A Running List of New Restaurants That Opened in New York City, September 2020

More than six months into the coronavirus pandemic, restaurants across the city are reopening their doors, some by making unprecedented forays into delivery and others by stretching the limits of outdoor dining regulations.

For many others, though, the arrival of fall has meant finally being able to move forward with spring and summer openings that were been stalled by the pandemic. In the more than six months since the state’s restaurants closed for indoor dining, at least 160 new restaurants have opened their doors, sometimes because their concepts could be adapted for delivery and outdoor dining service, but more often because their owners saw no other choice. The newcomers include subterranean Burmese restaurants, modest Punjabi pit-stops, Korean-American bistros, and corner coffee carts.

Here’s a round-up of the restaurants and bars that opened their doors in September. This list will be updated weekly. If there’s an opening in your neighborhood that we’ve missed, let us know at tips@eater.com.

September 24

Columbus Circle: A source for individual and family-style paella has arrived at the Turnstyle Underground Market in the Columbus Circle subway station. Vegetarian, chicken, and seafood versions of the hearty Spanish rice dish are now available from EZ Paella for takeout and delivery, even though Turnstyle does not officially reopen until October 15. 1000 Eighth Avenue, between 57th and 59th Streets

Crown Heights: Clinton Urling, the owner of Guyanese and Caribbean staple German’s Soup has outgrown the restaurant’s original East Flatbush storefront and moved to this expanded restaurant space in Crown Heights. The menu at the new location includes popular Guyanese snacks like egg balls, roti, and squares of milk fudge, the recipes for which have been handed down from Urling’s father, Hubert Urling Senior, who opened the original location of the restaurant in 1960, in Guyana’s capital Georgetown. 410 Utica Avenue, near Montgomery Street

Lower East Side: A new late-night wine bar is now sharing a space with Broome Street Bakery, taking over the restaurant at 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. There’s more than a dozen wines on the menu at Somm Time, available by the bottle or glass, along with a small menu of salads, pastas, and cheeses. The wine bar also has plans to open a second location at Lexington Avenue and 87th Street on the Upper East Side this week. 254 Broome Street, near Orchard Street

Midtown: Fast-casual restaurant Inday opened its fourth location in the city near Bryant Park. 285 Madison Avenue, between East 40th and East 41st Street

Nolita: Fast-casual favorite Noodlelove has transformed into a full-service Korean-American restaurant, called Umma. The coronavirus pivot comes just two years after Noodlelove opened its doors in Nolita, but with many of the neighborhood’s diners still working from home, owner Natalie Camerino says the time was right for a pivot to full-service dining. 192 Mott Street, at the corner of Kenmare Street

Rockefeller Center: Homer Murray, the chef and restaurateur behind Greenpoint’s upscale dining spot Greenpoint 21, has opened a new quick-service Mexican restaurant in the Rockefeller Center concourse. Hombre Taco serves tacos, rice bowls, and salads built around meats like al pastor, chicken tinga, and short-rib. 45 Rockefeller Plaza, between West 49th and West 50th Streets

Upper West Side: A second location of Scarlatto, the Roman-influenced Italian restaurant from owner Thomas Bifulco, opened on the Upper West Side this week. Like at the restaurant’s original spot in Midtown, pasta and meat dishes are the focus here. 646 Amsterdam Avenue between 91st and 92nd Streets

September 16

Astoria: The team behind Mexican restaurant Tacuba have opened a seafood-focused spot within their own restaurant. El Fish Shack will have outdoor seating fronting along 35th Avenue, and will utilize Tacuba’s private dining room for indoor seating once that’s allowed later this month. Expect dishes like poached lobster served over waffles, a swordfish BLT, and crab rolls. 36-02 35th Avenue, at 36th Street

Upper West Side: Restaurateur Garry Kanfer has now opened a third NYC location of his sushi restaurant Kissaki. The first outpost, led by chef Mark Garcia, opened in January this year, followed by a Midtown location in the spring, and the UWS one marks the third spot in the city. There’s also a location in the Hamptons. 286 Columbus Avenue, between 73rd and 74th Streets

Greenpoint: Cold-pressed juices have a new home at neighborhood spot La Merced. Aside from fresh juices and smoothies, there are fruit bowls, toasts, and a couple of salad options as well. The tiny shop has a table out front for eating outside while NYC is still restricted to outdoor dining. 1008 Manhattan Ave., between Green and Huron Streets

