Neighborhood Watch

Toast Next Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian at the National; Huge Fire Broke Out in Tick Tock Diner Over the Weekend

Dumbo: Grimaldi’s opened in its new location this weekend and plans to install a coal oven, a surprising feature given that most “coal ovens must be grandfathered in.” And, in a new piece of the ongoing saga between the beloved pizza joint and their former landlords, apparently the new lessee in Grimaldi’s former digs is none other than the original owner (who sold the place in 2000). For her part, Patsy Grimaldi plans to open a new spot there in March called Juliana’s. [Eater NY]
East Village: A new Italian restaurant is coming to the former Tonda space. A sign over the restaurant reads Piccola Positano, and OpenTable lists Luigi Celentano of Gigino Trattoria as the executive chef. Nothing concrete as of yet about their opening date. [Ev Grieve]

Midtown: A fire broke out in a packed Tick Tock Diner Sunday morning. Fortunately, the fire department was able to control the blaze, which left only minor damage to the restaurant and no injuries to the diners. The owner plans to open Tick Tock again on Tuesday. [DNA Info]
To celebrate his Iron Chef win, Geoffrey Zakarian’s the National Bar & Dining Rooms and the Lambs Club will be offering holiday specials. Starting tomorrow and running through the end of the year, the National will feature some of Zakarian’s Iron Chef creations, such as salmon tartare with lemon aioli, Chinese long bean and cucumber ($15), avocado one-eyed susie with shrimp, grits and lobster sauce ($17), and filet Provençal with olives, capers, and red-wine reduction ($35). Additionally, any guests dining at the restaurant tonight will receive a complimentary glass of Champagne. The Lambs Club, meanwhile, will be adding his Mad Men cosmopolitan to the menu from now until the end of the year. [Grub Street]
Roosevelt Island: David Santos’ Um Segredo dinners are back this week between Wednesday, December 21 and Friday, December 23. This iteration is a Christmas Story–themed dinner and, for a $75 donation, guests will be treated to dishes like “You’ll shoot your eye out” (foie gras–stuffed quail, spinach, cranberries, chestnut cream), “Bumpuses Pie” (All-American turkey pot pie), and “Farararara” (roasted duck breast, plum glaze, ginger tea, and Asian vegetables). For reservations and more information on the location of the dinner (which in the past has been at Santos’ apartment), e-mail umsegredo12@gmail.com. [Grub Street]

Toast Next Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian at the National; Huge Fire Broke Out in