When new eating places open, we verify them out. We topic our stomachs and social lives to the great, the dangerous, and as a rule, the superbly fantastic. And each from time to time, a brand new spot makes us really feel like Adam Sandler at a sweatpants sale. When that occurs, we add it right here, to The Hit Listing.
The Hit Listing is the place you’ll discover all the greatest new eating places in New York. So long as it opened throughout the previous a number of months and we’re nonetheless speaking about it, it’s on this information. The newest addition is likely to be a buzzy new restaurant with caviar priced by the bump. Or it is likely to be an under-the-radar lunch counter, the place a couple of {dollars} will get you one thing that rattles round in your mind like a unfastened penny in a dryer.
Hold tabs on the Hit Listing and you may all the time know simply which new eating places you have to be consuming at proper now. (When you’re in search of extra Brooklyn spots, try our borough-specific Hit Listing, too.)
New to the Hit Listing (4/22): Sawa, Alaluna
THE SPOTS
photograph credit score: Francesco Sapienza
We’ve had a bit surge of eating places serving nice Levantine meals on the Hit Listing recently: Huda, Frena, and now Sawa in Park Slope. This Lebanese spot has huge home windows and an open kitchen, so that you’ll be welcomed by the sights and smells of pita being rolled out and baked of their domed oven. Begin with a minty arak cocktail or a glass of crimson from a really high-altitude winery in Lebanon, and a few of that recent pita, alongside muhammara and a thick hummus—to which it is best to add beef cheeks and pine nuts. Don’t skip the kibbeh arnabiyeh, a big lamb shank in tahini, or the entire dorade in a tomato-pepper stew, however remember that parts are massive. We’d suggest bringing a few mates.
photograph credit score: Patrick Dolande
In case you hadn’t heard, there is a speakeasy-ish restaurant within the West Village serving “seacuterie” and tuna lasagna. At greatest, the idea sounds AI-generated. At worst, an omen of darkish instances forward. The factor is, that lasagna hits the spot. You may discover Alaluna behind a set of curtains behind restaurant and grocery retailer Vacationers, Poets, and Pals. The house is upscale and intimate—with white tablecloths, darkish blue partitions, and an upright piano—and the menu is seafood-heavy. The menu seems a bit gimmicky (burrata with caviar), however we have had some memorable bites right here. When you’re bored of your ordinary Italian go-tos, cease by for some shrimp carpaccio and a dice of lasagna that reads like a tuna soften. Jury’s nonetheless out on the seacuterie.
photograph credit score: Katrine Moite Images
Thumping bass, pretend vines, and a star chef are all potential crimson flags. However we’ve had some critically good meals at Bungalow. This East Village restaurant channels the spirit of a retro Indian clubhouse, with sprawling rugs, rattan chairs, and an extra of chandeliers. Its menu, however, goes the trendy route. Strive the tart, architecturally fascinating purple candy potato chaat, then spend some high quality time with the Rajathani pulled lamb in a thick, chocolate-brown curry. Reservations are scarce, however you’ll be able to all the time put your identify in for a desk, then discover someplace to hold for an hour or so. The entrance cocktail lounge, for instance.
There’s an attention-grabbing “ice cream sizzling pot” at Tha Phraya, however that’s not what makes this Thai spot on the Higher East Facet sizzle. From the neon yellow signal on the entrance, to the illuminated cityscape within the again “Temple Room,” all the things right here is stylishly lit—and that features the meals, which tingles with freshly floor and pounded spices. They’ve dishes from throughout Thailand, however begin with the chef’s specialities on the menu’s first web page: the pomelo salad is completely balanced and strewn with tiny little fishes, and the fried entire branzino is available in a tangy kaeng som curry that’s arduous to cease consuming, even because it bubbles down right into a thicker, spicier sauce over the course of dinner. We’ll be heading again quickly to delve into the menu’s again half.
photograph credit score: Armondo Rafael
There’s grocery store hummus, common restaurant hummus, after which there’s the hummus at Frena. It has the feel of half-melted ice cream, and we’d gladly eat it with a spoon, however their sizzling and crusty, oven-fresh flatbread is greater than as much as the duty. They make good use of that wood-fired oven, with dishes like a butterflied branzino with lemon potatoes getting a remaining kiss of the flame. Get the signature Lamb Terracotta—meatballs in a vibrant tomato and tahini sauce, and at the least a couple of dips to share. A meal for 2 will run round $175, nevertheless it’s value it for a pleasant date in a room with large home windows and timber rising out of huge urns. Splash out for some fascinating wines from Europe and North Africa.
photograph credit score: Teddy Wolff
Crudo fatigue is the firstest of first world issues, however simply after we thought we have been sick of uncooked seafood and wine, right here comes Penny, a brand new seafood bar within the East Village. The 31-seat counter is located above its sister restaurant Claud, and also you would possibly assume snacking right here earlier than a full dinner downstairs is the transfer. However Penny is value your full consideration. Begin with the icebox, an expensive uncooked bar choice on a private tray of ice, after which stick round for stuffed squid, entire lobster, and a creamy oyster roast with puff pastry on prime. The shoulder-to-shoulder set-up is barely chaotic, however when everybody oohs-and-ahhs with you at your uncommon crimson rice sake order, you’ll respect the camaraderie.
photograph credit score: Will Hartman
Mama’s Too is the uncommon Higher West Facet institution that recurrently attracts strains, and we’ve been ready for the West Village debut of this hit pizza spot for months. It’s lastly right here, and simply nearly as good as the unique, with unbelievable, crisp-bottomed sq. slices which might be topped with issues like poached pear and gorgonzola, cacio e pepe, or a beneficiant layer of pepperoni. They’ve common slices too, and their rotating Wednesday and Saturday sandwich specials are additionally accessible— the one actual distinction is that this location has some indoor seating.
photograph credit score: Will Hartman
It isn’t so stunning that this new udon store within the East Village is incredible, and already accumulating 50-plus particular person strains on 2nd Avenue. It is from the folks behind one other one in every of our favourite locations to eat Japanese noodles, Okiboru Home of Tsukemen. Right here, they focus on double-wide Himokawa udon that warrants a 45-minute wait. To not point out the expertly fried greens, shrimp, and bacon tempura that complement the chewy, slurpable noodles. Go on a pleasant day, as a result of the truth that there are solely 20 seats will not precisely get you inside shortly (coming alone ought to assist, although).
Not like so many Twenty first-century Italian eating places designed to really feel outdated, this Noho spot from the homeowners of Delmonico’s is charming not tacky. Black-and-white pictures, brick partitions, and that quintessential formal service are conducive to romance over a bit shrimp scampi. And 1800s-era stone arches make up for any lackluster pastas, like bland casarecce and agnolotti. Persist with the dishes that share chophouse DNA with Delmonico’s, and sit within the downstairs eating room. The highest ground with a shiny bar and huge tables seems prefer it’s from a wholly completely different temper board, and doesn’t have the identical (admittedly manufactured) old-world attraction.
Between the surf guitar and an affection for citrus, San Sabino feels just like the nicest seaside cafe in Seventies Malibu—solely they do fancy Italian American seafood and there is a view of a uBreakiFix cellphone restore store. You may need to know a man to get a reservation at this limoncello-colored West Village restaurant from the Don Angie crew, however dishes like farfalle filled with vivid chili crab are well worth the fuss of getting in. Or do what we did and stand in line by 4:30pm, then kill a couple of hours at a West Village bar earlier than it’s time to gulp down shrimp parm or a cocktail that tastes like an Italian mojito.
photograph credit score: Andrea Grujic
We have had taco momos, and momos wrapped in parathas, however we’ve by no means encountered a momo fairly like Ramro’s delicate dumpling filled with duck confit. It is simply one of many dishes at this tiny Astoria restaurant that blends Nepali and Filipino influences with out feeling gimmicky. Ramro started its life as FoodStruck, serving messy-delicious late-night meals. Now it is someplace to begin your evening with a glass of wine and juicy wagyu longganisa, then finish it with calamansi ice cream over tealights and quiet hip-hop. The six-course, $99 chef’s tasting is stuffed with fascinating bites, however we would begin with the $9 sake cocktails and consuming snacks at Pleased Hour. It is a light option to ease right into a weekend—Ramro is barely open Friday by Sunday.
photograph credit score: Will Hartman
When you’re drawn to the scent of recent bagels and “all the things” seasoning, welcome to the membership—and please make your option to Apollo within the East Village as quick as attainable. The bagels at this former pop-up share sourdough DNA with the pizza at Leo: they’re barely tangy, with springy crags and holes inside, and the seeded varieties are thickly encrusted. We cherished them a lot, we added Apollo to our Finest Bagels information. It’s worthwhile to be at this streamlined store as quickly as you’ll be able to roll off the bed, as a result of the road can get fairly lengthy after round 10am. But it surely’s well worth the wait—the bagels come out sizzling, with a crust that’s simply begging to be ripped aside and devoured on the spot.
photograph credit score: Melissa Hom
Your subsequent evening out ought to begin with a cocktail made with feta cheese and tequila at Theodora in Fort Greene. Then, it ought to proceed with za’atar kubaneh, which seems like cinnamon rolls for those who swapped the cinnamon sugar for za’atar, and comes with three sauces for dipping. This Mediterranean restaurant with fish-forward small plates is from the folks behind Miss Ada, and it’s the place it is best to carry somebody who’s ears perk up on the phrases “earth-toned” and “open-fire cooking”. Early and late reservations can be found for now, and after we visited final week, there was numerous house for walk-ins.
Demo within the West Village encapsulates a complete word-cloud value of current tendencies: a espresso store by day and a wine bar by evening, it sells shoppy-shop gadgets, and shares a kitchen with a bagelry. The pounding R&B deep cuts are working even more durable than the workers’s forearm tattoos to make this place really feel thrilling, however you will get some fairly good snacks to go together with a glass of wine constituted of some grape you have by no means heard of. A full meal might run you over $100 per particular person, so until you are flush with money, keep on with the smaller plates just like the lengua tonnata embellished with caper berries, or artistically sliced uncooked diver scallops with easy lemon and herb gremolata. Crudo chasers, your subsequent goal is acquired.
There’s a brand new West Village restaurant that isn’t very arduous to get into, and it’s from the parents behind one of many prime Mexican spots within the metropolis, Casa Enrique. Positioned on a comparatively quiet stretch of Bedford Road, the walk-in-only Quique Crudo has simply round 20 stools unfold throughout a slender room the place you’ll, sooner or later, elbow a fellow diner. Pop in for a crab tostada and a few aguachile, and make sure you strive the tequila Previous Usual or one of many different 40-ish drinks on their obsessively intensive cocktail listing.
photograph credit score: Pratya Jankong
Crispy grilled skewers, spicy and funky fruit salads, and cocktails which might be described with simply sufficient smut to maintain issues spicy are all issues you’ll be able to anticipate at Sappe in Chelsea. This restaurant from the Soothr crew brings the drama, with a theatrical marquee and a eating room that is lit vivid neon pink, with a mirror on the ceiling. The cocktails are named after seductive characters in Thai films and novels (the Boonleung is called for a “seasoned widow” who would ask her stepson to rub ice cubes on her again). Solely the 2 $27 drinks have their origin tales on the menu, however you will discover the remainder on their web site, and so they’re an ideal pair with the menu’s basic Thai avenue meals and consuming snacks.
photograph credit score: Kate Previte
Coqodaq serves their fancy fried rooster in silver buckets. They promote child bottles of champagne, and you will get a single “golden nugget” with caviar on prime for $28. 24-karat items of poultry apart, this Korean restaurant in Flatiron isn’t as obnoxious because it sounds. It’s the sister restaurant to sceney Korean steakhouse Cote, and for a celebratory dinner or Friday evening out, it will probably really be a reasonably whole lot. Teams ought to do the Bucket Listing, a meal format for the desk that comes with two forms of fried rooster, banchan, noodles, and frozen yogurt for $38 per particular person. Regardless of being hormone-free, farmers’ market-fed chickens, these birds are extremely juicy and plump, and also you get half a rooster per particular person. Reservations are already unattainable, however walk-ins are welcome on the bar.
photograph credit score: Alex Staniloff
You already know what’s sizzling proper now? Specificity. A number of the most enjoyable eating places in NYC are specializing in regional delicacies (which is, admittedly, a barely deceptive time period, as a result of all delicacies is kind of regional). We’re speaking Northern Mexican at Corima, Oklahoma smashburgers at Hamburger America, and just about all the things at Dhamaka, Naks, and Semma. The newest proof of idea is Kanyakumari, a brand new spot close to Union Sq. serving ultra-flavorful takes on largely coastal South Indian dishes. Their menu bounces from state to state, with standouts like candy, salty Kerala-style duck and crispy beef with coconut shavings.
photograph credit score: Radio Kwara
There are two forms of folks: those that’ve managed to attain a reservation at Dept. of Tradition, and people who have been attempting for months. Whichever camp you fall into, it is best to pay a go to to Radio Kwara. The tiny Nigerian spot in Clinton Hill is from the identical crew, however swaps the tasting format for an a la carte menu, the place the costliest factor—a complete roasted guinea fowl—is $32. It’s BYOB, so include a buddy and a bottle of crimson from the wine retailer subsequent door. Share some goat meat pepper soup, charred octopus suya, and the butter-soaked bread ati obe with marinated mushrooms, which our server described as “brioche on steroids.”