Clinton Hill: The expansive Mexican menu at newly opened Ojalá includes street food-style elotes, chile mole tamales, and a wide range of burritos, tacos, tortas, and quesadillas. The restaurant has some patio seating as well. 852 Fulton Street, between Vanderbilt and Clinton Avenues

East Village: The East Village gets a new vegan Filipino restaurant this week with Saramsam, the latest project from prolific restaurateur Ravi DeRossi, who is planning for several other openings in the neighborhood this year. The restaurant, helmed by chef Raj Abat, will operate out of the old space of DeRossi’s former vegan Indian spot Night Music. 111 East 7th Street, between 1st Avenue and Avenue A

East Village: A new vegetarian burger restaurant opened its doors this week, one block from one of the city’s best vegetarian burger restaurants. Despite its proximity to Superiority Burger, Pop’s Eat-Rite is an entirely different animal, without serving any at all. The new restaurant from Endless Hospitality Group serves thin smash burger-style patties made from Impossible Meat and long sought-after Superiority Burger menu items — french fries, for one — as well as fast food staples like fountain drinks and milkshakes. 123 St Marks Place, near Avenue A

East Village: The lengthy menu at neighborhood newcomer Jose Luis spans Spanish and Italian cuisines, with five varieties of paella and more than a dozen pasta dishes on deck. If dining with a pod companion, consider one of the restaurant’s sharable small plates like its bruschetta pomodoro or patatas bravas. There’s a seating area in front of the restaurant, as well as a spacious backyard with several tables for outdoor eating. 186 Avenue B, between East 11th and East 12th Streets

Financial District: Brooklyn’s popular Thai Farm Kitchen has a new Manhattan outpost that has a large covered patio for outdoor dining. Expect more of the favorites including crab rangoon, papaya salad, and a host of curries. 21 Peck Slip, at Water Street

Park Slope: A vibrant array of steamed and pan-fried dumplings has arrived on Park Slope’s Fifth Avenue. As suggested by its name, Mr. Bao sells a few versions of the fluffy Chinese buns (starting at $2 each), though the star of the menu appears to be its selection of colorful dumplings. Close to a dozen varieties are available, including those filled with pan-fried beef, pork and celery, and meaty broth (starting at $1 each). 177 5th Ave. near Berkeley Place

Soho: The team behind splashy Chinatown subterranean restaurant Chinese Tuxedo has gone way of pan-Asian food at its vibrant, energetic sophomore effort, the Tyger. The restaurant has plenty of outdoor seating to choose from.

Upper East Side: Filipino food is in the spotlight at new entrant Bilao. Expect items like pancit palabok, the rice noodle dish served here topped with sliced boiled eggs; the peanut sauce stew kare-kare; and tapsilog, the beef breakfast dish served with an egg. The restaurant benefits from an outdoor seating area nestled under a sturdy-looking covering. 1437 First Avenue, store 1, between East 74th and 75th Streets

Van Nest: Iconic all-you-can-eat buffet chain Golden Corral opened its first New York City location in the Bronx this week. Takeout and outdoor dining are available to start, with delivery available in the coming weeks. 2375 E Tremont Avenue, near Purdy Street

Williamsburg: Mattituck, Long Island-based winery Hound’s Tree now has an NYC outpost, which serves as both a tasting room and a winery in its own right. In addition to its comprehensive list of New York and East Coast wines, the tasting room will also serve several small plate items including oysters, cheese, and charcuterie plates. 335 Bedford Ave., at South 3rd St.

September 9

Downtown Brooklyn: Fast-casual burger and fries restaurant Creamline opened a second location in Dekalb Market earlier this month. The restaurant was once Chelsea Market’s go-to dairy store, with refrigerated cases of milk and other dairy products available. Today the restaurant is better known for its burgers and fries, along with a “spectacular” chocolate milkshake. 445 Albee Square West, between Dekalb Avenue and Willoughby Street

East Flatbush: Brooklyn’s revered mini-chain of jerk chicken restaurants, Peppa’s, opened a new location in East Flatbush last week. The Nostrand Avenue restaurant is the latest from owner Gavin Hussey, who opened the first location of Peppa’s in Prospect Lefferts Gardens in 2004. Its small jerk chicken meal — truly, a full meal and then some — still costs $7 at the new location, Time Out reports. 1853 Nostrand Avenue, between Newkirk Avenue and Avenue D

