A Williamsburg Bar With Iranian Snacks and Saffron Cocktails — and More Openings

More than a year and a half into the coronavirus pandemic, restaurants across the city continue to open their doors, sometimes because their concepts could be adapted to the new normal, but more often because their owners saw no other choice but to forge ahead. Since March 16, 2020, when the state first temporarily closed indoor dining, hundreds of new restaurants have opened, including those that serve Hong Kong-style macaroni soup, West African fufu, and Baja-style tacos.

Here’s a round-up of the restaurants and bars that opened in October. 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.

The latest CDC guidance for vaccinated diners during the COVID-19 outbreak is here; dining out still carries risks for unvaccinated diners and workers. Please be aware of changing local rules, and check individual restaurant websites for any additional restrictions such as mask requirements. Find a local vaccination site here.

October 28

Bushwick: A new bar and nightlife venue has opened its doors near other popular spots to dance like Bossa Nova Civic Club. Rash comes from an art world trio: Becky Elmquist, Jake Sillen, and Claire Bendiner. On the weekdays, Rash will function as a jazz lounge, and on the weekends as more of a club environment. Drinks include the Gwyneth— a nod to actress and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow — with cucumber, pineapple, sea moss, and collagen. 941 Willoughby, near Myrtle Avenue

Downtown Brooklyn: The Dekalb Market — already home to spots like the Pierogi Boys and Kelewele — has gained a new kiosk. Oggies, from founder Jerry Brimeyer, will focus on handpies in sweet flavors such as mulberry, blueberry, and rhubarb, as well as savory versions with steak and mushrooms or pulled pork. 455 Albee Square, near Fulton Street

Financial District: A bar specializing in tapas and Spanish pinchos is the latest addition to Manhattan’s historic Stone Street. Bodega Gran Via serves aged jamon, patatas bravas, and manchego cheese from a small pub with mostly counter seating, “the way a tapas bar should be,” according to its Instagram page. 57 Stone Street, near Hanover Square

Flushing: The well-reviewed CheLi, which opened earlier in 2021 in the East Village, is already branching out to Queens. The new Flushing location will continue to expand what Shanghainese cuisine has to offer beyond soup dumplings here in New York. 33-42 39th Avenue, Suite 102, near Prince Street

Lower East Side: Joining the Lower East Side’s boisterous restaurant scene is Cafe Skye, a cafe and bar that opened its doors earlier this month. Owner Cameron Bean is going for something casual and upbeat with cocktails, natural wine ($10 to $15 a glass), and a menu of upscale bar bites that includes braised brisket sliders. 43 Clinton Street, near Stanton Street

Midtown: Two new food businesses have opened at the Park Lane hotel, near the south end of Central Park. Harry’s, a restaurant named for the hotel’s inaugural owner Harry Helmsley, serves caviar, champagne, and American fare from a second floor dining room. A bar called Rose Lane is set to open in the hotel’s lobby on November 8, according to the New York Times. 36 Central Park South, near Sixth Avenue

Midtown: Turn down the pedestrian passageway at 6 ½ Avenue to find Manhattan’s newest kaiseki omakase counter, called Kaiseki Room by Yamada. From this 20-seat restaurant, chef Isao Yamada (formerly of the three-Michelin-starred Kitcho Arashiyama in Japan) is serving an 11-course menu priced at $300 per person. 145 West 53rd Street, near 6 ½ Avenue

Park Slope: A new Italian spot called Crosta has opened in Park Slope with pizzas, gelato, and more. The star of the menu are the panuozzo sandwiches, made with dough in the style of how its done in Campania, Italy, and filled with ingredients like porchetta and salsa verde. Thirteen pizzas, served in adaptation of Neopolitan-style, are also available. Gelato flavors include black pepper cherry vanilla, among others. 486 Sixth Avenue, near 12th Street

Tribeca: A pricey, new omakase destination has landed in the city. For $400 at Icca, diners get a 20-course tasting menu from Michelin-starred chef Kazushige Suzuki. A rep tells Eater that the restaurant is sourcing its ingredients from the Japanese acclaimed Toyosu and Kyushu fish markets. 20 Warren Street, near Church Street

