New iPic theater in South Street Seaport serves up restaurant-quality food

New to the scene...

Mundane movie food gets an extreme makeover at the new luxury iPic Theater in the South Street Seaport (11 Fulton St.). That means no soggy nachos and plenty of cocktails and shrimp cocktail.

Former Wolfgang Puck pastry chef Sherry Yard is the mastermind behind this restaurant-quality, finger food served in a fancy movie theater that feels like your living room. The menu features hits like the New England lobster rolls ($21); pulled pork grilled cheese sliders ($19); and chicken Caesar salad lettuce wraps ($16). Beer and wine are also available. Guests buy tickets via the iPic app. Once you’re seated in comfy-cushioned chairs and loungers, push the call button and waiters — called “ninjas” — will appear.

PepsiCo’s first-ever restaurant, Kola House (408 West 15th St.), wants to be taken seriously. American cuisine with global influences is served up at the Meatpacking District spot by Chef Jon Feshan 

(previously of ABC Kitchen) in a modern space complete with contemporary artwork, vintage red brick and walnut colored walls bereft of branding. There’s a selection of craft signature cocktails from Alex Ott. The menu focuses on the kola nut — the caffeine-containing fruit that tastes like a cross between coffee and chocolate. It’s featured in entrees like the prime steak ($48), made with kola salt and mushroom bolognese; and the pork shoulder carnitas, made with a kola spice rub ($26).

You’ll want to sip this fall flavor slow and straight. Luxury scotch whisky label The Macallan has launched its decadent new Double Cask whisky. It’s aged in sherry-seasoned American oak casks for 12 years before it’s blended with whisky aged in sherry-seasoned oak casks from Europe. The result is a creamy, butterscotch taste with hints of toffee, apple, candied orange and vanilla. $65 per bottle at themacallan.com.

Try it...

Winter comes early at Bingbox Snow Cream Co. (125 Second Ave.). This East Village dessert spot specializes in a modern take on patbingsu, the popular Korean shaved ice dessert traditionally topped with red beans, roasted grain powder and rice cakes. The snowflake-like treats come in light and sweet flavors like Matcha, made with green tea ice, red bean and mochi; and the Taro, made with taro ice, fresh strawberries, caramel and popcorn.