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Restaurants across the city are forging ahead with reopening plans, some by making unprecedented forays into delivery and others by stretching the limits of outdoor dining regulations.
For many others, though, the novel coronavirus pandemic has meant having to figure out plans for opening, without the “re.” In the months since the state’s restaurants closed for indoor dine-in service, dozens of restaurants have moved forward with plans to open their doors, sometimes because they had prepared a robust delivery program ahead of time, but more often because their owners saw no other choice. The newcomers include sourdough pizza joints, vegan Ethiopian restaurants, modest dumpling spots, and all-day cafes.
Here’s a round-up of NYC restaurants that opened during — and in the face of — the novel coronavirus pandemic. This list will be updated weekly. If there’s a new opening in your neighborhood that we’ve missed, let us know at tips@eater.com.
August 26
Astoria: Chef and founder Beatrice Ajaero opened her Nigerian restaurant Nneji in late June, and has been doing takeout and delivery from her small storefront since. Expect a variety of stews including egusi, made with melon seeds; West African red stew; and a meat and fish stew that comes studded with beef chunks, cow foot, cow skin, dried Norwegian cod, and bacalao. Other items include a mango, papaya, and red pepper salad, and Ajaero has teamed up with local Italian bakery Rose and Joe’s to serve up baked goods like biscotti, cookies, and puff pastry desserts. Call 917-832-7338 for pick up. 32-20 34th Ave., at 33rd Street
Bed-Stuy: Freshly made, high-quality corn tortillas are the focus at new neighborhood cafe For All Things Good. The establishment calls itself as a molino, the Spanish word for mill, which is commonly used in Mexico to refer to places that freshly grind corn to make tortillas. At the Bed-Stuy cafe, the corn comes from Oaxaca and the state of Mexico, and is used to create dishes like mushroom tlayuditas, hibiscus and chipotle salsa tetelas, and squash blossom quesadillas. 343 Franklin Ave., at Greene Ave.
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Bushwick: Thai drinking snacks are on the menu at Bushwick newcomer Tong, even though Thai alcoholic beverages won’t be available for some time. The new restaurant on Starr Street specializes in kub klaem, small shareable plates eaten as either a happy hour accompaniment or an after-school snack. They include popular but lesser-seen Thai dishes like beef liver sausage and come from chefs Sunisa Nitmai and Chetkangwan Thipruetree. Tong is still waiting on its liquor license for now, but in the meantime wine can be purchased from nearby Starr Wines. 321 Starr Street, between Cypress and St. Nicholas Avenues
Chelsea: A fourth location of Manhattan’s popular craft beer cellar and taproom Craft + Carry has opened its doors in Chelsea. More than 400 craft beers, ciders, and seltzers are available for takeout and outdoor drinking at the new location, with delivery available through all of Manhattan. Craft + Carry is open from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. daily. 158 Seventh Avenue, between 19th and 20th Streets
Governors Island: Four new restaurants have opened their doors on Governors Island this summer, including outposts of Bronx jerk chicken star Fauzia’s Heavenly Delights, outdoor brick-oven pizzeria Pizza Yard, a sausage station from Brooklyn’s popular butcher the Meat Hook, and a new American grill called Three Peaks. All of the outdoor restaurants are a short ferry ride from Lower Manhattan or Red Hook, and tickets must be purchased in advance. Governors Island
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Greenwich Village: A new Indian fast-casual restaurant focused solely on biryanis has opened in the neighborhood. Biryani Kitchen features five varieties of the rice dish namely lamb, shrimp, vegetarian, and two kinds of chicken biryani. There are a few sides on the menu too like dal makhani and spicy cucumber raita with a host of products from other Indian food-focused brands like Monsieur Singh Lassi, Brooklyn Delhi Achar, and Kolkata Chai. Co. The restaurant is open for takeout and delivery only. 48 Greenwich Ave., near Charles Street
Lower East Side: The “best damn ribs in New York” are apparently being served at Orchard Street newcomer Oola’s Kitchen, a soul food restaurant that had planned to debut ahead of the pandemic but whose opening was delayed until late July. The new restaurant with deep fried ribs and fried chicken sandwiches is open for outdoor dining from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. On weekends, the restaurant opens for brunch at 12 p.m. with specials like shiitake fried rice and fried chicken and waffles with Tapatio maple syrup. Closed Mondays. 177 Orchard Street, between East Houston and Stanton Streets
Upper East Side: There are restaurants with themes, and then there are themes with restaurants — and Horn’s Hook Tavern on the Upper East Side appears to fall into the latter category. Everything at this new Upper East Side bar and grill is Revolutionary War themed, from the Freedom Chips to the Yankee Doodle Noodles. A small selection of menu items like a Maine lobster roll and cobb salad appear to have been spared. 1589 First Avenue, near East 83rd Street
Upper East Side: Mexican restaurant the Red Grill opened in the neighborhood in June and is serving up dishes like steak fajitas, cheese enchiladas, and elotes. The expansive menu is available for delivery and takeout. 1701 Second Ave., at East 88th Street
Upper West Side: Another neighborhood source for fresh seafood opened on the north end of Central Park this week. Blue Fin Fish Market only offers takeout seafood for now, though the vendor appears to have plans to steam, fry, and grill fish in the future, according to the neon lettering on its building. 29 Lenox Avenue, near 111th Street
Upper West Side: An Australian coffee house with housemade pastries and all-day breakfast opened its doors on the Upper West Side this week. Gertrude, named for Melbourne’s Gertrude Street, offers a few hard-to-find Australian delicacies like savory zucchini loaf and a frosted pomegranate and tahini biscuit, both of which are available for takeout. 204 West 96th between Broadway and Amsterdam
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West Village: Japan’s hugely popular international tonkotsu chain Ramen Danbo has opened a second NYC outpost in the West Village. At the ramen shop’s Park Slope outpost, diners could customize the richness of their broth, thickness of their noodles, and how firm they want noodles their noodles to be cooked. 48 Carmine Street, between Bedford and Bleecker Streets
Williamsburg: Radegast Hall and Dante alums have teamed up at a new outdoor beer garden in Williamsburg, called N11 Street Cookout. Located across the street from the Brooklyn Brewery, the sprawling outdoor space is equipped with astroturf and enough outdoor seating to accommodate 88 seated guests. Dad Burger is manning the grill here, according to one of the venue’s recent Instagram posts, and standard backyard barbecue fare like burgers, hot dogs, and elote are on deck, with local craft beer and an elevated cocktail menu from James Defoor, a former bartender at Dante. 86 N. 11th Street, at Wythe Street
August 19
Bushwick: Bushwick’s newest rooftop bar Runaway Roof is perfect for an outdoor party or picnic. (Keep it small, folks.) There’s multiple bars to order from, rain-protected outdoor seating, and a food menu that screams backyard summer barbecue. Expect items like ribs, fried chicken, elote, and watermelon salad served on an outdoor deck, which will soon host outdoor movie screenings, as well. Reservations are only required for large groups and can be made by emailing the venue at info@runawayroof.com. 321 Starr Street, at Cypress Avenue
