Crowning glory
Ops East Village, best private dining rooms below 34th St, Crown Heights listings, Savannah Bananas, Mostrador at Marram, Woodstock intel, MORE
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three for-sale properties in Crown Heights that came to market this week and have open houses on Sunday.
→ 1377 Dean St A (Crown Heights, above) • 4BR/3BA 2598 SF house • Ask: $2.38M • ‘Crown Heights’ oldest surviving townhouse and Brooklyn's final remaining country villa’ • Days on market: 2 • Monthly tax: $351 • Agent: Alexandra Saltiel, Elliman. Open house Sun 12-130p by appt. only.
→ 1219 Dean St (Crown Heights) • 6BR/3BA, 5032 SF house • Ask: $3.5M • renovated 1891 Romanesque Revival with original detail • Days on market: 2 • Monthly tax: $1705 • Agent: Shii An Huang, Compass. Open house Sun 1-2p by appt. only.
→ 966 Bergen St (Crown Heights) • 5BR/3.2BA, 5164 SF house • Ask: $4.75M • new build over 5 floors with 2 roof decks • Days on market: 3 • Monthly tax: $460 • Agents: Daniel X. Cohen & Eddie Ugrinsky, Corcoran. Open house Sun 11a-12p.
THE NINES • FOUND Sponsor
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Nine premium ready-to-eat meals from acclaimed chefs to fuel your week
BBQ Chicken by chef Chris Ratel, pulled chicken BBQ with gooey pepperjack mac & cheese
Mom's Sunday Sauce Rigatoni by chef John DeLucie, hearty Sunday sauce with meatballs, marinara, and spicy sausage
Argentinian Grilled Skirt Steak by chef Jose Garces, Argentinian skirt steak with smashed potatoes, chimichurri, and flair
Pappardelle with Beef Ragù by chef Kristy Flores, rich beef ragù meets pappardelle and pure Italian comfort
Red Wine-Braised Short Rib by chefs Larry and Marc Forgione, red-wine short ribs with sweet potatoes
Spicy Drunken Noodle-Style Linguine with Shrimp by chef Hong Thaimee, Thai drunken noodles reimagined with linguine, basil, and chili
Maryland-Style Crab Cakes by BK Prime, golden Maryland crab cakes with remoulade and vibrant green rice
Creamy Lobster Green Curry by chef Hong Thaimee, lobster green curry with jasmine quinoa and crispy basil
Baked Herbed Cod by chef Tony Perez, flaky cod with garlic, herbs, and roasted garden vegetables
→ Order Now: CookUnity • get two free premium meals with every order.
REAL ESTATE LINKS: Tale as old as time: billionaires battling over Central Park views • Why are more millionaires renting? • Flatbush Ave redesign to begin this fall • On Grand St in Williamsburg, ‘What’s the deal with that funny-looking building?’
RESTAURANTS • First Word
Many onions
The Skinny: Beloved Bushwick pizzeria Ops (est. 2016) opened an East Village outpost over the summer, bringing its wood-fired sourdough pies and low-intervention wines to Manhattan.
The Vibe: Warm, casual, and lively, with a great soundtrack by co-owner Mike Fadem. The noise level is less ideal for soft-spoken diners, but perfect for a relaxed date night or catch-up with friends. The space channels a modern trattoria vibe, with wood-panelled booths, a stainless steel bar, vintage lighting, and eclectic art.
The Food: The classic Ops pizzas are Neapolitan-inspired but rooted in New York, with playful names like the Cicero, topped with “many onions,” and the Juno, featuring broccoli rabe, provola, and potatoes. A few thin-crust, St. Louis-style pies are new to the lineup and exclusive to this location. Starters like the crisp fritto misto with Basque peppers, anchovy aioli, and lemon are standouts, and the supplì are reliably delicious. Salads are market-fresh and generously sized. As for dessert, all you need to know is that there’s a soft serve machine.
The Drinks: The wine list is funky, far-reaching, and full of small-producer gems. The staff will happily chat about their favorite bottles and the best pizza-and-wine pairings. There’s also a succinct selection of beer and cocktails, like the bourbon-based Himrod Street, named for the Bushwick location.
