What Seaport District Has Planned for Waterfront Summer Food and Drink

The Seaport District rolls out its summer offerings

Opening tomorrow, the Heineken Riverdeck is a new waterfront drinking spot in the city, located on the north side of the Seaport District’s Pier 17. The indoor/outdoor spot has views, seasonal food, and cocktails made by an El Vez and Saxon + Parole vet. A pop-up called Market Hall also opens on the north side of Pier 17 tomorrow, featuring cocktails and grab-and-go food overseen by former Blue Ribbon Restaurants head chef David Kornell.

NYC kitchens welcome refugees for the Refugee Food Festival

From today until June 17th, NYC restaurants will celebrate the Refugee Food Festival by bringing in chefs who are refugees to share their skills and cuisines. Chef Einat Admony of Taïm announced on Instagram that the Nolita location of her falafel chain will host Iranian chef Nasrin today, offering an Iranian-style falafel all day. A dollar from each special falafel sold will go to Emma’s Torch, a culinary training and job placement program for refugees. Other NYC restaurants participating include Le Coq Rico and Porsena. Find more information about NYC’s programming here. Cities around the world, including San Francisco, Amsterdam, and Paris, are also participating in the initiative.

Dig Inn expands to Brooklyn, and more new spots

Fast-casual lunch workhorse Dig Inn opened its first Brooklyn location in Williamsburg at 166 North Fourth St. In addition to the brand’s seasonal menu, there will be dinner specials exclusive to this location featuring vegetables grown at Dig Inn’s upstate farm. Opening week specials include pork ribs with Chinese broccoli slaw and fried green tomatoes, grilled pole beans with arugula, and salt baked potatoes with garlic scape butter.

Also new in town, the French-Mediterranean Papilles opened at 127 East Seventh St. in East Village. Nearby in the neighborhood at 345 East 12th St, Sauce Pizzeria is expected to debut at the end of the summer, from the owners of Italian restaurant Sauce.

Dez plunges into the fast-casual brunch game

Starting this Saturday, Middle Eastern fast-casual joint Dez, from one of the BY Chloe co-founders, will serve weekend brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The dishes, of course, are highly Instagrammable, like the honey rose pancake with whipped yogurt, coconut, pistachio, pomegranate seeds, and rose syrup. Dez also has a custom coffee blend from Devoción.