Clinton Hill: A new Jamaican dumpling restaurant and library has opened its doors on the border of Clinton Hill and Bed-Stuy. The fact that dishes like jerk pork and fiery crab are now available in dumpling form isn’t the most exciting thing about Likkle Dumpling House, though. The new restaurant comes from Alicia Hines, a former English teacher at Horace Mann School in the Bronx who also writes about public space, race, art, and culture. At Likkle, Hines will also use the space to host local initiatives, like a lending library, where neighbors can stop by and borrow a book from the restaurant’s collection, and a three-day conference planned for October, with live performances and speakers. 884 Fulton Street, at Waverly Avenue
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East Village: Manhattan gets a new independently owned bakery this month, with a menu that’s decidedly gluten-free. Elisa’s Love Bites Dessert Atelier comes from Elisa Lyew, a pastry chef who opened a popular dessert shop under the same name in Bushwick in 2017. Like at the original Elisa’s, the confections here are irreverently named and packed with natural sweeteners, like apple puree and coconut palm sugar. The banana bread is “dope,” the chocolate chip cookies are “bangin,’” and the triple chocolate chip cookies are “spankin.’” Elisa’s words, not ours. Local delivery is available below 97th Street in Manhattan and pre-orders can be made 48 hours in advance. 441 E 9th Street, near Avenue A
East Village: Celebrity vegan chef Matthew Kenney has opened a new plant-based restaurant in Soho. Not to be confused with the Upper East Side Italian staple Sistina, Sestina is a new Italian restaurant that serves adapted, plant-based versions of popular pasta dishes. The restaurant’s small plate cavatelli is dressed in arugula pesto and pistachio, while its rigatoni is served in a mushroom ragu sauce. Dried pastas, jarred sauces, and other pantry staples are available from the restaurant, as well, which has a second location planned for Los Angeles. 67 Second Avenue, at East Fourth Street
Greenpoint: The longtime owner of Greenpoint’s classic Polish deli, Maria’s, has passed off the torch to a new owner. Chef and owner Edouard Massih is heading the kitchen at the newly opened Edy’s Grocer, which serves Lebanese cuisine and Eastern European staples, including a few popular dishes from Maria’s Deli, like its beloved chicken cutlet sandwich. Massih opened Edy’s Grocery over the weekend in what was intended to be a quiet opening, but the lines that ensued were anything but. Customers wrapped around the deli’s block the entire time it was open, and Massih had to close early because he sold out of everything. “Literally every single thing,” he told the New York Times. 136 Meserole Avenue, at Eckford Street
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Greenwich Village: New York City’s popular vegan restaurant Blossom has opened a new location in the former space of the Michelin-starred Nix. The new restaurant will serve vegan versions of popular meat- and dairy-based dishes from around the world, like jackfruit tacos and ground seitan lasagna. Vegan food — especially dishes that riff on foods traditionally made with meat — often “need to be twice as good to be seen as just as good,” says chef Ronen Seri. Even so, the vegan chef has won over many meat-eating New Yorkers with his work at Blossom’s previous locations in Chelsea and the Upper West Side. “Most of our regular customers are not vegan,” he says. “But they keep coming back.” 72 University Place, near East 11th Street
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Long Island City: Murray’s Cheese has opened a new storefront and restaurant in Long Island City, not far from where the beloved West Village-based cheesemaker ages its cheeses. Bento-box style cheeseboards are available at the new restaurant, alongside seasonal sandwiches, salads, and soups, which can be ordered for delivery or eaten at one of several outdoor tables. Next door, there’s a well-stocked store with 400 kinds of cheese, charcuterie, smoked fish, and baked goods available for purchase. 28-30 Jackson Avenue, at Queens Boulevard
Nolita: The team behind the Lower East Side’s impossible-to-reserve Thai restaurant Wayla has plans to unveil a second project tonight in Nolita. Nestled near both Chinatown and Little Italy, Kimika serves what it calls “Itameshi” cuisine, a combination of Italian and meshi (Japanese slang for “meal”) cooking styles. It’s a lesser-seen fusion of cultures in New York City, but if the popularity of Wayla’s noodle-wrapped meatballs are anything to go by, the new restaurant is poised to become a neighborhood hit. 40 Kenmare Street, at Elizabeth Street
Soho: A new omakase restaurant from veteran sushi chef John Daley opens its doors in Soho today. Kintsugi serves a $95 omakase that includes miso soup, sashimi, nigiri, tekkamaki, and a daily small plate. The outdoor omakase restaurant is the latest from Daley, a veteran sushi chef who previously owned the Lower East Side’s casual omakase restaurant New York Sushi Ko, which shuttered in 2018, and also worked at the Michelin-starred 15 East. 28 Grand Street, between Sixth Avenue and Thompson Street
August 12
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Brooklyn Navy Yard: Rawlston Williams, the chef behind Crown Height’s popular jerk chicken and oxtail restaurant the Food Sermon, relocated to this new space in the Brooklyn Navy Yard six weeks before the pandemic. Like a butterfly from a cocoon, The Food Sermon Kitchen reopened this week as an adapted, takeout-friendly version of the original restaurant. Jerk chicken and whole lamb shank are still available at the new restaurant, though Rawlston will serve them here as fast-casual bowls from a counter in the Navy Yard, even after the pandemic. The Food Sermon Kitchen is open for takeout Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 141 Flushing Avenue, at Vanderbilt Avenue
Crown Heights: A new venue with live music and a bustling side yard recently opened in Crown Heights. The new neighborhood bar, called Wild Birds, hosts local musicians playing Afrobeat, Cumbia, Balkan brass, soul, funk, and dirty gospel with performances most nights of the week. There’s also a solid line-up of food pop-ups on deck, with weekly appearances from oyster company Mother Shuckers and pop-up taqueria Mr. Taco. From 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, the space serves as a coffee shop called Day’s Cafe with outdoor seating and wifi. 951 Dean St, at Classon Avenue
East Village: Lhasa, one of Jackson Heights’s most celebrated Tibetan restaurants, opened a new outpost in Manhattan this week. The cult-favorite slinger of momos and thenthuk quietly opened its doors in the restaurant space formerly occupied by chef Simone Tong’s Little Tong. Lhasa’s chef and owner Sang Jien Ben cultivated a cult-following for his momos at Lhasa Fast Food, a small counter behind a cell phone store in Jackson Heights, which made an appearance in Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown. A second location, called Lhasa Fresh Food, opened in Elmhurst in 2018. 177 First Avenue, at East 11th Street
East Village: There’s a new French-inspired bakery that specializes in choux, the delicate stuffed pastries made with cream or custard. The aptly named Petit Chou comes from Dina Glore, a chef who has lived in Lebanon, Belgium, France, Japan, and New York City, and infused the pastries with flavors from each of her homes. The bakery’s menu includes vanilla and chocolate choux, as well as those made with fruit, rose water, pistachio, and tiramisu. 229 First Avenue, between 13th Street and 14th Street
