After 21 years of working under the late Joël Robuchon, chef Alain Verzeroli is putting his own spin onto fine dining at Le Jardinier in Midtown East. It’s a touch more casual than the tasting menus that made his former mentor famous, with more attention to vegetables and light seasonal cooking. The menu will change, but options may include a poached white asparagus with a blood orange reduction, chicken with ramps, or a burrata, tomato, and stone fruit dish that’s laid out like abstract art. Desserts and breads are lighter too, and the wine list includes traditional Old World ones and newer, biodynamic ones. A more formal French-Japanese restaurant called Shun is now open in the space, too.

Yes, a mall has managed to produce some of the hottest restaurants in NYC right now. Though most of them are not worth going to, it does have some gems: There’s David Chang’s Korean-ish Kawi, located on the fifth floor with kimbap, rice cakes, and stews from chef Jo Park. José Andrés’s streetside Spanish food hall Mercado Little Spain, with various counters for traditional Spanish fare from paella and patatas bravas to churros and charcuterie, has lots of vendors that are open. And for a chill hangout with affordable Greek wines and snacks, the Milos Wine Bar is the place to go — though best advice is to avoid its pricey upstairs sibling.

Disclosure: David Chang is producing shows for Hulu in partnership with Vox Media Studios, part of Eater’s parent company, Vox Media. No Eater staff member is involved in the production of those shows, and this does not impact coverage on Eater.

Midtown’s Arlo Nomad hotel restaurant is now Lamalo, a Middle Eastern restaurant from Breads Bakery owner Gadi Peleg. Meals start with mezze-style dishes, where a spread of dips and salads accompany an oblong flatbread called Jerusalem laffa. Bigger options such as a grilled whole fish and slow-roasted short rib on the bone are available at dinner, and per the casual vibe, the drink menu includes big cocktails meant for sharing, like a $55 one with Arak, grapefruit, lemon, and mint one intended for five people. The culinary team is led by Ofir Horesh, a chef who previously worked at Peleg’s stand-out Middle Eastern restaurant Nur. Lamalo is also open for breakfast, with lunch to come.

One of the most important restaurants this century is back in action, still with the same signature Keith McNally golden lighting but with the addition of Stephen Starr on the team. The new Pastis — which helped turn the Meatpacking District into a celebrity-packed dining destination — is also more spacious, but it maintains a familiar menu of French brasserie fare, including charred steaks, fries, onion soups, and a special of the day. Waits at dinner have been wild, but getting a seat at the bar, where the full menu is served, is a little easier. It’s also open for breakfast and lunch, when primetime reservations are far easier to come by.

Italian restaurants open a lot in New York, but Rezdôra — from chef Stefano Secchi, an alum of three-Michelin-starred Osteria Francescana — offers a selection of specialties from the country that are lesser found in New York. Pastas and vegetable dishes come from Emilia-Romagna, and a $75-per-person pasta tasting, an a la carte menu, and cocktails are available. Early stand-outs include a gnocco fritto (fritters with charcuterie on top) and both a beef ragu and a duck ragu pasta. Though Secchi has a fine dining background, this Flatiron restaurant is supposed to be fairly casual. Go for one of the Italian wines.

Catering whiz Yen Ngo debuts this modern Vietnamese restaurant in the East Village, with food from Gramercy Tavern alum chef Hannah Wong that spotlights the cuisines of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Hue, and Hanoi. Early standout dishes at Van Da include lemongrass beef tartare and a pho short rib grilled cheese, served in the downstairs 30-seat dining room. At street level is a lounge with cocktails that employ Vietnamese ingredients like lemongrass, kumquat, and tamarind.

Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s son Cedric Vongerichten has struck out with his wife Ochi at Wayan, a promising Indonesian-French restaurant in Nolita. The food is inspired by the couple’s connection to Indonesia, where Ochi is from, with dishes served family-style, pulling flavors from the Asian country while using French cooking techniques. Recommended dishes in the Vong-like space include satays, sambal-laced shrimp, and pandan custard for dessert.

Sleek Lower East Side Thai restaurant Wayla comes from Erika Chou and Tom Naumsuwan, a chef who created the menu based on his time working with Bangkok street vendors. Dishes could include sen chan pad lobster (lobster stir-fried noodles), larb play tod (fried whole-branzino), and a rotating curry dish. Drinks are from Anthony Bakery, who comes from cocktail powerhouses the Pool and the Aviary, and employ traditionally Thai ingredients. A Land of Smiles includes Thai chili, tamarind, cucumber, lemon sea salt, and tequila. Wayla also has a lovely backyard and is now open for brunch.

Empire builder Jean-Georges Vongerichten has opened his first seafood restaurant at the historic South Street Seaport, a waterside restaurant called the Fulton. With more than 100 seats and an outdoor patio, the two-level restaurant focuses on the vista outside — a clear view of the East River and the Brooklyn Bridge. Food-wise, Vongerichten pays homage to the former Fulton Fish Market. Salmon crusted with spices, fish and chips, and snapper ceviche are among the seafood options, though non-seafood crowdpleasers like a cheeseburger are also available. With warm weather, a seat outside will be prime.