Upper East Side: Home Kitchen, a new uptown restaurant focused around comfort foods — such as stand-out chicken pot pie, French onion soup, and short ribs — has arrived in the neighborhood. Chef Paul Modica and his partner Peter Philis worked at Lexington Candy Shop during the pandemic; Philis’ family runs the storied luncheonette. 155 East 84th Street, between Lexington and Third avenues

Upper East Side: New York’s first-ever mochi dessert bar is already expanding with a second location. Mochidoki opens on the Upper East Side with a “mochi-shaped seating” arrangement, per a representative for the establishment. New to this location is its emphasis on tea and mochi pairings. 1035 Third Avenue, near East 62nd Street

Upper West Side: French bakery chain Maman continues its expansion tear this week with a new uptown location, its tenth in the city. 429 Amsterdam Avenue, between West 80th and 81st streets

West Village: Located just a few blocks from the Italian neighborhood spot L’Artusi comes a new wine bar. Fittingly dubbed B’Artusi, this new spot will focus on Italian wines and a menu overseen by L’Artusi chef Joe Vigorito. Expect dishes such as a sunchoke Caesar, a fennel tuna crudo, and Sicilian ice cream sandwiches. 520 Hudson Street at West 10th Street

West Village: Dating app Bumble is taking it IRL with a new restaurant from Delicious Hospitality Group’s Ryan Hardy, of Charlie Bird and Pasquale Jones. At Bumble Brew, there’s an adaptation of Hardy’s squid ink pasta from Charlie Bird, as well as other Italian-leaning dishes, and pastries from Pain D’Avignon. 98 Kenmare Street, at Mulberry Street

West Village: A Daniel alum, Ed Cotton, launches the kitchen at Jack and Charlie’s No. 118. Nodding to supper clubs of yore, the restaurant menu leans on oysters and handmade pastas, as well as meat served out of its wood-fired oven, for its core menu. 118 Greenwich Avenue at 13th Street

West Village: A new all-day cafe has risen. St. Jardim features omelets with mint, a broccoli Caesar, and an avocado toast with salsa macha. The cafe doubles as a specialty grocer with to-go offerings like Brazilian banana candy and Tom’s Juices. 183 West 10th Street, at West Fourth Street

Williamsburg: A rare Persian tapas bar has opened on Broadway. Masquerade debuted in the former Trophy Bar space, bringing along with it a menu that includes kookoo (an Iranian frittata-like dish with parsley, pomegranate molasses, and egg), tahchin (crispy basmati rice with saffron, yogurt, and pistachios), and meigoo (shrimp skewers with scallion and saffron) — with almost every dish under $10. Cocktails also pull from a Persian pantry of ingredients using tamarind, lavashak, saffron, and orange blossom, among others. 351 Broadway, at Keap Street

October 21

Bushwick: Modern Mexican Williamsburg spot Sobre Masa has expanded to Bushwick with Sobre Masa Tortilleria — the city’s first-ever tortilla factory to focus on heirloom grains. 52 Harrison Place, between Knickerbocker and Morgan avenues

East Village: A new Mexican spot has landed in the East Village. According to EV Grieve, Chichen Itzá may be related to shuttered Chichen Itzá Mexican Grill in Sunset Park. The menu lists chicken enchiladas, al pastor tacos, and carne asada among its offerings. 277 East 10th Street, between Avenue A and First Avenue

East Village: Tom’s Juice, a pop-up of freshly-squeezed juice largely targeting New York’s fashion set, has opened as a brick-and-mortar. Customers can still direct message the Instagram account to place an order for delivery. 75 East Fourth Street, between Second Avenue and Bowery

Flushing: Afternoon, the restaurant with several kiosks, with an eye for food trends like Korean corn dogs and mochi donuts, has expanded to Flushing. 136-95 Roosevelt Avenue, at Union Street