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Greenwich Village: At Crop Circle, a casual new restaurant in Greenwich Village, guokui take center stage. Here, the popular street snack from Northern China’s Shanxi province can be stuffed with shrimp, pork, chicken, spicy beef, and other fillings — and they’re big. “Very big. Like bigger than your face,” says restaurant spokesperson Ying Ye. The stuffed flatbreads cost less than $8 each and are served straight out of a cylindrical tandoor-style oven that the restaurant imported from China. 126 Macdougal Street, between Bleecker Street and West 3rd Street
Greenwich Village: South African is among the hardest cuisines to come in New York City, but the fare is getting a boost this week from Greenwich Village’s newest entrant New York Biltong. The new restaurant and grocery store — which also sells meat pies and groceries — comes from co-owner Camran St. Luce, who previously owned the popular South African food store Jonty Jacobs, which was also located in the neighborhood. 22 Greenwich Avenue, at West 10th Street
Noho: International candy brand Sour Patch Kids opened an over-the-top cafe this week in Noho, serving unasked-for creations like a milkshake topped with rainbow cake and Sour Patch Kids-flavored cookie dough. 665 Broadway, at Bond Street
Park Slope: A new source for bubble tea and Thai street food has opened its doors in Park Slope. One More Charm, a playful riff on the words “cha” (tea) and “charm” (bowl), is serving both of the aforementioned items in its backyard for outdoor dining. Fiery curries, mixed salads, and shareable appetizers — including fish cakes, fried chicken wings, and steamed dumplings — are all available for takeout and delivery. For dessert, the restaurant offers a colorful selection of bubble teas, with lesser-seen flavors like Thai tea, cream cheese matcha latte, and its signature Butterfly Fizz, a concoction made from lemon, honey, seltzer and Butterfly pea, an edible blue flower. 236 Seventh Avenue, near Fourth Street
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West Village: A splashy new coffee shop, called Meno, has opened in the West Village serving concoctions previously unseen in New York City, like fermented dark tea and coffee made with fruit juice. Drinks made with coffee and orange juice have found their way to other cities, while seltzer coffee with orange peel briefly makes a comeback every summer. But versions made with brighter fruits, like pineapple, haven’t been seen in New York City until now. The new Chinese cafe comes from Otta Management, the up-and-coming team behind Greenwich Village newcomer Crop Circle, which opened on August 8. 218 Thompson Street, between West Third and Bleecker Streets
Williamsburg: Ken Addington, best known for his work as the former chef of Greenpoint’s beloved Five Leaves, has opened an eccentric, 90-seat backyard restaurant in Williamsburg. Strangeways serves global “pub-style” fare, like pork cheek vinadloo over rice grits and katsu sandwiches made with fried monkfish, though more traditional brunch offerings are also available. 302 Metropolitan Avenue, near Roebling Street
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Sunset Park: It’s not often NYC gets a new old-school red sauce joint, but Brooklyn Roots has arrived in Sunset Park with Nonna-approved hits like chicken milanese, eggplant parmesan, and several big-bowl pastas. Chef Thomas Perone is heading the kitchen here, an Italian-American chef with slow-cooked meats in his wheelhouse. Before opening Brooklyn Roots, Perone owned Bay Ridge barbecue hit Pig Guy NYC, and every Thursday the new restaurant honors those roots with a “steakhouse night.” Brooklyn Roots offers delivery within Brooklyn and caters to all five boroughs. Closed Mondays. 4601 Fourth Avenue, at 46th Street
August 5
Astoria: There’s a new taqueria dishing up Mexican street food and vegetarian tacos in Astoria. At Astoria Taco Factory, classic tacos like al pastor, carnitas, chicken tinga, and grilled fish are available, as are vegetarian and vegan versions of the popular dishes. Al pastor made from texturized vegetable protein, fried “fish” cauliflower tacos, elote, and esquites are available daily from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the corner of 21st Street and 28th Avenue
East Village: A New Jersey-based fish and chips mini-chain set up shop on First Avenue over the weekend. This East Village branch of the Chippery is the restaurant’s first location in Manhattan and customers can expect fried fish served on sandwiches, in buckets, and alongside sides of chips and tartar sauce. 85 First Avenue, between Fifth Street and Sixth Street
Greenpoint and Upper West Side: Bronx Ice has arrived in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The popular Italian ice brand opened its doors this week at two new storefronts in Greenpoint and the Upper West Side. Requisite flavors like strawberry and lemon are available, as are craft combinations like blackberry, mango, and watermelon-lime. Greenpoint: 1048 Manhattan Avenue, near Freeman Street; Upper West Side: 782A Amsterdam Avenue, near West 98th Street
Hamilton Heights: Harlem’s newest craft beer bar, Oh Craft!, opened its doors back in May and is serving food now, too. Hefty sandwiches like a Reuben on rye can be accompanied by craft beers and ciders from local breweries like Brooklyn Cider House, Finback, Grimm, and Threes Brewing. The bar’s patio is open for outdoor drinking daily. 1739 Amsterdam Avenue, between 146th and 147th Streets
Lower East Side: One of the former managers of Katz’s Delicatessen has teamed up with a childhood friend to open a new juice bar in the Essex Market. Essex Squeeze comes from Cedric Hernandez and Charles de la Cruz two childhood friends who grew up on the Lower East Side. De la Cruz worked at Katz’s as a teen, eventually becoming the deli’s head manager, but the focus at the new project leans lighter, with smoothies, juices, acai bowls, and salads. 88 Essex Street, at Delancey Street
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Park Slope: A new restaurant slinging hot dogs and sausages has opened its doors near Barclay’s Center. The Original Hot Dog Factory is a time-tested mini-chain of hot dog vendors with roots in Atlanta, Georgia. Brooklyn is the latest city to be graced by the chain’s popular creations, which include hot dogs that have been wrapped in bacon, boiled, deep fried, or tossed in jerk seasoning. The Brooklyn location marks the chain’s 15th location. 44 Fifth Avenue, between Bergen and Dean Streets
Upper East Side: The owners of Avena Downtown, a sceney Italian restaurant in Greenwich Village, have opened a new location of their restaurant uptown. At Avena Upper East Side, chef Roberto Deiaco is focusing on Northern Italian cuisine with a menu of fresh pastas and grilled fish. Its outdoor area, which includes sidewalk seating and a courtyard, can seat a combined 24 diners. 22 East 66 Street, between Madison and Fifth Avenue
West Village: The neighborhood’s popular Italian wine bar, Aria, closed its West Village location after more than a decade earlier in the pandemic. The restaurant is now reopen at a new location a few blocks downtown. 14-16 Bedford Street, between Downing Street and Sixth Avenue
West Village: The team behind Governors Island’s popular waterfront oyster bar Island Oyster have opened a casual new restaurant in the West Village. The menu at Drift In borrows proven hits from its sibling in Governors Island, like shark sandwiches, lobster BLTs, and shareable platters of fresh oysters. The new bar is still waiting on its liquor license, according to local review site the Infatuation, but it offers an array of refreshing, non-alcoholic beverages in the meantime. 389 West Street, between West 10th Street and Christopher Street
July 29
