Ziggy's Roman Cafe

Ziggy's Roman Cafe opened in November 2025 on Main Street in Dumbo, a two-level room from Helen Zhang, a longtime restaurant publicist, and Igor Hadzismajlovic, a co-founder of the Employees Only cocktail bar. It is named for their young son, and the idea is a Roman neighborhood café that welcomes families early and grown-ups later: the ground floor holds the bar and main dining room, and a mezzanine above has its own small bar and a corner with a play mat for kids.

Chef John Poiarkoff, formerly executive chef at Marta, cooks a short Roman menu — artichokes alla romana, cacio e pepe, chicory — alongside thin, crackling Roman-style pizzas, among them stracciatella with cherry tomatoes and basil and a marinara with an anchovy-flecked Roman pesto. Cocktails come from Employees Only co-founder Jason Kosmas, sorted into martinis, fancy cocktails, Bellinis and low-proof drinks. Early diners keep singling out the tiramisu, so save room.