Gramercy: The team behind Colonia Verde has landed at the Freehand Hotel with a new restaurant called Comodo that takes over the former Simon & the Whale space. The Latin American-focused restaurant is a reincarnation of a MacDougal Street restaurant they opened back in 2012, now with an almost entirely new menu. 23 Lexington Avenue, at East 23rd Street

Hudson Yards: Despite shutterings at the ritzy Hudson Yards development, a Greek restaurant has risen in the area. Kyma is an expansion of a Flatiron restaurant that first opened in Roslyn, Long Island. 445 West 35th Street, at Dyer Avenue

Lower East Side: For New Yorkers not sick of speakeasies, there’s a new Italian wine bar to hunt down. Enter through a deli and find the entrance to One19 Wine Bar + Food. The kitchen, run by chef and co-owner Matt Rojas (an Eleven Madison Park alum), will include Italian dishes such as a burrata with smoked cherry tomatoes and a veggie panini. 119 Essex Street, at Rivington Street

Midtown: The Australian cafe scene in New York has a new player from Parched Hospitality, the team behind several locations of Hole in the Wall). Located inside of the Hotel Hendricks, Isla serves dishes like Manilla clams with ‘nduja and fennel as well as a beef tartare with harissa and a quail egg.

Midtown: The latest addition to midtown food hall the Hugh is PDA Slice Shop from a Roberta’s and Speedy Romeo alum. The pizzeria opened its first location, Public Display of Affection, in Park Slope right before the pandemic. 157 East 53rd Street, between Lexington and Third avenues

Midtown: The Sanctuary Hotel is getting another sushi den. Already home to a rooftop sushi bar dubbed Sushi Lab and the underground Sushi by Bou, now the hotel will open the Chemistry Room at Sushi Lab. The menu will cost $100 for a 13-course omakase from executive chef Frankie Chen. 132 West 47th Street, near Sixth Avenue

Nomad: The former chef of Midtown’s Betony, Bryce Shuman, pivoted during the pandemic to run a barbecue pop-up. Now he’s back to his fine dining roots at Sweetbriar, a live-fire cooking restaurant at the Park South Hotel. 127 East 27th Street, near Lexington Avenue

Williamsburg: A cafe that first opened in Windsor Terrace is expanding its reach to Williamsburg. Daytime will offer coffee, pastries (by the Good Batch and Bien Cuit), as well as its signature, customizable scrambled egg sandwich. 415 Graham Avenue, at Withers Street

Williamsburg: Guevara’s, a vegan cafe that opened in Clinton Hill during the pandemic, has expanded with an outpost inside of Mekelburg’s in Domino Park — bringing along with it, pastries, empanadas, and a fan-favorite eggplant milanesa. 319 Kent Avenue, at South Third Street

Williamsburg: Chef Alan Vargas, an alum of Masa, has opened his own spot. The Recette menu features escargot with garlic and edible flowers, a daily crudo, and fennel crabcake, among other seafood offerings. 103 Havemeyer Street, at Hope Street

October 14

Battery Park: A new Mediterranean spot has landed at the tip of Manhattan. Anassa Taverna — which has locations in Midtown and Astoria — is led by owners and cousins, Nick Tsoulos and Nick Pashalis. The Greek restaurant has a raw bar and menu options like a lobster spaghetti that is served inside of a whole lobster. 104 North End Avenue, at Murray Street

Bed-Stuy: The guys at Greenberg’s Bagels are now turning their attention to pizza. Taking over the storefront beside their bustling Bedford Avenue bagelry, Frankie & Vali’s is now open. In addition to New York-style pies (with toppings such as broccoli or sopressata), there are sandwiches — made with sesame flatbread — and salads on offer. Vegan pies are available as well. 1063 Bedford Avenue, near Lexington Avenue

Bushwick: Revamping the former site of the bar known as Jones Beach, Jade is a new Brooklyn nightlife contender — open until 4 a.m. — that’s located by a stretch of late-night spots near the Myrtle-Broadway stop. There’s bar seating and a small area for dancing in the back. 4 Stuyvesant Avenue, near Broadway

