A Taiwanese Pantry Shop Packed With Chile Crisp and Soy Sauce Ice Cream — and More Openings

More than two years 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 Lebanese spot Nabila’s, the Chinese-influenced Ye’s Apothecary bar, and Roberta’s Montauk.

Here’s a roundup of the restaurants and bars that opened in June. 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.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

June 30

Astoria: A syringe of their secret sauce gets smashed into the bun and injected into the burger at Astoria newcomer and comfort food haven, Junkie Burger. Round that out with loaded chili cheese tater tots and ice cream sundaes dripping with chocolate sauce. 25-30 Broadway, between 29th and Crescent streets

Bed-Stuy: Longtime neighborhood coffee shop Brown Butter, has expanded with its Brown Butter Creamery gelato shop, according to its Instagram. 375 Tompkins Avenue, at Putnam Avenue

Bed-Stuy: Owner Sarah Abramjuk tells Eater that her cafe Rita & Maria is now open. Beyond the regular espresso drinks, there’s tea, pickle platters, overnight oats, and sandwiches. 558 Halsey Street, near Stuyvesant Avenue

Bushwick: Staycationers may want to explore Vacations Bar which opened earlier this month, channeling tropical locales from the folks behind Midnights, Dolly’s Swing & Dive, Claudias & The Ditty. Look for leather stools, aquamarine tiles, and flamingo accents inside, while accordion windows look out to a 5,000-square-foot wraparound rooftop bar. Drinks range from shot-and-a-beer brews like Tecate or Coors Banquet to cocktails with guava, watermelon, or grapefruit juice. Snack on shrimp cocktail and smoked fish dip, or split a broccoli rabe hero, and a chicken pizza sandwich. 321 Starr Street, at Cypress Avenue

Coney Island: A New Jersey ice cream shop has landed in its namesake Coney Island, and in a spot that couldn’t be more iconic: right across the street from the Cyclone on the Surf Avenue strip. Coney Waffle serves up frosty decadence like strawberry donut ice cream and cookie dough ice cream cake. 825 Surf Avenue, near Shell Road

East Williamsburg: Grub Street has the scoop on Yun Hai, an online pantry shop focused on Taiwanese goods that just launched a physical location earlier this month. Inside Lisa Cheng Smith and Lillian Lin’s grocery features a whole wall of several chile crisps, pickled mustard greens, hard-to-find dried golden diamond pineapple, fermented black beans, and popcorn chicken powder. Additionally, the team has collaborated with nearby restaurant Win Son to create a caramelized soy sauce ice cream and pineapple cakes. 170 Montrose Avenue, near Graham Avenue

Flatiron: Fine dining pastry star Eunji Lee — an alum of the Michelin-starred Jungsik in Tribeca and Alain Ducasse’s Le Meurice in Paris — has branched out with her own dessert shop this week dubbed Lysée. The inventive menu ties together her Korean heritage with years of French training and love for American food culture. 44 East 21 Street, between Park Avenue South and Broadway

Flushing: A gentrifying Flushing welcomes Kaizen, a sleek new handroll omakase parlor that serves meticulously composed temaki like stone crab with miso sauce, lean tuna with tofu cream and chile crisp, and yuzu-accented barracuda. They’re the creations of chef Ben Chan, formerly of O Ya, Sushi Seki, and Kissaki, and currently served a la carte and as sets. The omakase option will launch later in July. 33-70 Farrington Street, between 35th and 33rd avenues

Financial District: Urbanspace Pearl — a 15,000-square-foot food hall, on the ground floor of a 29-story office building — is now open, with indoor and outdoor seating for around 300. Among 16 vendors, there’s Puerto Rican fare at Que Chevere, Grind coffee, Senshi Ramen, Taiwanese Bao by Kaya, Plant Junkie, and Top Hops Beer Shop. It’s the fifth NYC Urbanspace location — with a Union Square destination in the works — and additional locations in Chicago and Virginia’s Tyson’s Corner and more on the way. 100 Pearl Street, near Hanover Square

Hell’s Kitchen: Blog W42St reports that Don Cafe, a Colombian-centric coffee shop with an Upper West Side outpost, has teamed up with the Loyalty Foundation, focused on youth computer literacy, for a new hybrid location. 469 West 57th Street, between Ninth and 10th avenues

