Quick Bites: Memorial Day weekend wraps up with a notable Greenpoint relaunch (Phil’s Place, the new chapter at 524 Graham Ave), a Fort Greene sweets debut (Candor Candy on Fulton), and a fresh Ridgewood bar from the team behind Honoré Club. On the closings side, the city is still processing Loring Place’s announcement that its final Greenwich Village service is set for July 14.
Brooklyn: A Greenpoint Reset and a Fort Greene Sweet Spot
The biggest Brooklyn story this week is the rebirth of a familiar Graham Avenue corner. Phil’s Place (524 Graham Ave, Greenpoint) has officially taken over the space that housed Jimbo Slims for seven years. It’s a new venture between Phil Shepherd and chef James Ahearn (of Pomp and Circumstance), with a renovated interior — long upholstered seating replacing the old booths — and a sandwich-forward menu, including a chicken meatball Caesar hero that’s already drawing repeat orders. Jimbo Slims closed in October 2025; the new operators kept the bar bones and added a real kitchen.
Over in Fort Greene, Candor Candy (664 Fulton St) is the first dedicated gummy candy shop in that part of Brooklyn. It’s a pick-and-mix concept, female-founded and locally owned, with rotating gummy flavors like mango and cucumber alongside more traditional sweets and pantry “staples.” The shop runs 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and donates $1 to NYC food banks for every new social follow — a small detail, but on-brand for a neighborhood that takes its independent businesses seriously.
Queens: A New Bar from the Honoré Club Team
Di’s Corner Bar (Ridgewood, off Woodward Avenue) is the second project from Greg Diemond and Diana Orena, the couple behind Bushwick’s Honoré Club. It’s a wood-paneled neighborhood spot with a pool table and darts, open until 2 a.m. daily, with plans for a full kitchen on the way. If you’ve been waiting for somewhere in Ridgewood that’s relaxed enough for a Tuesday night but not so quiet you can’t hear the jukebox, this is the new entry.
Manhattan: The Loring Place Countdown
The biggest closing story this week remains Loring Place in Greenwich Village. Chef Dan Kluger announced earlier this month that his nearly-decade-old West 8th Street restaurant will serve its last dinner on July 14, 2026, citing rising costs and ongoing financial strain. Loring Place has been a vegetable-forward, wood-fire fixture in the neighborhood since 2016, and Kluger’s farewell note has prompted a noticeable bump in reservations through June. If it’s on your list, this is the window.
Still Worth Your Attention from Earlier This Week
If you missed our coverage from the past few days: Bar Susanne opened May 15 at 6 River Street in Domino Park (Williamsburg waterfront raw bar, kitchen by chef Jackie Carnesi, daily 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.); Lonnies debuted May 20 at 112 Bond Street in Boerum Hill from the Ingas Bar team (brick chicken, prime rib night, Basque cheesecake); and the Six Coasts by Smorgasburg Pan-American seafood project is now open on Governors Island for the season.
Health Department Watch
The Department of Health’s ABCEats tracker has logged eight Manhattan full-shutdowns in 2026 so far for sanitary violations — most involving vermin evidence, improperly stored food, or contaminated prep surfaces. None of this week’s closures rose to the level of permanent shutdown — these are operational closures pending re-inspection — but it’s the usual reminder to glance at the letter grade in the window before you sit down. The City’s full inspection database is searchable at nyc.gov/health.
What to Watch Next Week
June kicks off Pride month and a new wave of summer pop-ups across the boroughs. Smorgasburg’s Williamsburg lineup adds vendors weekly, the rooftop bar season is in full swing, and we’re tracking at least two Brooklyn restaurant debuts confirmed for the first week of June. We’ll have the full roundup Monday.
Spotted something we missed? Restaurant openings, closings, or relocations move fast — tips welcome.
