Williamsburg Pasta Powerhouse Lilia Has Reopened — and It’s Already Booked for Weeks

Williamsburg’s Lilia reopens for outdoor dining and it’s already booked up for weeks

Williamsburg hotspot Lilia — the acclaimed Italian restaurant from chef Missy Robbins — reopened over the weekend with outdoor dining, and the restaurant is already booked up for several weeks, according to reservation app Resy.

The restaurant initially shutdown in March following the state-mandated closure on dining in due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Lilia reopened last week with a takeout window serving breakfast sandwiches, pastries, and coffee, and announced later in the week that it would return for outdoor dining service. For now, the restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The takeout window will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sean Feeney, who co-owns the restaurant along with Robbins, came under fire in May for reportedly downplaying the severity of the COVID-19 crisis in an email to restaurant staffers. That same month he also drew criticism on social media after he told President Donald Trump during a restaurant roundtable that “we view you as one of us.” Still, the controversies don’t seem to have impacted the restaurant’s popularity in any way.

In other news

— Restaurateur Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group received at least $11 million through the federal Paycheck Protection Program.

— Outdoor dining is thriving at star chef Daniel Boulud’s namesake Upper East Side restaurant, Daniel, despite limited seating.

— Longtime Jewish deli Pastrami Queen is taking over the Upper West Side space left vacant by another historic deli, Fine and Schapiro.

— Two commercial landlords are suing the city over pandemic-related rent relief bills, which they allege disproportionately impacts small landlords.

— Sprawling Long Island City waterfront restaurant American Brass has reopened for outdoor dining, according to a restaurant spokesperson. With 84 seats outside, the restaurant offers views of the Manhattan skyline.

— Starting the week strong: