Wondering where you should be eating in New York City right now? You’re in the right place. The Infatuation Hit List is your guide to the city’s best new restaurants.
And when we say “best new restaurants,” we mean it. Because we’ve tried every single one of these places - and we’ve also left off countless spots that simply aren’t as worthy of your time and money.
The Hit List is our record of every restaurant that’s opened in the past year that we’d highly recommend you try. This guide is sorted chronologically, so at the top you’ll find our latest entries to this list (the newest spots), and as you keep scrolling you’ll find the places that are on the older side - but are great enough that we still haven’t stopped talking about them.
New to The Hit List (as of 9/21): TsuroTanTon Udon Noodle Brasserie, Sushi on Jones, Thursday Kitchen, Zadie's Oyster Room
The Spots
1
TsuroTonTan Udon Noodle Brasserie
21 E 16th St.
MAP
Tsurutontan's specialty is serving noodles in absolutely massive bowls, and the result is that eating them makes you feel like an extremely fancy caveperson. This is the first US location of a very popular Japanese chain, and they specialize in udon. The 16th Street space could be described as "sleek" - it looks kind of like a moderately expensive modern hotel's lobby. Though there were apparently long lines at first, it wasn't particularly packed when we went by. The udon dishes come in both hot and cold varieties, and can come with anything from sea urchin to spicy cod roe to duck. We liked the starter and side dishes too, which come in slightly less huge bowls. If you're into Japanese food, or if your best experience with udon has been relegated to midtown bodegas, this place is worth a try.
Photo: Masahiro Ishibashi
2
Sushi on Jones
348 Bowery
MAP
Sushi On Jones has four seats, and those seats are located outdoors. So, you know, your typical sushi spot. Sushi On Jones is part of a new outdoor market that opened over the summer on the corner of Bowery and Great Jones, and is run by David Boudahana, who was formerly the chef you probably drank a bunch of sake with at Sushi Dojo. (He might not serve you, but he'll likely be around.) Here's how it works: show up, put your name down (or text them at 917-270-1815), and show up for your allotted 30 minute time slot. For $50, you get 12 pieces of sushi, including some interesting stuff like uni top of seared wagyu beef, served to you over the course of the half hour. The meal is quick, but it means they're able to get a good number of people in per night. If you manage to get one of those seats, it's a fun and unusual omakase experience worth checking out before winter comes.
3
Thursday Kitchen
424 E 9th St
MAP
You’re in a group text of friends planning a last-minute dinner tonight. One person wants something “fun!,” someone else wants something “not too expensive,” and your lazy friend doesn’t want to go “too out of the way.” The move is Thursday Kitchen, a Korean fusion small plates place serving things like eel tacos, edamame dumplings, and fried soft shell crab, alongside the most “fun” item of all: light-up, glow-in-the-dark alcoholic Capri Suns. It all could feel really cheesy. But it doesn’t. Do yourself and your friends a favor and get to this below-ground hideout of good food and good times soon.
4
Zadie's Oyster Room
413 E 12th St
MAP
Here are some of the ways you can get your oysters at Zadie's: baked with seaweed butter and prosciutto, broiled with sea lettuce and parmesan, pickled with tomatoes and cucumber. The list goes on. The space, run by the people behind Hearth, took over the old Terroir space in the East Village, and as you can guess, specializes in all types of delicious oysters. There are some side dishes too, but having a full meal here is a bit of a stretch. Use it for happy hour (Monday - Friday from 5-7) when oysters and sparkling wine are half off, or for a drinks date.
5
Faun
606 Vanderbilt Ave
MAP
Faun is the new semi-Italian neighborhood spot in Prospect Heights (from some people behind one of our favorites, Vinegar Hill House) that serves seasonal, farm-fresh food combinations that make you feel like you're making good choices in life. Arugula and strawberries? Check. Blue crab with cantaloupe? Check. There are pastas, small plates, meaty things, and a menu that tells you next to nothing about what your food is going to look like. This would be aggravating if the food weren’t good. The vibe is neighborhood-y, but the food is worth a trip.
6
Casa Apicii
62 W 9th St
MAP
Casa Apicii, a sleek Italian spot in Greenwich Village, looks like a Bond villain’s country club. It suggests both romance and a hidden pit of sharks. But note: this is not red-sauce Italian. Nothing is especially cheesy or greasy. Despite the fancy space, they want this to be a neighborhood spot, and that’s probably why the food’s healthy enough to eat every day (and it’s probably why they opened in Greenwich Village). The food is light, modern, and a little bit adventurous. This is a good place for a late-in-the-game date or a semi-special occasion. Payday, for example.
