8 Restaurant Reopenings to Be Excited About This Week

Restaurants aren’t back at full force yet, but months after the shutdown on dining rooms, many of the city’s most popular spots are slowly reopening their doors for takeout and delivery, and some are even offering outdoor seating now. It’s worth checking in with personal favorites now, as you might be pleasantly surprised to find at least some items back in action.

Here are some notable restaurants that have reopened recently. Some are only doing takeout, and many are not serving their full menus or staying open for their regular, pre-pandemic hours, so be sure to check restaurant websites or social media before heading out.

This list will be updated weekly for more inspiration when getting delivery — or when planning a weekend bike ride to grab takeout until dining rooms fully reopen. And check this guide for more resources on what (and how) to eat in New York right now.

Cafe Rue Dix reopens for outdoor dining: https://www.instagram.com/p/CCJn1uZJOAH/

July 2

Bed-Stuy: For the first three months of quarantine, the Fly operated as a neighborhood grocer, slinging brined chickens, bottles of natural wine, sourdough bread, and boxes of produce to local residents. This week, though, the popular roasted chicken restaurant and wine bar is back open for outdoor dining service. The restaurant’s full menu — including its pulled chicken sandwiches and whole rotisserie chickens — is available from Thursday to Saturday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., as is a selection of house cocktails, wines, and craft beers. 549 Classon Avenue, at Fulton Street

Cobble Hill: Ramen master Fumihiro Kanegae, formerly of Ippudo, opened his first standalone project in mid-February ahead of the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Cobble Hill “ramen diner,” called Karazishi Botan, has remained open for takeout and delivery but recently reopened its backyard garden for outdoor dining with new hours. Spare ribs, matcha french fries, six types of ramen, and lots of sake are available from the restaurant until 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10:30 p.m. on weekends. 255 Smith Street, between Douglass and Degraw Streets

Greenwich Village: Pakistani-Michigander and former investment banker Umber Ahmad founded Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery with the help of Tom Colicchio in 2016, after operating an online bakery since 2012. Her nut-rich and crisp cookies are justly celebrated, and other signatures include finger-shaped brownies, wedges of a daily cake, and a recently introduced soft-serve ice cream. The bakery has been hosting pop-ups for holidays — including one for Mother’s Day — but as of July 2 it has fully reopened. 28 Greenwich Avenue, between 10th and Christopher Streets

Kips Bay: Tucked under Third Avenue’s long line of construction scaffoldings is Lamazou, a sandwich shop that’s part bodega and part gourmet cheese store. This Midtown favorite lunch spot is known for an impressive selection of imported meats, cheeses, dips, and breads, the latter of which are shipped cross-town from Sullivan Street Bakery. To order takeout or delivery from the recently reopened sandwich shop, call 212-532-2009 or email the owners at lamazoucheese@yahoo.com between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily. 370 Third Avenue, near East 27th Street

Murray Hill: FIT grad Kihyun Lee opened her jewel box of a Korean restaurant on a side street southeast of the Empire State Building five years ago, with a voluminous menu he refers to as “Korean soul food.” Her Name is Han’s menu runs to seared and crunchy bulgogi, fiery raw crab in chile paste, and what critic Ryan Sutton describes as “superb fried chicken.” Lee’s next door restaurant Take 31 is also reopening, both with outdoor seating. 17 East 35th Street, between Fifth and Madison Avenues

Prospect Lefferts Gardens: This tiny restaurant on Feinmore Street, called Honey Badger, spent its pre-pandemic years serving up an inventive, experimental tasting menu that made the most of local, foraged goods from New York farmers. The shop has been offering a shorted version of that menu for takeout over the past few months, but recently reopened for outdoor dining as well. On-site dining is available by reservations only, accepted on Tock. 67 Fenimore Street, near Flatbush Avenue

West Villlage: Nautical-themed French bistro Tartine has reopened after a three-month renovation that coincided with the novel coronavirus shutdown. Pre-renovation, this restaurant from owner Thierry Rochard was famous for its small size and butter-heavy brunches that included French toast and eggs benedict — two features have found their way to the remodeled restaurant. A new outdoor seating area accommodates more diners than the interior did previously. 253 West 11th Street, at West 4th Street

