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[title]Blissville Lauded cocktail den Dutch Kills gains a pop-up eatery from former doorman Chris Faga (a self-taught cook) and partner Natalie Blake (a trained chef). The pair will dispatch plates to drinkers at the spot's stately mahogany bar and wood booths. Pad the boozing with snacks like a slow-roasted-pork sandwich on a Portuguese roll, a build-your-own grilled cheese and a root-vegetable summer roll, plus outré drunk-food creations, such as a reinterpreted BLT made with the tomato-and-bread salad panzanella in a molded bacon "cup." 27-24 Jackson Ave between Dutch Kills and Queens Sts, Long Island City, Queens (718-954-4318)
Blue Collar West Coast–style burgers arrive in Williamsburg with this 18-seat patty joint, from the owners of Miller's Tavern. Thin, flat top-griddled burgers are topped with American cheese, slathered with a mayo-based secret sauce and deposited in a toasted potato bun. Rounding out the quick-service menu: split-and-grilled hot dogs, paper bags of shoestring fries and hand-spun milk shakes. 160 Havemeyer St, store 2 between South 2nd and 3rd Sts, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (347-725-3837)
Bugs Sho Boo, a Japanese-born Korean woman, busted into the male-dominated sushi world at Yasuda, later honing her fish-cutting skills at Jewel Bako. There the Sally Ride of New York's sushi scene gained a loyal following of aficionados (among them The Story of Sushi author Trevor Corson). But when she debuts her own restaurant this week, the focus will be on the Japanese small plates ippin ryori, not nigiri and maki. She will serve homestyle dishes, such as moroheiya okonomiyaki (a wild Japanese spinach pancake), chicken saikyo miso yaki (miso-marinated grilled chicken) and a shrimp and seaweed salad with a plum-tofu mousse dressing. But the toque won't completely give up on raw-fish plates and rolls, plugging them into nightly specials, like a shimeji and maitake mushroom sushi box. The spare 15-seat dining room—featuring mint green walls, hanging globe lights covered in straw weaving and a glass-covered bar encasing a colorful mosaic—shares a name with Boo's former Osaka bar. 504 E 12th St between Aves A and B (646-918-7985)
Galli Find classic Italian sauces (bolognese, amatriciana, marinara), along with more-modern plates (whole-wheat spaghetti), on the menu at this 69-seat restaurant. Post up at the marble-topped bar, or follow the neon-pink "This Way" sign to the main dining room, outfitted with a glass ceiling and monochrome tiles. Choose from more than 40 wines to pair with pastas, salads and traditional Italian plates, or sip on a speciality cocktail, like Daria's Melons (fresh watermelon, Campari, Bombay Sapphire and pink peppercorn). 45 Mercer St between Broome and Grand Sts (212-966-9288)
Grimaldi's Cyclone thrill-seekers can now choose between two iconic Brooklyn pizzerias after a ride on the landmark roller coaster. Joining Coney Island's legendary Totonno's a few blocks away, Grimaldi's fires up the coal-fueled brick ovens at its third location, near the beachside boardwalk. The bare-bones digs (raw brick walls, cold concrete floors) are unlikely to impress, but classic thin-crust pies and Brooklyn's first amusement park are sure to charm. 1215 Surf Ave between Stillwell Ave and W 12th St, Coney Island, Brooklyn (718-676-2630)
Isola Trattoria & Crudo Bar The food of Italy's coast inspires the seafood-focused menu at this 110-seat trattoria. Chef Victor LaPlaca offers pesce crudos like tuna with white balsamic, melon and pine nuts; and hamachi with salsa verde and crispy shallots. Diners can order full entrées such as salt-crusted branzino with stinging nettles and limoncello sauce, or dry-aged Maremma Steak with mushroom polenta and truffled lardo. The wine list also hews to the coastal theme, featuring more than 100 bottles from the Mediterranean. Mondrian SoHo, 9 Crosby St between Grand and Howard Sts (212-389-0000)
Itizy This charitably minded ice-cream truck—which donates one meal for every five scoops sold via the World Food Program USA—doles out icy treats made in small batches with milk from Hudson Valley farms. Choose from flavors like double dark chocolate, mint stracciatella and coffee brownie, and toppings, including sea salt and caramel, maple-pecan granola and chocolate almond toffee crunch. For locations, visit twitter.com/itizyicecream (no phone)
Lavender Lake This quaint 100-seat bar near the Gowanus Canal takes its name from a poetic moniker for the channel’s murky waters. Find five rotating draft brews (like Lagunitas IPA and Reissdorf Kölsch) and a handful of cocktails, including the namesake tipple, which is made with lavender-infused vodka, iced tea and lemon. Sip your drink with small plates, like an heirloom-tomato salad and boquerón toast, or heartier dishes such as a burger or steak. The four co-owners boast design backgrounds: Look for their handcrafted furnishings in the converted horse-stable space, including the reclaimed-wood bar, silver-treated mirrors and outdoor patio. 383 Carroll St between Bond and Nevins Sts, Gowanus, Brooklyn (347-799-2154)
Murray's Cheese Bar Cheese evangelist Rob Kaufelt—owner of the landmark retail shop Murray's—spins off this 56-seat curdscentric café. He enlisted fromage whiz Tia Keenan (Casellula, the Modern) to helm the kitchen, where she works the creamy specimens into a variety of dishes, such as mozzarella enchiladas with salsa verde, grilled halloumi dressed with lemon and mint, and a fried-Gruyère fondue riff. Choose from 35 vinos by the glass for a time-honored wine-and-cheese pairing, or slake your thirst with a beer: Six draft lines are split between American (Beyond Kombucha ale) and international (Brasserie Dupont Saison) craft suds. The homey space—outfitted with painted wood chairs, a communal table and subway-tiled walls—also honors dairy with a chalkboard farm mural. 264 Bleecker St between Leroy and Morton Sts (646-476-8882)
The Pantry Grab farm-to-table deli plates at this 20-seat Bed-Stuy café, from the team behind Peaches, Smoke Joint and Little Brother BBQ. Snag a seat at an antique-pine communal table and nibble on sandwiches, like country ham and Swiss with apricot mustard, and salads, including one with mushrooms, bok choy and a soy vinaigrette. 409 Lewis Ave at Decatur St, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn (347-955-5366)
Station Chef-owner Rue Rusike (Eleven Madison Park) dishes out French-inflected fare at this Williamsburg restaurant. Watch the chefs prepare your meal in the open kitchen, then tuck into plates like steak provençal, rabbit tagine and duck à l’orange. The in-house bakery offers a variety of freshly made pastries, including pain au chocolat, cinnamon rolls and baklava. Modeled after an old-world European train station, the space is outfitted with cast-iron gates, arched windows and an original 1800s brick wall. 166 North 7th St at Bedford Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-599-1596)
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