Lower East Side: A specialty sandwich shop debuts with sandwiches like chicken cutlet, smoked salmon and kimchi, as well as a frittata of the day, and grocery staples like fresh bread. Sacco is named after proprietor Vincent Caprio’s grandfather, who owned a butcher shop on the same block in 1900, reports EV Grieve. 328 East 11th Street, between First and Second avenues

NoMad: The lavish London-based trattoria, Cecconi’s, has found a home inside the Ned NoMad, formerly the NoMad Hotel. The flagship restaurant serves pasta, pizza baked in a wood-fired pizza oven, and raw bar fare. It only accepts walk-in diners and reservations from hotel guests and members of its private club called Ned’s Club, according to the New York Times. 1170 Broadway, near 28th Street

Tribeca: ZEatz, is now open, a kiosk that greets with diner-meets-Airstream vibes at Bogardus Plaza from the Zucker’s Bagels team. The menu starts with breakfast wraps, avocado toast, and lattes; followed by lunchtime pizza bagels, Pat LaFrieda-sourced sliders, hot dogs, and tater tots. There’s Blue Marble soft serve for dessert. 116 Reade Street, at West Broadway

Ridgewood: A new natural wine bar has debuted in Ridgewood called Ester, a representative tells Eater. The menu highlights salmon roe with creme fresh and potato chips, scallop crudo with jicama and fennel, and a husk cherry panna cotta. The spot comes from Ashley Newsome, a former Roman’s general manager, and Kermit Westergaard, a controversial real estate figure in the Ridgewood area. 467 Woodward Avenue, at Harman Street

Upper West Side: La Pecora Bianca has taken over the popular brunch destination, Isabella’s, in the Upper West Side with a makeover that includes wall sketches of the restaurant’s namesake sheep boarding the 72nd Street subway station. Standout items that are not served at the restaurant’s other five locations include the summer melon panzanella, spice-crusted tuna, and heritage pork Milanese, according to the New York Times. 359 Columbus Avenue near 77th Street

West Village: Brothers and Capri natives Alessandro and Mario Passante are behind Mr. Capri, a regional Italian newcomer that focuses on seaside Caprese fare. Whole orata fish is finished tableside, linguine is served with three different types of clams, and the restaurant is decorated with ceramics from Capri, according to the New York Times. 33 West Eighth Street, at MacDougal Street

June 23

Battery Park City: It’s located on the Hudson and faces New Jersey, but Mezze on the River, the latest downtown waterfront dining spot from the Merchants Hospitality group, draws on a Mediterranean theme. On two outdoor terraces, customers will find a seafood-leaning menu with raw bar options, grilled octopus, and of course, platters of mezze ideal for sharing. It opened on June 21, a restaurant representative confirmed. 375 South End Avenue, between Albany and Liberty Streets

Chelsea: Jeff Katz and Melissa Rodriguez, alums of the controversial Del Posto, have resurrected the former space with a complete overhaul to open their own take on Italian fine dining. Enter Al Coro. The duo have injected an element of fun to the staid atmosphere of so many Michelin star-fetching restaurants by installing a small stage above the bar for live music. Downstairs, a cocktail bar called Discolo is slated to open later this year. 85 10th Avenue, at West 16th Street

Midtown: The Thompson Central Park New York hotel’s newest cocktail bar Parker’s, an ode to jazz musician Charlie Parker, opened on June 6, a spokesperson confirmed. Jazz music fills a swanky atrium filled with hanging plants and walls lined with artwork, and the bar serves up traditional cocktails, some with a riff on famous songs like the Come Fly With Me (a heady mix of bourbon, sherry, and maple syrup). 119 West 56th Street, between Sixth and Seventh avenues

Rockefeller Center: Kitschy, Detroit-style Ace’s Perfect Pizza, which landed in Williamsburg earlier this year, has expanded to Midtown, a press representative confirmed. Unique to this location are meatball and chicken parm subs not served in Brooklyn. 30 Rockefeller Plaza

Upper East Side: Count ChickQueen as the latest spot for Korean fried chicken, the East Side Feed reports. Besides orders crispy, double-fried poultry, diners will find fried chicken sandwiches, bulgogi, and dumplings. 1405 Second Avenue, between East 73rd and 74th streets

