Openings and Closings: Pizza, Tacos, Chocolate, & more

Welcome back to openings and closings. This week, we say hello to lifelike chocolate statues and gold lobster rolls, and goodbye to a beloved 22-year-old deli.

Openings:

Flatbush/Ditmas Park

Rusty Nail and Memphis Seoul

1701 Foster Avenue, between E. 17th and E. 18th streets.

The team from The Farm on Adderley and the Sycamore Bar + Flower Shop are opening a new bar, the Rusty Nail, on Foster Avenue. Memphis Seoul, a Korean barbecue spot, will be providing food at the space starting on October 25th. They will be open for delivery and pick-up, as well as in house service. The bar itself has a looser opening date, but will be in service by the end of the year. Their dishes will include Korean BBQ meatloaf, kimchi coleslaw, Korean corn bread, and jackfruit barbecue. Rusty Nail, which will have a capacity of 45, is taking over the former Mamma Lucia’s spot in Ditmas Park.

The Grounds of Brooklyn 

1117 Newkirk Avenue, between Coney Island Avenue and Westminster Road.

The Grounds of Brooklyn. Liena Zagare/Bklyner

By the owners of Milk & Honey next door, this new Ditmas Park place opened on October 18th, after years of being under construction. They are serving pastas, salads, and pizzas, made by the meter. The spot features a large open front, with outdoor seating and lots of light.

Jiku

1219 Church Avenue, between Westminster and Argyle roads.

Jiku’s exterior. Liena Zagare, Bklyner.

This new Korean comfort food spot has opened in place of Betty’s Bistro on Church Avenue. They are serving wings, pancakes, noodles, rice bowls, and fries. They also show all sports games at the restaurant.

Williamsburg

Ten Hope 

10 Hope Street, between Roebling and Havemeyer streets.

Indoor seating at Ten Hope. Courtesy of Ten Hope.

This new Mediterranean-inspired spot in Williamsburg opened to the public on October 17th. They are serving dishes like crispy octopus, diver sea scallops, kofta burger, and hanger steaks, as well as cocktails and house-made sodas. In addition to food, the restaurant will have live music every Tuesday night, fitting with the style of its owner, music producer and restaurateur Bill Zafiros. The restaurant can seat up to 100 guests, and features an immense backyard space.

Park Slope

Not Just Chocolate

537 5th Avenue, between 14th and 15th streets.

This Park Slope shop opened on 5th Avenue last Saturday. They are serving coffee, hot chocolates (of course), and tea, in addition to their wide selection of chocolate products. Their lifelike chocolate animal sculptures are particularly exciting and nearly too pretty to eat. The inside is cozy, with striped walls and low lighting. The perfect way to welcome fall.

Fort Greene

Brisket Brothers

690 Fulton Street, between S. Portland Avenue and S. Oxford Street.

The Fulton Area Business alliance announced to their Facebook followers that Brisket Brothers, a new corner spot on Fulton, was open on Sunday. According to the post, they will be serving sandwiches, burgers, and of course, sides.

Crown Heights

BK Lobster 

535 Nostrand Avenue, between Atlantic Avenue and Herkimer Street.

BK Lobster opened in Crown Heights on August 17th. The spot gained press attention for their 24k gold lobster roll (served with a glass of 23k gold wine). They also have events several nights a week, like R&B Tuesdays (these are BYOB) and Thursday game nights. You can enjoy a lobster roll inspired by your neighborhood here, like – the Bay Ridge Roll, served with Italian style red peppers.

Cobble Hill

Purepecha

213 Smith Street, between Baltic and Butler streets.

Purepecha in Cobble Hill also opened in mid-August. They’re serving tacos, salads, burritos, and much more, with a large amount of options to choose from. There are also margaritas and other mixed drinks on the menu, which you can sip in their bright and sunny restaurant, looking at the gorgeous mural that takes up one of the walls.

Bushwick

BK Taco Factory 

195 Stanhope Street, between Wilson and Knickerbocker avenues.

This new Bushwick spot serves all the typical fare- tacos, burrito bowls, cactus salad, and nachos. Vegan tacos are also on the menu, including poblanos and potatoes, and grilled cauliflower. The inside is brightly colored, and has plenty of seating to enjoy your food- but you can also do takeout or delivery. They opened to the public on September 20th.

Closings:

General Deb’s

Bushwick’s General Deb’s closed after just 18 months in business after a possible gas leak was detected. The process to reopen would require owners to apply again for a gas hook-up- something that they felt would be unlikely to have success.

Santo’s Deli

Pardon Me For Asking reported on Friday that Santo’s Deli in Carroll Gardens would be closing on October 31st. The shop had been open for 22 years.