June 26

Bed-Stuy: Abu’s Homestyle Bakery has been shipping its renowned bean pies across the country throughout the pandemic, but for those who have been missing everything else on Abu’s menu — from the sweet potato and coconut custard pies to the blueberry and pineapple cheesecakes — those are all up for grabs now, too. The bakery announced on Instagram that it’s now offering a full menu for delivery via third-party platforms including Grubhub and Uber Eats. 1184 Fulton Street, near Bedford Avenue

Carroll Gardens: The sandwich wizards at Court Street Grocers are back open for business. Over twenty breakfast and lunch options are on deck, including a pork roll with taylor ham and American cheese, and an anchovy-stuffed sandwich with caper butter and radishes. Two shop locations (Carroll Gardens and Red Hook) are offering both takeout and delivery options, but take note that the spots are closed on Monday and Tuesday for now. 485 Court Street, near Nelson Street

Cobble Hill: Italian-American Southern mashup Popina has reopened for outdoor dining in the restaurant’s leafy backyard patio this week. The setup is open to walk-ins and limited to start: Drinks only on Wednesday and Thursday, and a full dinner menu featuring hash browns with trout roe and a hot chicken milanese from Friday to Sunday. Meanwhile, the restaurant’s takeout grocery menu of cook-at-home pastas, cheeses, meats, and tinned fish is still available. 127 Columbia Street, near Kane Street

East Village: Hip Taiwanese spot 886 is back open with a shortened menu of comforting stir fries, assorted fried rice options, a spicy fried chicken sandwich, pork buns, popcorn chicken, scallion pancakes, and more. Everything is available for pickup at the restaurant and keep an eye on 886’s Instagram account for select delivery options to some neighborhoods. 26 Saint Marks Place, between Second and Third Avenues

Greenpoint: Acclaimed, well-stocked beer bar Tørst launched a new online shop with dozens of to-go drafts, cans, and bottles of beer, plus wine by the glass or bottle, and two to-go cocktail options. The shop is open and accepting orders for pickup from Thursday to Sunday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Orders placed by 7:30 p.m. will be fulfilled that day.) 615 Manhattan Avenue, near Nassau Avenue

Hudson Yards: Chef José Andres’s mammoth Spanish food hall Mercado Little Spain has returned with a slew of Spanish treats, pantry items, and at-home cooking kits available to order online. The team fashioned a takeout window at a garage door entrance on 30th Street, across from the High Line elevator, for pickup orders — plus a takeout menu of sandwiches, salads, and pastries — and delivery is available through Caviar, DoorDash, and Uber Eats. 10 Hudson Yards, between 10th and 11th Avenues

West Village: Chef Suzanne Cupps got about three months to show off her rustic, vegetable-heavy menu at 232 Bleecker — owned by fast-casual chain Dig — before the place had to shut down in March. Now, the restaurant has returned with a to-go menu of vegetable bento boxes, sandwiches, salads, dips, and cocktails, wine, and beer by the glass. Food is available for pickup or delivery, and tables and chairs are set up outside the restaurant for patio seating. 232 Bleecker Street, at Carmine Street

West Village: The hotly anticipated reopening of Via Carota — the lauded Italian neighborhood spot from chefs and co-owners Rita Sodi and Jody Williams, where it was nearly impossible to get a table before the shutdown — is here. A takeout menu has been handwritten on the restaurant’s front windows listing out a selection of pastas, cheeses, vegetables, and the restaurant’s famed Insalata Verde, plus a selection of to-go glasses of wines and cocktails. A few parking spaces in front of the restaurant have been blocked off for outdoor dining starting this week.

