Will a Park Slope Joint Win Time Out NY's Best Burger Showdown?

Image via Time Out NY

It's summer, season of the grill, and Time Out NY has paired up with Amstel Lite to pick the top 100 burger joints in NYC, and they want our asses to choose our #1 favorite. Three Park Slope burger joints have been nominated: Bonnie's Grill, The Burger Bistro and Corner Burger. 

If you want to peep all of the nominees and take a moment to vote, click here (and then tell us who you voted for in the comments because we're super nosy)!

FIPS Exclusive: Press 195 closing; Zito's opening in its spot

[ORIGINAL IMAGES VIA ERICISAAC.COM / SEAMLESS.COM]

Well folks, I've got good news and bad news.

First, the bad news. After 10 years in the hood, Press 195 is closing its Park Slope location. Owners Brian Karp, Chris Evans, and Jimmy Volz are packing up shop on the flagship location of their popular sandwich chain to focus on their other locations in Bayside, Queens, and Rockville Centre, Long Island. Press plans to close on June 8, so catch their signature burgers, knishes, and pressed sandwiches in the neighborhood while you still can.

Now for the good news. Press 195's location won't be vacant for very long, because Park Slope's newest sandwich sensation, ZITO'S SANDWICH SHOPPE, has agreed to takeover the location, which means they'll be bringing their banging sandwiches (and killer sides) down to 5th Avenue. This news comes from Zito's owners Marcello Bucca and Enzo Conigliaro, who say that if all goes well with permits and whatnot, they could be up and running as soon as June 18.

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Calexico Is Bringing Its Vendy Award-Winning Ass to 5th Avenue!

Photo via CalexicoHoly tacos and tortas, Batman! Calexico, the much-buzzed about Vendy award-winning Cal-Mex food cart turned brick & mortar restaurant WITH A CHIPOTLE SAUCE NICKNAMED "CRACK," is making its way to our neighborhood. Here's Park Slope recently reported that brothers Jesse, Brian and Dave Vendley, along with pal Peter Oleyer, will be opening a new location on 5th Avenue and and 1st Street where Blue Ribbon Sushi once stood. 

In a written letter taped to the door of the soon-to-be restaurant, the owners introduce themselves, saying, "The restaurant will be very similar to our other Brooklyn locations. We will offer fresh, healthy Cal-Mex cuisine at an affordable price. We will also offer a kid's menu... Our restaurant will be food-focused, but we hope to be able to serve beer, wine and margaritas as accompaniments."

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BareBurger and KiKu Asian Bistro looking to add outdoor seating

[VIA BAREBURGER]

I'm one of those people who hates outdoor seating. No matter what the weather, no matter what the space is like, I'm always a bit uncomfortable (it's the bugs...there are always bugs).

But obviously I'm in the minority, because every time I turn around, another restaurant offers me outdoor seating. And come Wednesday, there may be even two more options in the Slope. 

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CULTURE GETS DISSED BY ERIC RIPERT

From left, Eric Ripert, Maria Loi, and Orhan Yegen.  (Photo: Danny Kim)

Yep, and so now I hate Eric Ripert.

Here's what happened: NY Mag decided to do a Greek yogurt head-to-head taste test in their conference room, and they enlisted a "panel of experts" to help them decide which one was best: "the headstrong, tough-grading Turkish chef Orhan Yegen of Sip Sak and Bi Lokma, who considers “Greek yogurt” more a marketing gimmick than a bona fide foodstuff; Maria Loi, a.k.a. the Martha Stewart of Greece; and, as informal referee, the suave, diplomatic Eric Ripert, who begins each day with a tub of nonfat Fage, topped with nuts and honey."

In the nonfat taste test they put Culture up against Fage and Chobani yogurts, and Culture came in 2nd, behind Fage and in front of Chobani! Ok! Now we're talkin! Loi said: "if you go to the Villages in Greece, this is how you get the yogurt."

But in the full fat taste test, our neighborhood darling came in 4th (out of 6 yogurts) and Eric Ripert said it tasted "industrial."

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