Astoria: Neighborhood coffee shop Gossip Coffee has opened a cocktail bar in its backyard, called Chipskates. The new watering hole is open from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily, with step-above bar snacks like serrano potato chips and cajun pork rinds. The backyard caps out 20 people and a bouncer takes temperatures at the door. 37-04 30th Avenue, near 37th Street
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Bushwick: A sprawling new outdoor restaurant and bar has opened in the backyard of Bushwick events space 99 Scott. Outerspace, a mostly-vegetarian American restaurant, is equipped with enough umbrellas, picnic tables, and potted plants to seat 126 socially distant diners outdoors. 99 Scott Avenue, near Randolph Street
Bushwick: The second location of a popular Brooklyn empanada maker opened for business in late May. Co-owners Jessica and Briant Almonte opened the first location of Empanada City in Prospect Lefferts Gardens back in May 2017, and the new location offers many of the same pastries that made the original a hit. Close to 20 varieties of empanadas are available for takeout and delivery — including those stuffed with pernil, shrimp, plantain, guava, and even pizza sauce — along with fruit smoothies and flan for dessert. 321 Starr Street, at Cypress Avenue
East Village: A fast-casual Mediterranean grill opened in the East Village this week. iSouvlaki is a new project from James Paloumbis, the restaurateur responsible for Gossip Coffee in Astoria and one of the city’s most perplexing restaurant names, Merakia: Greek MountainThief Spithouse + Steak in the Flatiron District. Here, the focus is on affordable, unfussy Greek cooking with casual desserts like halva and sour cherry yogurt. The most expensive item on the menu, a steak platter, costs $16.45, though most dishes are priced at under $10. iSouvlaki is open for takeout and limited outdoor seating, with plans to launch its delivery services in mid-August. 139 East 12th Street, at Third Avenue
Greenwich Village: At a time when many restaurateurs are making their menus more casual for takeout and delivery, acclaimed New Jersey chef Zod Arifai has doubled down on his fine-dining roots with a new high-end American restaurant. The new project, called Wicked Jane, offers a taste of pre-pandemic New York City, with dishes like sea urchin with lemon and fennel served out of a chalice, a slab of duck breast accompanied by a flourish of red wine emulsion, and foie gras cannoli. 15 West 8th Street, between Fifth Avenue and MacDougal Street
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Midtown: Restaurateur Richard Zaro — of Zaro’s Family Bakery, which has a half-dozen locations in New York City — debuted his first solo project this week, a delivery-only deli called Cutlets Sandwich Company. True to its name, Cutlets focuses on classic deli sandwiches, many of which are given a modern spin. The restaurant’s namesake meat — available as chicken or eggplant — can be accompanied by toppings like pesto, balsamic vinegar, or broccoli rabe, though staples like a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich and a chicken parmesan roll are also available. 326 West 40th Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues
Park Slope: A new California-Italian pasta shop has opened its doors in Park Slope, with a particular attention to the neighborhood’s kids and parents. In addition to selling housemade sauces and pasta by the pound, owner Allison Arevalo says she plans to use the new restaurant, called Pasta Louise, to host community events, like “eat pasta, run fasta” runs, kids’ happy hours, and pasta-making classes. Kid-friendly desserts, like soft serve ice cream and iced hot chocolate, are also available. For its soft opening, Pasta Louise will only be available for takeout and delivery, though the restaurant has plans to open for outdoor seating in two weeks. 803 Eighth Avenue, at 8th Street
Park Slope: LGBTQ bar Good Judy is the latest from the team behind Bed-Stuy hit C’mon Everybody. Expect socially distanced, glitter-packed drag shows in the backyard, $2 off drafts and well drinks Monday through Friday until 7 p.m., and food from local queer-owned businesses like Yeah Dawg’s vegan hot dogs. 563 5th Avenue, near 15th Street
Long Island City: From the team behind erstwhile Williamsburg clam shack Extra Fancy comes a new Mexican restaurant called Top Quality. Matthew Gaudet — a noted Boston chef — is leading the kitchen here and serving up dishes like chicken and pork tamales, lamb barbacoa, and roasted carrots bravas. The massive socially distanced outdoor seating is sure to be a huge draw here as well. 10-29 44th Rd, near 11th Street
Prospect Lefferts Garden: Cocktails spots are aplenty in this neighborhood, but the rum-focused, newly opened the Rogers Garden has socially distanced backyard seating and a garden — as the name suggests — to boot. Expect drinks like the layback, a white rum, vanilla, tobacco flavor, and cacao bitters-infused creation; and the devil’s playground, which features tequila, hibiscus, ginger, and lime. 708 Rogers Avenue, near Lenox Road
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Yorkville: This new-American restaurant from three Batard alums opened its doors in late February and recently reopened for outdoor dining. Chez Nick co-owners Bobby Little, Chad Urban, and Nicholas Bayse have experience working in top NYC kitchens like Marc Forgione, Momofuku Noodle Bar, Robertas, and more recently Batard, where the trio met. At their new restaurant, the chefs have channeled that experience into a fine-ish dining menu that includes lamb barbacoa, half and whole roast chicken, and a $19 burger made with Pat La Frieda beef. For lunch and brunch, the restaurant’s menu relaxes a bit to include summery dishes like parmesan fries, ricotta toast, and lobster rolls. 1737 York Avenue, between East 91st and East 92nd Streets
July 22
Bed-Stuy: The team behind Brooklyn’s favorite boozy dessert bar Butter & Scotch opened a new Colombian-inspired bakery on the border of Bed-Stuy and Bushwick today. The second project from the all-women team, named Love, Nelly, pays homage to partner Stephanie Callardo’s upbringing in Cartagena, Colombia, with a new menu that includes tres leches cake, empanadas, doubles, and jalapeno kolache. For its first week of business, the new bakery will be selling raspas at half off with all proceeds going to Neighbors Together, a local group that’s tackling poverty in the area. Love, Nelly is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. 53 Rockaway Avenue, between Marion and Sumpter Streets
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Flatiron: Hole in the Wall, a splashy new all-day restaurant and bar from Australian duo Barry Dry and chef Brent Hudson, landed in Flatiron last week. The new restaurant, which also has locations in FiDi and Murray Hill, opened on the ground floor of Hotel Henri with 40 outdoor seats available, as well as another 70 inside when indoor dining returns to NYC. Brunch and dinner hits like milk bun wagyu beef burgers and pulled pork eggs Benedict are available from Thursday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Summery cocktails from Gates Otsui and Jeremy Ortiz, the bartenders behind the drinks menus at popular restaurants like the Standard and Veronika, are also available. 37 West 24th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
Gowanus: This neighborhood already ranked among the city’s best neighborhoods for craft beer, with companies like Threes, Strong Rope, and Wild East Brewing all brewing here. This month, though, Gowanus got a strong new addition with a taproom from the popular Queens-based brewery, Finback, which is serving all of the brewery’s classic beers to-go, along with a few cocktails. The taproom is open for outdoor seating Sunday through Thursday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and an hour later than that on Fridays and Saturdays. Closed Mondays. 545 President Street, between Third and Fourth Avenue
