The 18 Best NYC Restaurants To Visit In 2023
There is no question that New York City is well-known around the world as a culinary center. The City That Never Sleeps is a true melting pot, with just about every cuisine imaginable able to be found somewhere within its limits. With countless new restaurants popping up every day all across the city, sometimes it's hard to know what's worth the trip (and in some cases, the massive waitlist). While it may feel like 2023 is just beginning, New York City has already experienced a variety of worthy new culinary openings.
Whether you're looking for exclusive seasonal sushi picks, a classic old-school Italian restaurant, or incredible vegan alternative dishes, there's a new restaurant in New York City serving up what you're looking for. To make the process easier for your next dinner date or night out with friends, we've compiled the city's hottest new openings this year that you won't want to miss.
Moono
Moono, the elevated Korean eatery in Koreatown, is brimming with elegant sophistication. The high ceilings give the restaurant an air of grandeur and the aesthetic detailing of the old-fashioned wood and marble bar diners pass by en route to their tables makes the dining experience all the more majestic. The restaurant is chef Hoyoung Kim's newest culinary venture after celebrating success at Jua in the Flatiron District, which has one Michelin star for its upscale tasting menu.
Moono arrives with an a la carte menu featuring dry-aged branzino, mung bean pancakes, spicy fried chicken, and Pyongyang cold noodles. The menu is divided into categories with many of the dishes lending themselves well to sharing, which allows you to sample seafood, hot pot, noodles, and sotbap. On the beverage side, the restaurant boasts a strong variety of Korean spirits including sojus and chunjus, as well as specialty cocktails with flavor profiles that complement the dishes.
Unlike Jua, which is known for Western twists on Korean delicacies, Moono focuses on expertly rendering under-represented Korean dishes for its Manhattan audience.
Roscioli
One of the glories of the New York City food scene is its diversity and commitment to rendering authentic international dishes in New York. Hailing from the mega-popular Roman institution Rosciloi opened a location in NYC, the first outpost of the beloved restaurant outside of Italy. Rosciloi brings the essence of the Italian culinary experience to SoHo with two dining options: an upstairs a la carte space, which is opening in August, where diners can enjoy specialty products sourced directly from Italy, as well as an elegant sit-down experience downstairs to enjoy the prix fixe tasting menu and wine pairings.
While everything at Roscioli is top-notch, specifically the creamy burrata and the Panzanella salad, the highlight of the meal for us is the pasta, which is made with the highest quality ingredients including imported Italian olive oil, aged cheeses, and preserved tomatoes. Some standout pasta dishes include the carbonara and the cacio e pepe.
Come to Rosciloi for a taste of Rome in a homey environment with bricks lining the walls and a curated wine cellar with over 2,500 bottles, according to Eater. The space feels at once perfect for the New York City culinary scene and a strong homage to its roots in the eternal city.
Chang Lai Fishballs & Noodles
New York City has a storied history with food carts. Many beloved restauranteurs began serving specialty food to their communities as street vendors, including the chefs behind Mexicue, which combines traditional Mexican flavors with Southern barbecue, and Halal Guys, whose platters of chicken and rice are a culinary staple in NYC. Chang Lai Fishballs & Noodles is the latest restaurant to follow this trajectory by taking its celebrated Cantonese street cart and transforming it into a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Chinatown.
At Chang Lai Fishballs & Noodles you can enjoy all of your favorites from the food cart that operated in the area for more than seven years. Menu highlights include rice rolls with curry fishballs and a variety of Hong Kong-style noodles with your choice of oyster sauce fish balls, pork skin and radish, curry fish balls, and beef tripe and spleen radish.
The casual eatery is the labor of love of its founders, husband-and-wife team Lai Sheng Zhang and Li Qing Wu who immigrated to New York from the Guangdong province of China. Service is warm and friendly with a dedicated following of customers from Chang Lai Fishballs & Noodles' years as a culinary fixture in the neighborhood. The food is still served in plastic containers making it perfect for takeout or eating on the go. The rice rolls are the real standout here with flavor offerings of pork, beef, shrimp, and sweet corn chicken.
Bad Roman
This brand-new Italian spot in Colombus Circle, Bad Roman, has taken the city by storm. The luxurious interior and creative modern takes on classic Italian flavors have diners filling the restaurant's reservations nonstop. If you can manage to get a table here, you'll be among the privileged few to enjoy the restaurant's most talked about dishes like black truffle honey whipped ricotta, roasted garlic babka, 'roni cups with ranch, Osetra caviar gnocchi served with crème fraîche and chives, ravioli-topped filet mignon, and more.
Brought to you by the team behind one-Michelin-star West Village Italian restaurant Don Angie, it's clear the team knows a thing or two about elevated Italian fare. With great ambiance, fun food, and creative cocktails, you can't go wrong with a night at Bad Roman (if you can snag a reservation).
Principe
Soho seafood hotspot Principe is serving up fresh seafood with flair. From an extensive raw bar to main dishes like lobster risotto, you don't want to miss out on the best flavors the ocean has to offer. Italian influences and an elegant, upscale interior make Principe the place to be. Diners can enjoy everything from typical seafood like clams and shrimp to slightly more exotic choices like sea urchins.
In an ode to the restaurant's Italian influences, the menu boasts a pasta section filled with delicious options like clam bucatini with black pepper and egg yolk and rock shrimp mafaldine with sugo biano. Add in fun drink options like unique takes on traditional Italian spritzes and an extensive Italian wine list, and you have a dinner spot you won't forget.
Anixi
Those with dietary restrictions rejoice! Anixi is here to save the day. This Mediterranean restaurant in Chelsea is both vegan and kosher, with an extensive list of gluten-free options as well. From salmon and tuna to chicken and beef, Anixi has vegan replacements for just about every non-vegan Mediterranean element you can think of. Everything from whipped "ricotta" dip to grilled chick'n shish kabobs still captures authentic Mediterranean flavors with a vegan, kosher, and gluten-free twist.
To perfectly pair drinks that will round out your meal, Anixi offers unique options like housemade sodas, creative cocktails, and a diverse wine list with a kosher section. The restaurant's chef, Guy Vaknin, is a world-renowned vegan chef who is no stranger to creative vegan options, having created the Beyond Sushi vegan sushi brand together with his wife Tali. The next time you're looking for a vegan, kosher, or gluten-free meal that won't feel like you're missing anything, head to Anixi.
Petite Patate
This traditional French bistro is new to Prospect Heights from acclaimed chef Greg Baxtrom, who city diners may already know as the chef behind a number of other hot restaurants in the city, including Olmsted, Patti Ann's, and Five Acres. With a name meaning "small potato," Petite Patate is named after Baxtrom's dog, Spud, giving the restaurant a lighthearted, welcoming vibe. The menu keeps true to the French bistro theme with hearty French dishes like burger au poivre, duck coq au vin, and steak frites.
The menu is perfectly rounded out with a meticulously curated French wine list, perfect for pairing with the traditional French dishes. This replaces Baxtrom's previous restaurant Maison Yaki, which was located in the same space and offered French-Japanese fusion cuisine. You won't want to miss out on the location's re-vamp.
The Office of Mr. Moto
This unique sushi spot focuses on highlighting the rich history of Japanese culinary practices. The restaurant is named after Mr. Moto, who traveled from the U.S. to Japan in 1853 on the USS Susquehanna and recorded his culinary findings there. Rather than a typical American menu where guests can pick and choose on their own, the restaurant instead offers a unique 21-course experience where guests are served special seasonal picks from the chefs.
The restaurant's highly-trained sushi chefs, called itamae, begin the tasting experience with a selection of appetizers. This is followed by a savory Chawanmushi egg custard. Guests are then offered 16 pieces of nigiri that reflect both traditional and modern interpretations of Edomae sushi. Finally, guests are offered a hand roll, soup, and dessert to finish up the meal. While reservations fill up quickly and require a $100 deposit per person, the experience is well worth it for serious sushi fans.
Steak Frites Bistro
Bringing traditional French bistro fare to Hell's Kitchen, Steak Frites Bistro offers diners an authentic French menu and decor to match. As the name implies, the highlight of the restaurant is its steak frites dish, which comes in two different iterations: a 9-ounce hanger steak and a 16-ounce dry-aged New York strip steak. However, this is far from the only notable dish on the menu. Other French favorites like a cheese plate, escargot, roast chicken, and cheesy gnocchi with mushrooms round out the rest of the dinner menu.
The bistro is also open for weekday lunch and weekend brunch, with unique sandwiches like duck confit on brioche on the lunch menu and eggs benedict, omelets, and other fun French breakfast options added for the brunch menu. The restaurant's sommelier Alexis Percival adds a special touch with a carefully curated wine list, heavily focused on natural French wines.
