Mixed drinks at Fort Defiance (Photo: Roxana Marroquin)

The following restaurants and bars are expected to open by June 24. Always call ahead before heading out, since opening dates can change.

Fort Defiance Food writer and former Pegu Club bartender St. John Frizell opens his own bar and café. Mornings will offer Colson Patisserie’s baked goods and Counter Culture coffee, while more potent beverages will be available as soon as the liquor license clears. Frizell devotes much of his cocktail list to recipes from 1940s world adventurer Charles H. Baker Jr., such as the Colonial Cooler, a mix of gin, sweet vermouth, bitters, Cointreau, soda water and pineapple. Chef Sam Filoramo (the Good Fork) will create one entrée per night, along with a menu of small plates, salads and sandwiches, including a New Orleans–style muffuletta. 365 Van Brunt St at Dikeman St, Red Hook, Brooklyn (718-522-7996)

Calexico Carne Asada The team behind the Vendy Award–winning, California-style Mexican street cart opens this brick-and-mortar spin-off in Carroll Gardens. Expect favorites from the cart menu, as well as shrimp and grits and expanded vegetarian options. Ask nicely and the secret spicy “crack sauce” will flow freely. 122 Union St at Columbia St, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn (718-488-8226)

Acquedolci Joe Ferrara, who once owned the Italian Food Center, has opened this Sicilian deli, selling items like panelle (chickpea fritter) sandwiches stuffed with ricotta, imported groceries, baked goods, and prepared foods such as caponata and rice balls. A counter dispenses coffee and espresso. 181 Grand St between Baxter and Mulberry Sts (212-219-8911)

Piccola Cucina Sicilian chef Philip Guardione, who previously cooked at the Four Seasons in Milan, introduces this contemporary Italian restaurant serving modern twists on classics, such as grilled octopus with an eggplant puree and fennel and orange salad, and an asparagus-and-marjoram lasagna. The tiny dining room features French doors that open onto the street and marble-topped tables. 184 Prince St between Sullivan and Thompson Sts (212-625-3200)

Rockin’ Raw Couple Tere Fox and Luis Salgado—she from New Orleans and he from Peru—have combined their culinary backgrounds at this vegan raw-food eatery in Williamsburg. Dishes include the “tuna” Raw Boy, with sunflower seeds and seaweed standing in for the fish, and a mixed-mushroom ceviche marinated in citrus with diced onion and tomato. A roomy garden is filled with fig and orange trees, rosebushes and grapevines. 178 North 8th St between Bedford and Driggs Aves, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-599-9333)

Tpoutine NYC’s dearth of poutine—the French-Canadian dish of fries topped with cheese curds and gravy—inspired Montrealer Thierry Pepin to open this eatery, where the fries are hand-cut and the gravy is homemade. Creative variations include the “New York Burger,” with ground beef, onions and mushrooms, while the Morning comes with scrambled eggs and bacon. Sliders, some grilled entrées (chicken, salmon, steak) and sausages make up the rest of the menu. 168 Ludlow St between E Houston and Stanton Sts (646-833-7444)

The Ballroom The Jane Hotel unveils its ornate lobby bar. Run by the same team behind The Smile in the East Village, the Ballroom features a main bar, lounge and mezzanine. Look for drinks like the Lady Marmalade (gin, orange liqueur and marmalade), and the Brown Sugar (rum, mint, lime and brown sugar), as well as beers and wines by the bottle and glass, and theme nights. The Jane Hotel, 113 Jane St between Washington and West Sts (212-924-6700)

Oasis A rooftop garden and lounge has opened at a Park Avenue hotel. The outdoor area is complemented by a modern penthouse, complete with a working fireplace, which offers refuge from inclement weather. Drinks include fruit-flavored sparklers, and the house punch, a blend of rum, peach liqueur, champagne, and cranberry, pineapple and lemon juices. Hotel Giraffe, 365 Park Ave South at 26th St (212-980-9476)

Compiled by Daniel Gritzer and Jeanne Hodesh