Drink up! Joseph’s Coffee opens in Atlantic Beach

The Five Towns area continues to see growth in its kosher coffee scene with the opening of Joseph’s Coffee at 2041 Park Street #7 in Atlantic Beach, the former location of Gelato by Maya.

The new takeout coffee shop comes from the owner of Cafe Chocolat and brings a similar focus on quality food and lighter options. In addition to coffee and specialty drinks, the shop features pastries and packaged salads and wraps from Cafe Chocolat, along with frozen yogurt and other grab-and-go items.

With an emphasis on healthier choices, Joseph’s Coffee provides another option for local residents looking for a quick breakfast, lunch or a late-day snack. The shop is scheduled to be open Sunday through Thursday from 9 am to 9 pm and Fridays from 9 am to 6 pm.

It is supervised by the Vaad Hakashrus of the Five Towns & Far Rockaway.

Cho-Sen leaves Great Neck, Sauteed Chinese coming

After more than 20 years in Great Neck, Cho-Sen Village has closed its doors. The Chinese restaurant opened in 2004 and became a longtime fixture of the North Shore kosher dining scene, serving generations of local families.

The space will soon take on a new identity as Sauteed, another kosher Chinese concept restaurant with existing locations in Boro Park and Flatbush.

While Cho-Sen Village is closing, other restaurants under the Cho-Sen name will continue operating, including Cho-Sen Garden in Queens and Cho-Sen Island in the Five Towns.

Wicked Wiches pauses Operations in Hewlett

Wicked Wiches, a counter-service sandwich shop with lots of seating that opened only four months ago in Hewlett, has temporarily closed.

The restaurant, supervised by the Vaad Hakashrus of the Five Towns & Far Rockaway, has indicated that there is a possibility of reopening in the future. Customers can follow the restaurant’s social media pages for updates regarding any plans to resume service.

Final Cattle call after 8 months in Times Square

The Times Square-area kosher dining scene has seen another change with the closing of Cattle, a ghost kitchen concept that specialized in smokehouse-style cuisine. The restaurant had been open for only approximately eight months before shutting down.

Cattle was the only kosher establishment that operated out of Picnic, a ghost kitchen facility that houses approximately 30 different food concepts. Cattle featured a takeout-focused menu featuring smoked meats and barbecue-inspired dishes. The space will be occupied by Holy Schnitzel, a popular kosher fast-casual chain that already operates nine other locations across New York, New Jersey and Florida.

Viva La Dough opens 4th Manhattan location

Brooklyn-based bakery Viva La Dough continues its expansion with the opening of a new Financial District location at 160 Broadway, marking the company’s fourth storefront. The new bakery joins existing locations in Midwood, Boro Park and Lakewood, with another location already announced for New Jersey’s American Dream Mall.

Known for French-inspired pastries, artisan breads, sandwiches, coffee and desserts, Viva La Dough has quickly built a loyal following. The new location is open Sunday through Thursday from 8 am to 6 pm and Fridays until 4 pm under Orthodox Union supervision.

Kosher Grill adds summer dining to Jackson Hole

Summer visitors to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, have a new kosher dining option with the opening of The Kosher Grill, a seasonal pop-up American grill located at 265 East Broadway Avenue. The restaurant was created to provide kosher food options for Jewish travelers visiting one of the country’s most popular vacation destinations.

The menu focuses on American grill favorites including burgers, grilled chicken and other comfort food dishes.

The restaurant is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 12 to 8 pm, with Friday and Saturday night service available by pre-order only. On Tuesday, when the restaurant is closed, its operators, three New York Chabadniks, travel through Yellowstone National Park and surrounding areas to connect with Jewish visitors.

The Kosher Grill is supervised by Chabad of Wyoming and can be reached at (917) 635-2047.

Iceland welcomes Kosher food in new Jewish center 

Jewish travelers have a new reason to add Reykjavik, Iceland, to their itinerary, with the opening of the country’s first permanent Jewish center. The new Chabad facility provides a home for Iceland’s small but growing Jewish community and includes space for prayer services, community gatherings and kosher hospitality.

One of the most significant additions is the ability for travelers to access kosher food in a country where options have historically been extremely limited. The center plans to provide kosher meals and Shabbat hospitality, allowing Jewish tourists exploring Iceland’s waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes and famous Blue Lagoon to visit with greater ease.

A geothermal mikvah is coming soon, making it one of the most unique Jewish facilities in Europe and adding another layer of infrastructure for Jewish visitors.

See: In Iceland, Chabad spreads Hashem’s light at top of the world

Dave Portnoy stops by and cheers Zevy’s Pizza

Fair Lawn’s Zevy’s Pizza found itself in the national spotlight when Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports and creator of the popular “One Bite” pizza reviews, stopped in to sample one of Bergen County’s kosher pizzerias. While kosher pizza has occasionally appeared on Portnoy’s radar, visits remain relatively uncommon, making the stop noteworthy for the kosher dining scene.

Zevy’s, at 10-16 River Road in Fair Lawn under RCBC supervision, serves pizza, pasta, salads and specialty slices. The restaurant is open Sunday and Thursday from 11 am to 8 pm, Monday through Wednesday from 11 am to 7:30 pm and Friday 11 am to 1:30 pm; it’s open motzei until midnight.

The review earned Zevy’s a very respectable 7.5 on Portnoy’s scoring scale. Considering that the “One Bite” social media channels reach approximately 1.5 million followers, the exposure is significant for a neighborhood kosher pizzeria and introduces Zevy’s to an audience far beyond North Jersey.

Teaneck's Fialkoff’s Pizza and Poppy's Bagels in temporary site after fire

Just days after a fire forced the closure of Fialkoff’s Pizza and Poppy’s Bagels on West Englewood Avenue, the restaurant has reopened in a temporary location at 465 Cedar Lane in Teaneck. The space was vacated only about six weeks ago by Seasons Express, allowing Fialkoff’s to resume serving customers while repairs continue at its original location.

The fire reportedly spread from one of the apartments above the restaurant, with most of the damage occurring toward the rear of the building where the bagel oven is located. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

While the future of the original location is still being determined, customers can once again enjoy Fialkoff’s pizza and other favorites at the Cedar Lane storefront.

The restaurant remains under the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County (RCBC) and can be reached at 201-862-0800 for updates.

Write: Columnist@TheJewishStar.com