🚕 NYC Launches Inaugural Outdoor Dining Restaurant Week

Good Morning NY!

This week, NYC’s dining scene is serving up bold flavors and fresh concepts.

From a sober bar redefining nightlife to a tasting menu that elevates kimchee like fine wine, innovation is on the menu.

We’re exploring NYC’s first-ever outdoor dining restaurant week, giving al fresco enthusiasts a perfect excuse to eat under the sky.

Fine dining gets a fresh take with Saga’s relaunch under a trailblazing Michelin-starred chef.

And for pizza lovers, the One Bite Festival is returning bigger than ever, bringing slices from top pizzerias across the country.

This edition has a little something for everyone—cocktails, kimchee, outdoor dining, elevated classics, and, of course, pizza.

Carl Radke Launches Soft Bar in Brooklyn

Carl Radke, the Summer House star, is opening Soft Bar, a non-alcoholic bar and café, in Brooklyn on September 17, 2025.

Located at 200 Banker Street, the venue offers a social space for those seeking vibrant experiences without alcohol.

Radke, sober since 2021, developed Soft Bar as part of his personal recovery journey and to fill a gap for inclusive, alcohol-free social spaces.

The menu features "soft cocktails," a term Radke prefers over "mocktails," emphasizing high-quality, intentional beverages.

Drinks are curated by former Eleven Madison Park bartender Rich Millwater and sober nutritionist Dr. Brooke Scheller, using functional ingredients and expert techniques.

Soft Bar also serves non-alcoholic beers, wines, coffees, and healthy food pairings, with an interior designed to blend industrial elements and warm touches.

The space includes a private events area and aims to redefine nightlife, offering a welcoming environment for connection and community.

Raon Introduces Kimchee Pairing Tasting Menu

Chef Soogil Lim, formerly of Daniel and owner of Soogil in the East Village, is set to open Raon on East 59th Street later this month.

Raon will be the first restaurant in the U.S. to offer dedicated kimchee pairings with its courses.

The $255 tasting menu features ten courses, seven of which are paired with different types of kimchee, showcasing its diverse regional and seasonal variations.

Lim aims to elevate kimchee to the same status as wine in fine dining, highlighting its evolving flavors as it ages.

Dishes include tuna and caviar with baek kimchee, uni gimbap with jang kimchee, and foie-gras mandu with mukeunji.

This innovative approach seeks to treat kimchee with the same respect and attention given to wine pairings, offering diners a unique culinary experience.

NYC Launches First-Ever Outdoor Dining Restaurant Week

New York City is hosting its inaugural Curbside Dining Restaurant Week from September 5 to 12.

The event celebrates the city’s vibrant outdoor dining culture, which became a staple during the pandemic.

Over 30 restaurants across all five boroughs are participating, offering special deals to diners.

Promotions include 20% off the bill, prix fixe menus starting at $35, and complimentary items like house-made limoncello.

Participants range from Upper East Side favorites like The Mansion to Queens hotspots such as Sean Og’s Tavern.

The event aims to support local restaurants while encouraging New Yorkers to enjoy al fresco dining.

Curbside Dining Restaurant Week offers a perfect opportunity to explore the city’s culinary scene under the open sky.

For a full list of participating restaurants and more details, diners can visit the official website.

Saga Reopens with Chef Charlie Mitchell at the Helm

Saga, the acclaimed fine-dining destination on the 63rd floor of 70 Pine Street, is reopening on September 1.

Executive Chef Charlie Mitchell, a James Beard Award winner and the first Black Michelin-starred chef in NYC, is leading the relaunch.

The menu draws inspiration from Mitchell’s Detroit upbringing and Southern comfort food, offering dishes like tempura-style fried fish, cornbread with gold Osetra caviar, and Tsuyahime dirty rice.

Unlike the previous shared-plate style, the new menu features individually curated courses for a precise and immersive dining experience.

The restaurant’s interior has been upgraded with black-marble tabletops, Sergio Hudson-designed uniforms, and a '90s R&B and soul playlist to complement the nostalgic culinary journey.

Mitchell’s vision is ambitious: he aims to propel Saga into the top tier of New York fine dining and become the first Black chef to earn three Michelin stars.

Saga promises a bold, elevated experience that blends innovation, nostalgia, and impeccable cuisine.

One Bite Pizza Festival Returns to NYC

The One Bite Pizza Festival is set to make its return to New York City on September 13, 2025.

Founded in 2023 by Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy and event producers Medium Rare, the festival has quickly become one of the city’s most popular food celebrations.

The event brings together more than 35 pizzerias from across the country, giving attendees a chance to taste slices from some of the best spots in America.

Its debut in Coney Island drew 5,000 people, while the 2024 edition on Randall’s Island doubled that crowd with 10,000 attendees across two sold-out sessions.

Alongside pizza, the festival includes live music and showcases Portnoy’s famous “One Bite” reviews, adding entertainment to the food experience.

This year’s edition is expected to sell out once again, continuing to cement the festival as a must-visit event for pizza lovers in New York.

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