7
Pondicheri
15 W 27th St
MAP
Pondicheri is a popular Indian restaurant from Houston - and an extremely welcome addition to the Nomad/Flatiron world. They might have used the same floor plan as a cafeteria on a Google campus, but the menu is Indian/American fusion that will likely have you leaving happy. The garlic naan tastes a bit like pizza crust, and the “chicken 25” is only vaguely Indian, but mostly delicious. Also, there are options for every dietary restriction. The front has an order-at-the-counter situation suited for daytime, while there's also an area for dinnertime sitting down.
8
Atoboy
43 E 28th St
MAP
Atoboy is a modern Korean restaurant in Flatiron that's already heavy in our rotation. The situation here is a $36-for-three-plates setup, which is a pretty great way to try some stuff you maybe otherwise wouldn't. The space feels like somewhere a mobster might take you if you insulted his mother, but it's attractive nonetheless. Atoboy is perfect for a small group dinner - as long as you like the people in your group enough to share with them.
9
Baoburg
614 Manhattan Ave
MAP
After being forced to close its original Williamsburg location earlier this year, Baoburg is back in action on Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint. From the outside, you’d probably pass this place without a second thought. But Baoburg is doing “Asian Fusion” surprisingly well, despite our initial skepticism that they could pull off ramen, Pad Thai, fried rice, bulgogi, and bao all under one roof. But what really makes Baoburg a standout is its back patio - a highly enjoyable place for a low-key weeknight dinner. Hit it while it’s still nice out.
10
Hao Noodle & Tea
401 Avenue of the Americas
MAP
Hao Noodle is a West Village Chinese restaurant that looks like an Anthropologie store. It's an extremely nice place to sit, and the food also happens to be pretty awesome. The food is fancy in a sense, but it's also quite casual - no need to feel bad about showing up sweaty. After several visits, we can report that the service is frequently a bit of a mess, but that the food remains great. If you go, try the Claypot Dumplings, the beef ribs, and the mung bean jelly.
Photo: Montse Zamorano
11
BKW by Brooklyn Winery
747 Franklin Ave
MAP
We’ve always liked the Williamsburg wine bar Brooklyn Winery, so we were excited to check out their full-on restaurant BKW. It’s located in the middle of all the action on Franklin Ave. in Crown Heights, and there a number of ways you can use it. So far, we like the place best for wine tasting (the flight is a very reasonable $16, and lets you pretend you went to Sonoma for the night) and small plate snacking - the space works for everything from a low-key date night to a friend group dinner.
12
Le Coucou
138 Lafayette St
MAP
Planning your next special occasion dinner/fancy night out? Le Coucou is a restaurant from Daniel Rose, an American chef who started one of the most popular restaurants in Paris, and Stephen Starr, the restaurateur behind Upland, The Clocktower, and more. So far it's drawing a slightly older, fancier (though not uptight) crowd, especially given its location on the border of Chinatown and Soho - but the food and service, even within a few days of opening, are absolutely excellent.
Photo: Ditte Isager
13
Tavern At Delaware And Hudson
135 N 5th Street
MAP
Delaware and Hudson serves old-fashioned American prix-fixe dinners in a small space off Bedford Ave in Williamsburg. Recently, they opened a tavern next door where they serve old school comfort food - you can get a sloppy joe or a cheesesteak, or fancy versions of mac and cheese or pigs in a blanket. Or smoked duck pastrami or chicken liver. Whichever kind of comforting, bad-for-you but delicious path you want to take, Delaware and Hudson's Tavern can accommodate.
Photo: MM Nusbaum
14
Union Fare
5 E 17th St
MAP
If you’re able to successfully avoid Union Square, congratulations. Otherwise, it’s time to learn about Union Fare, an enormous cafe/wine bar/food market/restaurant that has brought the area its best new breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner options in one fell swoop. Whether you’re meeting someone for coffee, picking up a desk lunch (the poke bowls are good) or something sweet, or need a convenient and cool spot to have a healthy-ish dinner (the menu is vegetable and salad-heavy), Union Fare is your move.