Ridgewood: Salvadoran corn cakes take center stage at a new woman-owned restaurant that opened in Ridgewood this month. At Pupusas Ridgewood, the namesake dish can be stuffed with beans, cheese, and several different meats, including chicharron. Call 347-599-0858 to order ahead of time. 71-20 Fresh Pond Road, between 71st Street and Myrtle Avenue
West Village: There’s an affordable new sushi omakase restaurant available for outdoor dining in the West Village. Sushi Teru, which opened on July 15, comes from chef Kou, who has spent the last 15 years working in high-end omakase restaurants like Kurumazushi and Ginza Onodera. Here, the chef makes edomae-style sushi for takeout and outdoor dining, with omakase sets available at $50, $60, $80, and $110 price points. Sushi Teru is open from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and opens a half-hour earlier on weekends. 615 1/2 Hudson Street, between Jane and West 12th Streets
July 15
Astoria: A new Mexican taqueria with Caribbean influence has set-up shop in Astoria. Metro Taquero is a choose-your-own adventure burrito and taco bar not unlike Chipotle or Dos Toros, but the meat options here are much more impressive. Breaded milanesa, grilled fish, brisket barbacoa, pork and chicken al pastor, and soy chorizo are all available, as are Caribbean specialties like mofongo and arroz con gandules. 40-05 Broadway Street, between West 168th and West 169th Streets
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Clinton Hill: The team behind neighborhood bakeshop the Good Batch Bakery have opened an ice cream shop right across the street. The Good Batch Creamery opens today with seven flavors of ice cream, two vegan sorbet options, hot sundaes, and ice cream sandwiches. The new ice cream shop will offer a free scoop of ice cream to customers who visit before Friday as part of a grand opening promotion. 995A Fulton Street Brooklyn, near Saint James Place
East Village: The neighborhood gets a new French buffet this week from chef Tamika Gabaroum. Like any good buffet, the food at Green Garden is weighed and paid for by the pound, with a daily selection of roasted root vegetables and grilled meat and seafood options. Gabaroum, who takes customer orders at the door of the restaurant, is from Chad, making her one of the only chefs from that region cooking in Manhattan right now. 332 East Ninth Street, between First Avenue and Second Avenue.
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Hell’s Kitchen: At Tradisyon, Filipino fare gets the fast-casual treatment. The new venture from owner Joey Chanco serves traditional Filipino dishes, as well as more modern inventions, like crunchy pork belly and squid adobo in black ink sauce. Chanco said the idea for the restaurant was a result of lunchtime and late-night cravings for home cooking. “There’s not much delivery Filipino food late at night,” he says. “At least nothing close to traditional.” Meanwhile, Chanco says that many of the city’s Filipino buffets open for dinner, but not lunch. 790 Ninth Avenue, between West 52nd and West 53rd Streets
Hell’s Kitchen: Uchu Hospitality, the restaurant group behind the well-liked Sushi on Jones line of restaurants, has opened a new Japanese restaurant at the Gotham West Market. Beer, sake, and craft cocktails are the focus at Bar Jones, though bar bites like a wasabi lobster roll are also available for outdoor dining and delivery. The new restaurant is open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. 600 11th Avenue, between West 44th and West 45 Streets.
Harlem: Outdoor dining takes on a whole new meaning at Baylander Steel Beach, a new restaurant atop an aircraft carrier boat that’s docked at West Harlem Piers. The outdoor deck stretches 4,000 square feet, and the restaurant’s menu will include items like burgers, lobster rolls, and spiked lemonade. There’s an indoor portion too, but that will only open once the current restrictions on indoor dining lift. Baylander IX-514 ship, West Harlem Piers, at West 125th Street
Theater District: Midtown’s Sushi Lab, at the Sanctuary Hotel, has expanded into a rooftop space called Sushi Lab Rooftop. The outdoor space seats 30 — with eight seats at a chef’s counter and others spread out over nine socially distanced tables — and the menu leans toward Japanese small plates. Items from chef Frankie Chen include tuna tacos, salmon belly with poached Asian pears, and tuna tartare with avocado and nori crackers. Reservations are required for entry. 132 W. 47th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenue
Ridgewood: Following initial concerns that it wouldn’t be able to open due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Acre has forged ahead, and is now serving a selection of appetizers like elotes, chicken wings, and poutine; breakfast items including a burrito and a mushroom biscuit; and larger sandwiches and a burger. Aside from takeout, the restaurant also has some outdoor seating on site. 68-22 Forest Avenue, at 68th Road
Ridgewood: The neighborhood has a new bagel spot in the form of Baker’s Dozen Bagels. The bagel shop is open daily from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., and customers are encouraged to order ahead if they’re picking up. The shop — as the name suggests — offers 13 different kinds of bagels, a large selection of breakfast items, and sandwiches. 66-08 Fresh Pond Road, near Gates Avenue
Williamsburg: After having worked as a bartender in the neighborhood for 15 years, Nicky Nyce has started up her own spot called Nicky’s Unisex. For now, the bar is serving a large selection of cocktails and snacks at tables placed along the street, that’s closed off for outdoor dining. 90 S. 4th Street, at Berry Street
July 8
Bed-Stuy: A new restaurant and bar focused on burgers, wings, and kebabs has opened on the border of Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights. Brooklyn Noosh offers buffalo, bourbon, and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos-encrusted hot wings, as well as basil butter and housemade bread, which is reportedly made on-site daily. Food from the restaurant can be ordered for takeout, or eaten alongside a local craft beer in its outdoor seating area along Grand Avenue. 988 Atlantic Avenue, near Grand Avenue
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FiDi: A sprawling rooftop restaurant with greenhouse dining rooms and outdoor seating popped up in the Financial District this week. The new Italian restaurant, called Ampia, shares a building with Gnoccheria Wall Street, which owners chef Michele Iuliano and Anisa Iuliano also own. Seafood is the focus of the menu here, though the restaurant’s lobster, octopus, and tuna appear on paninis, rather than as standalone dishes. The restaurant, which is currently operating at 25 percent capacity, will eventually be able to seat 250 people, the owners say. For now, customers can dine at socially-distant outdoor tables or in one of the restaurant’s five private greenhouses. 100 Broad Street, at Bridge Street
Flatiron District: The owner of Michelin-starred sushi hit Kosaka has finally opened his much-anticipated second restaurant, a more affordable venture called Maki Kosaka. Owner Key Kim had originally planned to debut the restaurant this spring, ahead of the novel coronavirus pandemic, and has since adapted the concept to fit the current dining landscape. The restaurant’s headlining $80 omakase has been replaced with three sushi combination sets and variety of thick futomaki rolls for outdoor dining, as well as takeout service. 55 W. 19th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
