Seven Restaurants That Opened in NYC This Week – 3/21/2014

When one restaurant’s doors close another restaurant’s doors open in fast-paced New York City, and every Friday, we’ll fill you in on what opened up around town this week. This week: a whiskey bar in Greenpoint, a bakery in the Brooklyn Public Library, and a “kosher style” restaurant on First Avenue.

Currant Café, 248 McKibbon, Brooklyn

The McKibbon lofts in Bushwick have been getting a lot of buzz lately thanks to a soon-to-open nightclub in the building. For now, tenants and Bushwick residents can enjoy a cup of coffee and pastries at the new Currant Café. The café is owned by the impending nightclub’s owners and serves grilled cheese, sloppy joes, and more.

Dziupla, 194 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn

Taking the place of longstanding eatery S&B is Dziupla, a Polish restaurant headed by Krzysztof Drewiecki. Born in Poland, Chef Drewiecki formerly trained at Nobu and owns four other Polish restaurants in Brooklyn. Once the weather warms up, there will be six outdoor tables, and an outdoor piano. Dziupla is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Four & Twenty Blackbirds Café, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn

Beloved Brooklyn bakery Four & Twenty Blackbirds has expanded to the Brooklyn Public Library. Owners and siblings Melissa and Emily Elsen started serving their homemade sweets on the most appropriate day of the year, Pi Day (March 14). For those who want a savory snack, treats come from John and Mike Poiarkoff, the chefs of the Pines and Vinegar Hill House. The café is open Monday through Saturday until 6 p.m.

McMahon’s Public House, 39 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn

Formerly known as O’Connor’s Bar, McMahon’s Public House has reopened after nine months of extensive renovations. The former dive bar is not so divey anymore. There are 12 beers on draft, and you can book private parties on the second floor.

Seasoned Vegan, 55 St. Nicholas Avenue, 212-222-0092

Mother and son Brenda and Aaron Beener have opened a vegan restaurant in Harlem. Seasoned Vegan serves up “gourmet vegan soul food.” To the Beeners, soul food is not necessarily a descriptor for food from the Southern U.S. region; instead, they believe the phrase embodies foods made from a chef with love and care. The menu includes vegan versions of fish and chips, chicken and waffles, and Philly cheesesteaks.

Spiegel, 26 First Avenue

“Kosher-style” Morroccan and Israeli restaurant Spiegel has opened on First Avenue. According to Bowery Boogie, the food will not be officially Kosher, but Kosher practices such as not mixing milk and meat will be followed.

The Moonlight Mile, 200 Franklin Street, 718-398-3904

Named after a Rolling Stones song, The Moonlight Mile is a whiskey bar with over 80 varieties of the liquor. Try out a whiskey flight or grab a beer from one of the 12 craft brews on draft. And if you’re looking for a snack, the bar offers maple thyme pecans and bacon bourbon caramel corn from Ovenly.