Restaurants

Eater NY – All The New York City Restaurant, Bar, and Nightlife Blog

• Brooklyn’s Newest Bar Opens With Campari Creamsicles and Root Beer Negronis

  by Melissa McCart on April 14, 2025 at 6:37 pm

  A Campari Creamsicle at Little Fino. | Nick Johnson/Little Fino Little Fino from Andrew Carmellini and Anthony Ricco at the William Vale shows off day-to-night small bites and aperitivo cocktails A Brooklyn newcomer opens tomorrow with a sense of humor, a break from sky-high prices, and some Instagram potential. Little Fino — “until the next” in Italian — from Andrew Carmellini and Noho Hospitality chef Anthony Ricco, rolls out April 15 in The William Vale hotel (111 N. 12th Street at Kent Avenue). The sibling to long-running Leuca and Westlight shows off a day-to-night menu with mash-up cocktails from a frothy Root Beer Negroni, a neon-orange Campari Creamsicle, and A Solid Dirty Martini — a variation on a Jell-O shot. Photo-worthy fare includes crudite with dips served on mint-green cake platters, 20-inch-long sandwiches, and pistachio snacking cakes. Nick Johnson/Little Fino The bakery cafe spread at Little Fino. Little Fino opens nearly a decade after Leuca and Westlight in the hotel. “Spring felt like the ideal time for something fun and energetic for the neighborhood and to create a community space for locals to gather,” says Noho Hospitality partner Luke Ostrom. The debut comes on the heels of last year’s opening of Cafe Carmellini in the Fifth Avenue Hotel in Nomad with companion spot, the Portrait Bar. It’s one of a fleet of restaurants around New York from Carmellini and Noho Hospitality, others of which include Lafayette, Bar Primi, Locanda Verde, and the Dutch. Breakfast at Little Fino starts with coffee drinks from La Colombe and pressed juices like Valencia OJ , along with pastries ($5 to $7) like cinna-cruffin. Larger options list a salmon cornetto ($19) — a savory spin on the lobster tail or sfogliatelle-type pastry — and Sicilian flapjacks ($25) with pine-nut butter. Head chef of Leuca and now Little Fino, Ricco switches from the morning meal to an all-day menu of drinking snacks ($5 to $14) including polenta tots and black-and-white tarallini, a blending of the New York-style cookie and the hard, ring-shaped Italian taralli. Larger dishes range from a hot Caesar ($18) or Tony’s antipasto ($22), a salad with crunchy chickpeas and roasted artichokes and zucchini, finished with a salumi vinaigrette. Heartier fare includes a chicken cutlet muffuletta ($25), a super-long hot-pressed sandwich ($25), and a Roman burger that echoes cacio e pepe with fonduta and pecorino-pepper jam. Nick Johnson/Little Fino The drinks from bar director Darryl Chan (the Portrait Bar, Cafe Carmellini, Westlight) are inspired by Italian aperitivo and soda culture. It spotlights a shortlist of Teeny ’Tinis ($7 to $10), which, beyond the jiggly Solid Dirty Martini (made by local brand Solid Wiggles), lists a Mole Martinez and a Lemongrass Vesper. There’s also a “Frapperol Spritz” slushie, a Strega drop (an intense lemondrop, if there ever were one), and a fig-leaf Americano ($14 to $19). The beer and wine lists offer value, with $5 Modelito and Miller High Life ponies, as well as the $12 “Make It A Spagett” with High Life, Aperol, and lemon. Beers like Von Trapp Helles lager cost $7 to $9, while wines selected by sommelier Josh Nadel range from $16 to $19 for Sicilian bubbles, Verdicchio, or an orange Trebbiano. Inspired by little bars and cafes opening in Rome, Little Fino offers bar and counter seating with design from Saguez & Dash (Drinks&Co by Pernod Ricard in Paris, Moxy Hotel Washington, D.C.). Manuel Santelices painted the neighborhood-focused murals. For now the bar is walk-in only, with reservations forthcoming. Hours are 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. for daytime meals, and until 3 p.m. for the cafe. The bar and all-day services run 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays and Friday and Saturday until midnight. Nick Johnson/Little Fino Tiny drinks and bar snacks. The Root Beer Negroni Douglas Lyle Thompson/Little Fino The bakery display at Little Fino.