June 11

Chelsea: Chef Sean John is again serving jerk chicken and oxtail stew out of Ting’s, a Jamaican food counter in Chelsea Market. A variety of Caribbean stews and curries are available, but critic Robert Sietsema’s favorite option is the flaky beef patty, which is boosted with the shop’s orange-colored hot sauce. Order delivery through Seamless or UberEats, or call 646-928-0095 for pickup. Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave., Chelsea

Chinatown: The ultra-thin and fragrant rice rolls of Yi Ji Shi Mo have returned for snacking in Chinatown. It’s takeout and cash-only, but with such a tiny space and reasonable prices, Yi Ji Shi Mo was never a place to hang out for long anyway. A small pork rice roll costs $2.50. 88 Elizabeth Street, between Grand and Hester Streets

East Village: Chef Marco Canora’s longtime neighborhood finer dining restaurant Hearth now has lots of ready-to-eat dishes, like a whole fried chicken with sage ($48), a burger ($26), and roasted salmon ($28). But there are also plenty of kits for those who want to recreate dishes at home, including a raw chicken that’s ready to roast, cookie dough for freezing, and basil pesto for pastas. Canora’s sister restaurant Brodo also ships broths and soups nationwide. 403 East 12th Street, near First Avenue

East Village: Chef Sara Jenkins, who first brought porchetta to Lower Manhattan, grew up in Rome and Tuscany, and her menu at Porsena reflects these culinary sensibilities; the fruity olive oil flows freely, sourced from Tuscan farms. The menu for carryout and delivery features pastas such as anneloni with lamb ($23), bucatini carbonara ($20), and papardelle al funghi ($22), among others. Paninis are also available, and a marvelous selection of Italian wines at all price points. Order here. 21 E. 7th Street, between Third and Second Avenues

Carroll Gardens: When lists are made of restaurants serving the spiciest food in town, Ugly Baby often tops it. The menu derives from Bangkok and the four culinary regions of Thailand. Devised by chef Sirichai Sreparplarn, the dish called kua kling, composed of coarsely ground beef laced with chiles, may be the hottest thing in town. But expect plenty of cooling selections to stanch the burn. Check Instagram for daily specials, and call 347-689-3075 to order. 407 Smith Street, near Smith Street

Greenwich Village: This cheeky Japanese-American cocktail bar is known for its loud music, drinks, and decor. While much of that ambiance is on hold for now, Katana Kitten is back open this week with a menu that includes a handful of bar-favorite cocktails from bartender Masahiro Urushido, like its Toki highball ($12). The restaurant’s limited takeout menu also includes a mortadella katsu sandwich ($12), a teriyaki burger ($15), and sides of salty nori fries ($7). 531 Hudston Street, at Charles Street

Hell’s Kitchen: Chances are, if people don’t know Jim Lahey and Sullivan Street Bakery, they may still have heard of the restaurateur’s now-viral no-knead bread recipe. Now Lahey is back at his original bread-making outpost in Hell’s Kitchen, with fermented whole wheat, sesame, and prosciutto loaves available for takeout and delivery. A handful of pantry goods are also available for purchase from the restaurant, including cultured butter, coffee beans, and extra virgin olive oil. 533 West 47th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues

Hudson Square: Small plates master Ignacio Mattos’s slightly more conservative second restaurant, Cafe Altro Paradiso, reopened for takeout and delivery. Fennel salad ($17), candele cacio e pepe ($19), and a heaping portion of Iberico ham ($25) are all available for delivery, as is a limited number of to-go boxes ($195), which include enough snacks for three to four two-person meals. 234 Spring Street, at Sixth Avenue

Nolita and more: Dianna Daoheung’s chewy, Montreal-style bagels from Black Seed Bagels can now be purchased by the baker’s dozen, along with accoutrements like lox and cream cheese. Ready-made sandwiches are available for those who walk up to the store’s locations in Nolita and the East Village on weekends only, Friday to Sunday. 170 Elizabeth Street, between Spring and Kenmare Streets

West Village: Some of the most sought-after dishes from acclaimed, eclectic red sauce restaurant Don Angie are available starting today, in an $88 dinner-for-two package that includes the photogenic pinwheel-shaped lasagna for two. Chefs Angie Rito and Scott Tacinelli’s popular stuffed garlic bread, plus cocktails, are on deck a la carte as well. Call 212-889-8884 to order, or go through the website. 103 Greenwich Avenue, near West 12th Street

