GREEK OUT

A craving for authentic souvlaki (marinated meats and veggies grilled on a skewer) prompted the seasoned entrepreneur Harry Nicolaou to launch the newly opened Tziki, a fast casual Greek concept that slings authentic, made-to-order souvlaki alongside gyros, kebabs, salads, and more. Nicolaou, who’s also a founding partner of the intimate bistro Ella Funt in the East Village, teamed with renowned Greek chef Alexandros Gkoutsi to helm the kitchen and contemporary Cretan artist Alexandra Manousakis to bring the walls of the Chelsea eatery to life. Menu highlights include Black Angus beef kebabs, wild mushroom souvlaki, pork gyros, fresh sourdough pita baked in house, and house-recipe tzatziki. 209 7th Avenue, tzikisouvlaki.com

CASA IN POINT

Miami’s renowned restaurant and members club Casa Tua with offshoots in Aspen and Paris celebrates their first New York City location on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in The Surrey hotel. This is Casa Tua’s largest location, and the ground-floor restaurant is open to the public, offering an Italian menu by chef Andrea Pancani, including pasta made fresh in-house daily, refreshing salads, and branzino al sale. While the ground-floor restaurant and lounge are open to the public, the second floor private members club grants access to exclusive spaces and events while enhancing members’ overall experience with added benefits such as prioritized access and discounts. 20 E 76th Street, casatualife.com/newyork

VJ SPREAD

RAW TALENT

Sendo, a new sushi counter inspired by 1850s Edo-era Japan, opened recently in NoMad in a discreet second floor location with a ten-seat polished black marble dining counter. Sushi chef Kevin Ngo (previously of Sushi Nakazawa and Sushi Ginza Onodera) offers one of New York’s most affordable, high-quality sushi menus with curated sets of nigiri, handrolls, and kaisendons for just $30-$45, as well as an à la carte menu. Premium fish from Japan are paired with rice from the finest farms in Niigata Prefecture and Hokkaido, along with small-batch aged vinegars and house-made sauces to enhance the seafood’s natural flavors. 876 6th Avenue, 2nd floor, sendo.nyc

GILDED GETAWAY

Gild Hall, A Thompson Hotel, is a mid-century modern retreat in the urban bustle of Lower Manhattan. The Financial District gem is just steps (or a bike ride away with one of the hotel’s complimentary rentals) from One World Trade Center, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Brooklyn Bridge, and The Battery. This autumn, the boutique hotel is offering a new package for guests in partnership with HeliNY, Statue Cruises, One World Observatory, and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum to provide exclusive discounted rates for these quintessential NYC experiences. Travelers can coordinate with the concierge to customize each stay to their interests. 12 Gold Street, hyatt.com/thompson-hotels/lgatg-gild-hall

THIS CALLS FOR A TOAST!

Champagne connoisseurs rejoice for La Fete Du Champagne, the world’s premier celebration of champagne across New York City the week of October 22. From legendary houses like Louis Roederer, Krug, Henriot, and Bollinger to grower champagnes like La Closerie, Etienne Calsac, and Pierre Péters, you’ll be sipping star labels with the winemakers themselves. A full week of seminars, tastings, and champagne dinners culminates in a grand tasting of more than 100 different champagnes at Chelsea Piers on Saturday afternoon, followed by a gala dinner with guests bringing prized magnums from their own cellars. 60 Chelsea Piers, lafeteduchampagne.com