Ops’ Mike Fadem Wants You to Order Salad and Wine with Your Pizza
To-Go Takes is Resy’s regular feature wherein we quiz the folks behind some of our favorite restaurants about all things related to takeout.
In this edition, we speak to Mike Fadem, the chef and owner behind Bushwick’s favorite sourdough-leavened pizzas at Ops (and sister pizzeria Leo in Williamsburg), currently open for outdoor dining, pickup, and delivery. Below, he shares some of his favorite takeout tips, tricks, cocktails, and regular stops.
Where are you getting takeout from and what are you ordering?
— Ayada: Papaya salad, sautéed Chinese broccoli, duck panang curry, sour sausage fried rice, chicken stock rice.
— Birds of a Feather: Sichuan cold noodles, eggplant with chili, pork dumplings in chile oil, snow pea shoots, spicy fish fillet, kung pao chicken, ma po tofu.
Best tip to amp up your takeout?
Now that we can sell wine to go, if you’re ordering from us you should always include a bottle. Everything is being sold at retail price for takeout and we have the best selection of natural wines.
What’s your favorite place for cocktails to go?
We love Bar Meridian in Prospect Heights. They have really delicious cocktails in bottles and in cans. They have a great patio too.
What single dish would you walk miles for?
A really good taco.
What do you miss the most about restaurants?
We have so many great restaurants so I don’t really miss them per se. But I do miss the feeling of comfort you get at the best restaurants. Everyone is doing their best but masks, sanitizers, temp guns, social distancing… doesn’t really scream comfort to me. Comfort is not really something available right now outside of your own home, but can’t wait for that to come back.
Ops is open for outdoor dining seven days a week. Order Ops for takeout and delivery here, or call (718) 386-4009 to place a pickup order.
Leo is open for outdoor dining seven days a week. Get Leo takeout and delivery here.