Upper East Side: A second location of Casalote Latin Bistro is now open in the former home of Mexican restaurant Selena Rosa, the East Side Feed confirms. Classic bistro fare, such as steaks and crab cakes, are given a twist with Peruvian and Colombian ingredients. 1712 Second Avenue, between East 88th and 89th streets

Yorkville: A few years ago, Grub Street dubbed the margaritas from Calabrije’s Margaritas and Tacos among the city’s best. Now the Bushwick restaurant has opened a second location in Manhattan, East Side Feed reports, with the same crowd favorite menu. 1619 York Avenue, between East 85th and 86th streets

June 16

Bushwick: Farm to People, a grocery delivery service which sources from local purveyors, took off during the pandemic as more New Yorkers cooked at home. The company’s success has now helped launch its first restaurant, Farm to People Kitchen & Bar, where a simple menu includes crowd favorites like burgers, burrata, and hummus that sometimes incorporate surplus produce, Bushwick Daily reports. 1100 Flushing Avenue, near Varick Avenue

Chelsea: Eat Offbeat, which started as a catering and meal delivering business seven years ago, has expanded with a counter at Chelsea Market, the New York Times reports. A lunch menu features bowls with recipes from Syria, Sri Lanka, and Venezuela, among others. 75 Ninth Avenue, between 15th and 16th streets

Cobble Hill: A little over a year after opening a taproom in Williamsburg, Talea — a women- and veteran-owned brewery — has already expanded with a follow-up taproom in Cobble Hill, a representative tells Eater. In addition to its popular fruit-forward beers, there will be wines, ciders, and cocktails. 61 Bergen Street, near Smith Street

Lower East Side: This sprawling space with a brewery on-site is now home to Belse Plant Cuisine, a fine-dining vegan restaurant that opened this week, according to the establishment’s social media accounts. A meatless menu offers pastas, pizzas, “steaks,” and simply prepared vegetables that are also served from another location in Dallas. 265 Bowery, between Houston and Staton streets

Lower East Side: The restaurateur Ignacio Mattos has opened the first of his restaurants planned for Manhattan’s Nine Orchard Hotel, according to the New York Times. Corner Bar, a bistro, serves steak frites, chicken liver mousse, and other French fare, while Lobby Lounge will focus on snacks — Iberico ham, oysters, cheese — and cocktails. A 44-seat fine dining restaurant called Amado Grill is set to open beside Corner Bar in September. 9 Orchard Street, at Canal Street

Soho: Longtime restaurateur Pino Luongo has opened Coco Shack, a sun-dappled restaurant with a Mediterranean seafood theme, a press representative confirmed with Eater. An aquamarine blue-tinged dining room sets the stage for chef David Camara’s menu with seasonal dishes like soft-shell crab tempura and saffron gnocchi with mussels. 184 Prince Street, between Sullivan and Thompson streets

Sunset Park: A second location of Bay Ridge’s acclaimed Palestinian restaurant Ayat is now open near Industry City. The restaurant’s popular kebabs and mansaf will be served from the new address, joined by fasoulia (green beans cooked in a tomato stew with beef) and bamia (a similar preparation made using okra), according to owner Abdul Elenani. There are other changes, too: In Sunset Park, Ayat will now offer table service, reservations, and hookah at its outdoor tables. The expanded space has room for over 90 people between a rooftop, indoor dining, and sidewalk tables. 274 36th Street, near Third Avenue

Tribeca: Despite changes in chefs and front-of-house staffers through the years, wine always remained the focus of Racines NY before it shut down last year. Now, some of the partners — including the star sommelier Pascaline Lepeltier and general manager Jared David — have taken over the space and brought on chef Jonathan Karis to open Chambers. While wine will no doubt be a big draw for the restaurant, the overall focus is a more casual vibe with an emphasis on “home cooking,” according to the New York Times. 94 Chambers Street, between Broadway and Church Street

Williamsburg: Mug Ale House was open for nearly 30 years before it shuttered shortly before the pandemic. According to Greenpointers, the owners behind the East Village’s 11th St. Bar have reopened the favorite neighborhood watering hole. 125 Bedford Avenue, at North 10th Street

