This is the new Greenwich Village restaurant from the team behind Parm and Torrisi Italian Specialties — chefs Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi, and partner Jeff Zalaznick — that's inspired by the mid-century Italian-American restaurants of New York City. Except here, Zac Posen designed the waiters' tuxedos, Vito Schnabel curated the art, and the veal parm goes for $50. Some seem averse to the whole concept of the place, but most of those who've been in for dinner agree the execution is impressive.

The chef Wylie Dufresne, who has been pushing the envelope at his Lower East Side restaurant wd-50 for the past decade, branches out with Alder, in the East Village. This new restaurant eschews tasting menus in favor of an à la carte selection of items like rye pasta with pastrami, Caesar salad "nigiri," pigs in a blanket, and other Dufresne takes on dishes from the pub canon. The food complements an impressive beverage program from Kevin Denton. Jon Bignelli, a wd-50 vet, is executive chef.

The Michelin-starred restaurant specializing in Japan's traditional, vegan Shojin cuisine moves to a new location on the second floor of a Murray Hill townhouse. It's an upgrade from the previous location in an East Village basement, which could help the restaurant regain the Michelin star it lost this year.

Last month, Momofuku alum Tien Ho and West Village restaurateur Gabe Stulman joined forces to open this hip Chelsea bistro. At Montmartre, Tien is returning to the classic French cuisine that he cooked in his early days as a chef. The menu is a mix of bistro favorites, plus dishes that stray from the French tradition a bit. Chicken liver comes garnished with miso and scallions, the beef tartare is served with mustard gaufrettes, and the chicken a la Reine includes royal trumpet mushrooms and foie gras. Like all of Stulman's restaurants, Montmartre has a cool, inviting vibe.

Chef Hooni Kim's follow-up to Danji is a casual bar and restaurant offering a mix of modern and traditional Korean food. The menu includes things like a spicy octopus stir-fry, braised pig trotters with shrimp sauce, and a salmon sashimi salad with chojang. One section of the menu is devoted to skewers and fried chicken. The cocktail list features many Soju-based drinks, and the bar is stocked with over 40 wines and several Korean rice beers. After 10 p.m., Hanjan also serves ramyun (Japanese Ramen's Korean counterpart) made with a 12 hour stock.

Yann de Rochefort (Boqueria, Suba) recently opened this sprawling "Spanish brasserie" with acclaimed Spanish chef Dani Garcia. The menu features tapas-style "snacks," plus appetizers like a foie gras terrine with caramelized goat cheese, and entrees like suckling pig and monkfish with mussels. The entree list also has two steaks and a daily grilled fish special, both served with fries. The large bar area makes this an especially great place to grab a drink and try a few small plates.

The menu at Harold Dieterle's new West Village restaurant is inspired by the chef's German and Italian heritage. Dishes include grilled baby chicken with fried salami and Brussels sprouts, braised duck and pretzel dumpling soup, and a wagyu culotte steak. The space is stylish and comfortable, and co-owner Alicia Nosenzo created a wine list that includes over 300 selections, with a special focus on Germany, Austria, and Italy. The restaurant is home to a $26 mushroom dish that is a real treat for fungus fans -- it's a massive, whole maitake, with delicious crispy edges.

Le Philosophe is the new Bond Street French bistro from East Village restaurateur Amadeus Bogner and chef Matthew Aita, formerly of Jean Georges. The early responders love what Aita is doing in the kitchen. Most of the entrees are in the mid '20s, and the restaurant offers a three-course prix fixe during lunch for $24. (Photo)

Feast is the new East Village bakery/restaurant from Veritas alum Christopher Meenan and Savoy Bakery's Brian Ghaw. During the day, the restaurant offers coffee and pastries to go. At night, the menu includes greenmarket-driven American fare, and large-format meals. The vegetarian feast is $38 per person, and the meat meal is $48 per person. The space has a small bar up front, plus plenty of large tables in the back.