The June Hit List: Dame, Fulgurances, Jolene, Mockingbird, and More

Known for its picture-perfect fish and chips, and rotating cast of collabs, Dame was one of last summer’s hottest pop-ups — and now it’s all grown up. Patricia Howard and Ed Szymanski’s English seafood restaurant now resides as a permanent tenant of 87 MacDougal Street, and features dishes like grilled oysters with green Chartreuse butter, smoked whitefish croquettes, and warm lobster tart with morels and green garlic.

Two of the city’s most dynamite pop-ups, Ha’s Dac Biet and Kreung Cambodia, have paired up for a summer-long residency at this outdoorsy Bushwick venue. That means Southeast Asian dishes, ranging from crunchy salads to grilled seafood, plus full service and shady picnic tables, and a whole lot of fun.

Signing up for a blind-tasting menu experience seems like either an appropriate way to dive headfirst into post-pandemic dining, or a deep vote of confidence in the chefs. We’ll vote for both — especially when it’s being crafted by two European owners and two American chefs, the latter of whom have clocked in time at some of Paris’s best neobistros. Seasonality is the driving force behind the daily menu, but that’s about all we can tell you about that menu, since each one is only revealed after it has been retired.

Em is the sequel restaurant, and new flagship, from the Vietnamese chef Ly Nguyen and her husband Patrick Lin, whose smaller South Brooklyn restaurant earned raves from Times critic Ligaya Mishan for its creative banh mi and fruit-filled smoothies. Now in Dumbo, the couple is dishing fare inspired by late-night Saigon eats, like sizzling banh xeo (turmeric crepe) with shrimp and pork belly, fried chicken wings with garlic butter nuoc mam sauce, and bo kho beef stew.

The Parisien chef residency Fulgurances, known for hosting a broad range of culinary talent from all over the globe, has landed in Greenpoint with a brand-new second outpost. And the ever talented Victoria Blamey will christen the classy former laundromat, and reside over the pass through September, with five courses for $80. Get your tickets now — if the Paris original is an indicator, they go fast.

Matthew Tilden, of Bed Stuy’s late (and oh-so-beloved) SCRATCHbread bakery, is back, having teamed up with his former colleague Jeffrey Olsen on a Williamsburg shop. The focus is on four-packs of “muFins” (“because F cake for breakfast”) made of plant-based ingredients like coconut yogurt, flax seeds, and millet, with other baked goods and spreads available as well. The current hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday to Sunday. Pre-orders are encouraged.

The Jones is now Jolene, a Gabe Stulman revamp for “the New York of tomorrow.” The prolific restaurateur calls it an American bistro and café inspired by the casual eateries of  Spain, Italy, and France. So, think jammy halved eggs smothered in mayonnaise and crispy bits, head-on shrimp with Fresno chili butter, and chopped steak frites with roasted garlic and sauce au poivre.

A month ago, you’d have been right to say that industry titan Tom Colicchio didn’t have any Italian restaurants — but with Vallata, that’s no longer the case. This Gramercy newcomer, tucked into the space that was Craftbar, reflects how the chef cooked for his family over the last year: simply and seasonally, in the style of a Roman trattoria. There’s a shaved raw artichoke salad with pecorino and mint, paccheri with guanciale and peas, and braised chicken with tomato and peppers — plus spritzes, Negronis, and amaro cocktails. Oh, and a killer beer list.

Grab a table, because Rolo’s the restaurant has joined forces with its already-established lineup of grocery, bakery, and café. Wood-fired cooking is the name of the game at this Ridgewood spot, from polenta bread to crushed cucumbers, half-chicken with chili relish, and a double cheeseburger.

Texas transplants rejoice — because breakfast tacos are trending. Between Grand Army Plaza’s King David Tacos cart establishing firm roots in a Prospect Heights storefront, and restaurateur André Mack expanding his Prospect Lefferts Gardens empire with a taqueria inspired by his San Antonio roots, Brooklyn mornings just got a lot more exciting.

Fancy yourself a picnic on Governors Island? Well, sit back, relax, and let Missy Robbins take the reins. “Picnic” may be underselling it:  The acclaimed chef and her team are offering a full-fledged culinary experience from June through Labor Day that starts with a ride on a private boat, moves into aperitivo hour with the Statue of Liberty as your backdrop, and finishes with a three-course meal cooked over an open fire. Gelato is included (it’s summertime, after all). But only 12 seats per night, so get on it.