West Village: After a three month hiatus, Mary’s Fish Camp is reopening for takeout on Thursday through Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. Even though the menu under owner and chef Mary Redding is briefer, it remains enticingly eclectic, with such starters as Florida gazpacho, deviled eggs with Faroe Islands smoked salmon, and charred Rhode Island Squid with papaya, Thai chiles, and cashews. Mains run to red snapper pozole, pan-seared Montauk scallop with cold soba, and lobsters done a variety of ways. Order here. 64 Charles Street, at Charles Street

Williamsburg: Neighborhood mainstay Egg Shop, which in regular times gets bombarded for brunch, is now offering its bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits, hash browns, egg scrambles, and other most popular items are available again for takeout and delivery. Call 646-787-7502 for pickup, or order delivery through Caviar. 138 North 8th Street, between Bedford and Berry Streets

May 28

Chinatown: This promising new Tokyo-style sushi counter comes from Kunihide Nakajima, a chef with more than 20 years of experience working in NYC sushi restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Sushi Inoue in Harlem. Opened just before the shutdown, Nakaji has now reopened with two sushi omakase dinners available for delivery: a $98 option with 13 pieces of sushi, and a $128 version that also includes sashimi. Order delivery through Toast. 48 Bowery, between Canal and Bayard Streets

Chinatown: The iconic neon yellow sign at Great NY Noodletown turned back on earlier this month. The Chinatown destination, known for its late-night bites and stellar ginger scallion noodles, reopened on May 15 after a brief pause due to the novel coronavirus shutdown. Order takeout from Great NY Noodletown by stopping in or calling ahead at 212-349-0923 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily. 28 Bowery, at Bayard Street

Greenwich Village: Llama San was on fire before the shutdown, and since it opened last year, had cemented itself as the hottest new fine dining destination in town with chef Erik Ramirez’s unique take on Nikkei cuisine. The Peruvian-Japanese menu is more limited for the takeout and delivery, but popular items like the chicken thigh maki are available. The team’s more casual Williamsburg sister restaurant Llama Inn is also open. Place orders on restaurant’s website or through Caviar. 359 Sixth Avenue, at Washington Place

Lower East Side and more: Homegrown bakery hit Doughnut Plant has started doing online orders for pickup and delivery for the Lower East Side, Downtown Brooklyn, and Long Island City locations. Delivery zones have expanded to get the shop’s playful yeast, cake, or gluten-free goods like a peanut butter and jelly yeast doughnut. Later, items like sourdough bread may be added to the mix, too.

Lower East Side: Order a sampler pack of flavors or single, 20-ounce containers of favorites from Laboratorio del Gelato, the popular gelato and sorbet shop known for creative and offbeat flavors like grapefruit campari or fresh basil. Plenty of top-notch versions of classics such as cookies and cream or pistachio are available as well. Get it for pickup or delivery. 188 Ludlow Street, at Houston Street

Midtown: Industry favorite Korean barbecue restaurant Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong reopened for delivery and takeout earlier this month, and for its comeback, it whipped up a delivery-friendly menu of “lunch boxes,” a mix of spicy meats and vegetables, with the option to add kimchi fried rice and additional pork belly. Barbecue-at-home dinners and meat kits are also available for delivery and takeout. Order through Baekjeong’s website. 1 E. 32nd Street, between Fifth and Madison avenues

Lower East Side: Fernando Lopez’s Factory Tamal is one of the few restaurants in the city whose masa is made through nixtamalization — the process by which corn kernels are slow-simmered for hours before being ground into flour. After temporarily closing, those time-intensive tamales are now back for takeout and delivery from the restaurant’s Lower East Side Location. Mole verde, poblano, raja, and chipotle chicken tamales are all available, as are a selection of tortas, salads, and soups. 34 Ludlow Street, near Hester Street

Soho and more: The hip Italian-American restaurants of Delicious Hospitality Group Charlie Bird and Pasquale Jones are back open this week. The takeout and delivery menus at both restaurants are understandably a bit shorter and have been limited to a selection of a few hits from each. At Charlie Bird, the focus is on salad, pasta, fish, and chicken, while Pasquale Jones leans on its pizza pedigrees with clam and margherita pies. Both restaurants are available for takeout and delivery between 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays.

