Rome to Brooklyn Pizza opens at 755 Grand Street

The pizza spot was opened by Brooklyn native + acclaimed chef Aurel Xhepexhiu

Image of a panzerotti from @rometobrooklyn

The drought of a pizza spot on Grand Street is over. Rome to Brooklyn Pizza & Panzerotti opened at the end of January with a full menu of Italian style eats—and most importantly an array of absolutely delicious pizza flavors.

Owner and chef Aurel Xhepexhiu has been in the pizza business since he was a teenager and has over 20 years of experience at some of NYC’s most famous spots. Aurel’s experience ranges from Manhattan institutions like Artichoke Pizza and Brooklyn Pizza Masters to the more local Williamsburg Pizza, but Rome to Brooklyn Pizza is a homecoming for the chef. Originally from Bushwick, Aurel is proud to bring his acclaimed food—which has received a 8.5 rating from Barstool—closer to his home neighborhood.

At Rome to Brooklyn you can find just about any type of slice you’re looking for such as vodka sauce, prosciutto arugula, and blueberry + pancetta. But the menu is also diverse in its offerings beyond the traditional specialty pizza slices. Rome to Brooklyn is flexible for diets as you can pre-order cauliflower pizza with cauliflower cheese in plain, margherita, grandma, and specialty styles as well as vegan pies either small or large. Dessert is on the menu too, RTB has nutella and rasperry pizza, like this heart shaped Valentine’s Day pizza, and zeppoles with nutella and strawberry. The panzerottis, however, are what truly set Rome to Brooklyn apart. Traditionally served in the Puglia region of Italty as a popular street food, a panzerotti is a fried calzone stuffed with different meats and cheeses.

Look out for Rome to Brooklyn in our next edition of Summer Restaurant Week on Grand Street, but try it for yourself in the meantime at 755 Grand Street open until 11pm. The follow @rometobrooklynpizza for regularly hunger-inducing shots of pizza on your feed.

Make pizza and dance! Swing by to say hello to the crew and try the best slice in town. 🕺💃🏻🕺💃🏻🕺 * * * * #goodtimez #happy #pizza #rome #brooklyn #newyorktimesfood #dance #rainwontstopus #thrillist #infatuation #pepperonipizza #cheflife #chef #williamsburg #bushwick #brooklynkid #barstoolsports #dancemonkey

101 Likes, 11 Comments - RometoBrooklynpizza (@rometobrooklynpizza) on Instagram: "Make pizza and dance! Swing by to say hello to the crew and try the best slice in town. 🕺💃🏻🕺💃🏻🕺 * *..."

Pastrami Masters opens at 812 Grand Street

Serving David’s Brisket House + Lebanese cuisine

This November, David’s Brisket opened at the old location of Wafa’s Express (812 Grand Street)—their second location— under the new name Pastrami Masters with an added section of Lebanese cuisine to the menu.

David’s Brisket is a famous deli in Bed-Stuy (Nostrand & Atlantic Aves) that serves heaping sized sandwiches with pastrami, corned beef, of course brisket, and most traditional Jewish delicatessen staples. With Pastrami Masters now opening, that means David Brisket’s famous pastrami sandwich, which The Brooklyn Paper says blows the rest of the borough out of the water, is now available right here on Grand Street.

Try out Pastrami masters on Grand Street between Bushwick Ave & Humboldt St.

Masa Empanadas opens at 804 Grand Street

Savory + sweet empanadas with a special deal attached

Interior look at the new establishment

Masa Empanadas is open for business. From the same owners of Piccoli To Go, 804 Grand Street now has a new look, menu, and name. From savory flavors like ham + cheese, creamy corn, and Argentinian beef to dessert flavors including apple cinnamon or Nutella banana, Masa serves a bit of everything all in the form of an empanada.

Prices are low ranging from $2.50 to $4 for each delicious empanada, and not to mention Masa offers discounted combos with salads as well. And if you’re worried about missing Piccoli, Masa also serves three varieties of pizzas for any sudden Italian food cravings.

If you stop by tonight + follow @masaempanadas on Instagram then you can try your first empanada for free. Look out for wine and beer to be served in the near future as well. With indoor seating and warm (+ free!) empanadas, Masa is an all around lunch, dinner, or snack option that will have something for everyone.

Nutella + banana empanadas

Landline opens with games, trivia + happy hours

The bar at 790 Grand Street is your newest spot to hang out or compete with your friends

The eastern end of Grand Street near Bushwick Avenue has a new bar joining the neighborhood. Landline opened last week looking to fill in a gap as a place to relax and hang out in a part of the district where only a handful of bars currently live.

The 4th iteration of a popular Brooklyn bar family, Landline comes from the founders of Uncle Barry’s in Park Slope, Watershed in Carroll Gardens, and Moot Bar in Clinton Hill. Landline thus serves as the natural extension of the business into the growing East Williamsburg community.

