Astoria: Winegasm has some tasty bites, but the Gasm Dip has sort of a strange taste that might even have more to do with licorice flavoring than the bean spread’s unfortunate name. [Joey in Astoria]
Clinton Hill: A beautiful fresh produce stop called Atlantic Tropics has opened on Atlantic Avenue near Grand, and it’s not going to get much foot traffic so you’ll have to search it out. [Clinton Hill Blog]
East Harlem: Patsy’s will sell pizza for 60 cents all day on August 19 to celebrate its 75th anniversary. [Slice]
Flatiron: A surprising addition to this mostly ho-hum list of where to find the city’s best cocktails is Craftbar, which serves a house margarita with fresh-squeezed grapefruit and orange juice, and a kumquat mimosa. [Restaurant Girl]
Little Italy: The reborn Randolph seems to be faring well since its speakeasy makeover: “The crowd is a good mix of creative hipster and young urbanite, with minimal bankers tossed in for good measure.” [Bottomless Dish/Citysearch]
Midtown East: Sushi Yasuda chef Naomichi Yasuda explains how his restaurant is a rare peek at “old Japan. Big cuts are seen as a positive thing in this new sushi world, which is not necessarily true. Also, people think that the fresher a fish is the better it is. This is generally true, but some fish are actually better after a day or two.” [Zagat Buzz] Frank Bruni’s compiled a list of the city’s most attractive restaurants, and in the era of designer spaces, the Four Seasons holds its own for being “conventionally elegant.” [NYT]
Park Slope: The last old-school butcher in the hood, A&S; Pork Store, might be pushed out of its space in the next three months partly because of a family feud, according to a real estate blogger: “[T]he daughter of the former owner (still all family) is jacking their rent up b/c she knows she can get more money for that space and doesn’t care that the family business won’t be able to afford it.” [Adventures of a Gal via Gowanus Lounge]
West Village: It’s Bastille Day, and Paris Commune is one of many French restaurants around town promising festivities including live jazz and a cabaret act. [Grub Street]
