Looking for the best new restaurants in New York City? You won’t have to look hard. Among all sorts of newness—exhibits, gallery shows, and a revolving door of hotels—the city that never sleeps certainly eats, eats again, and eats some more. Dozens of new restaurants open their doors here every month, joining what’s already an impressive collection of establishments. But which are worth visiting? That’s one our editors have set out to answer with a new seasonal list.
How we choose the best new restaurants in New York City
The best new restaurants in New York City stretch across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Every restaurant on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has eaten at that restaurant. When choosing new restaurants, our editors consider both high-end and affordable eateries that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We’re always looking for stand-out dishes, a great location, and warm service—as well as serious sustainability credentials. In terms of how we define ‘new,’ we’ve chosen to focus on restaurants that have opened within six months of the publish date. When you need more ideas of places to eat, check back in: We will update this list regularly as new restaurants open in New York City.
And now, from eateries atop Columbus Circle dominating TikTok to quieter wine bars in Brooklyn’s Clinton Hill, read on for the best new restaurants in NYC according to Condé Nast Traveler editors.
Laser Wolf
It’s one of the hardest-to-snag reservations, and on first bite you’ll know why. Michael Solomonov’s Philly-famous Laser Wolf has landed in Brooklyn, on top of The Hoxton, Williamsburg, where his flavor-bursting Israeli barbecue and mezze platters are complemented by genuinely impressive views of Manhattan’s skyline (choose your meat/fish/veggie for around $50, pickles hummus, and all other salatim—plus dessert—included). It’s the kind of setting where the food could be totally mediocre and people would still go, but devastatingly the food is some of the best in the city—which is why you will have to fight very hard for a reservation. If you don’t succeed, consider cocktail-and-raw-bar Jaffa (also at the Hoxton, also opened in May, also from Solomonov) a worthy back-up, where a blended orange and vanilla cocktail ($18) and fresh seafood platters ($75 for the 2-person chef’s choice) are a worthy consolation prize. —Megan Spurrell, senior editor
Gertrude’s
Gertrude’s is a neighborhood hit, that much is clear. When James, a local favorite of Prospect Heights and Park Slope residents, shut down earlier this year, it felt like a real loss. But Gertrude’s, which comes from Nate Adler and Rachel Jackson, the couple behind Williamsburg’s favorite Jew-ish diner Gertie, and Eli Sussman who owns Samesa, a Middle Eastern restaurant in Rockefeller Center, found that winning the former James crowd over wasn’t hard. On any night, tables are running full to overflowing, succored by a steady stream of Jew-ish cuisine hits from latkes topped with crème fraîche and trout roe ($21) to warm challah with duck butter ($8) and deep-fried eggplant “schnitzel” ($22) to day-of spaetzles (handily, there are always both meat and veggie options). Its warm decor—bright murals, aubergine-colored banquet seats, and warm wooden furniture accents—lends itself easily to twenty-somethings, young families, and multi-generational groups alike, and the energy is undeniably lively, without feeling like a pre-game. Make time for a couple rounds of a Dirty Gertie martini ($15) or a local IPA ($9), but definitely save room for a slab of ‘black and white’ seven-layer cake ($15, for two slices) at the end. —Arati Menon, global digital director
Libertine
From the week it opened in late May, Libertine has felt like a truly great Parisian bistro in the West Village. It already feels lived in—with chatter bubbling up to the ceiling every evening—and a host of dishes that feel like familiar favorites even on a first visit. No wonder, since it comes from partners Cody Pruitt, beverage director at Anfora, and executive chef Max Mackinnon (previously of Relae in Copenhagen and Rose’s Luxury in Washington, DC). A few of those instant classics: the gently boiled Oeufs Mayo ($19) slathered in rich, homemade mayonnaise speckled with trout roe and chives; a scallop ($18), broiled with seaweed butter and leeks, served in its own shell; and even a simple green salad ($21) that reminded me that the beauty of bistros is their ability to take three delicate ingredients (here: torn lettuce, fresh herbs, and a vinaigrette) and make them feel special. That’s not even getting into the wine, which is entirely all-natural and French. It’s exactly the kind of place you hope to be charmed by in the West Village. —Megan Spurrell, senior editor
Le B.
