Union Square Hospitality Restaurants Reopen, & More NYC Restaurant News

Union Square Hospitality Group Restaurants & More Reopen

As of Thursday, March 25th, nearly all of Union Square Hospitality Group’s restaurants are back open for in-person dining, including Gramercy Tavern, Union Square Cafe, and Blue Smoke (which are all offering outdoor service, 50% capacity indoor dining, as well as takeout and delivery).

The restaurant group made the decision to shut down in-person dining at all of their operations back in November, signaling much of the industry to follow suit and “hibernate” their businesses.

You can make a reservation for dinner at one of USHG’s restaurants here.

After running a pop-up at Paulie Gee’s in Greenpoint for over six months, Edith’s is moving into their very own permanent location on Lorimer Street in Williamsburg. Similar to the pop-up menu, their new spot will focus on sandwiches, excellent bagels, and other baked goods they make in-house, all thematically rooted in the food of the Jewish diaspora. You can stop by between Thursday and Sunday from 9am-3pm.

Mood Ring in Bushwick, a bar we fondly associate with being drunk in the year 2016, has reopened for outdoor and indoor service. They’re open every day from 5-11pm, but (understandably) there’s no dancing allowed in the laser room in the back. If you want to secure a table, you can make a reservation by calling 917-818-1738.

Beginning Monday, March 29th, Meat Hook Burger Shop is moving to a permanent location at Threes Brewing at Franklin and Kent in Greenpoint. Months ago, the Williamsburg butcher shop team (The Meat Hook) had transitioned their restaurant, Cozy Royale, into a spot that just served burgers called Meat Hook Burger Shop. Now, Cozy Royale will reopen on Humboldt Street and Meat Hook Burger Shop will live on at Three’s. The Meat Hook Burger Shop’s plump patty burger is one of our favorite new burgers.

There’s a new wine store on the corner of Rogers Avenue and Union Street in Crown Heights that’s run by the owner of Leyenda in Cobble Hill, the beverage director of Oxalis in Prospect Heights, and one of the sellers and operation managers from Frankly Wines in Tribeca. It’s called Fiasco, and they’re committed to stocking wine and liquor primarily produced by BIPOC individuals and women.

One of our favorite Middle Eastern spots, Samesa, has reopened at a new location inside Rockefeller Center (last year they closed their Williamsburg location due to the pandemic). Samesa now joins spots like Fieldtrip and Alidoro inside the Midtown food court, but according to their Instagram, the restaurant has plans to open another Brooklyn restaurant in the future.

After a brief winter hibernation, Hunky Dory in Crown Heights is back open for outdoor service and takeout. They recently gave their patio a makeover, and they’ll be serving kolaches, drinks, a full food menu, and bar snacks from Thursday to Sunday, as well as hosting weekly pop-up events on Wednesdays.

photo credit: Noah Devereaux

Dessert News

Attention children of Prospect Park (and handlers), the founders of Ample Hills will soon open a new dessert spot on Washington Avenue in Prospect Heights called The Social. The pair sold Ample Hills last year because of financial losses during the pandemic. For their new project, they’re planning on selling 20 flavors of ice cream, as well as cake doughnuts, and customized ice cream floats. Follow The Social on Instagram for updates on their opening progress in the coming weeks.

The owner of Harlem bakery, Make My Cake, has a new coffee shop on West 125th Street called I Like It Black. This casual neighborhood spot has everything from classic hot chocolate to nitro brew made with coffee beans from Ethiopia every day from 7am-3pm.