Beloved Pizzeria Expands To Manhattan, Wine Bar Review & July 4th Weekend Events

In this weeks roundup: one of our go-to pizza spots (with a wine list that always delivers) just landed in Manhattan, we’re digging into a must-read on cooking with wine that we recently published, spotlighting 4th of July events, and kicking off a new segment: A Wine Bar You’ll Love. Plus, a summer book pick and a reading retreat you’ll want on your calendar.

Ops Pizzeria Expands From Brooklyn to the East Village

One of our favorite Brooklyn restaurants for pizza and wine, Ops has finally opened a second location — this time in the East Village. Since opening in Bushwick back in 2016, they've built a loyal following for their sourdough pies and, in our opinion, one of the best wine lists. We haven’t made it to the new space yet, but it’s at the top of our list.

Is It A Waste to Cook With Wine? What Chefs & Wine Experts Really Think

Cooking with wine can be confusing for the average home cook: which wines should you use? Does the price matter? Will the flavor actually come through? The idea of pouring a glass, or even an entire bottle, into a pot, only for it to reduce, cook, and evaporate, might make you think twice. Not just because that bottle could cost $20, but because it’s hard to know if it’s actually doing anything in the dish.

Annual Backyard 4th of July Party @ With Others

Williamsburg wine bar With Others is throwing what looks to be a glorious July 4th party, running from 2–10pm. Chef Lauren Althea Bruhn will be serving a Southern-inspired menu, with $12 pours and special bottles popping all weekend long!

• Date: Friday, July 4th

• Time: 2.00pm - 10.00pm

• Location: With Others, 340 Bedford, Brooklyn, NY 11211

• Additional Information: here!

Hana Makgeolli July 4th Block Party

Hana Makgeolli is hosting a 4th of July block party with Filipino takes on cookout classics, cold sool, and a DJ spinning throughout the day. They’ve teamed up with LJ Almendras, the chef behind the cult-favorite pop-up DILA and the soon-to-open wine bar Beautiful Eyes, for a menu that’s worth sticking around for.

• Date: Friday, July 4th

• Time: 3.00pm - 10.00pm/

• Location: Hana Makgeolli, 201 Dupont St, Brooklyn, NY 11222

• Additional Information: here!

Since Gem Wine opened on Broome Street a few years ago (the original wine bar, not the restaurant on Forsyth), I haven’t felt as excited about a new spot until now. Lei Wine has that same rare quality: a place that knows exactly what it is. It’s not chasing trends or trying to be anything other than itself. And it works. Exceptionally well.

The space is quaint in the best way: beautifully designed, with a natural flow that makes it feel lived in already. The staff moved with the ease and confidence of a team that's been doing this for years, not just a few weeks. There's no pressure to order food, but once the plates start landing on nearby tables, it’s hard not to follow your eyes and give in.

Jeff Porter and I decided to go all in and ordered the entire menu without even glancing to see how many dishes that meant. Slightly reckless? Sure. But sometimes that’s the right move when you’re catching up with a friend you haven’t seen in months at a place that feels exciting. We started with a bottle of Alexandre Lamblot ‘Réserve Perpétuelle’ Brut Nature NV to kick off the night, and finished with a glass of Sandlands Vineyards Red Table Wine to pair with the Sweet & Sour Beef Short Rib. A very fitting end.

Every dish was dialed in. Not a single miss. I’d order all of them again, just maybe not all at once next time.

Here are my dishes not to miss: Child Celtuce with Shallots & Red Vinegar, Fritto of Montauk Whitting & Tai Tiao Seaweed, Hand-Rolled Cat’s Ear Noodle with Lamb Braised, Sweet & Sour Beef Short Rib.

By Cerise Zelenetz

Other News & Other Stuff & Other Reads

• One wine we love: Clos Thierrière’s "Les Pleurs" 2023. Guillaume and Baptiste Frey are twin brothers who left their business careers during the pandemic to take up winemaking under the mentorship of Vincent Carême in Vernou‑sur‑Brenne, acquiring 12 ha of vineyards.

• Check out PageBreak, a novel reading retreat founded by Mikey Friedman. They've hosted gatherings just outside NYC at spots like the Spruceton Inn, The Henson, and more. If you’re into reading, meeting new people, and enjoying good wine and food, this is well worth checking out.

• Chez Ma Tante in Greenpoint, Brooklyn is hiring hosts. Check out their Instagram for more details!

• Meat Hook is hosting a pre–July 4th BBQ on Thursday, July 3rd, mainly because they always BBQ on Thursdays. We swung by last week for their pop-up with Yellow Rose and, despite the long line, it was absolutely worth it. Grab a beer, catch up with a friend, and don’t worry about how slow the line’s moving.

• Recommended book: Keith McNally, legendary restaurateur behind Balthazar, Pastis, and Minetta Tavern, released a memoir this past year. It’s an unfiltered account of his life, from a gritty London childhood to shaping NYC’s dining scene, with stories of fame, failure, family, and his signature flair. A must read. You can find it here.