For those of us who were devastated by the closing of the Beatrice Inn in 2020, relief comes in the form of Le B., a lively, young echo that opened in September in place of Angie Mar’s other shuttered restaurant, Le Trois Chevaux in the West Village. While the name Le B. is a direct nod to The Beatrice Inn, which would be 100 years old this year, it is “fun, witty, and a little more grown-up,” according to Mar. The design certainly supports that: a supper-club-like setting with inky-blue walls, crystal chandeliers, and extra-crisped white linen—all of which it carries off without stuffiness. The menu is Continental American and is Mar’s “ode to her upbringing in the 80s and 90s, and the restaurants of the time.” Some of that playful nostalgia is seen in the Mikasa serveware; but is also spotted on the menu—the Onions Nancy ($24) is her riff on Lipton onion soup and dip mix. Other noteworthy mentions include the Deviled Egg “en chemise”($12) that is served whole with truffle chaud-froid and on a bed of sliced cukes, and the Salad Chinoise, a tongue-firmly-in-cheek dish that’s priced at $24 and comes with bitter greens, herbs, mandarin, sesame and a lace of chicken roti. Notably, the Beatrice Inn’s aged rib-eye burger continues its run, but in limited capacity and for walk-ins only. The best seats to enjoy it all are the nine at the bar, where you’ll be comforted by the giant Beatrice Inn sign and the easy flow of martinis ($28)—a caviar martini called Bemelmans at the Ritz, if you’re feeling extra celebratory—that you’ll almost certainly forget to keep count of. —Arati Menon, global digital director
Bad Roman
It’s big, bold, and slightly ridiculous. Bad Roman joins a league of new Italian restaurants that seem more designed for TikTok that anything else—an actual menu item is pepperoni cups with ranch ($11), and there is a giant wild boar statue in the dining room—yet if you know how to order, it ultimately warrants a visit for having some genuinely good food and scene-y-in-a-fun-way ambiance, in a part of Manhattan that doesn’t have a lot of “cool new restaurants” no less. (And if you’ve ever been looking for a spot to grab dinner near Columbus Circle, you know that there’s a bit of a gap between the Per Se’s and the halal trucks outside.) Go for the roasted garlic babka ($8); treat yourself to the wedge salad ($21); do not miss the buttery rock shrimp chitarra pasta with Calabrian chili ($24). Yes, you need a martini with pepperoncini brine ($17). —Megan Spurrell, senior editor
Misipasta
Following the wildly popular Misi, Lilia, and Fini Pizza, Chef Missy Robbins and restaurateur Sean Feeney have opened their newest spot in Brooklyn. Primarily a boutique, Misipasta features freshly made pasta for $15/lb and packaged provisions (think: whipped ricotta, amatriciana sauce, and pints of gelato). The restaurant features an aperitivo bar with limited seating and a small dinner menu. Its location in a cozy spot right off busy Kent Avenue in Williamsburg provides a homey ambiance for a quick Italian bite. Start with the crispy mozzarella in carrozza ($16), and don’t skip the grilled artichoke sandwich with sharp provolone and hot peppers ($18). Though their menu currently has only one standing pasta, a stark difference from their sister restaurants, but the garlic spaghetti with lemon, bottarga, and breadcrumbs ($24) is a must-have. Reservations are now available on Resy, and it’s already a near-impossible table to snag. —Emily Adler, global brand associate
Tacombi
Tacombi’s locations throughout New York City are popular, with their white tiled walls and no-fuss taco menus and feels-like-the-Yucatán ambiance. But their latest location, right near Union Square, tests a concept that any Mexico City regular will be drawn to—a counter-only taqueria. The menu is streamlined—just tacos, a short breakfast menu, and drinks—but it stands out for having few but the right things. Instead of simply beef or chicken tacos, you’ve got cult-favorite taco fillings like suadero (an extra tender brisket-like beef cut), longaniza (spicy sausage), and even the off-menu campechano which combines the above and then some (all clock in around $5 per taco). Yes, there’s also a fantastic al pastor. The drinks range from agua frescas ($4) to tasty bottled cocktails ($12) and cold brew ($4). It’s reminiscent of Los Tacos No.1, a beloved taco joint with several locations in Manhattan, but with that tropical Tacombi touch—and impressively, even the vegan milanesa tacos slap. —Megan Spurrell, senior editor
Port Sa’id
If you’re looking for a Mediterranean paradise with hummus you’ll want to swim in, Port Sa’id is a must visit. Port Sa’id joins Eyal Shani’s buzzy NYC spots HaSalon, Miznon, and Shmoné—all imports from original locations in Tel Aviv. Located on a quiet corner of Hudson Square, the restaurant is surrounded by windows and high ceilings, with an open layout and a kitchen you can easily peer into. The menu is extensive but straightforward in how it features fresh ingredients throughout, including sweet potato with creme fraiche ($8), decadent lamb kebab ($21), and unlimited fluffy Challah, which comes with the hummus ($16). It’s a spot that welcomes anyone from singles at the bar to large families with kids, and would make for a great group dinner with endless shareables to choose from. —Emily Adler, global brand associate
Margot
Margot is a fittingly demure name for this dimly-lit, unassuming wine bar. Located on a bustling corner of Fort Greene, which at night takes on a quiet and warm glow, Margot has clean white interiors and a bare bones setup through which diners can observe the kitchen. I visited with a friend who, as is his wont, asks the sommelier for their “weirdest wine” on a budget, which turns out to be the delicious, sparkling orange Kabaj ‘Hydra’ 2019 ($62). As I was with a large party, we ordered nearly one of everything. While nothing disappointed, the highlights were, undoubtedly, the melt-in-your-mouth, smooth-as-butter grilled pork ($35), as well as a whole branzino with crispy skin ($40)—these dishes were easy to share, even among a party of 6. —Charlie Hobbs, associate editor
Source : CondeNastTraveler