The Verdict: It’s too early to tell if the East Village spot will capture the same laid-back, communal spirit of the Bushwick location, but the Ops migration is worth celebrating either way. –Phoebe Fry
→ Ops (East Village) • 172 2nd Ave • Sun-Thu 5-11p, Fri-Sat 5p-12a • Reserve.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Bananatown
Firefighters v Savannah Bananas • Banana Ball ‘blurs the lines between legitimate competition and farce-show entertainment’ • Yankee Stadium (Bronx) • Sat @ 7p • sec 114B, $188 per
Vulfpeck • Madison Square Garden (Midtown South) • Sat @ 8p • sec 107, $146 per
Swedish House Mafia • Under the K Bridge Park (Greenpoint) • Fri @ 730p • VIP, $438 per
CULTURE & LEISURE LINKS: The standout shows of NYFW • Dudamel and more fall music highlights • Worlds collide: EMP’s Daniel Humm curates Sotheby’s auction • Christie’s shutters digital art department • 20 fall art excursions outside NYC.
GETAWAYS • Montauk
Off-season shift
There are two types of places in Montauk: those that embrace the laid-back nature of a beach town, and those that play into Montauk’s newer notoriety as a party spot. This summer, it felt like the latter were multiplying, but there’s still relatively chill refuge to be found. One of those places is Mostrador at the Marram Hotel.
Set along the Terrace surf break, Mostrador channels the spirit of its South American sister location in José Ignacios, Uruguay. While word has spread about Mostrador’s indulgent and abundant breakfast pastries, I’m here to make a case for lunch, for those lingering out east into the shoulder season.
In the Hamptons, lunch can be an annoying meal to plan, especially if, like me, you filter based on: “Where can I get a great meal barefoot and in a wet bathing suit?” Mostrador makes it through that narrow filter.
Lunch service begins promptly at noon, and is ordered to-go style from the counter. Typically, there’s a choice of two or three proteins (I recommend the tender braised chicken if it’s available), alongside an array of beautifully presented vegetable sides.
Each dish is like its own color study of vibrant local produce, punctuated with grains, garnished with fresh herbs, and topped off with a deliciously bright sauce. Portions are generous, and flavors are balanced. You can peek into the modest kitchen while you wait. The Mostrador plate, which includes one protein and three sides, is $49, but is generous enough to share, and they’ll happily split one plate into two, making it even easier.
Take your plate to one of the ocean-facing benches or tables, and watch the surfers battle it out on the break as summer gives way to fall. –Sarah Jackson
→ Mostrador @ Marram (Montauk) • 21 Oceanview Terr • Daily 8a-9p, lunch 12-330p; schedule changes 9/15, closes for season 10/13/25.
GETAWAYS • Upstate Intel
NEW BLOOD: After shuttering for two months, Woodstock sushi joint MEDO reopened under new management. At a recent visit, they had stripped the menu of most kitchen offerings and renamed their sushi collections “omakase.” Fish was still good, but absence of anticipated favorites diminished the experience somewhat. “Hidden gem” becomes “solid choice” if you’re in Woodstock and craving sushi. Reserve.
SOMM GOOD NEWS: Around the corner from Medo, happy to report that monthly wine club from Unfiltered Wine & Spirits (a “sommelier curated, small batch collection of organic and biodynamic wines” — 4 wines/mo plus special gift, pairing suggestions and tasting notes, $100) has been delightful. Owner is former somm of Sylvia & Good Night. Both wine stores in Woodstock offer a highly curated selection and knowledgeable advice, Unfiltered’s selection is more eclectic. –Jonny Porkpie
GETAWAYS LINKS: On Union Square, W New York reopens following multi-year makeover • Admiring a Jean Prouvé emergency shelter relocated to a North Fork estate • Rent the guesthouse at Derek Jeter’s former Hudson Valley castle • Capital One Lounge at JFK T4 reopens after small fire • Ikon Pass adds three New England mountains and perks for upcoming ski season.
RESTAURANTS • The Nines
Private dining rooms, below 34th St
See also, Private Dining Rooms, Brooklyn. The Nines are FOUND's distilled lists of NYC's best. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@foundny.com.
Locanda Verde (Tribeca), family-style Italian for larger gatherings seating up to 60 in Greenwich Hotel