• An Eater’s Guide to New York City

  by Eater Staff on April 14, 2025 at 4:15 pm

  A seafood tower from Strange Delight in Fort Greene. | Laura Murray/Strange Delight An unofficial, highly opinionated NYC dining guide There are more than eight million people living in New York City and some 25,000 restaurants keeping them fed. Though the Statue of Liberty and Broadway’s flashing lights get most of the credit, restaurants and bars are just as essential to this city’s DNA. Whether it’s a month-out reservation in Manhattan or a hand-pulled noodle shop in Queens, there are endless ways to have a meal in the five boroughs. Welcome to the five boroughs Cross an avenue, bridge, or park, and there’s a different neighborhood at every turn. Within each of the five boroughs are never-ending culinary options, each with their own identity. Ordering a taco, whether from a growing local taco chain or a weekend carnitas counter, can mean enduring the same waits as some fine dining establishments. There’s a wide range of dining to do between the city’s most affordable and blowout meals — and there’s a quality option at every price, which is part of what sets New York apart. Breakfast can take place at a nostalgic diner on the Upper West Side or a Chinatown dim sum icon. Lunch options are just as varied, with classic steakhouses and old-school pizza joints equally popular. Dinner can occur at a Brooklyn riff on New Orleans oyster houses or at a Manhattan Times Square spot from a Sichuan master. New York’s restaurant scene, complex and varied as it is, caters to every kind of diner. Eater NY Katz’s Deli has been a fixture on East Houston Street since 1888. Where to start on Eater’s best maps Eater publishes countless restaurant maps to keep you on top of the city’s food scene. Here are the ones our readers turn to most. New York’s 38 essential restaurants The “Eater 38” is our shortlist of the city’s must-visit restaurants. We’ve visited these spots time and again — they have to be open for at least six months before they merit inclusion — and we update the list quarterly to keep things fresh. New to the guide this winter: an underground biryani shop, a 24-hour Korean restaurant, and one of the city’s favorite French bistros. Hottest restaurants Eater’s “heatmaps” are guides to the hottest new restaurants in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens that are updated monthly. In most cases, the places on these lists have opened in the last six months. Classic restaurants If you’re looking to cross an item off a bucket list, start here. Dining at one of the city’s classic restaurants can feel like stepping back in time, and in one of the oldest dining cities in the country, legendary steakhouses and taverns still feel quintessentially New York. Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet/Eater NY Dosas at New York’s legendary Dosa Cart. Brunch There’s a home for the all-you-can-drink-mimosa crowd and those looking to cure a hangover with a plate of pancakes. In addition to traditional brunch options, this guide has our favorite spots serving chilaquiles, beef noodle soup, Thai breakfast sandwiches, and more. Iconic dishes New York’s most well-known dishes go beyond pizza, bagels, and pastrami — though you don’t want to miss those, either. Our guide to the city’s most iconic foods shows you where to find egg creams, banana pudding, hot dogs, and more. Pizza Whether it’s a pie cooked in a charcoal oven or one with a fancy sourdough crust, there’s a pizza for every occasion in the five boroughs. Before folding a slice in half, consult this map of the city’s top pizzerias. But don’t miss our picks best slices in the city right now, either. Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet A slice from Scarr’s. Bagels Everyone has an opinion about the city’s best bagels, but we can all agree: This is New York’s favorite food. The ones at Apollo Bagel are naturally fermented with a crunchy exterior, while further uptown, its bagel heaven. Bakeries There’s no shortage of bakeries opening in NYC, from the new Jewish American Elbow Bread to other newcomers like Hani’s or Birdee. Some are so successful they’re flipping to full-on cafes. Sushi The leading sushi restaurants in New York offer a range of experiences. Diners can max out credit cards with luxe omakase or find quality fish at affordable prices. Curious about who has the best fancy fish in the city? Our critic has thoughts. Italian From red-sauce classics to trattorias inspired by Tuscany, New York excels at Italian food and there’s something for every occasion. One of the most iconic spots is the no-reservation celeb-magnet Emilio’s Ballato, while San Sabino offers a modern spin on Italian American cooking. And the newish Borgo from Brooklyn restaurateur Andrew Tarlow is one of the hardest reservations to get in town. Luke Fortney/Eater NY Apollo Bagels makes one of the city’s top bagels. Steakhouses The five boroughs are full of old-school steakhouses, but some of the most exciting cuts of meat right now are found at more casual and affordable venues. Consider the old-school destination, Keens or a well-priced cut from London import Hawksmoor. There’s also the newly opened French steakhouse from famous chef Daniel Boulud, where the standout desserts complete with the excellent red-meat offerings for among the best in the city. Desserts Fancy or simple, there are countless desserts