Wednesday, April 10
Added to the Waiting List
The Michelin Guide recently updated its New York dining guide to include 10 new restaurants from Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, showcasing diverse cuisines ranging from Thai to Puerto Rican, and French to Japanese. These additions include Bangkok Supper Club, Bar Miller, Barrio, Cecily, L’abeille à Côté, Shota Omakase, Moono, Nōksu, Untable, and the new Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare.
Photo courtesy of bon appétit
Saturday, March 23
Rent increases suck!
Joomak Banjum, the incredible Michelin-starred restaurant known for its innovative approach to Korean cuisine, has closed its doors at 312 Fifth Avenue due to unsustainable rent increases. Chef Jiho Kim, who also operates the Korean pastry spot Ddobar and JM Bakery, plans to relocate the restaurant to a more affordable location this fall. Despite the closure, the culinary experience of Joomak Banjum will temporarily continue through “Joomak Nights” at Ddobar, offering a $185 tasting menu on select weeknights.
Photo courtesy of Eater NY
Thursday, March 14
Don Angie but in Seafood
Chefs Angela Rito and Scott Tacinelli, the minds behind Don Angie, have opened San Sabino in the West Village. The restaurant continues their innovative approach to Italian American cuisine with unique menu items such as crab and mortadella dip, triangoli pasta with lobster in vodka sauce, and a dramatic shrimp Parm dish. The décor features a bright '60s vibe, and the venue offers a selection of unique wines and cocktails. There's little doubt San Sabino will become popular quickly, so it's wise to visit sooner rather than later.
Photo courtesy of San Sabino
Thursday, March 7
Mama’s *Part* Too
Mama’s Too is coming to the West Village on Saturday. The new outpost on Bleecker Street will feature the same menu, including their signature round and square pizzas, alongside new offerings like daily sandwiches and a gelato station. This expansion allows owner Frank Tuttolomondo to enhance the customer experience with a larger space, seating for 30, and a kitchen equipped to reduce wait times, aiming to offer a more comfortable and efficient dining experience.
Photo courtesy of Medium
Thursday, March 7
Secrets of the Frog
Frog Club, spearheaded by chef Liz Johnson in the storied West Village locale once housing Chumley’s, emerges amid a haze of personal drama and culinary anticipation. The restaurant enforces a no-photos policy, enhancing its mystique and focusing on the dining experience, which features innovative dishes like borscht-style oyster shooters and lobster pierogies, alongside desserts such as the Tutti Frutti Spaghetti Sundae. The venue’s launch is tinged with the fallout from Johnson’s publicized split from co-chef Will Aghajanian, adding a layer of intrigue to the establishment, which aims to blend exclusive dining with a playful, yet refined menu in a setting that nods to its enigmatic, prohibition-era past.
Photo courtesy of Eater NY
Friday, March 1
Dock the Boats
The Central Park Boathouse is back. The iconic venue since 1954, is reopening on Monday under the new management of Legends, the catering company known for Yankee Stadium’s food services. With a revamped menu, Boathouse 2.0 aims to enhance its customer experience, featuring dishes like oysters Rockefeller and beef au poivre. The refreshed setting is complete with various dining options, including a new indoor cafe and dockside dining, promising a modern yet traditional ambiance for visitors and events.
Photo courtesy of Eater NY
Wednesday, February 28
Café para la noche!
Yara Herrera is opening Hellbender Nighttime Cafe in Ridgewood with the team from Rolo’s. The cafe, set to launch tomorrow, represents Herrera’s first venture as a business partner and executive chef, where she’s responsible for creating a unique menu from scratch. Hellbender will serve as a cocktail bar offering an array of bites, including Herrera’s homemade chamoy, Oaxacan fried cheese sticks, a shrimp cocktail, and a special volcanic choriqueso. The venue aims to be a casual, late-night spot where guests can enjoy enjoyable food and cocktails, such as the signature margaritas crafted by Tony Milici, in a laid-back atmosphere without the need for reservations.
Photo courtesy of Eater NY
Wednesday, February 21
More agave please!
