Manhattan’s First Post-Prohibition Era Whiskey Distillery Comes to Life — and More Openings

Seventeen months into the coronavirus pandemic, restaurants across the city continue to open their doors, sometimes because their concepts could be adapted for takeout and delivery, but more often because their owners saw no other choice but to forge ahead. Since March 16, 2020, when the state first temporarily closed indoor dining, hundreds of new restaurants have opened, including late-night pizzerias, three-story restaurants, hot dog counters, and karaoke lounges.

Here’s a round-up of the restaurants and bars that opened in August. This list will be updated weekly. If there’s an opening in your neighborhood that we’ve missed, let us know at tips@eater.com.

The latest CDC guidance for vaccinated diners during the COVID-19 outbreak is here; dining out still carries risks for unvaccinated diners and workers. Please be aware of changing local rules, and check individual restaurant websites for any additional restrictions such as mask requirements. Find a local vaccination site here.

August 26

Financial District: Some 970 feet above the Financial District, the Michelin-starred team behind Crown Shy has unveiled its long-awaited sophomore project. At Saga, owners James Kent and Jeff Katz are serving a seven-to-10 course tasting menu priced at $245 per person. 70 Pine Street, near Pearl Street

Greenpoint: The handheld, two-bite street tacos of Mexico City have found a home at Taqueria Ramirez on Franklin Street. This counter-service taqueria is only open two days each week as part of its “soft opening season,” says Giovanni Cervantes, a chef who hails from CDMX and who opened the restaurant with Tania Apolinar. On Thursdays, from 5 to 10 p.m., the restaurant is slinging tacos de suadero, longaniza, campechano (a combination of meats), and tripe — all priced at $4 each. Al pastor is shaved from the spit during the same hours on Sundays. 94 Franklin Street, near Oak Street

Hell’s Kitchen: Swift Eats, a fast-casual restaurant that houses multiple ghost kitchens, has opened its doors in Manhattan. The restaurant is the first in a series of openings from founders Jeff Kaplow and Brandon Mohammed, who reportedly plan to expand the brand to Jersey City, Murray Hill, Miami, and Toronto. 609 Ninth Avenue, near West 43rd Street

Noho: Manhattan gets its first legal whiskey distillery in more than a century this week with the opening of Great Jones Distilling Company. The four-story, 28,000-square-foot space includes a cocktail bar, whiskey tasting room, a lower-level speakeasy, and a private lounge upstairs. In October, Adam Raksin, an alum of the Michelin-starred Per Se, will open a 78-seat restaurant on the distillery’s first floor. Great Jones comes from Juan Domingo Beckmann, the founder of Proximo Spirits, a Jersey City liquor company that also owns and operates tequila producer Jose Cuervo. 686 Broadway, near Great Jones Street

Upper East Side: Coming Soon Food Group, the hospitality group behind Zazzy’s Pizza on the Lower East Side, has opened a third location of the pizzeria, along with two additional food businesses next door. SNOB, which apparently stands for Sophia’s Natural Organic Bowls, serves fruit juices and bowls, while Innocent Yesterday is a vegan bakery and cafe. 1477 Second Avenue, at East 77th Street

August 19

Greenpoint: An all-day restaurant serving mofongo, chicken spaghetti, and other affordable Dominican fare opened in Greenpoint last month. El Manjar Dominicano is the first restaurant from owner Jose Tineo, who grew up in the neighborhood. “This is my neighborhood and believe me there is nothing like this anywhere around Greenpoint,” he tells Greenpointers. 141 India Street, near Sergeant Nicholas Aleman Way

Greenwich Village: The team behind seafood and happy hour destination the Mermaid Inn opened its oyster bar off-shoot at this new address on Monday. Similar to the original location a few doors down, the Mermaid Oyster Bar offers a selection of East and West Coast oysters that range from $3 to $4 each. During a brief 4:30 to 6 p.m. happy hour window each day, the crowd-pleasing bivalves are priced at $1.25 and cocktails cost $9. There’s room for 50 people inside the new space, which was previously home to J.G. Melon, and room for another 70 diners outside. 89 MacDougal Street, at Bleecker Street