South Williamsburg and more: The restaurants from Brooklyn tastemaker Andrew Tarlow are back: Diner and Marlow & Sons in Williamsburg, Achilles Heel in Greenpoint, and Roman’s in Fort Greene. They’re all starting slow with limited menus and takeout, but the famed Diner burger is on deck, as is a very spring-friendly ramp pizza from Roman’s.

Upper East Side: Chef Daniel Boulud’s flagship Michelin-starred French fine dining restaurant Daniel isn’t open, but the chef has pivoted with a delivery-only restaurant called Daniel Boulud Kitchen, where meals can be picked up from Daniel. A three-course, $75 per person meal with focaccia is available, as is an a la carte menu with dishes such as lobster salad provençale and a beef dish with red wine-braised short ribs and filet mignon. Ordering is through Tock, while the full menu is on the restaurant’s website. 60 E. 65th Street, between Madison and Park avenues

May 21

Jackson Heights: One of 2019’s splashiest debuts was Birria-Landia, a food truck specializing in Tijuana-style birria tacos. Even before it got a two-star review in the New York Times, the truck garnered long lines, and earlier this month, it started serving its tacos and accompanying stew once again. Follow its Instagram for updates on changes. 78th and Roosevelt

West Village: Temaki specialist Nami Nori, a newish sushi restaurant from Masa vets, was a tough table to get before the crisis due to affordable and playful taco-shaped rolls. The critical hit — it got two stars in the New York Times — is offering sets of five temaki for $28, plus appetizers like nori chips and miso soup. Pickup orders go through Toast, while delivery is through Caviar. Bonus: It’s the rare takeout that looks stunning. 33 Carmine Street, between Bedford and Bleecker streets

East Village: Taiwanese beef noodle soup counter Ho Foods is once again serving its signature dish as a $30 set, which also includes lu rou fan, cucumbers, and a drink. A Taiwanese breakfast set with fan tuan and turnip cake is also on deck. Check Instagram for changing hours, and order by calling or through the restaurant’s website.

Sunset Park: One of the city’s most popular new Sichuan restaurants, Chuan Tian Xia, is back with its spicy grilled fish dishes and standout versions of classics like mapo tofu and wontons in chile oil, here called Chengdu Dragon Reading Hands. The restaurant is taking takeout and delivery orders by phone (929-295-0128), but those outside Sunset Park may have luck by using DoorDash or Uber Eats. 5502 7th Avenue, near 55th Street

Chinatown: The big tray of spicy chicken of Spicy Village is back for takeout only, according to a sign on the restaurant’s door. Call 212-625-8299 or 917-689-1882. The hand-pulled noodles are one of the best parts of Spicy Village, but they don’t travel super well and are less conducive to leftover meals. Go for the big tray, pork pancakes, and dumplings instead. 68 Forsyth Street, near Hester Street

East Village: Old-school luncheonette B&H Dairy, open since 1938, is once again serving its kosher dishes, with daily specials announced on Facebook and Instagram. Challah French toast, borscht, omelets, and blintzes are on the menu. Call 212-505-8065 for both takeout and delivery. Huge development: The neighborhood stalwart now also accepts credit cards. 127 2nd Avenue, between East 7th Street and St Marks Place

Flushing: Alley 41, one of the competitive neighborhood’s most popular modern Sichuan restaurants, relaunched a slimmer version of its menu for takeout and delivery service. Though Sichuan classics like dried chicken are available, the menu encompasses other legs of Chinese cuisine, too, like meatball soup, tea smoked duck, and steamed spare rib in black bean sauce. See the delivery options on the website. 136-45 41st Avenue, between Union and Main streets

Midtown: Longtime paella favorite Socarrat hasn’t reopened all its locations, but the one in Midtown East has lots of tapas, cured hams, and of course, paellas available right now. Go a la carte, or get a dinner for two for $49, which includes one paella, two tapas, and a flan. Sangria can be delivered, too. See pickup and delivery options on the website. 953 Second Avenue, between East 50th and East 51st streets