East Village: Wang and Lu Dong of Hunan Slurp are expanding their reach in the neighborhood with a new venue dubbed Dumpling Lab. The bi-level space features dishes such as a truffle shrimp toast, sashimi crudo, and — needless to say — dumplings. 214 East Ninth Street, near Stuyvesant Street

East Williamsburg: Bartenders Roxane Mollicchi, Darren Grenia, and Julian Mohamed no longer have to wander around town with their to-go cocktail pop-up: Wandering Barman. The trio have planted roots in East Williamsburg at their new spot where cocktails are on-tap. Keep an eye out for the bar’s $5 happy hour deal, for cocktails you’ll actually want to drink. 315 Meserole Street, near Bogart Street

Greenpoint: Plant-filled Mexican restaurant Fandi Mata has opened a separate space on its mezzanine level called Mezcaleria Bar. The North Brooklyn mezcal bar faces McCarren Park and has an extensive 35 options of the agave-based spirit to choose from. 74 Bayard Street, near Leonard Street

Greenpoint: Located in a former auto repair shop, Nura is a hot new restaurant from the team behind the sleeper hit Otis. In a menu led by chef Jackie Carnesi — an alum of Roberta’s — expect small plates like green chorizo kofta, radicchio with jicama and prickly pear with a cashew cream, and a selection of freshly-made breads and dips. 46 Norman Avenue, at Guernsey Street

Greenpoint: What began as a pop-up last winter at the now-shuttered Selamat Pagi has blossomed into a permanent restaurant at the site. The Buttery — from chef Tahiz Gonzalez (formerly of Eleven Madison Park and the Nomad) — offers tapas such as sunchoke bravas, chorizo fondue, and grilled oysters with corn and cotija, to go alongside an extensive beer and wine selection. 152 Driggs Avenue, near Russell Street

Hell’s Kitchen: A Flatiron vegan fast casual spot, NuLeaf, has opened a follow-up outpost in Hell’s Kitchen. Here, you’ll find a meatless Buffalo chicken, chicken Caesar, and BBQ bowls. 888 Eighth Avenue ,at West 52nd Street

Lower East Side: Salchipapa and rotisserie chicken are the way to go at Pollos L.E.S. The new, halal-friendly Peruvian restaurant is located near the Tenement Museum and joins the neighborhood’s ever-growing fast casual scene. 129 Allen Street, near Delancey Street

Manhattan West: Danny Meyer’s first new restaurant since opening Manhatta in FiDi has finally debuted in Manhattan. Ci Siamo, from Union Square Hospitality, is an Italian-leaning destination led by executive chef Hillary Sterling (formerly of Vic’s and A Voce), while lauded pastry chef Claudia Fleming makes a triumphant return handling the sweets side. 385 Ninth Avenue, near West 33rd Street

Noho: Manhattan’s first whiskey distillery since the Prohibition-era has flung open its doors. The sprawling Great Jones Distilling Co. also has its own in-house restaurant called the Grid. The kitchen is led by chef Adam Raksin, who incorporates alcohol into dishes throughout the full-service restaurant and bar — as is the case with his French onion soup with short ribs and Great Jones bourbon and a cornish hen brined with rye. 686 Broadway, near East Third Street

Park Slope: Line-inducing bakery Winner — known for its chicken dinner and rotating pop-ups — has a new sibling that’s already drawing crowds. After opening the bakery in the pandemic, Daniel Eddy has debuted a sit-down restaurant attachment named Runner Up that offers four-course meals with standout dishes such as cod croquettes. 367 Seventh Avenue, near 11th Street

Prospect Heights: A new coffee shop called Most High has landed on Washington Avenue. The menu features classic espresso drinks as well as some typical additions like a cafe con miel. Beyond beverages, the space also has a selection of retail goods, such as candles in the shape of Venus of Willendorf. 820 Washington Avenue, near St. John’s Place

Ridgewood: Selma’s, a speakeasy bar inside Evil Twin Brewing, only had a few days opening its doors before the pandemic hit. Now, owner and bartender Selma Slabiak is finally welcoming the public inside the 24-seat cocktail den. Be sure to take a photo inside of Selma’s Twin Peaks-themed bathroom. 1616 George Street, near Wyckoff Avenue

