NYC Restaurants: Trader Joe's Wine Shop + Halal Cart Hate Edition

NEW YORK CITY — A beloved New York City wine shop could return because of a federal labor complaint.

Oh, and a wintry buffet of other food news got served up this past week.

Patch's food-loving New York City news team was there, as ever, to pick up the scraps.

Feast upon the latest.

Trader Joe's controversially closed Union Square Wine Shop could reopen after federal officials popped the cork on a new complaint.

The 14th Street store's restoration is one of several remedies for union-busting accusations leveled last week by National Labor Relations Board's counsel, according to information provided by agency spokesperson Kayla Blado.

The complaint stems from an unfair labor practice charge by United Food and Commercial Workers International Union officials, who contended that Trader Joe's higher-ups abruptly — and illegally — closed the store because its workers tried to unionize.

"Let's make one thing clear: Trader Joe’s shamelessly and illegally engaged in union busting to scare Trader Joe's workers across the region and stop these workers from having a voice on the job," a union statement read.

But don't let the wine flow yet — this is only the first step in a bureaucratic process.

In other (somewhat) government-related food news, a former State Department official — Stewart Seldowitz — took a plea deal to avoid jail time on a hate crime charge after a number of viral videos depicted him in a series of hate-filled confrontations with a halal cart worker on the Upper East Side.

Videos recorded by the halal food cart vendor triggered outrage across the city for Seldowitz's disturbing comments.

In one of the videos, Seldowitz accused the vendor of supporting Hamas in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

"You support killing little children," Seldowitz said.

• NYC Trader Joe's Wine Shop Could Reopen After Union-Busting Complaint
• Diplomat Arrested In UES Halal Cart Hate Gets Classes Instead Of Jail

What's the best bagel on the Upper West Side?

A new list by Eater NY dove into potential controversy by ranking the best. (You'll have to click below to see the list.)

Another Eater ranking put Bed-Stuy's Peaches outpost as one of the city's best brunch spots.

And the winner of New York's best croissant — Brooklyn French Bakers — is opening a second location in Park Slope.

Regina's Grocery opened its fifth location in Bed-Stuy.

Finally, a new Mexican restaurant in Yorkville — Soledad — features celebrity chef Julian Medina offering dishes based off his grandmother's 1950s recipe book.

• Upper West Side's Best Bagel? Check Out This List
• 1 Bed-Stuy Brunch Spot Among NYC's Best: Ranking
• Brooklyn French Bakers Opens 2nd Location In Park Slope
• Beloved Deli 'Regina's Grocery' Opens In Bed-Stuy
• Soledad Puts Celeb Chef's Grandma's Dishes On The Menu At New UES Spot

Restaurant closure news had a bit of variety this past week.

Long-closed Upper East Side haunt Elaine's got an unexpected shoutout during former President Donald Trump's last defamation trial.

Trump's attorney, Alina Habba, demanded E. Jean Carroll admit she was regular.

"It's hard to get into, isn't it?" Habba asked Carroll, according to a reporter from Inner City Press.

Carroll replied that it wasn't hard — prompting Judge Kaplan to interject that "it doesn't exist anymore. That's why it's hard to get into," according to Inner City Press.

In more recent closure news, popular Harlem spot LoLo's Seafood Shack announced they'd soon shutter.

And restaurants in Brooklyn and Queens were ordered closed by city health inspectors.

• Trump Trial Gives Long-Lost UES Haunt A Shout-Out
• Popular Harlem Seafood Spot LoLo's To Close After 10 Years
• NYC Restaurants Ordered Closed Jan. 12-19