Elmhurst: Chef Irwin Sánchez has set-up a walk-up taco counter in front of his recently closed restaurant Cevicheria El Rey. At the new project, called Tlaxcal Kitchen, Sánchez is serving tacos, pozole, and cemitas, the latter of which are made using bread baked in-house daily. Fish, al pastor, and cochinita pibil are all on the menu, as well, but don’t miss the tacos arabes, a Lebanese invention that consists of flour-wrapped pork that’s been fermented in chipotle. 85-16 Roosevelt Avenue, between Forley and Elbertson Streets

Greenpoint: All-day vegan cafe Brooklyn Whiskers has opened a third location at Magick City, a community center in Greenpoint. Cafe fare, housemade kombucha, and vegan ice cream from the Brooklyn-based Mom and Icepops are all served at the new curbside cafe. Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. 37 Box Street, near Manhattan Avenue

Greenpoint: A new neighborhood watering hole has opened on the corner of Nassau Avenue and Diamond Street. Minnows comes from hospitality industry veterans Cassie Barnard, Greg Nearhood, and Olive Cleary, the latter two of which also run the Honore Club in Bushwick. At the new spot, the focus is on cool drinks with prices that encourage lingering for a few rounds. Mixed drinks range from $9 to $10, while the bar’s food offerings — beef and vegan hot dogs — start at $4 and can be topped with a dozen condiments and vegetables. Open from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily. 167 Nassau Avenue, at Diamond Street

Hell’s Kitchen: Hit New York City ice cream parlor Oddfellows opened a new scoop shop in Gotham West Market at the end of July. The new location is open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily. 600 11th Avenue, between West 44th and West 45th

Jersey City: An online brigadeiro retailer finds a permanent home in Hamilton Park this week. At Klado House of Brigadeiros, the popular Brazilian dessert is reimagined as a chocolate truffle and paired with ingredients like matcha, cayenne pepper, and champagne. The tiny 50-square-foot storefront, previously home to an ATM machine, is the first storefront for Klado, which also sells its brigadeiros online. 232.5 Pavonia Avenue, between Erie Street and McWilliams Place

Lower East Side: Nora Allen is leading a flour awakening at Mel, a newly opened bakery that focuses on heritage grains. Over the last decade, Allen has baked in the kitchens at Roberta’s and the Standard hotel, where she learned that breads baked with house-milled flours simply taste better. During the pandemic, Mel has operated as a wholesale business but the bakery’s sourdough croissants, Polish-style bialys, and loaves of bread are now available for takeout on weekends, as well. Mel is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. 1 Ludlow Street, at Canal Street

Sunset Park: New York City’s first bar with outdoor pétanque courts has opened in Industry City. Dana Bunker and Aaron Weeks — co-owners of the newly opened Carreau Club — had planned to open a bar within Industry City until the coronavirus pandemic put gathering indoors on hold. In the meantime, they’re popping up along the Sunset Park waterfront with beer, wine, bottled cocktails, and sandwiches from Long Island City steakhouse M. Wells. Four courts are available for playing pétanque, a French lawn game similar to bocce, available by reservation for $20 per hour. The Carreau Club is open from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. 68 34th Street, Courtyard 5-6

September 2

Chelsea: Sush1, an international sushi chain with locations in Brazil and Mexico City has opened its first New York City location in Chelsea. The restaurant’s name is pronounced “sush one,” which is fitting, given that most of the rolls here can be purchased by the piece for $1 each. 555 Sixth Avenue, between West 15th and West 16th Streets

East Village: A second location of Harlem’s popular peanut- and nut-free bakeshop Baked Cravings opened on Saint Marks Place this week. In addition to cakes, cookies, and other baked goods, owner Craig Wilson is cooking “cupcakes in a jar,” one of the bakery’s specialties. Open from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily. 102 Saint Marks Place, between Avenue A and First Avenue

Lower East Side: There’s a new Caribbean restaurant bringing Dominican and Puerto Rican specialties to the Lower East Side. Km1, short for Kilometro Uno, focuses on food from the Greater Antilles islands, with comforting dishes like mofongo, yucca fries, and shrimp served out of a half-pineapple on deck. There are a few tables set-up in front of the restaurant, which can be reserved through OpenTable. 58 East First Street, between First and Second Avenues