Lower East Side: Following a year-long run as a pop-up, first out of Maracuja in Williamsburg and later from the Ten Bells on the Lower East Side, Sami and Susu has found a permanent home on Orchard Street. The restaurant with a Jewish-American bent comes from owners Amir Nathan and Jordan Anderson, alums of Via Carota and Olmsted, respectively. 190 Orchard Street, between East Houston and Stanton streets

Midtown: Fast-casual poke spot Pokeworks opened near Penn Station last week, bringing the national restaurant chain’s total number of New York locations to eight. 330 West 34th Street, between Eighth and Ninth avenues

Prospect Heights: A storefront advertising non-alcoholic beer, wine proxies, and other beverages is the latest addition to Prospect Heights. Non-alcoholic drinks have risen in popularity during the pandemic, but few suppliers offer multiple brands from the same shop. “Everything was spread out,” says Apryl Electra Storms, a former private chef who opened Minus Moonshine with their business partner Melissa Irisarri. “We wanted them all in one place.” Their favorite of the more than 100 products at the shop is an “elixir” from Solbru, an alcohol-free beverage company based out of Winnipeg, Canada. 433 Sterling Place, near Washington Avenue

Rego Park: Uzbek restaurant Marakand opened in Queens earlier this summer, serving plov, borscht, and roughly a dozen different kinds of skewered meats. 9898 Queens Boulevard, between 66th and 67th avenues

Soho: An answer to the late-night (vegan) munchies has landed in Manhattan. Jerrell’s Betr Brgr comes from first time restaurateur Jerrell Obee, who also owns a vape subscription company. The mostly vegan restaurant specializes in waffle fries, dairy-free shakes, and Impossible burgers ($9 for a single, $12 for a double), which are available until 3 a.m. on Saturdays. 117 Sixth Avenue, at Watts Street

South Ozone Park: Candy-themed international restaurant chain Sugar Factory American Brasserie has opened a new location at the Resorts World Casino in Queens. 110-00 Rockaway Boulevard, at Resorts World Casino New York City

Staten Island: Celebrated Texas-style barbecue restaurant Juicy Lucy BBQ has opened a second location in the borough. Backed by owner Richie Holmes, the restaurant’s brisket has been named the best in the borough at the annual Brisket King competition for the last two years. Holmes opened the first location of Juicy Lucy on Father Capodanno Boulevard in 2019. 4318 Amboy Road, at Robinson Avenue

Upper West Side: Janie’s Life-Changing Baked Goods, a business whose name apparently lives up to its promise, has opened a brick-and-mortar bakery in Manhattan. The bakeshop, which previously popped up at the Queens Night Market, specializes in pie crust cookies, made from a pie crust base, gooey center, and streusel topping. 212 West 80th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue

West Village: Roughly a year after Beer Garage opened along Park Slope’s Fifth Avenue, owner Marina Charny has followed up with a second location of the craft beer bar in Manhattan. 118 Christopher Street, near Bedford Street

West Village: Restaurateur Danny Meyer has opened the doors on the West Village outpost of his popular all-day cafe Daily Provisions. Expanded operating hours and an additional location at the Manhattan West development are planned for September. 29 Bedford Street, at Downing Street

August 12

Bryant Park: The United States flagship of French bakery Marvelous by Fred, or Aux Merveilleux de Fred as it’s known in France, opened to the public this week. 1001 Sixth Avenue, between West 37th Street and 38th streets

Bushwick: A vegan food stand set up shop across from Maria Hernandez Park at the end of May. Grilled, helmed by Colombian chef Guillermo Jaramillo, serves vegan versions of choripan, salchi papas, and chili cheese fries, all of which are priced under $10. 264 Suydam Street, near Knickerbocker Avenue

