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up here every week.
A peri peri chicken spot with a cult following pops up in NY
Think of it as an across the Atlantic Ocean pop-up swap: South African fast-casual chain restaurant Nando’s — known for its peri peri chicken — is coming to New York City for the first time for a summer pop-up in Soho at 341 Broome Street, at Bowery. Free food like chicken wings, burgers, and all their sauces will be served. There are also scheduled parties and events during that time, with music, World Cup watch parties, and more. Does this mean the huge international chain will finally open a permanent New York location? This seems likely. Its hours are from Saturday, June 27, from noon to 3 p.m.; Thursday, July 2 and Friday, July 3, from noon to 4 p.m.; Saturday, July 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday, July 9 and Friday, July 10, from noon to 4 p.m.; and finally, on Saturday, July 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Roscioli folks have taken over an Upper West Side landmark
I Love the Upper West Side reports that a new business is taking over the gorgeous but shuttered Southern Italian restaurant the Leopard at des Artistes, which closed in February after nearly 25 years of operating inside the Hotel Des Artistes. The Air Cafe LLC has been filed for the 1 West 67th Street address and presented to the Community Board 7, from managing partner Max Katzenberg and co-partner Ariel Arce, both of whom run Tokyo Record Bar, Roscioli, and Pearl Box currently. They plan on opening a French American restaurant.
Prada won’t kill a Soho mainstay
Soho restaurant Lure Fishbar is no longer in danger of closing now that Prada has backed away from its previous intentions of turning its address into a restaurant. Back in late 2024, the fashion giant, which runs its store in the building, had wanted to expand and take over Lure for its Pasticceria Marchesi. Now, New York Post reports that Lure owner John McDonald was able to lease the space from Prada, which leased the space from the landlord Peter Brant. McDonald tells the newspaper that he’s on a “long-term sublease.”
A cocktail bar gets into the ice cream game
Manhattan cocktail bar Double Double Chicken Please has entered the ice cream game with its new Lower East Side shop, Unnecessary, which opened at 66 Delancey Street, at Allen Street, on Thursday, June 18, with a fuller opening on Friday, June 26. The menu’s described as “mixology-inspired ice cream,” which translates to dirty martinis, Garibaldis, and matcha Grasshoppers. There are boozy and non-boozy versions of each; hours are 1 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays through Sundays.
Greenpoint Fish & Lobster is opening something new
No, Enid’s is not reopening, per Greenpointers. But yes, it appears that something new will open by Greenpoint Fish & Lobster (which relocated the address’s shuttered Bar Bruno to Carroll Gardens in April).
Is Kiki’s actually closed?
It turns out that the Dimes Square Greek restaurant Kiki’s is closed for now after it was seized for tax nonpayments. Caper reports that co-owner Pavlos Sierros owes A LOT of money in a mix of business and personal taxes and accumulated interest. But in a move of sheer audacity, the team has temporarily relocated the restaurant across the street to its other location, where it’s still serving drinks and food.
Strange Delight nixes daytime service
After Strange Delight pastry chef Amanda Perdomo left New York for New Orleans (she’s now at Spanish restaurant Dolfy’s), the Fort Greene restaurant is pausing its weekday daytime service for now. It assures that her pastries will still be available at Canyon Coffee in Prospect Heights.
“Take me out to dinner / you know you can take me anywhere”
International pop star Olivia Rodrigo’s new music video for the amazing “Stupid Song” (one of the best songs on the great album, IMO) was partially filmed at Upper West Side grocery shop Zingone Bros; the crew even used footage from a camera placed on resident shop cat Oliver.
The world can be nice
Enjoy the pure joy of Brits discovering New Jersey sandwiches during the World Cup.
Cocodaq pops up in London
New York’s luxe fried chicken restaurant Coqodaq is headed into London to serve its chicken nuggets at Lucky Cat by Gordon Ramsay in the Mayfair neighborhood, timed to Wimbledon, from Monday, June 29, through Sunday, July 12.