Their drink menu aims to satisfy all patrons with equal parts beer, wine, and cocktails, and the happy hour until 7pm takes $2 off most choices. The beer list is refined and has critic favorite craft brands like Maine Beer co and Cigar City, and a rotating line of local Interboro brews to come.

If you’re the competitive type, Landline is also the spot for you. A shuffleboard table greets you when you walk in, a dart board claims a place in the back, and the bar hosts original trivia every Wednesday at 9pm. The prize for winning is a hefty $50 off your tab.

Stop by Landline at 790 Grand Street and follow them @landlinebrooklyn. After that, look out for Landline to participate in future Grand Street savings programs + events.

Retro themes line the bar like rotary telephone wallpaper

Chongkho opens with Thai fusion + public art

Chongkho opened its doors last week bringing classic Thai cuisine with fusion options along with new public art to the neighborhood.

Chive dumplings served with a sweet soy sauce

The latest restaurant opening on Grand Street, Chongkho at 562, comes with a diverse Thai fusion menu and has already made its mark on the neighborhood. Before its opening, signs of life appeared at the former home of Desy’s Clam Bar when a new mural by JPO popped up on its gate. Chongkho and JPO connected through a family friendship, and he agreed to paint the gates to liven the new site while also contributing the 11th new mural on Grand Street in 2019.

Before that however, Chongkho got its start when Apichada, the chef + owner, was working in the hotel industry in Manhattan when she realized she wanted to open a restaurant. She took the L train into Brooklyn and decided to skip Bedford and get off at the Grand Street station looking for an open place. She landed at 562 and got to work opening the location with her daughter Orawan.

The result is a menu that consists of a mix of Thai, American + international cuisine. You can order every Thai classic from curry to pad thai, and everything from mussels to pasta to burgers as well. The eatery also has a unique selection of summery beverages like Thai iced tea and butterfly pea lemonade. Chongkho has the makings of the perfect destination when you’re seeking comfort food of any origin, and the perfect compromise when you and your SO or friend can’t agree on where to go. Either way, be sure to stop by and try a bit of everything. You can see the full menu here and you can follow them at @chongkho_bk.

The gate of Chongkho painted by JPO
Photo credit @walkinggirlnyc

Carneval opens at 507 Grand Street

The “carnival” themed bar + grill brings bright costumes and Latin food to the neighborhood

The Latin fusion restaurant opened this August

A new colorful and fun bar + grill, Carneval, opened its doors on Grand Street this month and is already shaping to be a neighborhood mainstay. Serving as both an ode to the Latin culture of carnivals and the Latin heritage of the Williamsburg neighborhood, Carnival was opened by Mike Cruz, who grew up in Williamsburg, for the local community on Grand Street.

Carneval states that their goal is to “bring great food, creative drinks, culture, and fun to the vibrant Williamsburg Brooklyn neighborhood” as a way of “showing love, pride and loyalty for the neighborhood that raised us.”

The restaurant combines its themes of Latin carnival culture and its Williamsburg roots seamlessly. It’s decorated thoroughly with masks + costumes hanging on the wall and a mural of a “carnival” taking place on the J train emerging from the Williamsburg bridge that acts as the eatery’s centerpiece.

The food menu shares flavors from various cultures, as it was inspired by Cruz’s own global travels, ranging from tacos to yuca to penne a la vodka. The cocktail menu offers the same variety and color at an affordable price of $10 and a daily drink special. Brunch is also available for a prix fixe cost of $40 with complimentary mimosas and sangria for 90 minutes.

Carneval requires no dress code, but it certainly offers every other theme to either make you nostalgic of Latin carnivals or eager to see one yourself. It’s ode to the Williamsburg community that it calls home is genuine to Cruz’s own local upbringing. Experience what the Infatuation calls a “perfect for a party that ends with you swinging by the next day to pick up your credit card,” or go any time for the great food and atmosphere.

Mural on the back wall connecting the bar + grill with Williamsburg’s Latin heritage

Yummy Extensions debuts first NYC location on Grand Street

The Dallas-based hair company opened with a launch party on Sunday

The online industry leader opened its doors at 675 Grand Street.

Yummy Extensions has built a reputation supplying top-of-the-line hair extensions unmatched in quality, worn by celebrities, and even being featured at the Met Gala this year. Amassing 287k instagram followers and a robust online sales presence, you’d be surprised to hear that before this move you could only find an in-person Yummy Extensions retail store in Dallas, TX.

That’s no longer the case as owner + founder Yummie has taken the leap to a permanent foothold in NYC after numerous pop-ups throughout the city. The store opened at 675 Grand Street on Sunday with a line-out-the-door launch party featuring Growing up Hip Hop star Angela Simmons.

When asked why she chose Grand Street to open her first expansion store and NYC location, Yummie said she felt comfortable in the neighborhood and she loved the space. Yummy Extensions is the 4th new business on Grand Street within the past month to be opened by an experienced entrepreneur, as the neighborhood has emerged as a destination for small business owners looking to expand their reach into Williamsburg.