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Lower East Side: A new Chinese restaurant spotlighting Dongbei cuisine has opened on the Lower East Side. A large portion of the menu at Public Village is Sichuan, according to co-owner Kiyomi Wang, who was born in the province, but the restaurant also features several dishes popular in the Dongbei region of China, like chicken skeleton and a grill chilled noodle wrap, which Eater critic Robert Sietsema found to be one of the “best things on the menu.” Bar snacks, like beef jerky, are also available for takeout. 23 Essex Street, between Canal and Hester streets
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Upper East Side: The third-generation owner of legendary German meat shop Schaller and Weber has opened a new backyard restaurant. Blume is a new open air restaurant operating out of Stube Sausage Bar’s backyard, with seating for 20 socially-distant diners, according to owner Jeremy Schaller. The menu includes patio-snacking hits like charcuterie plates, cheese boards, housemade pickles, sorbet, sandwiches, and wine. 1652 Second Avenue, between East 85th and East 86th Streets
June 30
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East Village: For Thai cooking that spans several regions of the Southeast Asian country, Soothr is a new spot in the East Village that Eater critic Robert Sietsema writes has “recipes united by their uniqueness and rarity in NYC.” Expect dishes like fried chicken coated in shallots, a massaman curry with roasted vegetables, and shrimp dish soused in an egg sauce. The restaurant is open for takeout and delivery only. 204 E. 13th Street, at Third Avenue
Hell’s Kitchen: There’s a new budget-friendly omakase restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen. Though the indoor chef’s counter at Ikebana-Zen is on hold for now, the Japanese restaurant is now offering sushi and sashimi delivery, with three versions of its omakase available ranging in price from $40 to $80. Delivery fees are waived for orders that exceed $60, with delivery available Monday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 401 W. 53rd Street, near Ninth Avenue
Long Island City: With views of Manhattan, the 100-seat rooftop restaurant Perivoli benefits from plenty of space and socially distanced tables. The Greek restaurant’s menu features dishes like grilled lamb chops, lobster pasta, and zucchini and eggplant chips. The restaurant is located atop the Ravel Hotel, and diners need to be prepared to get tested for COVID-19 before they enter. 8-08 Queens Plaza South, at Vernon Boulevard
Park Slope: Owner Marina Charny had originally planned to open Beer Garage in January 2021, but the novel coronavirus pandemic accelerated the opening of this Park Slope beer garden by about six months. The new craft beer bar — outfitted with 13 taps of craft beer and sprawling garage-style doors — is located right around the corner from Park Slope pizza spot Wild, which Charny also owns. Beer Garage is offering customers who follow its Instagram account a 25-percent discount until July 5 to celebrate the bar’s arrival in the neighborhood. 220 16th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
West Village: The neighborhood outpost of Greenwich Village’s always-packed bar Dante finally opened this week. Like at its sister restaurant — purportedly the world’s best bar in 2019 — outdoor seats at the new location were quick to fill up. Dante West Village was originally set to open in March, but its debut was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With outdoor dining currently underway in NYC, the restaurant — which serves a menu influenced by Basque cuisine — has finally opened its doors. 551 Hudson Street, at Perry Street
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Williamsburg: Kokomo, a new Caribbean restaurant, landed in Williamsburg this week, reportedly one of the neighborhood’s only restaurants to serve the regional cuisine. Pastas and wood-fired flatbreads topped with jerk chicken and oxtail are available for takeout, delivery, or outdoor eating on the restaurant’s patio from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.. 65 Kent Avenue, at North 10th Street
Williamsburg: Mediterranean newcomer Magdalene technically opened in February ahead of the novel coronavirus pandemic, but the Williamsburg restaurant is now back for outdoor lunch and dinner service daily from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Owner Magda Sayeg, a world-renowned yarn artist, described Magdalene as a “Lebanese oyster bar” in an interview with Time Out shortly before the restaurant’s opening, but the chef has since tweaked that concept to include summery hits like falafel fried chicken, shawarma galettes, and pistachio tres leches cake. 524 Lorimer Street, at Ainslie Street
Williamsburg: A Mexican taqueria with several outposts in Brooklyn and Manhattan has opened a new takeout and delivery concept, called Oaxaca Curbside. The colorful curbside restaurant is serving up summery Mexican cocktails out of the ground floor of the McCarren Park Hotel, along with a promising list of tacos ($5 each), including al pastor, Austin-style breakfast tacos, and chicken adobada. 160 North 12th Street, between Bedford Avenue and Berry Street
June 24
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Bushwick: Black Seed’s wood-fired Montreal-style bagels are headed to Bushwick this weekend as the brand prepares to open its seventh location in the city. The new outpost includes a front-of-house bagel shop, along with a back-of-house bakeshop. Black Seed opens this weekend and will be available to deliver spreads, bagel sandwiches, smoked salmon, wholesale coffee, and bagels by the dozen. 379 Suydam Street, between Wyckoff and Irving Streets
Chelsea: This 25-year-old Chelsea restaurant from owner Abraham Merchant has reopened at a new location nearby. The new Merchants NY is fitted with outdoor seating — along with an indoor dining room that he hopes to be able to open in July — though the restaurant’s fried chicken sandwich, beer battered fish and chips, and grilled cauliflower steak are also available for takeout. 190 Seventh Avenue, at 21st Street
Greenwich: A new Taiwanese bubble tea shop opened its doors on Greenwich Avenue this month. Dragon Horn Tea also has a second location in Taiwan, where its milk, matcha, plum, and taro teas are popular. This week, the cafe unveiled a new addition to its menu: a chocolate milk bubble tea made with cocoa powder and Hershey’s syrup. 106 Greenwich Avenue, at Jane Street
West Village: A promising modern English restaurant, named Dame, was slated to open in the West Village this fall before the novel coronavirus pandemic. After some recalculating, though, its owners have decided to debut the concept as a fish and chips pop-up called the “Dame Summer Club,” owner Patricia Howard tells Eater in an email. The project is a collaboration between Howard, who also runs Red Gate Bakery in the East Village, and chef Ed Syzmanski, who helmed the kitchen at Cherry Point in Greenpoint when it received a two-star review from New York Times critic Pete Wells. Dame will be open Wednesday through Sunday through October. 85 MacDougal Street, between Bleecker and West Houston Streets
Riverdale: A Peruvian restaurant that started as a flan and empanada business has found a permanent home in the Bronx. Claudy’s Kitchen is a new restaurant in Riverdale serving Peruvian cuisine — including family-sized chicken meals, nine different types of empanadas, and limey ceviches — reportedly the neighborhood’s first restaurant to do so. The restaurant, which comes from chef Claudia Berroa, started as a small business in the Bronx selling flan to NYC-based grocers, including Zabar’s and Union Market, and later expanded to include housemade empanadas sold at street fairs in the city. Check the restaurant’s website for an updated menu of daily specials. 5981 Broadway, near West 242nd Street
