Now Open: Alinea 2.0, Günter Seeger NY, Sushi Ginza

18 new, hot restaurants to add to your must-try list

New York City

Günter Seeger NY: New York diners have waited for this one for a long time. The German-born chef, who left his imprint on the Atlanta dining scene, is finally cooking in NYC at his eponymous tasting menu-only restaurant. The vegetable-focused menu will change daily, so diners are in the chef's hands. Find Günter Seeger NY here, or in our DINE app.

Sushi Ginza Onodera: Named for Tokyo's chic Ginza neighborhood, the New York outpost of this mini chain promises to deliver some of the best fish and rice (and a proprietary soy sauce blend) in the city at its small counter near Bryant Park. Dinner starts at $200 and goes up to $300 and $400 for omakase service at the sushi bar. Those looking for something a bit easier on the wallet can go for lunch service starting in mid-June. Find Sushi Ginza Onodera here, or in our DINE app.

Hail Mary: This is a diner, but not the kind with a 24-hour neon sign glowing out front. Rather, husband and wife Hisham and Sohla El-Waylly are reimagining the American diner experience in a charming and quirky space in Greenpoint. The menu hops around from matzo ball soup to croque-madame to deviled egg dip made with trout roe to house-made breads like a tamarind sourdough, made by Sohla, who formerly ran the pastry programs at Rotisserie Georgette and Battersby. Find Hail Mary here, or in our DINE app.

Karasu: For those looking for a speakeasy dining experience, Karasu is a Japanese izakaya serving tagliatelle with uni, duck wings and togarashi potato chips. Enter through Walter's, no password necessary. Find Karasu here, or in our DINE app.

Springbone Kitchen: It's 2016, so, of course, there's a bone broth restaurant. At this one, you'll find bacon n' eggs-flavored broth made with smoked pork and a Bloody Bull option made with beets and beef stock. Those looking for something more substantial will find shakshuka, avocado toast and zucchini spaghetti with meatballs. Find Springbone Kitchen here, or in our DINE app.

Los Angeles
Khaosan: Thai street food heads indoors at this restaurant serving everything from the familiar (and beloved) khao soi and a number of curries to some more adventurous (and often hard to find outside of Thailand) dishes like kaiy louk cuuy, hard-boiled and then fried eggs served with tamarind sauce, crispy shallots and cilantro. Unsure what to order? Just ask the staff. Find Khaosan here, or in our DINE app.

San Francisco
Hashiri: The team behind this high-end kaiseki and sushi restaurant has been operating a restaurant in Tokyo for a few years now, and this is the first U.S. outpost. With 42 seats, it's larger than many high-end sushi spots, staffed by accomplished chefs Shinichi Aoki and Tokunori Mekaru. Make sure to look up while dining; the ceiling is a nature-focused video installation. Find Hashiri here, or in our DINE app.

Mac Daddy: Let's be honest, there are days when nothing but mac and cheese will do. This new spot specializes in just that. The Classic is made with pecorino, sharp cheddar and topped with panko. There's also a Carbonara Mac and a South of the Border option for the more adventurous. Find Mac Daddy here, or in our DINE app.

Chicago
Alinea: With a refreshed space and a James Beard Outstanding Restaurant Award in hand, the team behind one of America's most celebrated restaurants is ready for their second act. There are scant details on what the kitchen will be turning out, but since the crew spent the past few months traveling and hosting pop-up versions of the restaurant in Miami and Madrid, it's likely there will be some dishes with influences from around the globe. Tickets are currently sold out, but stay tuned for more seats this summer. Find Alinea here, or in our DINE app.

Earl's Drive-Thru BBQ: Hungry folks on the Northwest Side won't have to leave their cars to try this new spot for barbecue and doughnuts. However, if you do feel like stretching your legs, there is a beer garden. LOKaL owner Art Wnorowski's newest acquisition is now open, highlighting the country's best BBQ traditions, like Memphis-style rubs, mustard sauce in the Georgia style and Carolina vinegar sauce. Roll through for a plate of pulled pork and wash it down with a shake. Find Earl's Drive-Thru BBQ here, or in our DINE app.

Beacon Tavern: Billy Lawless's new spot right off the Mag Mile is favoring seafood dishes, like a raw bar, salt cod doughnuts and oysters galore. However, the team wants to make it known that this restaurant is not just about the fish. Diners should go ready to feast on other proteins, like steak, classic fried chicken served with hot sauce and white bread, and minty lamb meatballs. Find Beacon Tavern here, or in our DINE app.

The Budlong: Opening-day lunch service at this new Nashville hot chicken spot in Lakeview was so popular, it ran out of biscuits. Rub's Backcountry Smokehouse owner Jared Leonard doesn't expect this to happen again though. Currently, the team is serving a scaled-down menu, paying attention to quality. There have been rumblings of adding ghost peppers into the hot chicken, but for now, they're making classic Nashville hot with plenty of cayenne. Find The Budlong here, or in our DINE app.

Arbella: A moody cocktail bar and sister spot to Tanta has just opened on Grand Street. Named for a ship that sailed from England to Salem in 1630, this spot celebrates small-plate dishes from around the world, like Spanish blood sausage, ahi poke and K.F.C. (Korean fried chicken). The bar's crowning jewels are its creatively named cocktails, from Funky Chicken to 50 Shades of Jade. Find Arbella here, or in our DINE app.

Washington, D.C.
Radiator: The newest Kimpton property is a funky bar and small-plate spot. Celebrating the midcentury car dealerships and auto repair shops of D.C., Radiator's interior is designed with garage door-inspired walls and checkerboard floors. There are also vintage car parts and industrial accents throughout. Grab a spot at the backgammon table or curl up by the fire pit with a double whiskey, because you'll probably stay a while. Find Radiator here, or in our DINE app.

Whaley's: The team behind Dupont Circle's DGS Delicatessen has opened a raw bar at The Yards. Munch on shellfish towers and family style platters while taking in the Edit Lab at Streetsense-designed space. The particularly charming Under the Sea mural by artist John DeNapoli gives diners a panoramically aquatic meal. Find Whaley's here, or in our DINE app.

Detroit 

The Mean Weenie: The popular food truck finally has a storefront to serve its inventive takes on classic hot dogs. Regulars can explore the truck's original menu of weenies and toppings, like cider-braised leek or wasabi-ginger coleslaw (with an indoor or outdoor seating option). However, it may be good to save room for the expanded menu's loaded tater tots, desserts and Treat Dreams ice cream shakes. Find The Mean Weenie here, or in our DINE app.

Miami
Quinto La Huella: The team behind Uruguay's acclaimed Parador La Huella has traveled up to Miami to open this restaurant, which is centered around an open wood-fire parrilla, which offers fire-licked steaks, lamb, black bass and sweetbreads. To go with those proteins are salads, like escarole that's also cooked on the parrilla, served with white anchovies and avocado. Find Quinto La Huella here, or in our DINE app.

The Spillover: The LoKal team's new project is all about seafood and cider—and it's big, with seating for 70, some indoors and some outdoors. There are buffalo shrimp tacos to be had, as well as gator ribs and crab cakes. All of that seafood goes with the house's large cider, sour beer and mead selection. Find The Spillover here, or in our DINE app.