Peaches
393 Lewis Ave., Brooklyn; (718) 942-4162
Smoke Joint co-owners and chefs Ben Grossman and Craig Samuel have opened a second Southern-fried cafe in Bed-Stuy, where they’re serving barbecue, fish fries, corn and okra – the essential foods of a hot, sticky summer. You can take your food to go or cool off and pig out on the 25-seat garden patio.
Must-have meal: Watermelon salad with arugula, pickled ginger and smoked country ham (right, $5); Smoke Joint baby-back ribs with cornbread and slaw ($15); sides of Tennessee Mountain black-eyed peas, corn salad and Vermont cheddar grits ($3 each); and peach cobbler ($5).
Soundtrack: Classic blues and soul from artists like Nina Simone and Al Green.
Hours: Dinner: Wed.-Sun., 5-10 p.m.; the takeout counter is open from noon to 10 p.m.
Convivio
45 Tudor City Place;(212) 599-5045
After a very successful run at L’Impero, Chris Cannon has decided to give his elegant Tudor City Italian joint a bit of a makeover. As Convivio, the place has retained its white tablecloths, but designer Vicente Wolf has given it a new stylish look with high gloss walls, colored glass and hand-hammered copper. New chef and partner Michael White has created a menu that’s an ode to Southern Italy, with an impressive selection of handmade pastas as its highlight.
Must-have meal: Start out with a few sfizi (snack) like fried bread with cured pancetta ($5) and an antipasti like buffalo mozzarella with sliced figs and rosemary oil ($14); enjoy seafood dishes like the Malloredous (Sardinian saffron gnocchetti with crab and sea urchin, right, $24); move on to suckling pig with braising greens and pork cracklings ($29); and for dessert, try the pane rustica (grilled bread topped with local strawberries and orange flower cream, $11).
Soundtrack: An eclectic list that combines a little old (Stevie Wonder), a little new (Ben Harper) and some Italian lounge music for good measure.
Hours: Lunch: Mon.-Fri., noon-2:30 p.m.; dinner: Mon.-Thurs., 5:30-10:30 p.m., Fri. and Sat., 5:30-11:30 p.m.
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