Duomo 51
For upscale Italian cuisine near Rockefeller Center, look no further than Duomo 51. The restaurant has options for every time of day, serving breakfast every day and lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Duomo 51 serves a wide variety of Italian favorites, including antipasto, salad, and soup to start, as well as an extensive list of pasta, seafood, and meat for main dishes.
Rich chocolate cake, creamy cheesecake, and a variety of other dessert options give your meal a sweet finish. And no Italian dinner would be complete without a selection from the restaurant's global wine list, with diverse options available by the glass or by the bottle. During the warmer months, the restaurant will utilize a stunning terrace, offering diners fresh air and views of the bustling city below.
Carriage House NYC
This upscale American eatery provides diners with a special menu style, where dishes are broken up into "small," "medium," and "large" categories rather than traditional divisions like "appetizers" and "main dishes." This creates a unique atmosphere where diners can dig into anything from "small" berry toast with chicken liver pate for $16, to "large" wagyu skirt steak, which is priced at $86. In between are a variety of pasta, salads, seafood, and meats for diners of all preferences to enjoy.
Perhaps the most unique element, however, is not an item on the menu at all, but rather the way the restaurant's complimentary bread and butter are served at the beginning of the meal. Rather than your typical butter blocks, Carriage House serves up butter in the form of a candle that is lit, causing it to melt and drip down — perfect for dipping your bread.
Bar Mario
Bar Mario, a new Italian spot in Red Hook, Brooklyn is a casual eatery, filled with locals enjoying the delicious pasta, salads, drinks, and desserts on offer. While the restaurant may be brand new, it has already become a neighborhood fixture. The restaurant gets its name from a fictional place mentioned by famous Italian musician Luciano Ligabue in his songs, a favorite of the owners Alessandro Bandini and Moreno Cerutti.
The pair are both from Italy — Florence and Turin, respectively — and have now brought the flavors of their heritage to Red Hook. Popular dishes include the "Spaghetti Hangover," which contains just about everything salty and delicious you can think of, including anchovies, garlic, and cheese; creamy, cheesy gnocchi Castelmagno e nocciole; and the absolutely massive Mario's Caesar salad.
Velma
This classic red sauce joint may be new on the block, but it offers all the old-school Italian-American charm you could hope for. Located in Ridgewood, Queens, Velma is serving up pizza, pasta, chicken Parmigiana, and more classic Italian-American dishes for diners to enjoy.
The restaurant takes pride in its homey, familial atmosphere. This is made clear by its eclectic decor, which includes a wall of family photos in mismatched frames as a main fixture of the restaurant. Paulina Grigonis and J.R. Savage, the couple who own the restaurant, drive home the family feeling. This is not the couple's first venture together; the pair also run the successful Mexican restaurant Gordo's Cantina located in Bushwick, Brooklyn and so far, they seem to be met with success yet again at Velma.
Lula Mae
Named after owner Mark Roof's grandmother, Lula Mae was originally conceived as an homage to her Southern cooking. However, as the idea continued to evolve, it eventually came to involve Chef Dan San, who now brings Southeast Asian inspiration to the table with a menu of sophisticated small bites.
From sweet petite oysters to fried tofu to Sambal crab fried rice, San has created a delicious menu that perfectly complements the restaurant's specialty cocktails and extensive wine list. For San, the dishes channel family inspiration as well, as he thinks back to the flavors he experienced with his Cambodian grandmother. Located in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, Lula Mae may be more wine bar than restaurant, but you definitely won't want to miss out on the delicious bites on offer.
Garnacha Bite
If you're looking for a casual, unfussy spot to easily grab Tex-Mex favorites in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Garnacha Bite is the place to be. Garnacha Bite offers enchiladas, burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, and more for diners to enjoy.
Highlights include their signature Azteca nacho options, including Macho Nachos, made with Mucho melted cheese blend, olives, scallions, pinto, and black beans, topped with pico, sour cream, and guacamole; Gringo Nachos, made with Mucho melted cheese blend over grilled chicken and corn, topped with salsa, pico de Gallo, black olives, scallions, sour cream, and guacamole; Supreme Nachos, made with Mucho melted cheese blend, refried beans, sour cream, and guacamole; and more. Garnacha Bite also offers a special kid's menu, as well as homemade Mexican drinks —including Horchata, Jamaica (Hibiscus Cold Tea), and Tamarindo — desserts like churros, tres leches, fried sweet plantains, and more.
