This year was epic for restaurants in New York City – so many just knocked it out of the park. Whether it was the food, the design, the vibe, the service, or all of the above, New York City restaurants have never been better. These were the places with the most memorable new plates this year.
The Restaurant: The Corner Store
The Location: SoHo
The Cuisine: Upscale American
Take our word for it: Unless you’re Taylor Swift or Blake Lively, a reservation is almost impossible to come by. Catch Hospitality ruled the early aughts of nightlife in NYC so naturally, combining your late-night cravings and childhood favorites was their next move. They’ve made it happen at The Corner Store, serving five-cheese pizza rolls with an elevated adult spin. Why choose if it’s a Lobster Frites or Spinach Artichoke Dip kind of night when you can have both?
The Restaurant: Crazy Pizza
The Location: SoHo
The Cuisine: Modern Italian
You may think that it sounds crazy to choose a place called Crazy Pizza as one of your newest favorites in the NYC restaurant scene. But they have everything that matters — they put on a show, and quality is at the forefront of each dish. We should mention that supermodel Heidi Klum opened the restaurant with Italian restaurateur Flavio Briatore, aka Klum’s baby daddy.
Watching the pizza dough spin in the air will make you feel like you’ve made it to Italy without the jet lag. Meanwhile, the untraditional pies’ thin crust satiates without the lingering symptoms of a food coma. Trust us on this one, and get the truffle pizza.
The Restaurant: Le Veau d’Or
The Location: Upper East Side
The Cuisine: Classic French
The guys from Frenchette started as colleagues at restaurants like Balthazar and Minetta Tavern before pursuing their own ventures. The friends went from downtown cool to crushing uptown elegance. Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr elevated the almost century-old Le Veau d’Or with their expertise, and now the business once deemed forever doomed gets fully booked months in advance.
The Restaurant: Penny
The Location: East Village
The Cuisine: Seafood Counter
It’s a bold claim to promise something is the best, but Penny makes it easy to say. So listen up because Penny has the best seafood in NYC. From its opening days until now, Penny has stood as a front-runner romping its way up to — dare we say — a city staple. And yes, a raw bar can change your life.
The Restaurant: Sendo
The Location: Korea Town
The Cuisine: Sushi
Sendo is the sushi spot crafting sushi sets like no other. We wondered two things when venturing into the unassuming, almost hidden-away spot: 1) Is this legal? and 2) Did we miss a couple of zeros on the bill because the discrepancy between the price and quality is undeniable. If you’re always on the hunt for hidden gems, Sendo will satisfy the adventurer in you and have you checking the accuracy of your location multiple times before even stepping foot inside.
The Restaurant: Bungalow
The Location: East Village
The Cuisine: Upscale Indian
Apparently, Martha Stewart does know best because her Bungalow recommendation did not disappoint. Elegance is at the forefront; whether it’s the flowery touches, posh guests, or the colorful dinnerware, everything is done in good taste. Speaking of good taste, Indian celebrity Chef Vikas Khanna has worked in Michelin spaces, and while Bungalow isn’t Michelin yet, it’s well on its way.
The Restaurant: Quique Crudo
The Location: West Village
The Cuisine: Mexican Seafood
We still dream about the lobster at Quique Crudo; even the subway-tiled walls fail to distract from how tasty the food is. Sometimes, no atmosphere equals a great atmosphere. The quiet confidence of a no-frills joint that lets the food do the talking will always win when your main goal is to eat something spectacular. The kitchen prepares the almost Michelin-quality crudo and all your Mexican favorites right in front of you.
The Restaurant: San Sabino
The Location: West Village
The Cuisine: Italian-American
A round of applause for Don Angie because they’ve done it again with their new sister restaurant San Sabino. It’s Italian at its creative best. Their Shrimp Parm still has us wondering if we consumed chicken or shrimp smothered in heavenly Sweet & Sour Arrabbiata sauce, but it doesn’t matter because it’s damn good. Their pasta dishes are also the comfort meal you didn’t know you needed for the upcoming winter season.
FAQs
Q: Do I need to make a reservation to eat at Quique Crudo?
A: No, Quique Crudo is a walk-in-only restaurant.
Q: What are Bungalow’s hours?
A: Sunday to Wednesday, Bungalow is open from 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and extends to 11:00 p.m. from Thursday to Saturday. They are closed on Mondays.
Q: Does Sendo offer takeout?
A: Yes, Sendo offers Nigiri sets, Maki Rolls, and al la carte Nigiri.
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