The Best New Restaurants In The Country
From a new NYC food hall to an Italian renaissance over on the West Coast, this is our idea of a perfect summer
Looking for an awesome restaurant recommendation? No matter the occasion, price point or neighborhood, the DINE app has you covered. You can download it here.
New York
Rahi
The march of modern Indian cuisine isn't slowing down anytime soon, and we're not complaining. The food at Rahi in the West Village comes courtesy of Mumbai-born chef Chintan Pandya and pays tribute to the entire breadth of Indian cuisine in the form of dishes like sunchoke vada, lamb chops with juniper berries, and charcoal-smoked salmon.
Canal Street Food Hall
Soho office workers tired of bodega salads and street carts have a reason to be secretly happy about forgetting to pack a lunch. There's enough vendors at this year-round market to make lunch a three-course affair, starting with siu mai from an offshoot of Nom Wah Tea Parlor, savory miso ramen from Ippudo and finally a scoop of very on-trend black sesame ice cream from Davey's.
Los Angeles
Rossoblu
A new Italian renaissance is here, and this time it's happening over in L.A., where chefs like Steve Samson are shining the spotlight on Italian regions like Emilia-Romagna. All of Rossoblu's pasta is formed al matterello before being tossed in just the right amount of Bolognese. Meanwhile, a crackling wood-fired spit is on hand for roasting suckling pigs, and house-cured salumi and homemade bread make you feel like you're back in Grandma's kitchen. That is, if your Grandma is an Italian nonna.
Friends & Family
You might think Hollywood doesn't need another resto serving up hearty grain bowls and salads, but this casual breakfast and lunch spot has plenty more up its sleeve. Artisanal pastries (including savory breakfast galettes), Counter Culture coffee and house-made provisions like strawberry rhubarb jam are also available. Come summer, the bakery will offer a dinner menu as well.
San Francisco
A Mano
A large communal table and bright, vivid decor are the focus of this vibrant restaurant—in addition to the hand-rolled pasta, of course. Highlights from chef Freedom Rains's menu includes ribbons of tagliatelle topped with pesto and English peas, and generously-sized bowls of classic bucatini all'amatriciana.
Acacia House
Chris Cosentino's newest restaurant finds its home in the posh Las Alcobas hotel in Napa Valley. Go for dinner, when you can feast on lamb tartare spiked with green harissa and Hudson Valley foie gras accented with pickled strawberries, and consider staying the night. Hotel guests can order picnic baskets stocked with fried chicken for their day of wine tasting.
Reem's
Fans of Reem Assil's food cart finally have a place to sit down and eat her famous Arab street food. The relaxed Oakland café cranks out 600 pounds of dough a week for items like za'tar-topped flatbreads and house-made pita to go alongside spicy shakshuka.
Miami
Ghee Indian Kitchen
Designed from the ground up by husband-and-wife team Niven and Shivani Patel, this 70-seat restaurant spotlights a rotating menu of Indian classics, dictated by what's available on their two-acre farm. That means a rotation of dishes like the smoked chicken samosas, zingy green papaya salad, or pork belly vindaloo served alongside aged cheddar naan.
Ella's Oyster Bar
You can expect solid seafood bar fare like freshly shucked shellfish at this Little Havana haven, but it's the Miami spin on the classics that are drawing everyone's attention. Chorizo and crabmeat Cubanos and lobster rolls served on medianoche bread are just some of the Cuban favorites you'll encounter at this reimagined oyster bar.
Washington, D.C.
Delirium
Cicerone Curtis Allred is bringing his Belgian beer bar over to the U.S., and like his famous European outpost, you won't run out of options; the drinks list spans hundreds of brews. Pub-friendly dishes like clattering pots of steamed mussels and bowls of poutine are there to soak up the booze in between beer flights.
Q by Peter Chang
This James Beard nominee's sprawling restaurant will showcase chef Peter Chang's prolific Sichuan cooking. Take a break from gawking at the ornate decor to focus on Chang's famous Peking duck, with a skin so crisp it shatters like glass at the slightest prod. Don't forget to order a side of his pillowy scallion pancakes as well.
Austin
Native Bar & Kitchen
You can bet a "luxury" hostel has more to eat than just vending machine Doritos. The gastropub, set inside a chic warehouse, will eventually extend hours to become a 24/7 resto, meaning you can gorge on burgers slathered with pimento cheese, pickle-brined fried chicken sandwiches and hangover-curing waffle fry nachos all hours of the night.
Houston
FM Kitchen and Bar
This casual neighborhood destination includes summer-friendly amenities like an outdoor green space and game area where Houstonians can play while they munch on Texas classics like Frito pie, smothered chicken-fried steak and crispy brick chicken, just to name a few. And don't be deceived by the lowbrow fare—Ryan Hildebrand came from fine dining spot Triniti, meaning FM's burger is anything but casual.
Detroit
The Apparatus Room
At the center of Detroit's culinary renaissance is the Apparatus Room at the Foundation Hotel, where Michelin-starred chef Thomas Lents is spearheading Motor City's food moment. Apart from the dining room where you can order confit suckling pork and pici pasta with horseradish, the renovated firehouse includes a 10-seat chef's table, in addition to a space they call a "culinary incubator" for up-and-coming kitchen talent.
Caucus Club
A year in the making, this revived old-school steakhouse is finally taking date night reservations. Expect tableside Caesars, a decadent raw bar and, of course, all manner of dry-aged steaks: Prime rib, lamb and pork will be there for when you're ready to indulge.