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Williamsburg: Two chefs with past experience at top NYC restaurants Via Carota and Olmsted are branching out on their own with a summery new Mediterranean restaurant in Williamsburg, called Sami and Susu. The new project from Amir Nathan and Jordan Anderson focuses on Jewish-Sephardic cooking, with a seasonal menu of spreads, dips, salads, and natural wine. Sami and Susu currently shares a kitchen with neighborhood bar Maracuja, though Nathan and Anderson hope to eventually expand the concept into a standalone grocery store and wine bar. 279 Grand Street, near Roebling Street
June 17
Astoria: A new Greek grill has popped up in Astoria with a fresh coat of blue paint and furniture imported straight from Greece. The restaurant, called Nikos Souvlaki, offers a promising selection of souvlaki, gyros, hand-cut fries, and rotisserie chicken for takeout and delivery. 19-33 Ditmars Boulevard, at 21st Street
Bushwick: Self-described Czech-Tex bakery Kings Kolache arrived in Bushwick earlier this year. The bakery, run by Paul and Sarah Ashley, specializes in kolache, a Czech import that was brought to the United States in the 19th century and became a regional staple in Texas and parts of the midwest. “In Texas, kolaches are known as a breakfast food, and in Eastern Europe, they’re considered a holiday dessert,” Sarah Ashley said to Chowhound in an interview earlier this year. Here in New York though, the Ashleys serve both savory and sweet varieties of the Czech pastry. 321 Starr Street, Unit F, near Cypress Avenue
Carroll Gardens: Brazilian comfort food restaurant Santo Bruklin opened its doors the same weekend that Governor Cuomo announced the state-mandated shutdown of dine-in services for NYC restaurants. In the three months since, this family-owned restaurant in Carroll Gardens has had to make the quick pivot to takeout and delivery service. The restaurant’s menu includes moquecas, seafood stews made from coconut milk, as well as several varieties of caipirinha, a cocktail popular in Brazil. 548 Court Street, at West Ninth Street
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Chelsea: Chelsea Market newcomer Pulkies is putting non-traditional barbecued meats, like turkey, in the spotlight. The new Jewish barbecue restaurant comes from the team behind Chelsea Market hamburger restaurant Creamline. It will only focus on delivery and takeout for the foreseeable future, with a counter pick-up spot located on West 16th Street, but plans to open a permanent location in the future. West 16th Street, between Ninth and Tenth Avenues
Chelsea: Classic French fare meets pan-Asian cooking at the newly-opened Fus’d in Chelsea. The restaurant’s shiitake quiche provençal, Asian ratatouille, and sesame and soy glazed filet mignon are now available for delivery. 215 W. 29th Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues
Lower East Side: At Lower East Side newcomer the Bun Hut, Bahamian-style bao gets the center stage. Kermit “Ray” Mackey, the chef and co-owner of the new venture, got his start working at resort restaurants on several islands in the Bahamas, including Great Exuma and Bimini. It wasn’t until Mackey traveled through China, though, that he was inspired to fold traditional Bahamian fillings — like coconut shrimp, cracked conch, curried goat, and pulled jackfruit — into steamed bao. That combination of Bahamian and Chinese flavors is complimented by wrapped rotis, jerk chicken, braised oxtail, as well as punches and desserts. 178 Stanton Street, between Clinton and Attorney Streets
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Park Slope: The neighborhood’s newest all-day bakery and cafe, Winner, comes from Daniel Eddy, a chef most recently known for his work at the now-shuttered, Michelin-starred French restaurant Rebelle. For his latest project, the fine dining alum has pivoted to a more casual, neighborhood set-up, selling pastries in the morning and housemade sourdough bread on a rotating schedule out of the restaurant’s takeout window on 11th Street. 367 7th Avenue, at 11th Street
Upper East Side: There’s a new vegan falafel restaurant joining the Upper East Side this week. Tamam, slang for “thumbs up” in Arabic and Hebrew, comes from chef Eli Buliskeria, currently of Upper West Side Mediterranean restaurant Bustan, and Simon Oren, the prolific restaurateur behind L’Express, Five Napkin Burger, Marseilles, and others. 1108 Lexington Avenue, between East 77th and 78th Streets
Upper East Side: The Upper East Side gets a new upscale kosher restaurant headed by Tal Aboav, a chef with previous experience working at Einat Admony’s much-loved Middle Eastern restaurant Balaboosta in Nolita and Paul Shaked’s the Cleveland. Similar to both of those projects, Rothschild TLV focuses on Israeli cuisine with a delivery menu that includes upscale versions of tagine, meaty flatbreads, and chicken schnitzel. 1129 Lexington Avenue, between East 78th and East 79th Streets
June 10
Bushwick: A new all-day cafe with a focus on craft beer, coffee, and Vietnamese-inspired baked goods called High Low has opened in Bushwick. Owners Shriver Tran and Jaime Hodgkin teamed up with Matthew Tilden of cult-favorite bakery Scratchbread for recipe development. Look out for treats like cinnamon and coffee donuts, pandan coconut cream-filled pastries, and a bahn mi bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. 295 Wyckoff Avenue, between Linden and Grove Streets
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Chinatown: A reliable new fresh dumpling shop has opened, called King Dumplings. Rumor had it that ownership had a connection to the famed shuttered shop Prosperity, but when Eater critic Robert Sietsema stopped in, the employees working in the store denied any connection. Regardless, King offers a solid selection dumplings, available steamed or fried as pot stickers with a variety of fillings; sesame bread sandwiches; and customizable soups, all at very modest prices. 74 Hester Street, near Allen Street
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Chinatown: Yudai Kanayama, the restaurateur behind East Village hit Izakaya, has a new restaurant and karaoke bar specializing in regional Japanese cuisine. The menu at Dr. Clark pays homage to regional dishes from the Japanese island Hokkaido — where Kanayama and head chef Mumetake Ogata both grew up — including a lamb barbecue dish called jingisukan and late-night liqueur parfaits. “People in New York city eat pizza when they get drunk. People in Japan eat ramen,” Kanayama says, “But people in Hokkaido? They eat midnight parfait.” The dish resembles an “American soft-serve sundae,” Kanayama says, only it comes with toppings and flavored liqueur. Make-at-home and pre-made versions of Dr. Clark’s dishes are available for delivery through Caviar. 104 Bayard Street, near Baxter Street
Crown Heights: Franklin Avenue newcomer Ras Planted Based debuted in early March, just one week before the novel coronavirus shutdown. Throughout the pandemic, though, co-owners Milka and Romeo Regalli have kept the vegan Ethiopian restaurant open by adapting the restaurant’s sambusa pastries, mushroom tibs, and sour injera bread for delivery and takeout. Similar to the dining experience at Awash Ethiopian Restaurant in Cobble Hill, which the Regallis also own, the dine-in menu here will eventually focus on big-group, family-style platters. 739 Franklin Avenue, near Sterling Place
Crown Heights: Airy Burmese restaurant Rangoon was one of the year’s most anticipated openings because of chef Myo Moe’s track record with noodle pop-ups. It’s one of the few Burmese restaurants in the city, and in lieu of a dining room debut, she forged ahead serving popular items like coconut chicken noodle soup and spicy mango shrimp salad. 500 Prospect Place, at Classon Avenue
