Employees Only owners opening Italian eatery Ziggys Roman in Dumbo

The co-founder of trendy Manhattan cocktail lounge Employees Only is branching out with a new family-friendly restaurant in Brooklyn.Igor Hadzismajlovic, who opened the late-night industry fave in 2004, has chosen his wife, Helen Zhang, and Edo Ademovic to be his partners in the new venture.Ziggy’s Roman Cafe, at 15 Main Street in Dumbo, is slated to open next month, Zhang told Side Dish. “We were searching for normal places where families can eat in Dumbo and there was nothing accessible for people who live in the neighborhood, just exorbitantly priced restaurants since it is a huge tourist magnet —  but not a dining destination,”  said Zhang, a former publicist and brand marketer.The restaurant, named for their youngest child, will have around 65 seats inside and a mezzanine “for kids to play while parents eat and have a good time,” Zhang said. “We looked at the space and loved it.It’s right in the middle of Dumbo.

It’s a special space,” she added. The couple have two kids: Rio, 7, and Ziggy, 5. The menu — from Chef John Poiarkoff, the former executive chef of Marta — will include “easy, no fuss Italian Roman style food” such as artichokes alla Romana, fried gnocchi and hasselback eggplant parmagiana.Pizzamaker Federico Crociani, known for his thin, Roman-style pizzas, will consult on the pizza program.“Eating out was such a big part of our lives and it can be painful with kids — we wanted to create something to mitigate the pain that parents feel,” Zhang said.  “We are paranoid about not alienating non-parents and will have a super-fun vibe like Employees Only.” Ademovic, formerly the bar manager at Sunset Beach on Shelter Island, who will be Ziggy’s general manager. Cocktails will be a key part of the plan.They are being developed by Employees Only co-founder Jason Kosmas. The cocktails will range from an Employees Only classic, West Side (Charbay Meyer Lemon Vodka and fresh lemon juice shaken with fresh mint...