It’s been a blistering hot two weeks — thankfully, Brooklyn has a whole new crop of great new (air conditioned) bars and restaurants to take the edge off. Here’s the latest openings, closings, and of course, some gossip:
• Closings: The past few weeks we lost a few dear friends. We’re sad to report that Park Slope’s Bussaco has shuttered, along with the Williamsburg’s famous Relish Diner, Café Ribant in Cobble Hill and Maria’s Mexican Bistro in Park Slope.
• The Wait is Over: We’ll forgive this place for being a tease — after several months of constantly shifting opening dates, Fulton Grand Bar is finally open in Clinton Hill. It’s hard to stay mad at any place with a great happy hour.
• Park Slope now boasts a healthy take on Chinese take-out (and Fourth Ave now boasts any at all). The folks at A.O.C. Bistro have opened Michael & Pings on Third Avenue and Eighth Street.
• Brooklyn takes all: Here’s a point for Brooklyn in the borough battles: Williamsburg’s favorite Japanese brasserie Zenkichi has scratched plans for a Manhattan expansion in favor of opening Akariba, a new sake and oyster bar, next door to Zenkichi on N. Sixth Street.
• Vino Cravings: Come Sept. 15, the folks at Carroll Gardens catering spot Crave plan to open a wine bar in their Henry Street local. In other vino news, after six months of waiting on a liquor license, Fort Greene’s Mauzac has finally opened. True to its name, the wine bar carries a variety of wine made with Mauzac grapes.
• Makeovers: Beloved South Slope dive bar Royale has gotten a makeover — complete with new décor, a new moniker (Fifth Estate) and a stage for live music. Better yet, happy hour is now two-for-one.
• More Cupcakes for Brooklyn: We hear that Crumbs, the popular chain cupcake spot, will finally make its Brooklyn Heights debut on Aug. 11. Finally, another cupcake spot!
• Expansions: Lobster lovers rejoice! The Red Hook Lobster Pound plans to expand its Red Hook storefront with the addition of 40 extra seats — certainly a step up from the two benches the store sports now.
• Brunch: Last weekend, Lorelei Williamsburg unveiled a new weekend brunch, complete with German pancakes and sausage aplenty. Good thing there’s no such thing as too much brunch.
•More Italian: Italian food seems on the rise: this past fortnight Broken English, an Italian spot in Cobble Hill, joined a smattering of new Italian eatery openings over the past few months.