Chelsea: Day Drinks, a self-described “bar without alcohol,” is the latest food business to sign on with Chelsea Market. The cafe serves a variety of drinks on tap, including chilled espresso, nitro cold brew, and dry-hopped teas, which the business likens to a “refreshing IPA.” Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Avenue, between West 15th and 16th streets

Crown Heights: Patrick Steakhouse opened its doors last month, bringing crab cakes, lobster mac and cheese, and a burger served on an English muffin to Rogers Avenue. Brunch is served starting at 11 a.m. on Sundays with seating available in a spacious backyard. 227 Rogers Avenue, between President and Union streets

East Village: After keeping things casual in its first three months of service, an American restaurant in the East Village is gearing up for a more serious debut. Partners David Lowenstein, Edie Ugot, Kai Woo, and Walker Chambliss opened their first joint restaurant earlier this summer, settling on the name Sidney’s Five. Sidney’s had already been trademarked, Lowenstein explains, and although one of its original five partners has since departed, Sidney’s Four didn’t have quite the same ring to it. The kitchen, helmed by Ugot, focuses on casual American cooking: andouille corn dogs, charbroiled oysters, and a lamb burger that nods to the chef’s time working under April Bloomfield at the Spotted Pig and the Breslin. As the restaurant brings on additional kitchen staff this month, Ugot plans to expand the menu with seafood and other dishes focused on sit-down seating. Inside, the team is going for a nostalgic vibe with pastel tones, tchotchkes, and a steady supply of staff baby photos, an aesthetic Lowenstein likened to a “Brooklyn grandma’s patio.” An L-shaped bar seats 25, and there’s room for 30 people outdoors. 103 First Avenue, between East Sixth and Seventh streets

Lower East Side: New to the Market Line food hall is Dragon Bing, a vendor slinging jianbing wrapped around bulgogi beef, barbecue pork, and zucchini tempura. Fried wings, pan-fried dumplings, and a few bubble tea options round out the menu. 115 Delancey Street, at Essex Street

Midtown: Local cookie chain Chip City opens its eighth brick-and-mortar location at Rockefeller Center today. 30 Rockefeller Plaza, between West 49th and West 50th streets

August 5

Bushwick: New to Brooklyn’s late-night dining scene is Rosie Pizza Bar, a pizzeria that serves meatballs, whole pies, and pizza by the slice until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 4 a.m. on weekends. 128 Central Avenue, at Starr Street

Carroll Gardens: Mark Iacano, the owner of Carroll Gardens pizzeria Lucali, recently opened the doors at Baby Luc’s, a neighborhood slice shop just two blocks away. The pizza here isn’t an exact substitute for the wood-fired pies at Lucali — the slices are square, for one — but it is considerably easier to get ahold of. 387 Court Street, at First Place

Chinatown: Solely Tea is no longer the borough’s only sneaker and boba shop, but that’s only because Amy Zhang has opened a second location around the corner. Zhang co-founded the brand with her 16-year-old brother Kenney, who came up with the concept and is apparently the sneaker head of the duo. They opened their first location on Eldridge Street in late May, focusing on a curated selection of higher-value shoes: “Jordan 1s, Dunks, Yeezys” and so on, Zhang explains. At Unedited by Solely Tea, their second store that opened in July, the siblings are widening their selection of sneakers and serving boba that they make each morning at the shop. Hot milk teas, Yakult, and slushies all come with tapioca by default (between $4 and $6.25) and can be made with flavored jellies or popping boba for 50 cents more. 95B Canal Street, between Eldridge and Forsyth streets

Cobble Hill: After closing both locations of her popular Arepa Factory restaurants during the pandemic, owner Monica Muzzo Romero has turned her attention to Brooklyn, where she opened Romero Delicatessen last month. This bite-sized shop sells an array of European groceries, along with prepared desserts and sandwiches made on Balthazar bread. 196 Court Street, at Wyckoff Street

