NYC Restaurants: A Week Of Hot Dogs, Summer Heat And Reservations

NEW YORK CITY — Joey Chestnut guzzled 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes — and some other only-in-New York food news happened this week.

Welcome back to Patch's regular roundup of restaurant and food happenings, where this week was dominated by gluttonous consumption of meat in tube form outside Nathan's in Coney Island on the Fourth of July.

One intrepid Patch reporter braved the heat and rain to watch the annual hot dog spectacle, while the rest of our small local newsroom sat on the journalistic sidelines. But rest easy, Patch still gobbled up food news more eagerly than Joey Chestnut downing his last hot dog.

Check out our July 4-week roundup, and come back next week for more.

Before we get to hot dog news, an annual foodie favorite is almost back.

New York City's summer Restaurant Week reservations opened up Thursday.

Yes, New Yorkers could score tables for the nearly month-long "week" that runs from July 24 to Aug. 20.

Nearly 500 eateries are participating this year, with neighborhoods such as Harlem, the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side and Washington Heights all having multiple restaurants.

Midtown and Hell's Kitchen combined had 80.

• NYC Restaurant Week 2023: Snag Your Summer Dining Reservations
• These 15 Harlem Eateries Are Taking Part In NYC Restaurant Week
• Upper East Side Restaurant Week Has 24 Spots For Great Deals
• These 32 UWS Eateries Are Taking Part In NYC Restaurant Week
• These 4 Uptown Eateries Are Taking Part In NYC Restaurant Week
• 80 Choices For Restaurant Week In Midtown-Hell's Kitchen

Now, back to hot dogs.

Joey Chestnut defended his Mustard Belt at the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest by eating 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

The victory came after pouring rain, 85-degree heat and hours of delays, including a cancelation.

But crowds still waited.

“How could we not?” one soaking wet visitor asked.

Joey Chestnut and woman's champ Miki Sudo may have gobbled up much of the attention, but some New York City locals took a bite out of the competition.

Crazy Legs Conti, the "Houdini of cuisini," ate 15 hot dogs during his 16th visit to the contest representing the city. And Astoria local and American Government professor Julie Goldberg competed for the fifth time.

• The 'Last Wiener': NYC Fans Wait Hours To See Champ Guzzle 62 Hot Dogs
• NYC Hot Dog Gods Smile On Crazy Legs Conti
• Astoria Local Competes At Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

This week wasn't all hot dogs and reservations: restaurants opened up too.

A popular European bakery — Patisserie Chanson — held a soft weekend opening for an Upper West Side location.

And the owner of a buzzy ramen spot, Shuya Cafe de Ramen, announced he'd move it to Manhattan after its closure in Queens.

Also in Queens, the Korean chicken spot Kuku opened its third location citywide.

Thrifty wine connoisseurs in Queens also got news to celebrate. Tootles & French wine bar opened with the promise of offering luxury wine "for the price of boxed."

• European Pastry Cafe Opens On The Upper West Side
• Popular Astoria Ramen Spot Plans To Reopen In Manhattan
• Korean Chicken Spot Opens Third City Location In Forest Hills
• New Wine Bar In Astoria Offers Luxury Wine "For The Price Of Boxed"

And some restaurants got some bad news.

Rosie O'Grady's Saloon in Times Square closed its doors for good after 40 years in business.

The iconic Irish pub couldn't repay its back rent.

Finally, a Brooklyn deli was ordered closed because of health code violations.

• Times Square's Legendary Rosie O'Grady's Is Now Closed: Report
• NYC Restaurants Ordered Closed June 30 - July 7