to try in New York City. Some are sit-down affairs that come at the end of a multi-course menu, while others can be ordered from a takeout counter for a few dollars. In a hurry? Try the affordable kuih at East Village bakery or one of the many rotating desserts at Superiority Burger. Other options: The single best pastry at every Upper East Side bakery; where to get the best birthday cake; what to order at three under-the-radar bakeries in the East Village; and of course this extensive cake map with picks from Food Baby. Ice cream Old-school parlors, soft serve specialists, innovative gelato shops, and even vegan options dot our map of essential ice cream spots. It’s a list to consult year-round, whether you’re looking for guava-cheese ice cream in Harlem or masala chai-flavored scoops in Cobble Hill. There’s also the West Coast import Salt and Straw. Adam Friedlander/Eater NY The fried milk cube sundae at Bonnie’s in Williamsburg. Coffee It’s the city that never sleeps, and New York’s coffee scene is packed with reliable neighborhood shops for working “from home” and third-wave options for those in search of a perfect pour. Special occasions A new job. An anniversary. A birthday. For a blowout meal, splurge on dinner at the elegant French fine dining restaurant Le Bernardin or Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi inside Lincoln Center. Vegan and vegetarian More restaurant owners are turning their attention to vegan and vegetarian dining, whether or not they eat meat themselves. The range of meat- and dairy-free restaurants in the city now includes high-end vegan fine dining spots to casual Indian food in a Queens temple. Cocktail bars Start with these 10 cocktail bars, compiled by our companion publication Punch, which range from Japanese-inspired drinking dens to maximalist mezcalerías to your trusty local. And don’t miss our cocktail heatmap with the newest, hottest places every month. Looking for an essential bar? Right this way. Heami Lee/Eater NY Dumplings and a cocktail from Orion Bar in Bushwick. Neighborhoods to know More than eight million residents are sardine-packed into New York City’s five boroughs. The rent might be too high, but a short walk or a subway ride introduces you to a different food scene in every neighborhood. Bushwick Williamsburg is the darling of Brooklyn’s restaurant scene, but some of the most exciting openings right now are happening further east in Bushwick. There’s Sobre Masa Tortilleria which serves tacos on colorful heirloom grain tortillas made in-house, while Eyval is a top-notch restaurant for Persian cuisine. And as of late, it’s also the newest neighborhood for steakhouse favorite, M. Wells. Manhattan’s Chinatown New York’s oldest and most well-known Chinatown is a leading destination for rice rolls, dim sum, Beijing duck, and more. The , orders of peanut noodles at Shu Jiao Fu Zhou, and the constant creativity of next-generation operators like Phoenix Palace are just some of the tastes the neighborhood has to offer. Outside of Chinese restaurants in Chinatown, don’t miss places like Mắm for Vietnamese. East Village The East Village can feel like a microcosm of New York. The neighborhood is home to longstanding immigrant and artist communities, and there’s a sizable population of college students who attend New York University in the area. As for the food: The pierogies at the famous Ukrainian diner Veselka still draw a crowd, while newer restaurants Momofuku’s Caribbean-leaning Bar Kabawa or Soothr have turned the area into a dining destination. Adam Friedlander/Eater NY Tacos from Taqueria Ramirez in Greenpoint. Flushing Riding the 7 train to the end of the line isn’t just worth it for the Chinese food: Flushing is also one of the best places in town to find newer restaurants specializing in Korean, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese cuisine. Here, it’s as easy to find the city’s best food hall as a Chinese dim sum parlor run by robot servers. Greenpoint Brooklyn’s northernmost neighborhood is often thought of as a destination for Polish food, but in recent years it’s spawned a vibrant Mexican restaurant scene and become home to its own Little Tokyo. There’s modern Vietnamese food from Di An Di, tacos that channel Mexico City at Taqueria Ramirez, and a Taiwanese American party at Wenwen. There’s also the newest bistro that seems to have generated the neighborhood’s longest line, one of the borough’s super fancy spots, as well as destination-worthy New York-style pizza. Hell’s Kitchen It may be located a few blocks from Times Square, but this stretch of Manhattan is home to one of the city’s most affordable and diverse collections of restaurants. A section of Ninth Avenue is dotted with Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Cuban, Afghan, Haitian, and Peruvian restaurants, along with other independently owned places like the 24-hour Empanada Mama. Little Italy Many of the restaurants in Manhattan’s Little Italy are geared toward tourists — but there are a handful of genuinely good places to eat. You’ll find a crowd at Emilio’s Ballato, with lines out the door, and at the century-old Lombardi’s, which still uses a coal oven to make pizza. Newer Italian restaurants, like Torrisi from the owners of Carbone, are keeping the neighborhood young. Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet Fried pierogies at Veselka, with locations in the East Village, Williamsburg, and Grand Central Terminal. Jackson Heights This Queens neighborhood is often cited as the most diverse zip code in the city based on the number of languages spoken. A stroll down Roosevelt Avenue, where the 7 train rumbles overhead, is all the proof you need. There are first-rate momos at Nepali Bhanchha Ghar, while Birria-Landia, one of the city’s best taco trucks, has lines late into the night. Mexican seafood is the move no matter the season at Mariscos El Submarino. Lower East Side This downtown Manhattan neighborhood embraces its historic roots as much as it does the city’s current dining scene. Tourist magnets like Katz’s Deli and Russ & Daughters are still going strong, while new spots keep this neighborhood on the map. Dhamaka, an Indian restaurant in a food hall, became one of the best new restaurants in the country in 2021. One of our favorite restaurants of the year opened in the neighborhood. And the new location of Scarr’s Pizza continues as a contender for one of the city’s best slice shops. Ridgewood This rhomboid-shaped neighborhood at the end of the M subway line has a number of new restaurants, including Rolo’s, which makes one of the city’s best burgers, Il Gigante, a scrappy new trattoria, and Mama Yoshi Mini Mart, a Japanese convenience store with fried chicken sandwiches. Decades-old mainstays like Rudy’s Pastry Shop and Gottscheer Hall have anchored the neighborhood for years. Theater District Sure, it’s full of tourist traps, but as Broadway makes a comeback, even New Yorkers are heading to the Theater District. Where should you eat? The Cuban restaurant Guantanamera has live music every night, while Farida serves a Central Asian menu with tender lamb plov, the national dish of Uzbekistan. Evan Angelastro/Eater NY Chicken katsu at Mama Yoshi Mini Mart in Ridgewood. Upper East Side Who knew that the Upper East Side would become a place to dine out? Thanks go Michelin-starred places like Sushi Noz and the newly opened sibling Chez Fifi, it’s becoming a sceney restaurant neighborhood. Other places worth your dollar: the revived Le Veau d’Or from the Frenchette duo, the reopening of Cafe Commerce from Harold Moore, and supper club Hoexters. Upper West Side Slowly but surely, the Upper West Side has shed its reputation as a sleepy enclave of outdated and expensive restaurants. Around Lincoln Center, there are now upscale establishments like Tatiana from the celebrated chef Kwame Onwuachi. Further uptown, find newer restaurants like Bánh, offering a fresh take on classic Vietnamese dishes, and Charles Pan-Fried Chicken, which started as a sidewalk barbecue stand. West Village The brownstones and tree-lined streets of this Manhattan neighborhood make it one of the most picturesque and pricey parts of the city — and its restaurants follow a similar formula. Small dining rooms barely larger than some apartments are packed with diners, like the popular Italian restaurant I Sodi and the old-school favorite Corner Bistro. When there’s a wait, you won’t have a problem finding a cocktail or wine bar to kill some time. Williamsburg If there’s a Brooklyn neighborhood that can go toe-to-toe with Manhattan for its sheer number of buzzed-about restaurants, it’s Williamsburg. Missy Robbins dominates the Italian scene with Lilia and her newest outpost, Misipasta. But Bamonte’s is a classic that still draws a crowd. The Four Horsemen offers a nice selection of natural wines and Michelin-worthy plates, while Sushi On Me serves an omakase that’s as much about fish as unlimited sake. Reservations to make in advance One result of the pandemic: More restaurants require reservations, and making one can feel sort of like buying concert tickets online — the city’s hottest tables often book out within minutes, sometimes weeks in advance. Our team has a practical guide for scoring last-minute reservations, and the following places are worth booking ahead of time: Coqodaq, Chez Fifi, Dhamaka, Zimmi’s, Eleven Madison Park, Four Horsemen, I Sodi, Libertine, Le Bernardin, Lilia, Meju, Sailor, Tatiana, and Torrisi. Follow the stars New York is home to a slew of Michelin-starred restaurants — 74 as of the latest awards in 2024. While most of them aren’t everyday spots, restaurants like Semma, the city’s only Michelin-starred Indian restaurant, and Mexican-leaning Corima on the Lower East Side, are worth a splurge. Michelin’s Bib Gourmand category, which emphasizes value, has more affordable options, like Agi’s Counter, an Eastern European spot in Crown Heights, and the Korean restaurant C as in Charlie, where a shot of alcohol comes free with every meal. Head out of town You could spend a lifetime in the five boroughs and still not hit every restaurant on this guide. Well, we’re not done yet. In recent years, New York City chefs have opened establishments from the Hamptons to the Hudson Valley. One of the most well-known towns upstate is surely Hudson, easily accessible via Amtrak, where you can spend a full 24 hours in just a few blocks. The Catskills region is another popular weekend getaway for many New Yorkers. For wine nerds, the Finger Lakes region has emerged as a wine destination that’s taken as seriously as Napa and Sonoma. And there’s always the Jersey Shore, accessible by train. Get in touch Email us at ny@eater.com Send us a tip, anonymously too, through our tipline Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

