To keep tabs on every NYC restaurant and bar opening is folly. But to keep tabs on the most worthy? Yeoman’s work, and we’re proud to do it. Thus we present Table Stakes, a monthly rundown of the five (or so) must-know spots that have swung wide their doors in the past thirty (or so). Bon appétit.
If it seems like a less than ideal time to be opening a restaurant, that’s because it is. Nonetheless, restaurateurs continue to jump through the numerous hoops required to see their dreams become a reality.
The latest crop of NYC openings show just how indestructible the New York food scene really is, as inventive new offerings continue to pop up at seemingly every corner. That doesn’t mean that the industry isn’t still hurting — it is, but that’s all the more reason to lend your patronage to those who are making it work at whatever means might be necessary. It’s a win-win, really, keeping your favorite new restaurants open while enjoying soothing Korean comfort food, digging into a cheesy boat of Georgian khachapuri or unwrapping a Southwestern-style breakfast burrito. So without further ado, here are the best and latest additions to the NYC culinary scene.
Umma
Nolita
Office workers in Nolita know Noodlelove well — a local fast-casual go-to for Asian fusion. But when the pandemic hit and working in an office became obsolete overnight, owner Natalie Camerino seized the opportunity for a pivot of her own. She transformed Noodlelove into a full-service Korean-American restaurant inspired by the comfort of her mom’s cooking, and Umma was born (named after the Korean word for mother). Look out for dishes like bulgogi cheeseburger dumplings and “KFC” chicken buns with Korean barbecue sauce, spicy cucumber and cabbage.
Chito Gvrito
Gramercy Park
While we’re talking about comfort food, Chito Gvrito is Gramercy Park’s answer to pandemic and election woes. The brand new Georgian restaurant specializes in “classic Georgian flavors with modern twists using locally sourced ingredients,” but all we have eyes for is the melted cheese inside that infamous bread boat that is adjaruli khachapuri. And the cheese inside their homemade Kveri dumplings. Wash it all down with their selection of natural Georgian wines and cocktails.
Saramsam
East Village
The rise of Filipino cuisine in the city continues its ascent with the addition of Saramsam in the East Village, the latest brainchild of serial restaurateur Ravi DeRossi — the guy behind places like Death & Company, Cienfuegos and Mayahuel. Saramsam is a vegan take on typically meat-forward Filipino dishes like Adobo, which they have reenvisioned with roasted mushrooms and a garlic soy sauce glaze.
Bar Dalia
Astoria
Right behind popular cocktail spot Mosaic, you’ll find a new addition in Bar Dalia, a tapas spot with small plates and a much larger drinks menu. There you’ll find simple classics like empanadas, chicharrón and tostones, as well as a small selection of tacos. While they are now open for indoor dining, you can also grab a spot on their roomy back patio.
The Tyger
Soho
Eddy Buckingham and his partner Jeff Lam unwittingly built a cult following with their first restaurant venture, Chinese Tuxedo. Now they’ve gone in an opposite direction with their sophomore effort — a laid back, pan-Asian spot named The Tyger. Patio dining and limited indoor seating will be available for customers eager to try splashy dishes like their shrimp sashimi plate or Pakistani roasted eggplant curry.
Manny’s Bistro (no website)
Upper West Side
When long-standing French eatery Bistro Cassis closed back in May, manager Manny Colon decided to open a place of his own. The rhyme was not intentional, FYI. His new spot, Manny’s Bistro, features many of the same French classics that patrons can’t get enough of, like steak frites and escargot. Soak up the Paris sidewalk cafe vibes on their front patio, or sit inside at their marble tables to escape the incoming chill.
Ursula
Crown Heights
New Yorkers with an affinity for Mexican food know this to be true: it’s tough to find a solid breakfast burrito in this city. Luckily for us, Ursula just opened up in Crown Heights. Owned by some of the same people behind Bushwick’s now-closed Awkward Scone, Ursula is an ode to Southwestern cuisine, and its lead character is the New Mexican-style breakfast burrito, which features hash browns, green chili and a protein of your choosing. Other options include a house-made brioche breakfast sandwich and unique baked goods like a blue corn scone.
Vestry
Soho
Now open for dinner only is Vestry, an upscale American spot inside the Dominick Hotel. Japanese influence dominates the menu by chef Shaun Hergatt, whose past two NYC restaurants both earned Michelin stars. The perfect splurge dinner for meat eaters and vegetarians alike, Vestry’s offerings include vegetable and seafood-forward small plates and bites as well as larger meaty mains like Wagyu beef and Amish chicken.
Cozy Royale
East Williamsburg
The sister restaurant to The Meat Hook, a whole animal butcher shop, Cozy Royale is a sit down spot with a variety of “slow food” — the arch nemesis of fast food. The ethos of the restaurant revolves around the use of overlooked cuts of meat and they make their way into nearly every dish, from roasted cabbage with smoked pork jowl to a pork steak with cider braised kraut.
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