Union Square’s New Outdoor Bocce and Pizza Spot ‘Looks Like a Keeper,’ Critic Says

Critic visits new pizza and bocce restaurant in Union Square

The Post’s Steve Cuozzo praises Union Square Pavilion’s new indoor/outdoor restaurant Bocce USQ, where diners can play games of bocce and also eat pizza and share plates. The pizzas come from executive chef Tim Meyers and pizza consultant Anthony Falco, who both used to work at Roberta’s. “They can’t replicate Roberta’s wood-burning brick ovens on Bocce’s electric grill, but their 12-inchers are still pretty tasty,” Cuozzo writes. But he was particularly surprised by the share plates, like the calamari-and-shrimp fritto misto, which “was perfectly battered and succulent.”

New ice cream shop harkens back to old techniques

Williamsburg has a new ice cream shop that bases its ingredients and techniques on Mediterranean ice cream traditions from over 500 years ago. Republic of Booza serves “booza,” a type of ice cream made hundreds of years ago with ground orchid root and mastic. Flavors at Republic of Booza include the familiar, like mint chocolate chip, butter pecan, and coffee. But the ice cream shop also has some international influence, as with the horchata, gochujang, mango pickle, labneh and honey, saffron peppercorn, and matcha flavors. It opens on Monday at 76 North 4th St. at Berry Avenue.

Two restaurant reopenings in town

Tarallucci e Vino’s East Village location, which closed in February for renovations, reopened last night. It has been in the neighborhood for 16 years, and there are four other locations in NYC. Tomorrow, hibachi restaurant Ninja Grill reopens on Bowery. The fast-casual spot was closed by the Department of Buildings three months ago due to unauthorized gas usage. The restaurant has since addressed its certification issues.

Dine on a discount at The Breslin

Shopping company Gilt now offers four coupons to the Breslin, the steakhouse formerly of the Ken Friedman/April Bloomfield empire. Bloomfield remains the chef at despite her professional separation from Friedman, who has been accused of sexual harassment. The new promotions offered for the restaurant include a dinner for two at $155 that comes with 12 oysters and two cocktails at John Dory Oyster Bar, an entree and glass of wine each at The Breslin, and a dessert to share plus one more drink per person at the Ace Hotel’s lobby bar. Other discounts include a burgers and beer for two deal ($69) and a chicken and waffle brunch with mimosas for six deal ($330). A $99 class teaches people how to make Bloomfield’s Scotch egg.