East Village: Acclaimed chef Hemant Mathur is behind a new East Village restaurant specializing in Punjabi roadside cuisine. At Veeray da Dhaba, Mathur — the first Indian chef to be awarded a Michelin star — is working with restaurateur Sonny Solomon and former Kurry Qulture chef Binder Saini, both of which were born in Punjab. The new restaurant is intended to replicate the experience of Punjab’s roadside bistros, called dhabas, which serve as “truck stops, rest stops for travellers, and wallet friendly options for college students,” per the restaurant’s website. 222 First Avenue, between 13th and 14th Streets

Flushing: This tiny Korean counter-service spot opened in Flushing’s New Age Market last week with a menu that pays homage to everyday Korean cooking. BapBap is the first standalone project from Nate Kuester, a noted chef with experience working in some of the city’s top kitchens, including Cafe Boulud, the Cecil, and Aquavit. The new project, located inside of a grocery store, isn’t the vibey Manhattan restaurant that Kuester imagined for his first opening, but it is a way for the Seoul-born chef to continue to experiment with Korean home cooking. Don’t miss BapBap’s version of soboro, a Korean streusel bread filled with generous scoops of ube. Takeout and delivery only for now. 160-06 Northern Boulevard, inside the New Age Market

Gramercy Park: The team behind popular Koreatown skewers and bar food destination Osamil has opened a stylish new restaurant called Cafe Salmagundi. The Gramercy Park restaurant focuses on new American cuisine with a Korean twist. Think: pork belly confit and grilled branzino in a kimchi vinaigrette. The outdoor dining area can accommodate 40. 51 Irving Place, at the corner of East 17th Street

Jackson Heights: One of New York’s few Burmese restaurants opened its doors beneath Diversity Plaza in August. At Yun Café and Asian Mart, Yun Naing and her mother Thidar Kyaw are cooking up tea leaf salads, bowls of fresh seafood, beef tripe soup, and other Burmese specialties in a shop located in the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue subway station. Gothamist found the food to be “terrific” and “worth a special trip” on a recent visit. 73-05 37th Road, inside the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue subway station

Prospect Heights: A new counter-service restaurant selling poke recently opened its doors on Vanderbilt Avenue. Poke Tiky Bar serves the Hawaiian dish in bowls, with small, medium, and large sizes ranging in price from $11.50 to $15.50. 564 Vanderbilt Avenue, between Dean and Bergen Streets

Riverdale: Almost 30 years ago, chef Jorge Sanchez opened his first Taco Mix in Harlem, a hit taqueria that now boasts four locations city-wide. This summer, Sanchez opened a dressed-up, sit-down version of the hit restaurant, called Taco Mix FonteNova. Like the mini-chain of taquerias, FonteNova serves tacos al pastor, cemitas, and tortas, but chef Juan Gomez will also be preparing several Mexican seafood specialties, including ceviche and shrimp served in a smoky chipotle sauce. Outdoor seating is available at several tables out front and in the restaurant’s backyard. 216 West 242nd Street, near Broadway

Soho: Customers can sip rose water spritzes and espresso tonics under imported chandeliers at the new location of Felix Roasting Co., just as soon as indoor dining is allowed in New York City. For now, the coffee shop is serving elaborate coffee drinks — like s’mores lattes served out wine glasses — for takeout and at an outdoor seating area that can accommodate 25. 104 Greene Street, between Prince and Spring Streets

Upper East Side: The hype men behind Long Island City’s popular Secret Summer cocktail festival opened a new standalone project on the Upper East Side this week. Festivál is a “farm-to-bar” cocktail cafe, says general manager Tyler Hollinger, meaning that all of the garnishes, bitters, herbs, and sweeters here come from a local farm in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Frozen cocktails with slurpee-style domed lids and cold brew from Brooklyn’s revered Sey Coffee will also be available for takeout from a sidewalk window. A wrap-around outdoor seating area fits 40, with reservations available on Resy. 1155 Second Avenue, at East 61st Street

Williamsburg: One of the few bright spots for Brooklyn diners during the pandemic: the borough is now overflowing with cute, outdoor seating options for working (away from) home. Coffee cart Blank Street Coffee is the latest, with a spacious picnicky outdoor seating area made from astroturf, trees, umbrellas, and lots of lounge chairs. The roaming coffee cart serves Parlor Coffee and a daily selection of pastries. 225 Wythe Avenue, at North Third Street