To find out more about Yummy Extensions, visit their website and follow on Instagram + Twitter.

NY💘Join us on Sunday May 5th for the Grand Opening of the FIRST Yummy Extensions store in #brooklyn 🎉🎉🎉 Time: 2pm-7pm Come enjoy special exclusive pricing, refreshments,Live DJ and giveaways. See you there #beearly #yummyextensions #yummygirl #yummytakesbrooklyn

369 Likes, 22 Comments - Official Yummy Hair Extensions (@yummyextensions) on Instagram: "NY💘Join us on Sunday May 5th for the Grand Opening of the FIRST Yummy Extensions store in #brooklyn..."

BK Pilates Adds New Fitness Options to Grand Street

Founder Marina Kaydanova returns to Brooklyn with her latest studio

Classes are open to all levels

In a trend of small biz entrepreneurs choosing Grand Street for their 2nd and 3rd businesses, BK Pilates stands out from the group. Owner and founder Marina Kaydanova had found success in two boroughs before opening her brand’s 4th studio at 710 Grand Street this year.

Working in the corporate world, Marina began Pilates as a way to keep in shape, which quickly turned into a passion, which eventually led to opening her first business near Marine Park in South Brooklyn. After success there and further installments in TriBeCa + Flatiron, Marina is bringing her business back to Brooklyn and bringing Pilates to Grand Street.  

Marina says she chose Grand Street for her business because of the beauty of the space and the active presence it provides on the busy corridor. She also loves the sense of community among the small businesses and residents. There was a need too, among Grand Street’s growing fitness studio scene there had yet to be a space dedicated to Pilates.

That’s no longer a concern, and you can choose a group class which last about an hour for $40 or a private lesson that will cost you less than those at Manhattan locations. There is additionally space for pop-ups in
the front and inquiries are welcome at info@grandstreetbk.org.

If you’re curious about the workout, check out @bkpilates on instagram or bkpilates.com to register.

Eleva Coffee Finds a Homecoming on Grand Street

Co-owner Raffaello Van Couten is proud to bring Eleva Coffee to his home neighborhood

Eleva’s inside offers space to work, meet friends, + relax

Eleva Coffee has just expanded to their new home at 649 Grand Street, which in many ways is where their story began. While Eleva has been in business for a little under 2 years, it opened its first storefront on
N 8th street in October.

Emilio Baltodano founded Eleva when seeking to merge ethically sourced coffee with consumer friendly prices, so he used his prior 15 years in the coffee trading business to connect with rural communities in Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Ethiopia. Using his past coffee industry experience, Emilio built a sustainable model that pays Eleva’s farmers above market-rate and invests significantly in building up the infrastructure and schools in the communities they farm.

After founding Eleva, Emilio met now co-owner Raffaello Van Couten by providing Eleva’s coffee to Van Couten’s Williamsburg restaurant, Midnights. Van Couten has lived on Grand Street for over 10 years, and even partners with local biz Willy B Crossfit (667 Grand St) on culinary side projects. When Van Couten and Willy B came into the fold of the Eleva project, Grand Street seemed like the natural next destination for the shop.

Raffaello and Emilio consider Grand Street an integral part of their business today, and they are entrenching their coffee in the community with special discounts for Grand Street residents and baked goods from neighborhood bakery Nick + Sons.

Welcome Eleva to the neighborhood by trying “The Grand” sandwich special asking for your $1 off discount for living in the community.

Emilo ensures Eleva’s coffee is farm-to-cup with close relationships to their farming communites

BK Jani Brings NYC Top 20 Burger to Grand Street

Chef Sibte Hassan is expanding his Pakistani hit from Bushwick to Williamsburg

Rated 8.6/10 from The Infatuation

If you’ve already been behind on your New Year’s Resolution to get in shape, now might be the time to officially throw in the towel. After all, Grand Street’s newest biz opening happens to be home to one of NYC’s top 20 burgers (# 12 to be specific). Owner + chef Sibte Hassan is expanding his New York Times praised business from Bushwick to a new storefront at 679 Grand Street. If you’re not already sold, check out this review from The Infatuation accompanying their ranking:

“When you try the signature burger at this tiny Pakistani place in Bushwick, you’ll think back to a time in your life when you were constantly discovering great new things, like sunsets and scented markers. It might not look all that unique, but instead of mayo or mustard, it has spicy mint chutney, and the big patty is somehow lighter than it looks. We could eat several of these in one sitting, and now that we’ve come up with that idea, we probably will.”

— The Infatuation

Sibte wasn’t expecting to come to Williamsburg, but when he visited his new digs for the first time he knew it was a match right away. Having arrived in New York over a decade ago, Sibte initially came to study at the Parsons School of Design. We’re glad that Sibte changed career paths to cooking, and we’re even happier that cooking is coming to Grand Street.

Chef Hassan in front of the Bushwick establishment (photo: New York Times)