June 9

Astoria: A raw bar with oysters and ceviche, seared branzino with chimichurri, and filet mignon asada tacos are all on the menu at Mexican newcomer Citrico Cafe. The restaurant’s dining room is airy and bright to create a vibe that’s self-described as “where Tulum meets Astoria, Queens.” 32-90 36th Street, at 34th Avenue

Chinatown: According to owner Nick Poe, Time — a casual cafe that launched in spring of 2019 — has revamped its space to become a omakase sushi spot of the same name. Poe tells Eater that he’s partnered with the rapper Despot for the new venture. 105 Canal Street, at Forsyth Street

Crown Heights: Cornbread Farm-to-Soul, a fast casual soul food spot with two locations in New Jersey, has opened its first Brooklyn outpost, a representative shares. 409 Eastern Parkway, near Bedford Avenue

East Village: Ruben Rodriguez, the Spanish chef and restaurateur behind the Nai Restaurant Group, uses Galicia as the jumping-off point at Emilia by Nai, which officially opened this week according to a representative. The menu of small plates emphasize seafood and vegetables with a nod to Japanese ingredients and cooking techniques, such as shrimp croquettes dusted in a seaweed powder. 174 First Avenue, at East 11th Street

East Village: After closing in July 2020 due to economic issues related to the pandemic, Gaia Italian Cafe has risen again. The EV Grieve reports that Gaia Bagnasacco’s Gaia Italian Cafe, which had been open for a decade in downtown Manhattan, is back open for lunch in a new location. Dishes such as its signature meat lasagna, are offered alongside pantry items like olive oil, truffle polenta, and bottles of vinegars. Desserts like rainbow cookies are available as well. Weekend hours are to follow. 226 East Third Street, between avenues B and C

Financial District: Are hotel restaurants having a moment? It’s sure starting to look like it. The latest comes from restaurateur John Fraser, who’s opened a white tablecloth restaurant in the Wall Street Hotel intent on “modernizing” French fare, according to the New York Times. The menu at La Marchande includes coffee-crusted pork chop and blue crab in rice paper rolls. 88 Wall Street, at Pearl Street

Flushing: Famed international hot pot chain Shoo Loong Kan opened its first U.S. location on June 1, according to QNS.com. The Chengdu-based company has thousands of outposts all over the world, known for its Sichuan-style hot pot served with tripe, meatballs, and other meats. 133-36 37th Avenue, at Prince Street

Greenpoint: Dog-friendly coffee shop Clever Blend has added a North Brooklyn location, according to Greenpointers. 142 Nassau Avenue, between Newel Street and McGuinness Boulevard

Jamaica: While Staten Island still boasts NYC’s largest concentration of Sri Lankan restaurants, the opening of Queens Lanka is already becoming a destination for banana leaf-wrapped lamprais and other rice dishes served with curries. The space is also part grocery store, another way co-owners Rasika Wetthasinghe and Suchira Wijayarathne are hoping to reach a sizable Sri Lankan community in and around this part of Queens. 88-01 182nd Place, at Hillside Avenue

Midtown: The sprawling, nearly 500-seat dining room at Avra Estiatorio Rockefeller Center is the largest of three Avra restaurants in NYC, the New York Times reports. Diners here can order Greek and Mediterranean standards like simply prepared whole fish and mezze spreads in an opulent dining room with waterfalls and fountains. 1271 Avenue of the Americas, between Sixth and Seventh avenues

Nomad: A second NYC location for Anita Gelato has opened in Manhattan. The first shop opened in Israel and now has locations throughout the globe in cities like Sydney. A menu features some 150 flavors, with vegan options available as well. 1141 Broadway, near East 26th Street

Upper West Side: Black Lab Cafe, a restaurant with designated areas where customers’ pets can roam off-leash, opened on Amsterdam Avenue in April. There’s a small menu of coffee and pastries for humans, plus fancy bowls of dog chow for pups. 420 Amsterdam Avenue, at West 80th Street

Williamsburg: Spanish tapas bar La Mancha has landed in the neighborhood, serving up classic dishes like tortilla española, boquerones with white anchovies, and croquetas. Small and medium-sized vegetarian, seafood, and meat paellas are also available. 568 Metropolitan Avenue, near Lorimer Street