Tribeca: OneSeed is an offshoot of a restaurant that founder Nicki Hamilton first opened in Dallas, Texas, called Gather Kitchen. Now she hopes to take her flavors up north with a counter-service, fast-casual spot. Here, the vegetable-centric menu runs the gamut from Bolognese zoodles to cauliflower fried rice. 111 Murray Street, near West Street

Upper East Side: Celebrity magnet the Carlyle has revamped its restaurant inside the storied hotel. The kitchen at Dowling’s is headed by 21 Club alum and chef Sylvain Delpique. The decor of the dining room is as nostalgic as its menu, which features old-school dishes such as steak Diane as well as a flaming sundae. 35 East 76th Street, at Madison Avenue

Upper West Side: The front signs for La Caridad 78 — a beloved Chinese-Cuban restaurant in New York, of which there are few — still remain up, but a new restaurant has made the space its home. The New Cottage — a revival of Cottage, a spot that had been in the neighborhood since 1981 — has opened with mostly Szechuan dishes, as well as Cantonese options. 2199 Broadway, at West 78th Street

West Village: Chintan Pandya and Roni Mazumdar (Dhamaka and Adda) strike again in Manhattan, this time revamping their former restaurant Rahi into a new spot called Semma. The restaurant, led by chef Vijay Kumar, will focus exclusively on South Indian cuisine — nodding to Kumar’s roots in Tamil Nadu — with dishes like banana leaf-wrapped cod. 60 Greenwich Avenue, near Seventh Avenue South

West Village: Blackfoot Hospitality (behind spots such as Little Owl and Market Table) has a new restaurant in the mix. On the starter side of the menu, The Mary Lane has trumpet mushroom tartare as well as a pumpkin seed hummus appetizer. For mains, options like chicken cacciatore ravioli with broccoli rabe or a Spanish mackerel with a concord grape ponzu are on the roster. 99 Bank Street, near Greenwich Street

Williamsburg: A new, pink events space with a pan-Asian cafe has opened its doors. PinkFROG has beverages like yuzu or Thai tea, as well as bites like fried Taiwanese sausage, takoyaki with red bean paste, clam chowder, veggie tempura, and matcha ice cream sandwiches. 221 North Ninth Street, near Roebling Street

Williamsburg: Brooklyn’s Southwestern cuisine options are slowly growing. Santa Fe BK, from couple John Watterberg and Melissa Klein, quietly opened its doors with a limited day-time menu of breakfast burritos (sausage, potato, or bacon) wrapped in fresh tortillas, a lunch-time green-chile cheeseburger, and crispy french fries. An expanded, sit-down dinner menu is to come once the team is able to obtain a liquor license and pair entrees with various margaritas. 178 North 8th Street, near Bedford Avenue

October 7

Bushwick: A new DIY venue with a focus on rock music has opened in the neighborhood. In addition to being a place to catch a concert, Brooklyn Made also has an in-house, horseshoe-shaped cocktail bar named Connie’s, complete with a pool table to keep the fun going. A separate tapas bar at the site is to follow. 428 Troutman Street, between Wyckoff and St. Nicholas avenues

Chinatown: A new, Hong Kong-style comfort food spot called 喺呢度 has opened on bustling Bayard Street. The owners previously ran a similar venture at 388 Cafe and Deli (then located on Eldridge Street), which closed during the pandemic. The team’s new spot features dishes such as Spam and egg macaroni soup, with a breakfast special available from 7:30 to 11:00 a.m for $5.25. 43 Bayard Street, near Bowery

East Village: The ever-prolific Ravi DeRossi of Overthrow Hospitality (behind hotspots like Lady Bird and Cadence) has opened a bar with an extensive absinthe and champagne menu. Located above cocktail bar Amor y Amargo, also from DeRossi, Cafe de L’Enfer looks to Victorian-era Paris for its inspiration. (Yes, there’s even a gargoyle statue inside). Cocktails come served with kitschy glasses such as a skull goblet, while others are presented in perfume bottles. 95 Avenue A, at East Sixth Street