15
Olmsted
659 Vanderbilt Ave
8.8
MAP
Olmsted is like an SNL sketch making fun of Brooklyn restaurant stereotypes. Andy Samberg would play the cool young chef, Jon Hamm would play the ponytailed host who tells you about the herbs, vegetables, fruits, and animals grown in the manicured, string lit, high-tech sprinkler-systemed Prospect Heights garden, while Bill Hader would man the bar, shaking his head and laughing at everyone actually eating there. It would be easy to roll your eyes at Olmsted, but the truth is it’s actually pretty incredible. Prices are affordable (nothing is over $24), and the food is creative and delicious. Get the carrot crepe with surf clams. Read our full review.
16
Cherry Point
664 Manhattan Ave
7.7
MAP
Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint is full of many things - bodegas, liquor stores, Polish delis - but not a lot of spots that are great for a casual date night or catching up with a friend. Which is why Cherry Point is such a good addition to the neighborhood. The cocktails are tasty, the charcuterie selection is strong, and they serve one of the better steak frites we’ve encountered recently. Read our full review.
17
Emmy Squared
364 Grand St
MAP
You've probably heard us go on at length about Emily, the Clinton Hill pizza place that also makes what might be our favorite burger in the city. They've also opened up a spot in Williamsburg that serves "Detroit-style" square pies as well as several (awesome) sandwiches, in a wine bar-type space. The pizza is very good (and very intense), but the absolute best thing here is the Spicy Chicken Sandwich. They serve a burger as well, but it's currently only available in the basement burger bar.
Photo: Emily Bolles
18
Freek's Mill
285 Nevins St
7.6
MAP
We're immediately going to be excited about a restaurant with a wood-burning oven, and Freek’s Mill is no exception. The food coming out of said oven is pretty great - roasted proteins, seasonal vegetables, and pastas - and the brick room also has a great vibe. Read our full review.
19
Speedy Romeo LES
63 Clinton St
7.8
MAP
We love the original Speedy Romeo in Clinton Hill. A lot. So we were both excited and hesitant about the Lower East Side location - would the awesome neighborhood feel, and even better food be there? The answer, on both counts, is yes. The new location has the same kind of friendly, comfortable vibe and and the food remains excellent - while the pizza is great, you want to go heavy on the rest of the menu too (especially the burger). Read our full review.
20
Frankel's Delicatessen
631 Manhattan Ave
8.2
MAP
Similar to Russ & Daughters Cafe, Frankel’s is a mashup of the old-school Jewish deli concept with new-school execution. But while Russ & Daughters is very much a destination, Frankel’s is a casual neighborhood spot: it’s order at the counter, with only a few tables and counter seats, and mobbed by what feels like the entirety of the young Greenpoint population during peak times. As for the food: it’s excellent. Whether you go with lox, pastrami, eggs and bacon, or brisket on your bagel (or roll, or rye), you won’t be disappointed. Read our full review.
21
Perla Cafe
234 West 4th St.
7.7
MAP
The closing of Perla in its original location on Minetta Lane was a heartbreaker, as it’s always been one of our favorite dinner hangs in the entire city. But at least it wasn’t closing for good, and someone once told us we need to be better with accepting change. The new Perla on West 4th is more casual than the original (hence the addition of the word “Cafe”), and also does weekday lunch and weekend brunch for the first time ever. And no, the pastas haven’t gone anywhere. Read our full review.
22
Covina
127 E 27th St
8.0
MAP
Italian food. On 27th and Park. In a hotel. Sounds... exciting, huh? Don't knock it til you've tried it. On several visits, this restaurant has turned out to have some very good food and some of the friendliest service we've experienced in a while. If you spend a lot of time around this area and have already eaten at Upland and The Clocktower more times than you can remember, definitely add Covina to your rotation. Read our full review.
23
Nix
72 University Pl
7.7
MAP
Nix is a fully vegan and vegetarian restaurant brought to you by the guy that makes vegetables taste unbelievably good at Narcissa. But while Narcissa feels like a special occasion restaurant, Nix is a place you could easily have a weeknight meal. The prices are pretty reasonable, and it’s also on a convenient block of University Place that was highly in need of a good, grown-up restaurant. We say grown-up because Nix feels like a place any cool mom would love - the room is vaguely stylish without being overly trendy or sceney, and the food is interesting and inventive yet accessible. Nix isn’t a place you come because you’re on some kind of masochistic diet - it’s a place you come to enjoy highly tasty food that happens to be meat-free. Bonus points for bringing your mom. Read our full review.
