Table Stakes

To keep tabs on every New York 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.

This month, NYC dining went a little bizarro.

There was an insanely ballyhooed burger that set the foodie community aflame … despite the fact that it is entirely vegetarian.

There was a wonderfully received project from Meatball Shop’s Michael Chernow … that does not feature any meatballs.

And then there was the terrific new Midtown sushi joint … where the waitstaff regularly breaks out into elaborate song and dance and the interior looks like something out of a Nicolas Winding Refn film.

So if it’s out-of-the-box dining experiences you seek, we impore you to take a gander at this month’s edition of Table Stakes.

Also in there: our favorite new patio to open up in ages and some — wait for it — delightfully weird Japanese pancakes in Brooklyn.

Long story short, the Summer of Strange is in full swing. And it’s great.

So dine on, and drink well.

Enjoy the guide.