotel Beacon. It’s a 1,850-square-foot space, with a nice, long 15-year lease. It’s good news in light of the fact that the Upper East Side location — a Michael Bloomberg favorite — shuttered in 2015.

Westville is now feeding its bountiful vegetables to FiDi worker bees

A sixth location of vegetable-forward American mini-chain Westville is now open down in the Financial District at 110 Wall Street. Like the Hudson Street space, there’s a full bar that will likely fill up during happy hour.

Farmshelf

Grand Central is adding a little greenery

Despite being in an indoor transit station, Claus Meyer’s Great Northern Food Hall now has its own garden. It’s called Farmshelf, and it’s a mini-fridge of a greenhouse that includes spicy micro greens, arugula, red kale, Genovese basil, opal basil, lemon basil, joi choi, wasabi mustard greens, red shiso, upland cress, mizuna, Tuscan kale, and a variety of lettuces.

A new happy hour

Having been open for two months, Blue Ribbon Federal Grill in the Financial District is adding happy hour. It’s oddly called Hî Tē-Ni — good luck pronouncing that one — and it runs daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with $10 cocktails, $8 glasses of wine, $5 beers, and $8 bites. See the full menu below.

An outdoor Spanish dinner party

The Wythe Hotel is taking advantage of this week’s good weather with an outdoor garden dinner with chef Peter Hoffman (Savory, Back40). The Spanish-inspired meal focuses on the Catalunyan festival Calçotad, which means there will be calçots (green onions) galore served with sausage, grilled lamb, and the uber-trendy Scribe Una Lou rose cans. Tickets are available here to the Friday, May 19 event.

Take a dessert break

These Disney World desserts are surprisingly upscale: