Fire Tears Through a Red Sauce Institution of South Brooklyn

A fire ripped through Ortobello, a 50-year-old red sauce institution of Bensonhurst last week, later determined by the Fire Marshall that it started in an exhaust fan. Now the South Brooklyn restaurant, located on Bay Parkway, is raising funds to rebuild, Brooklyn Paper reports. Up until the incident, Ortobello was a last-of-its-kind joint, with interiors dating back to the 1970s. The family stepped up since their father’s passing in 2018; he first opened Ortobello in 1974. Next-of-kin owner Andrea Cerasuoli told the publication: “Unfortunately the flames did spread through the kitchen, and it did do a lot of damage so we have been forced to shut down until the insurance company carries out inspections and we rebuild the inside.” To date, a GoFundMe has raised more than $15,000.

A bakery from the founders of Chip City and 16 Handles

A New French patisserie, Somedays Bakery, from founders of the Chip City cookie chain and fro-yo chain 16 Handles, has opened, with lattices in flavors like chocolate hazelnut praline or prosciutto and croissants with black sesame tahini, or pistachio and raspberry. It’s located at 23-37 30th Avenue, at Crescent Street, in Long Island City.

Star butchers are expanding to Midtown

Jocelyn Guest and Erika Nakamura, who once owned White Gold Butchers, before going off on their own, are opening a kiosk inside the public plaza outside 535 Madison Avenue, at East 54th Street, in Midtown. It’s the second location for Due Madri, the Italian food stand they first opened at the James Beard Foundation-backed food hall Market 57.

Falls Church Vietnamese restaurant is opening in Chinatown

Pho Ga Vang, a Vietnamese restaurant located in Falls Church, Virginia, at Eden Center, is throwing its hat in the New York ring. Chef and owner Tony Le announced via an Instagram post that they’ve signed on storefront at 30 Market Street, at Henry Street, in Chinatown — the same block as Golden Diner and the forthcoming Vietnamese American bakery, Bánh by Lauren. The Virginia location made Washingtonian’s 100 best restaurants for 2024 list.