Park Slope: According to the New York Times, Brooklyn DOP is the latest slice shop to join Brooklyn’s pizza scene, with margherita, Sicilian, and white pies, alongside craft beer and wine. 237 Fifth Avenue, at Carroll Street

Midtown West: A ’70s-inspired restaurant called Peachy Keen opened this month in Manhattan, according a representative. There’s a cocktail named after A Clockwork Orange, reubens, smash burgers, and plenty of vibes all around. 321 West 44th Street, near Eighth Avenue

Midtown West: A representative for the Altamarea Group (behind Italian spots Morini and Marea) shares that 53 is now open: a glitzy, three-story pan-Asian restaurant in a Jean Nouvel-designed building next to the Museum of Modern Art. Nodding to its location, 53 has partnered with Friedrich Petzel Gallery, to showcase a rotating array of art work. 53 West 53rd Street, near Sixth Avenue

Lower East Side: The team behind Eastern European restaurant Tzarevna tells Eater they’ve converted the front of their Lower East Side spot to a new cocktail bar called Paper Planes. According to the website menu, Paper Planes offers drinks like a black currant cocktail with shiso and snacks such as pickles and duck rilletes. 154 Orchard Street, between Rivington and Stanton streets

West Village: Arthur and Sons, a new restaurant paying homage to red-sauce classics from a former Black Tap chef, is now open for business, according to the company’s Instagram post. 38 Eighth Avenue, near Jane Street

West Village: According to a representative, some Eleven Madison Park alums have joined forces at the Noortwyck, a restaurant that pulls from “global flavors” with dishes like scallop crudo with grapefruit, duck breast with apricot, and a lemon posset with rhubarb. 289 Bleecker Street, at Seventh Avenue

June 2

Astoria: A new Thai chicken spot called Chick It Out has flown into Queens, according to an Instagram post from the business. 32-06 35th Street, 34th Avenue

Chinatown: The Blue Willow team tells Eater that they’ve launched Ye’s Apothecary, a new bar with “Chinese herbal infused cocktails” and “classic Szechuan tapas,” such as skewers, tofu dishes, and dumplings. 119 Orchard Street, near Allen Street

Clinton Hill: Commune opened earlier this month as an espresso cart with Balthazar baked goods. The team tells Eater that the to-go cart, attached to a much larger space on Classon Avenue, has launched ahead of its full roll out as a wine bar and cafe later this year. Corner of Lexington Avenue and Classon Avenue

Cobble Hill: Court Street’s food scene is kicking up a notch with Nabila’s, a new Lebanese restaurant from a mother-son duo and first-time restaurant operators. The dinner menu lists beef kibbeh, malfouf, and rice hashwi with chicken. A lunch menu is in the works. 248 Court Street, at Kane Street

East Village: Birria LES now has a second outpost that joins NYC’s growing birria taco scene, according to EV Grieve. 34 St. Mark’s Place between Second and Third avenues

East Village: EV Grieve has the scoop on Hard to Explain, a new Japanese tea and coffee spot. The local publications shares that the new spot will soon also function as a sake bar in the back area, and that, due to limited seats, Hard to Explain is requesting interested patrons make a reservation via Instagram DMs. 224 East 10th Street, between First and Second avenues

East Village: EV Grieve reports that Luzzo’s La Pizza Napoletana, a pizzeria that first opened on First Avenue back in 2004, has relocated in the neighborhood. 15 Avenue B at East Second Street

Greenpoint: A cocktail bar operating under the name of Little Rascal opened on Franklin Street earlier this month, taking over a space that was mostly recently occupied by Magazine, an unpretentious neighborhood bar infused with New Orleans flair. The owners of the new spot run a Middle Eastern restaurant of the same name in Nolita, according to Greenpointers. 130 Franklin Street, near Milton Street

Montauk: NYC pizza favorite Roberta’s has officially opened its Montauk outpost ahead of the busy summer season, according to the company’s Instagram post. 240 Fort Pond Road, at Manor Road

Williamsburg: Natoora, a produce company supplying to some of the world’s top restaurants, expanded its reach with a cafe in South Williamsburg with pantry staples, produce, and sandwiches. 93 South Sixth Street, near Berry Street