WILLIAMSBURG
Never stale, New York’s atmosphere is always changing. Clubs, restaurants, and venues are evolving, revolving and dissolving at such a fast pace, sometimes you need a little held pinning down what’s actually going on. Here to help, browse this list of newly opened and soon to be opened hot spots within the Five Burroughs.
191 Chrystie Street New York, NY 10002
Tickets are now available for Bon Appétit’s three day, pub-inspired grub crawl through Brooklyn. During the first weekend in June, grub enthusiasts will have a chance to get up close and personal with Brooklyn’s most buzz-worthy chefs. Eat and drink your way through three Brooklyn neighborhoods while taking a peek inside the kitchens that have create the delicious foods that have put the borough on the culinary hotspot map. On Saturday night, stick around after the food stops for a concert and DJ performance at Brooklyn’s Knitting Factory starting at 9 p.m.
The Bedford (110 Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg) held a special sneak preview of their newly appointed Executive Chef Jason Michael Giordano’s forthcoming Tavern Menu last night in their I-Beam barroom. Jason’s new contemporary American pub snack menu was inspired by the dinner served at the White House during President Lincoln’s inaugural dinner. With such an original concept a lot of research had to be done to recreate these dishes that time had forgotten. The Tavern Menu uses old world techniques with classic American ingredients to create dishes such as arancini (risotto balls), fried duck rillette (similar to pâté), devils on horseback (bacon-wrapped dates filled with cheese), and others. Diners also enjoyed a basket of delicately fried kale chips while snacking on the Tavern Menu sampler.
The Maison Premiere
Equal parts: 1920’s Paris, New Orleans Energy, New York Mixology
Shake well.
Garnish with moustache and suspenders.
Williamsburg’s cocktail lounge and oyster den known as Maison Premiere is quite a spectacle. One can’t help but think of the phrase 'old-time barroom,' as the loud swing/bop/jazz music compliments the organized chaos rattling the walls. The experience might feel a bit like traveling back to a time when the tavern was where one got the news, and bar-keep reigned as a prominent social figure.
You don't get more Williamsburg than this.
The boys at Full Circle Bar who brought you Brewskee-Ball, the country's first competitive Skee-Ball league, are at it again. But this time, they have the advantage of a built-in theme song.
Major League Dreidel, the sanctioned body of everyone's favorite Hannukah game, is hosting 124 of the nation's best spinners at its official annual tournament tomorrow at the Knitting Factory, before moving the party to Full Circle Bar next week for more dreidel drama.
If you forgot your smuggling supplies, and you don't know how you're going to survive the newest Bradley Cooper rom-com, fear no more. You might just be able to numb the pain by tossing back a beer.
A new state law will allow movie theaters to serve alcohol -- as long they "have table seating and a full restaurant menu selection."
The law will allow more venues to offer dinner and a movie with a legitimate alcohol license, and will allow theaters like Williamsburg's Nitehawk Cinema and Greenwich Village's Angelika Film Center to add alcohol to their cafe menus. But big name cinemas like AMC are also tapping the keg -- they already serve alcohol in New Jersey, and are quickly readying themselves to make their New York locations booze-friendly.
photos by Alyce Gorch
If whiskey is the water of life, Williamsburg just got little livelier.
Noorman’s Kil, the brainchild of four Barcade/The Gutter alums with a thirst for fine Scotch, has opened its doors on Grand Street, offering the comforts of artisan grilled cheese and over 250 whiskeys to spirit-loving locals and locavores alike.
A Muchich beer tent is an intense experience. Drinkers from around the world gather to chat about football, eat bratwurst, and most importantly, drink top-notch beer out of absurdly large vessels. Musical acts keep the crowd entertained, ranging from polka to punk. And there's always some Australian kid off in a corner getting drunker than he should. Fortunately, there are plenty of New York establishments willing to provide a similar experience. As Oktoberfest rolls on, check out these authentic outdoor bierhauses.
Masten Lake replaces Savalas on Bedford Avenue. Brooklynites, start judging. This controversial restaurant that moved in on July 20th, after the well known and loved bar closed down, would be easy to hate, if it wasn't serving some of the best food in the boroughs. While regulars and neighbors mourn the loss of their local watering hole, others are impressed with Chef Angelo Romano's (formerly of Roberta's, Lupa) take on cold, hot, pasta, and protein.
The menu (divided into such categories mentioned above) reads like a periodic table of delicious.The cold options include shiny mackeral, served crudo-style with juicy nectarines and crunchy almonds. Under the hot category, one has difficulty choosing between the rock shrimp with black garlic, or the fancy schmancy Hon Shimeji mushrooms dotted with salmon roe and puffs of ricotta. This is just the beginning. The real deal to-die-for food orgasm moment is coming in the form of Masten Lake's pici: a housemade pasta similar to bucatini served with creamy burrata in a prawn broth sprinkled with oregano. Other pastas are offered, but don't bother. And while it's hard to top the pici, the protein section doesn't dissapoint. The duck breast with farro, plums, and duck egg is hearty but austere and truly reflects, "farm-to-table" essence. Dessert offerings are transient but homemade gelato and sorbet are always on the menu as well as three different artisinal cheeses.
Brace yourself for today's opening of Cafe de la Esquina, situated at Wythe Diner. This hot spot is no longer just a NoLita haven, so all you Williamsburg hipsters better head to check it out. Loyal Wythe Diner customers need not worry about the upheavel of their favorite joint-- the red barstools and wood paneling will remain intact...with a few added spices like some unique Mexican artwork. As for the menu? This too will remain unchanged, although there will be a few welcome additions, including make your own tacos, and guac and chips (a staple for any Mexican diner). This isn't just your typical diner though folks, an outdoor (beer!) garden is in the works so that you can enjoy your fajitas in the glimmering summer sun (while it lasts). Check out the sweet digs below!
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