Lolita, a new, distinctive two-story cocktail lounge and restaurant focused on agave and cane-based spirits, has opened in Midtown. The establishment, whose name is inspired by owner Jillian Lockhart’s daughter, Lola, boasts a vibrant interior with glowing arches. It offers a curated selection of drinks by Beverage Director Marshall Minaya and Head Bartender Carlos Kennedy-Lopez, alongside traditional Mexican dishes by Chef Carmelo Calixto. This venue, part of a trio that includes Madame George and Valerie, provides a unique, layered experience in a shared building, each with its own entrance.
Photo courtesy of Lolita
Wednesday, February 21
A Fresh breath of nostalgia
Another Country, a new retro cocktail lounge around Union Square, brings nostalgia and spiritual uplift with its vinyl collection, spanning Prince to classical music. Co-owned by Timothy Jenkins and Mark Connell, it offers signature cocktails, and small, shareable dishes inspired by Union Square's farmers’ market. The space, formerly Chat ’N Chew diner, features original pine flooring and a cozy, dimly lit ambiance.
Photo courtesy of TimeOut
Tuesday, February 20
Benvenuta!
Renowned bartender and hospitality professional Takuma Watanabe, known for his work at Angel’s Share and Martiny’s, is opening his first Italian venture, L’Americana tomorrow, Wednesday February 21. The restaurant and bar will celebrate Watanabe’s love for Italian cuisine and beverages, with a unique twist influenced by his Japanese roots and experience in NYC.
Photo courtesy of TimeOut
Thursday, January 25
Fine China
Kenny Leung and Thomas Tang are opening YAO, a modern Cantonese restaurant in the Financial District, building on their success with August Gatherings in Chinatown. Chef Leung aims to blend traditional Cantonese cuisine with international elements, offering dishes like truffle-infused shrimp dumplings, salt-baked chicken, fried rice with roasted eel, and Hong Kong style noodles with fish maw. Located near Wall Street, YAO is set to feature an upscale dining space with a wine list that caters to diverse budgets. The restaurant is scheduled to open this Monday.
Photo courtesy of New York Times
Monday, January 8
TO SIP or to GUZZLE
Are you more of a sipper or a guzzler? Well, fortunately, both are welcomed (without judgment) to the West Village’s most anticipated new cocktail bar, Sip & Guzzle. Located on Cornelia Street, the bar was slated for a fall opening before delays pushed everything back. But the time is finally here, with legendary bar mastermind Shingo Golan’s newest gig opening on January 19. Sip & Guzzle will be a two-faced concept, with Guzzle on the main floor and the speakeasy Sip downstairs.
Photo courtesy of Eater NY
Friday, January 5
NEW KING OF KFC
It seems as if Cote owner Simon Kim has accepted his divine role of providing us with the most obscenely luxurious takes on Korean cuisine. This has manifested in his newest project, Coqodaq, a high-end Korean fried chicken restaurant. Now open, this “cathedral of fried chicken” is sure to be on everyone’s 2024 bucket list.
Photo courtesy of Grub Street
Thursday, December 7
A Midtown Comeback?
Jean-Georges Vongerichten is back at it again with a new restaurant, Four Twenty Five, in Midtown Manhattan. With Chef Jonathan Benno at the helm, this new spot at 425 Park Avenue is set to offer a blend of Asian and Italian-American cuisine, providing both tasting and à la carte menus. Set in an impressive 14,000 square-foot space designed by Lord Norman Foster, it features a dramatic staircase, a bar with towering ceilings, and a cozy dining room. Despite Midtown’s lackluster culinary landscape, Vongerichten is betting on its resurgence, aiming to offer a dining experience that's upscale yet relaxed, with a mix of innovative dishes and familiar favorites.
Photo courtesy of New York Times
Tuesday, December 5
Lights, Cameras, Cocktails!
Michael Imperioli, known for his roles in “White Lotus” and “The Sopranos,” along with his wife Victoria, has opened a new bar and restaurant named Scarlet on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. In collaboration with restaurateur Jeremy Wladis, the couple has crafted a space with a distinctive vibe, featuring a “French wartime” interior designed by Victoria, characterized by red hues. The bar offers an array of cocktails, including one aptly named the “White Lotus,” accompanied by a selection of snacks.
Photo courtesy of NY Eater
Monday, December 4
The Elephant in the Room
The Elephant Room, a Singaporean bar featured in Asia’s 50 Best of 2023, is making its New York City debut with help from restaurant Singapura. The bar will use Singapura’s space to orchestrate its service, offering both food and drink options every night of the week.