East Village: Bagel Boss has opened a new location on East 14th Street, bringing the chain’s total number of New York stores to 15. Additional bagel shops are planned for Nolita and Teaneck, New Jersey, according to the company’s website. 238 East 14th Street, between Second and Third avenues

Fort Greene: Located a block from Fort Greene park, Los Dos Hermanos has been serving an all-encompassing menu of tortas, enchiladas, chicken wings, and charcuterie since June. 264 Carlton Avenue, near Dekalb Avenue

Flatiron District: Nuleaf, a fast-casual bowl spot specializing in seitan chorizo and other vegan fare, has debuted in the Flatiron. A second location of the restaurant will open at 888 Eighth Avenue, between West 52nd and West 53rd streets, in September. 23 West 23rd Street, near Fifth Avenue

Nomad: Off-pitch New Yorkers will feel right at home at Ms. Kim’s, a newly opened bar with soundproof karaoke rooms. The second-floor venue consists of a lounge area, where patrons can order a short menu of Korean and Japanese finger foods, and private rooms for karaoke. 6 West 28th Street, Floor 2, between Fifth Avenue and Broadway

Midtown East: Beloved Los Angeles sushi chain Sugarfish has touched down in Midtown East, joining a neighborhood already populated with top-tier sushi restaurants for its fourth New York City location. 152 East 53rd Street, between Third and Lexington avenues

Ridgewood: After closings its doors in East Williamsburg in 2019, beloved Vietnamese-American coffee shop and restaurant Nhà Mình has returned. The cafe is now operating out of Queens music venue Trans-Pecos. 915 Wyckoff Avenue, near Weirfield Street

Soho: Popular Midtown Italian restaurant Bice Cucina — started in Milan in 1926, brought to New York City in 1987, and now a global brand — has opened a second location in Manhattan. 15 Watts Street, at Thompson Street

Tribeca: Backed by alums of Eleven Madison Mark and the Michelin-starred Frenchie, One White Street opened its doors this week. The long-in-the-works restaurant, based out of a three-story townhouse in Tribeca, consists of a no-reservation wine bar on its first floor and a more formal tasting menu upstairs. One White Street, at West Broadway

Upper West Side: Jacopo Giustiniani has opened a new location of his Italian restaurant and wine bar Felice, marking the restaurateur’s seventh establishment in the city. 240 Columbus Avenue, at West 71st Street

Upper West Side: Taqueria 86 opened this week with a menu of tacos named for cities and states across Mexico. The Sinaloa nods to the coastal Mexican state with cheesy shrimp and poblano peppers, while the DF — short for Distrito Federal, the commonly used former name of Mexico City — offers a take on tacos al pastor. 210 West 94th Street, between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway

Williamsburg: Bar Blondeau is the latest from Aidan O’Neal and Jake Leiber, the chef-owner team behind Brooklyn mainstays Le Crocodile and Chez Ma Tante. The duo’s latest, a French-leaning wine bar on the sixth floor of the Wythe Hotel, opened last week. 80 Wythe Avenue, North 11th Street

Williamsburg: Two members of Den Hospitality, the restaurant group responsible for the Garret and West Village newcomer Bandits, have teamed at Philomena’s. The newly opened cocktail bar serves food from Pomp and Circumstance nearby, and a drinks list built around carved and flavor-infused ice cubes. 790 Grand Street, between Bushwick Avenue and Humboldt Street

Windsor Terrace: A takeout counter slinging the topping-laden hot dogs of Chicago has found a home in Brooklyn. Vienna Beef, which gives the Chicago dog its characteristic snap, can be difficult to source in large quantities outside of the Windy City, and the team behind Dog Day Afternoon drives to a supplier in New Jersey to pick up theirs, according to the Brooklyn Paper. 266 Prospect Park West, between 17th Street and Prospect Avenue