Dirt Candy Owner Eyes Tribeca for New Fast-Casual Restaurant

Dirt Candy chef applies for new liquor license, and other coming attractions

The chef of trailblazing vegetarian restaurant Dirt Candy, Amanda Cohen, has applied for a liquor license in Tribeca at 81 Warren St. for a fast-casual restaurant; more details to come. Montreal-style bagelry Black Seeds is adding a sixth location at 30 Rockefeller Center, set to open this spring. British Asian chain Wagamama is adding two more locations at 605 Third Ave. and 1345 Sixth Ave. And New Jersey ramen restaurant Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai will open at 267 Amsterdam Ave. on the UWS.

Long Island restaurant goes all-in on Bird Box mania

The Bird Box challenge — wherein people blindfold themselves to reenact viral Netflix movie Bird Box — will go full force at a Long Island restaurant. Milleridge Inn in Jericho is hosting a dinner this Friday, January 11 at 6 p.m. where diners blindfold themselves to eat. The dining room will play sounds of the forest and birds chirping, and diners must remain silent and cannot remove their blindfolds. If they do so, they’ll be taken to “the birdhouse,” a well-lit area where they can act normally. The restaurant is calling it a safe “alternative” to participating in the Bird Box challenge. The American meal is coursed and supposed to be a surprise; call (516) 931-2201 for reservations.

Critic finds addictive new Thai fare in Brooklyn

“Dish after dish at Thai Farm Kitchen reveals the same quiet intent and zeal for detail,” Times critic Ligaya Mishan writes in her latest review. The Kensington Thai restaurant focuses on as many organic ingredients as possible in dishes like the renewing beef shank, salty and sour kao thod naem klook, and ultra-spicy duck larb. Husband-wife owners Jess Calvo and Elizabeth Kanyawee Calvo had a hydroponic farm and three restaurants in Thailand before moving to Brooklyn.

Flatiron Blue Smoke closes temporarily to go no-tipping

Danny Meyer’s Flatiron barbecue restaurant Blue Smoke is closed through the end of January for some renovations. Upon reopening in February, there will be a “speedier and more convenient service style at lunch” as well as tipping-included pricing. Meyer has slowly been switching over all his restaurants to including gratuity in pricing, and Blue Smoke is one of the last to make the switch.

Popular Japanese dessert spot expands — and more openings

Japanese dessert purveyor Harbs now has a third location in Soho at 465 West Broadway for its cakes, pastries, and coffee. David Bouhadana protege Takeshi Sato has branched out on his own with omakase restaurant Takeshi at 28 Grand St. Omakases range from $45 at lunch for eight courses to $130 at dinner for 16 courses in 90 minutes.

Old Castle Pub at 160 West 54th St. in Midtown West is now Irish pub Copper Johns, while further south, Luke’s Lobster at 93 East Seventh St. has reopened after a recent fire. On the Upper West Side, Indian restaurant Angaar has opened at 283 Columbus Ave, and Roasted Masala has opened at 914 Columbus Ave.

East Village soup dumpling spot appears to shutter — and more closings

In the East Village, Carma East at 507 East Sixth St. has been closed as of late, with the phone disconnected, and both Make Sandwich and Chelsea Thai in the neighborhood are shuttered as well. And on the UWS, Italian restaurant Acqua at 718 Amsterdam Ave. has closed.