• New York City Martinis, by the Numbers

  by Amanda Arnold on April 14, 2025 at 4:02 pm

  Erick Medsker How are people actually ordering the classic? Punch surveyed more than a dozen bars across the city to find out. https://punchdrink.com/articles/martinis-new-york-city-stats/

• So, Yeah, There’s a Trump Pizza Restaurant in NYC

  by Nadia Chaudhury on April 14, 2025 at 2:47 pm

  President Donald Trump sure does love pizza. | Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Plus, a new overwhelming nostalgic pop culture bar opens in Hell’s Kitchen — and more intel It turns out that current President Donald Trump — known for his deep love of fast food and not-good steak — opened a new pizzeria in his Midtown skyscraper Trump Tower recently, as noticed by Substack newsletter Feed Me. Per the building’s Instagram account on April 8, the restaurant is called Trump Pizza (of course), serving wood-fired pies in a space decked out with lots of marble and gold accents. Not much else is known about the restaurant — the pizzeria isn’t listed online yet. Other restaurants in the Trump building include the Trump Cafe, Trump Grill, 45 Wine & Whiskey bar, and the Trump Ice Cream Parlor. NYC-DC vegetarian dinner with oysters collab East Village seafood restaurant Smithereens and Washington, D.C. vegetarian and vegan restaurant Oyster Oyster are teaming up for a collaboration dinner later this April. Oyster Oyster’s James Beard Award-winning chef Rob Rubba and Smithereens chef Nick Tamburo will offer an a la carte vegetarian menu, with maybe some oysters, naturally. While the dinner takes place on Monday, April 21, at 6 p.m., it’s already sold out. New pop culture bar alert A new bar that embraces all things pop culture debuted in Hell’s Kitchen earlier this year, as reported by W42ndSt.NYC. Nobody’s Perfect opened at 500 Tenth Avenue, between West 42nd and 43rd streets, on March 14. The walls of the two-story bar are plastered in movie, music, and television posters; elsewhere are toys, VHS tapes, and other nostalgic memorabilia. Televisions are playing 1990s shows, and it offers activities like foosball, darts, and board games. Drinks include beers, cocktails (including an espresso martini served in those iconic New York coffee cart cups), and flavored shots; it’ll add food service later on. Owner Dara Rock also owns Upper East Side bars Somebody’s Darling and Biddy’s Pub, For Nobody’s, he took over what was previously Irish bar Walter’s Cottage.

• Great Places to Dine Outside Around NYC

  by Shivani Vora on April 14, 2025 at 2:32 pm

  Lindens A guide to easy-to-get outdoor seats as well as perfect perches for dining alfresco in New York City The season for outdoor dining is here in New York City, and whether you’re in the mood for a buzzy vibe, a quieter pick, or a scenic setting, there’s an option that suits. Here are 19 spots in the city- a mix of old and new — for alfresco eating and drinking and enjoying the warmer temperatures, too. How this map has changed: Just about every entry has been overhauled for April 2025 to reflect an array of places around NYC, including the iconic Johnny’s Reef in the Bronx, Jupiter at Rockefeller Center, and West Village mainstay Mino Brasserie. Melissa McCart is the lead editor for Eater Northeast and is super excited to try as many waterside restaurants as possible this season. Originally from New Delhi, India, Shivani Vora now calls Manhattan home. She’s a lifestyle writer who contributes to publications such as the New York Times, Business Traveler Magazine, and Mansion Global. Her beats include travel, real estate, food, design, and more. When she’s not on deadline or out reporting, you’ll likely find her at a play or opera or on a walking date with her husband to a great spot for brunch or a buzzy restaurant come dinner.