Photo courtesy of TimeOut
Friday, December 1
Get Jingled. Get Jangled.
Step aside Rolf’s, getting into the Christmas spirit doesn’t have to coincide with consuming terrible food and drinks. The Dead Rabbit has brought back their “Jingle Jangle” pop-up idea from last year in full force. Complete with a full Christmas-inspired cocktail menu, The Dead Rabbit is the place to be this holiday season.
Photo courtesy of The Dead Rabbit
Thursday, November 30
AN American Hamburger
If there’s anyone I’d trust to make me a hamburger, it’s burger scholar George Motz. This trust can now be put to the test with the opening of his new burger joint, Hamburger America. Located on the corner of West Houston and MacDougal Streets, the restaurant pays tribute to small-town roadside griddles. The restaurant offers counter seating, where customers can enjoy freshly made burgers with minimal toppings like American cheese, onions, pickles, or mustard. But it’s the fried-onion burger, Motz's favorite, featuring caramelized onions added to the patty on the grill, that seems to catch the eye.
Photo courtesy of Hamburger America
Friday, November 10
New home, same price
New York’s favorite $35 Steak Frites is back. Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte, which had closed during the pandemic, has reopened at 155 E. 54th Street, near Third Avenue. True to its Parisian roots, the menu remains simple, offering just three savory items: steak, salad, and fries. But be prepared to wait in line for this deal, Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte does not take reservations.
Photo courtesy of NY Magazine
Thursday, November 9
The Tire Gods have spoken
Michelin announced their New York restaurant stars for the 2023 calendar year at a live ceremony in Tribeca yesterday. Out of the 71 New York restaurants to be awarded stars, 70 reside in New York City with the majority in Manhattan. The big takeaways of the night include the accomplishments of Japanese restaurants, the return of Major Food Group onto the list with Torisi, and the removal from Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare from the list altogether. Visit Michelin Guide NYC for more details.
Photo courtesy of bon appetit
Tuesday, November 7
SEOUL FOOD
This Thursday, Manhattan will welcome a new dining spot from Hojokban, the beloved Seoul-based eatery famed for its contemporary takes on Korean soul food. Reservations for the grand opening (as well as other dates) are now available on Resy.
Photo courtesy of Hojokban
Sunday, November 5
Another on the list
This fall has brought a bounty of new culinary destinations to explore, and Chef Andrew Carmellini’s latest addition, Café Carmellini, is no exception. As his first namesake restaurant, it promises to complement his successful ventures like Carne Mare, Locanda Verde, Lafayette, and The Dutch. Nestled in the rapidly evolving culinary landscape of NoMad, Café Carmellini’s menu is set to offer a personal touch, reflecting Carmellini's Tuscan family heritage, the influences from his career, and the dishes that have contributed to his fame.
Photo courtesy of Café Carmellini
Wednesday, October 25
THE Industry of pizza
L’industrie pizza, one of Brooklyn’s hottest and most popular pizza joints, is launching their new West Village location today. Famed for their burrata, pepperoni, and fig jam and bacon pies, it’s easy to anticipate that this new location may even be more popular than the original.
Photo courtesy of L’industrie pizza
Tuesday, October 17
Year of the chicken
The folks at Double Chicken Please have had much to celebrate recently. The high point of their international takeover was marked by the recognition of cocktail maestro GN Chen as the world’s best bartender and DCP’s ranking as the #2 bar globally, both accolades from The World’s 50 Best. Safe to say 2023 has been a pretty good year for DCP.
Photo courtesy of StarChefs
Wednesday, October 4
SAME TABLE, DIFFERENT CHEF(S)
After months of anticipation, Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare has finally reopened. The restaurant unexpectedly closed in July after disputes led to the firing of its head chef, César Ramirez. Amidst legal battles and allegations of misappropriation, the establishment is back in action with former employees, Max Natmessnig and Marco Prins, at the helm.
Photo courtesy of New York Magazine
Monday, October 2
A taste of Rome
Storied Roman institution Roscioli is set to open its upstairs à la carte menu offering today. While the new Soho-based Italian restaurant has been serving a tasting menu downstairs, the upstairs menu will offer diners a more classic and casual Roman experience.
Photo courtesy of Roscioli NYC