NYC Restaurants: Sweetgreen Racism Lawsuit + Regional Pizza Edition

NEW YORK CITY — Food-savvy New Yorkers learned this past week that Sweetgreen may not be a sweet place to work.

An eye-popping lawsuit by Black employees of the popular salad chain wasn't the only bit of food news that surprised hungry city dwellers.

As always, Patch's small newsroom was there to serve up morsels for our dear readers.

Check out our weekly roundup, and come back next week for seconds.

Sweetgreen managers hurled racial slurs, denied employment to black workers and ignored sexual harassment complaints in salad chain outposts across New York City, a new lawsuit contends.

Black Sweetgreen employees filed the lawsuit in Bronx court this past week that details racism, sexism and an atmosphere rife with harassment in their workplaces.

Some were subjected to the N-word on a daily basis, the lawsuit contends.

"I hate these Black workers," is among the many racist statements detailed in the 39-page complaint. "They don’t clean well and they're lazy."

In somewhat less stomach-turning news, a new ranking found that New York City has some of America's best pizza.

But the Washington Post also contended that there are equally great regional styles of pizza such as Chicago, Detroit and New Haven.

The whole ranking begged the question: how seriously can New Yorkers take a ranking that treats Chicago deep dish as pizza?

• Sweetgreen Managers Hurled N-Word At Workers Across NYC: Lawsuit
• NYC Pizza Isn't Only Great American Pizza Style, WaPo Ranking Claims

Fall may be coming, but new restaurants across New York City looked to bloom this past week.

Even before its grand opening last week, the Danish-based bakery Ole & Steen already attracted a fair share of regulars — including a Duck Tolling Retriever pup — after its soft opening on the Upper East Side.

The bakery's open vibe was shared P.J. Clarke's Sidebar bar and dining room in Midtown.

The space had formerly been a secret, members-only room before its owners decided to open it to the masses, albeit as a reservations-only affair.

Further down in Lower Manhattan, Little Biggs Sandwich Shop — which, you guessed it, serves made-to-order sandwiches and salads — recently opened inside Chelsea's Olly Olly Market.

Also in Chelsea, the local bakery chain Chip City Cookies planned to soon open a Seventh Avenue storefront.

In Brooklyn, the owners of a popular food truck opened Little Grenjaj in Bed-Stuy. The space will be a permanent home for their take on Bangkok street food.

And Serafina locations across the city served up UBAH HOT Pizza, a special slice helmed by Real Housewives of New York City star Ubah Hassan. The collaboration is a spicy twist on the classic Margherita pizza.

• Ole & Steen's Danish Treats Have Already Captivated The UES
• Secret Members-Only P.J. Clarke's Sidecar Dining Room Reopens
• Sandwich Shop Opens In Chelsea's Olly Olly Market
• Chelsea's Chip City Cookies Location To Open Early Next Year
• After 5 Years, Bangkok Street Food Spot Moves Into Bed-Stuy
• Real Housewives NYC Star Launches Spicy Pizza Collab At Serafina
  

Things didn't go so hot for some New York City food establishments.

An Uptown Whole Foods Security guard got bit by a thief.

Even further up, a Dominican bar and restaurant failed to have its liquor license renewed and transferred to a new owner.

And, finally, five Brooklyn eateries were closed by health inspectors.

• Crime Takes A Bite Out Of UES Whole Foods Security Guard: NYPD
• Wash Heights Dominican Restaurant Fails CB Liquor License Renewal
• NYC Restaurants Ordered Closed Sept. 1-8