East Village: Manhattan has a new after-hours party spot contender. Dingaling, from the team behind the popular downtown bar Kind Regards, quietly opened its doors in March for private parties. Now, the bar is fully open to the public. The menu offers some unusual drinks, such as a daiquiri made with blended banana bread, and another with a mixture of chocolate, mint, and oat milk. On the snacks side of the menu, there are hot dogs with toppings like pineapple, kimchi, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, and more, as well as vegan nachos. 116 Avenue C, at Eighth Street

East Village: Danish coffee roasters are considered among the world’s best by coffee devotees, and New York City is home to the United States’ first. In addition to its stellar brews, La Cabra has a bakery run by a Bien Cuit alum, replete with cardamom buns and other pastries. 152 Second Avenue, near East 10th Street

East Williamsburg: A new coffee shop and events space from first-time business owners Emily Shum and Eva Zhou has arrived. At Land to Sea — a name that pays homage to the generational knowledge imparted to the owners from growing up in their respective parents’ restaurants — standard espresso drinks are available alongside specialty drinks like Hong Kong milk tea, a ginger latte, and a salted plum soda. The cafe menu features kaya toast, as well as ham and cheese bolo baos (with buns sourced from Chinatown’s Double Crispy Bakery). The owners intend to highlight makers of color through a retail area where Chili Cheeks chili crisp and Jamie’s Farm granola — among other pantry selections — are sold. 402 Graham Avenue, near Jackson Street

Lower East Side: The Market Line, the subterranean food hall below the Essex Street Market, has gained a new vendor. Salon Sucré is a French patisserie from pastry chef Simon Herfray. The dessert spot will have seasonally-changing options, but currently on the menu are macarons, bonbons, croissants, a pumpkin tart, and apple cheesecake. 115 Delancey Street, at Essex Street

Midtown East: A sprawling, new food hall stretching the entire block of East 53rd Street joins the ever-growing lunch scene in Midtown East. The Hugh, named after the building’s architect Hugh Stubbins, will highlight 17 different kiosks, several with some serious weight to them. Outposts include crowd favorites like Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery, Greenpoint Fish and Lobster, Mokbar, and Teranga. 157 East 53rd Street, between Lexington and Third avenues

Midtown East: A second location for the Baja-style Mexican spot Summer Salt has risen in Manhattan. The first location opened its doors in 2019, not too far from the new Madison Avenue spot. The outposts both stem from Danny Lyu, the founder of Cemitas El Tigre, a popular Queens taco and burritos spot. 275 Madison Avenue, between 39th and 40th streets

Park Slope: Harlem Shake is expanding beyond its namesake neighborhood. A follow-up to the popular burgers and shake spot, named after the viral dance, has opened in Park Slope. Particular to this location, you’ll find some Brooklyn-focused collaborations that make an appearance, such as frosé from Island Pops, a Crown Heights dessert spot that highlights Caribbean flavors, as well as the the Kings County-based hot sauce brand, Spank ‘N Hot. 119 Fifth Avenue, at Sterling Place

West Village: Hot off the success of her pandemic pop-up, chef Hong Thaimee has gone full brick-and-mortar. Thaimee Love gives the chef the platform to show off her signature Thai cooking, with family-style a la carte dishes such as Chiang Mai fries. There’s also a $180 tasting menu for two available. 116 West Houston Street, near Sullivan Street

Williamsburg: A coffee shop with prior locations in Buenos Aires and Miami has landed in Brooklyn. Taking over the space from a former seafood shack Rosarito, Alex Coffee Roasters retains the nautical theme as well as a cozy fireplace. The cafe is dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your pooch along for your caffeine kick. 168 Wythe Avenue, near North 7th Street

Williamsburg: Nami Nori, the critically-acclaimed hand roll spot that first opened in the West Village, is expanding its reach near McCarren Park. The Williamsburg follow-up has two temaki counters and a few new dishes distinct from its Manhattan sibling, including a temaki with cauliflower and one with cream cheese, smoked salmon, and caviar. 236 North 12th Street, between Driggs Avenue and Roebling Street