24
Mimi
185 Sullivan St.
8.2
MAP
What makes a restaurant sexy? We’re not sure we can actually answer that, but we can tell you that Mimi has it. It’s a tiny Greenwich Village spot with dim lighting, a great bar, and generally cool vibes - but the place isn’t all about looks. It also happens to serve excellent, unusual French food. If the idea of eating monkfish liver, veal tartare, and sea urchin gnocchi sounds like just the thing your date night rotation needs, get yourself and your dining partner to Mimi. Read our full review.
25
Mr. Donahue’s
203 Mott St
7.9
MAP
There’s no halfway with a concept restaurant, and we’re glad Mr Donahue’s didn’t skimp on any detail of their 1930’s-era diner counter that can seat a whopping 9 humans at once. You eat on branded doilies, you drink the singular beer (in a can, of course), you order a protein with a side and a sauce, and you go home with one of those strawberry-wrapper lollipop things you used to eat at your Grandparents’ house. It’s nice to think that an old-school diner served prime rib and rotisserie chicken this good, but that probably wasn’t the case. It’s really just the room that’s a throwback - the food is modern, and delicious. Mr Donahue’s is like eating in a 2018 model Jeep Wagoneer. What a time to be alive. Read our full review.
26
Pasquale Jones
187 Mulberry St
8.9
MAP
It's no secret that we love Charlie Bird. That's why we were honestly a little terrified at the prospect of the same team opening a new restaurant near our office. What if it's not as good? What if they don't play rap music? Will they still have wine? After countless meals since this place opened, we're happy to report that Pasquale Jones is not only a place we'd spend our time and money any day of the week, but we might even like it better than Charlie Bird because pizza. Read our full review.
27
Lilia
567 Union Avenue
8.5
MAP
This new Williamsburg restaurant is a former auto body shop turned restaurant, but not in the "we made a BBQ restaurant" sense. This is a beautiful space with a wood burning oven that feels far more like something you'd find next to Madison Square Park than you would next to McCarren. The food comes to you via Missy Robbins, who you might know as the former chef at A Voce. Think L'Artusi but in Brooklyn and think about getting there as soon as possible. Read our full review.
28
High Street on Hudson
637 Hudson St
7.8
MAP
This West Village spot is a duplicate of its original Philadelphia location - a restaurant that’s been known as one of the city’s best spots basically since it opened. They bake their own bread, which has a huge part in this place’s outstanding daytime offerings: try the corned beef, or get the breakfast sandwich on a biscuit. They also do dinner here, and while the food is certainly more serious (i.e. grilled tripe), it’s also excellent. Read our full review.
29
Tygershark
581 Vanderbilt Ave.
8.3
MAP
Tygershark is a Korean, seafood-focused restaurant in Prospect Heights that's also a coffee shop during the day, and also sells surfboards. And it's the Korean seafood coffee shop surfboard store you never knew you wanted or needed, but will be absolutely thrilled to have. The food is fun and flavorful, and the whole setup feels a lot different than most other places you’ve probably been eating at lately. Read our full review.
30
Le Turtle
177 Chrystie St
8.2
MAP
Le Turtle is a Lower East Side spot from the guys behind The Smile and Freemans, and we at one point were certain that it was actually an elaborate hoax. The restaurant's website is basically a running loop of experimental video art, the waiters wear what can only be described as prison jumpsuits from Paris Fashion Week, there's a VIP table elevated 9 inches above the rest of the restaurant, and some of the furniture is made of plywood. But guess what? The food is unique and excellent, the wine list smart and reasonably priced, and the service highly professional. Le Turtle is fun and a little bit crazy, which is exactly what your friends say about you. To your face. Read our full review.
31
Llama Inn
50 Withers St
8.1
MAP
Llama Inn is not actually an inn, and there are no llamas on the premises. If that's a disappointment, sorry. There is, however, great modern Peruvian food on the premises, which means everything from ceviche and simple roast chicken to beef heart skewers and goat neck. (Get the goat neck, skip the heart skewers.) The space, right under the BQE in Williamsburg, is awesomely designed, with tons of bar seats particularly well-suited to one-on-one meetups. Have a dinner date planned this week? Do it here. Read our full review.
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