Rosette
New to Brooklyn Winery comes seasonal modern American restaurant Rosette. Located on the border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint, the menu includes sharable favorites, including grilled oysters, fluke ceviche, porcini and guanciale croquettes, and more. The menu also highlights snack boards, with a variety of options for cheese, fruits, vegetables, and charcuterie. A notable inclusion is the "chef's whim" board option, for which the chef decides what to include on the board at the moment that it is ordered so that no two boards are ever the same.
Rosette also of course serves a variety of wines from Brooklyn Winery, as well as some beer options as well. Perfect for date night or relaxing on weekends with friends, the atmosphere is friendly and welcoming for all to enjoy.
Parashades
Located in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, Parashades is serving up delicious pizza and cocktails. Conveniently around the corner from Barclay's Center, Parashades is the perfect spot to grab a slice before or after a concert or sporting event. Popular pies include Parashades' signature "hot chick" with the restaurant's own blend of chicken seasoning as well as hot sauce and blue cheese; the vegan cheese pie made with Numu vegan cheese; the vodka pie with pesto, and more.
Add in handcrafted cocktails, sharable garlic knots, and a fun atmosphere, and it's clear that Parashades is the perfect spot for a fun evening with friends, no matter the occasion. The next time you find yourself in need of a slice in Prospect Heights, don't hesitate to give Parashades a try.
Zhego NYC
New York City is always full of opportunities to try new, unique cuisines, and Zhego NYC is no exception. Serving up traditional Bhutanese cuisine in Woodside, Queens, Zhego NYC is far from ordinary. If you, like many, have never experienced Bhutanese cuisine before, you may want to try the national dish of Bhutan, Ema Datsi, which is described as a spicy stew made of fresh chili peppers, scallions, tomato, and locally produced cheese.
The menu is mainly divided between vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, with plenty to try on both sides. The cheese momo dish is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, essentially a Bhutanese dumpling filled with cabbage, cilantro, and locally-produced cheese. For another unique option, look to the drink menu and try the hot butter tea.
Figlia
New Astoria hotspot Figlia is offering up tasty Italian food including neo-Neapolitan pizza, housemade pasta, antipasti, cocktails, and more. Figlia's pizzas are created through a special process, starting with long-fermented dough and high-quality, local ingredients. Once prepared, the pizzas enter Figlia's wood-fired pizza oven built by the craftsmen of Fiero Forni. The pies are then baked at 750 degrees Fahrenheit to create a uniquely flavorful artisanal crust.
Delicious pizza options include arugula and speck, burrata and Pomodoro, Maitake mushroom, and more. Popular pasta options include rigatoni bolognese, pappardelle with spiced braised lamb leg, and more. Don't forget to balance out your meal with Figlia's diverse selection of wines and beers from Italy and beyond. Finally, finish things up with a slice of rich chocolate and hazelnut mousse cake or creamy tiramisu.
Stretch Pizza
Stretch Pizza, a fun new pizza spot in the Flatiron District, was formed by an unlikely restaurant duo, Wylie Dufresne and Gadi Peleg, striking up a simple conversation about New York pizza. A casual chat soon became a brainstorm of how to open their own place together, and the rest is history. Now the Flatiron District gets to reap the benefits with crispy, cheesy, delicious dishes for everyone to enjoy.
As the name implies, the menu contains no shortage of pizza options, with a number of fun signature pies including The Oddfather, made with zucchini, smoked eggplant, and Italian-style tempura crumbs; The Old Town, made with mushroom, muenster, garlic cream, and pumpernickel; The Couch Potato, made with fingerlings, sour cream, bacon, and scallion; and more. However, the restaurant also serves up a number of creative small plates, including basil chickpea fries with signature Stretch sauce; potato chip salad with frisée, mizuna, and herbs; and plenty more for diners to enjoy.
Olle
New Midtown Korean restaurant Olle is serving up warm and comforting dishes, highlighting a variety of delicious soups and rice dishes. The perfect mixture of casual and elegant, the restaurant offers the perfect atmosphere for a date, solo lunch, or dinner with friends. One of the restaurant's most popular dishes is the Galbi Jjim, which are braised beef short ribs with oyster mushrooms, jalapeño peppers, and jujube. Available in sizes small and large, there are also a number of add-on options for the Galbi Jjim, including noodles, fried rice, and more.
Another popular menu section is the Naengmyeon or cold noodle dishes. Olle offers two different varieties. Both are made with cold handmade noodles, lightly pickled radish and cucumber, Korean pear, and boiled egg, but the Mool Naengmyeon is made into a cold soup with the addition of beef dongchimi broth, while the Bibim Naengmyeon instead adds spice.