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East Village: American-Polynesian food and drink will eventually be the focus at this new bi-level cocktail bar in the East Village. For now, though, Pineapple Club is focusing on a limited delivery menu of dishes like fried jerk chicken, wagyu with chimichurri and Sichuan peppercorns, and pineapple pavlova alongside a classic list of takeout cocktails. Chef Patrick Baird is heading the kitchen program here after stints working at the NoMad Hotel and Rotisserie Georgette. 509 East Sixth Street, at Avenue A
East Village: The city’s newest sushi omakase restaurant landed in the East Village last month courtesy of chef Mike Lian. Before opening Shinn East, Lian spent seven years working in sushi restaurants in New York City and Florida. The eight-seat restaurant has adapted its sit-down menu for delivery, with options that include a 12-piece omakase ($45), a luxe version that comes with caviar ($65), eel or tuna over rice ($30), and an assortment of nigiri priced at $5 to $20 each. 119 East Seventh Street, at Avenue A
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East Village: After having once undergone a flood in Boulder, Colorado, Terra Thai moved to the East Village just in time to experience the novel coronavirus pandemic. Located steps from Tompkins Square, the menu here showcases the street food of Bangkok, where owners Karuna Wiwattanakantang and Norawat Margsiri are from. The temporary limited menu lists dishes perfect for carryout, including a version of chicken with basil and a Burmese influenced gingery pork curry, along with iced coffee and tea, and some ice creams made on the premises, one of which is durian. 518 E. 6th Street, between avenues A and B, East Village
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East Village: The team behind lively East Village restaurants the Wayland and Good Night Sonny has moved their Meatpacking District cafe to the East Village in a new airy corner space. The Wild Son has casual day-time fare like sandwiches, salads, and bowls is the focus of the restaurant for now, with plans to launch a more elaborate dinner program in the future. 132 First Avenue, at Saint Marks Place
East Williamsburg: Ricardo Cardona — perhaps best known for being the chef to the New York Yankees and a personal chef to musician Marc Anthony — has teamed up with Carlos Letona, a Jean Georges and Per Se alum, to open this new Cuban-Asian fusion spot in East Williamsburg. At Aura Cocina, guacamole appears alongside wonton chips, ham croquettes are topped in Sriracha, and the restaurant’s fried rice comes mixed with pineapple and shrimp. A Peking duck dish from chef Eric Meas may also be in the restaurant’s future. 315 Meserole Street, at Bogart Street
Gramercy Park: This new Cantonese dim sum restaurant has pivoted to delivery, with traditional dim sum favorites including har gow and siu mai, as well as not-so-common options like har gow with chive, watercress dumplings, and cabbage pork buns. Awesum Dimsum’s dumplings are handmade, so quantities are limited and can only be ordered by phone for now. Call (646) 331-9993 to order. 160 East 23rd Street, near Third Avenue
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Greenwich Village: Informal Sicilian cafes have been popping up lately in unexpected places, and Pane Pasta, near the busy corner of Sixth Avenue and 8th Street, is a great example. It concentrates on pastries, pastas, panini, and focaccia slices, including sfincione, topped with sardines and caramelized onions. There’s also a wonderful vegetarian sandwich featuring deep fried creamer potatoes and the chickpea fritters called panelle. 58 West 8th Street, between Sixth Avenue and Macdougal Street, Greenwich Village
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Park Slope: Park Slope’s pizza game got a new addition in April with Public Display of Affection, a wood-fired sourdough pizza spot from Robert Guimond. Guimond previously worked in the kitchens at Roberta’s, Speedy Romeo, and Jean-Georges before striking out on his own earlier this year. And while pizza is the undeniable centerpiece of the new venture, the restaurant’s appetizers are also promising. The delivery menu, available through Caviar, includes lamb and beef meatballs, jammy chile wings, and an arugula salad that’s buried under mountains of parmesan. 669 Union Street, near Fourth Avenue
Little Italy: At Little Italy newcomer Sofia’s Panificio e Vino, restaurateur Paul Shaked and noted chef Adam Leonti have teamed up on a menu of leavened breads, sourdough pizzas, and Italian small plates. Since Sofia’s first opened in late March, Leonti and Shaked have steadily expanded the restaurant’s menu and are now selling a robust selection of wines, pantry staples, and meaty entrees. 143 Mulberry Street, between Grand and Hester Streets
Lower East Side: Chef Stephane Lemagnen’s new restaurant Bel-Fries hawks Belgian-style frites in paper cones for $6.75. Staffers slather the frites in a variety of drippy condiments upon request, including yuzu mayo, curry mango, and barbecue sauce. The takeout spot calls these creations “farm-to-table fries,” citing different potatoes (Kennebec, Norwis, and Gold) used depending on the season. 132 Ludlow Street, near Rivington Street
Lower East Side: Alums from popular NYC restaurants Rezdôra and Olmsted have teamed up at Lower East Side newcomer Forsythia. The rustic Italian restaurant is the work of chefs Jacob Siwak (formerly of Olmsted) and Mark Coleman (previously of Rezdôra), as well as baker Brian Maxwell (of Gulfstream in Newport Beach, California). Roman dishes are the focus at this new project, with a four-course takeout menu available for $30 per person. The trio is currently serving takeout out of a temporary East Village kitchen with plans to move into their permanent home on the Lower East Side later. 9 Stanton Street, between Bowery and Chrystie Street
Lower East Side: Restaurant Daniel alum Helen Nguyen opened this new Vietnamese restaurant on the Lower East Side in late March. Saigon Social focuses on comfort food that Nguyen ate while growing up as a child, with both classic and lesser known noodle dishes on deck. The restaurant’s takeout menu includes several meaty noodle dishes, whole fried porgy fish, and tre ba mau, a popular dessert made from read and mung beans. Don’t miss the fried chicken sandwich. 172 Orchard Street, at Stanton Street
Midtown: Spiro Menegatos has transformed one of the kitchens at his Greek fine dining spot, Nerai, into an Italian takeout and delivery spot. At Segreta Cucina Italiana, chef Moshe Grundman serves classics like baked clams oreganata, garlic bread, penne alla vodka, eggplant parmigiana, chicken parmigiana, and veal Milanese. Order here. 55 East 54th Street, between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue
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Soho: Chef Mikel de Luis, who’s spent years working at Michelin-starred restaurants and previously worked at Soho House, now has his own Basque place called Haizea. The restaurant is doing takeout of dishes like roasted suckling pig, squid ink croquetas, and slow-cooked tripe stew with Iberico ham and chorizo. Order here. 142 Sullivan Street, between Houston and Prince streets
Sunnyside: A casual coffee and dessert shop called Mad Cafe has joined Queens Boulevard. Desserts come from Flushing’s Spot, while coffee comes from Eldorado Roasters in Maspeth, with lots of specialty drinks on the menu. Owners Joseph Froman, Clinton Oh, and Sean Cho are also opening another restaurant on the block called Mad for Chicken. 43-10 Queens Blvd. at 44th Street
Upper West Side: Another Roman-style pizza place has rolled into town with Pizza Collective. Pie options are displayed in a glass-enclosed counter, including a mozzarella with balsamic glaze and classics like margherita. Other dishes like baked pastas and sandwiches are on the menu as well. 2060 Broadway near 71st Street
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