Barbecue Speakeasy Holy Ground Delivers ‘Explosively Flavored’ Meat, Critic Says

Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson go at it while dining at Carbone

Major Food Group’s upscale Italian American restaurant Carbone — already a favorite of celebrities like Drake — played host to 2018’s most over-the-top celebrity couple Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson. But didn’t sound like the newly-engage duo did much eating — apparently they “were just making out over pasta all night. It was iconic,” a source told People. “Pete even moved to the other side of the booth to make out some more.” Iconic!

Barbecue speakeasy Holy Ground is serving ‘some of NYC’s best BBQ,’ critic says

New York Post critic Steve Cuozzo checks out Holy Ground, a subterranean restaurant in Tribeca that serves barbecue in a space with “leather-and-luxe, Prohibition-era design.” The speakeasy, opened in July, serves pork shoulder, beef ribs, and wagyu brisket that are “explosively flavored and slurp-ably moist,” Cuozzo says. Unlike most barbecue restaurants, though, Holy Ground does not have a Southern-tinged vibe and instead accompanies the meat with a clubby, New York look and “killer cocktails.” “This is serious, soulful ’cue without the slop,” he writes.

A new hand-pulled noodle spot in East Village — and more openings and closings

Afandi Grill is now open in the East Village at 149 First Ave. near Ninth Street, serving food from Central Asia. Options include hand-pulled noodles, kebabs, “monster”-sized dumplings, and Uzbek rice bowls. Elsewhere in the neighborhood, the third location of Pizza Rollio, with super-thin rectangular pies, has opened. In LES, “healthy” ice cream Bive plans to open this month, but cheese and beer shop Malt & Mold at 221 East Broadway has closed after six years.

Chef with Momofuku and Torrisi cred plans new Chinatown diner

Sam Yoo, a vet of Momofuku Ko and Torrisi Italian Specialties, will open his own restaurant in November. Golden Diner, at 123 Madison St. at Market Street in Chinatown, is his take on a greasy spoon, with a slimmer menu. Dishes will range from Greek salads to chicken katsu BLTs, a chicken-mozzarella tamale, and Korean fried chicken wings. A gyro will come with spiced lamb and pork, cooked Xian-style. All of it is an “homage to the communities of the Lower East Side, Chinatown, and Little Italy,” where he also lives.

Chumley’s gets a new chef

Historic West Village speakeasy Chumley’s — which gained critical acclaim for previous chef Victoria Blamey’s food — now has a new chef in the kitchen. Heather Pelletier used to work as a pastry chef under Milk Bar’s Christina Tosi but pivoted to savory when she moved to Osteria Morini, a Michael White restaurant. She also worked at Vaucluse and Boqueria. New dishes include a cannoli with chicken liver, foie gras mousse, shallot jam, and pistachios; duck pie; and an Amish chicken for two with potatoes and roasted figs.