The New York Restaurants We Loved in May
Now that it finally feels like summer has arrived in New York, Resy HQ is out and about and dining in full force. This month, we went on some particularly epic food crawls, carved out some precious solo dining time, as well as made time to celebrate with our colleagues, and brunched to our hearts’ content. Here were a few of our favorite meals.
Resy Staffer Spotlight: Mike Lee
Mike’s always been into good food, even before joining Resy. As well as being an avid home cook, he’s the type of person who schedules his meals on trips in between sightseeing. And he won’t shy away from trying anything at least once. “I’m sort of an exploratory diner,” says the N.J. native and current Cliffside Park, N.J. resident. “I love to try different cuisines from different cultures.”
His advice for fellow diners in the New York/New Jersey area? “Don’t be afraid to explore and try something new,” he says.
Here are a few of his favorite spots on both sides of the Hudson, in his own words.
The One for Omakase: Yakitori Torishin
I always do the omakase there. It’s a favorite of mine, and it’s on par with anything I had when I visited Japan. They do stuff you don’t typically see here in the U.S., and at an extremely high level, like serving up some of the gristle from the chicken, or the chicken oyster, which is a particular favorite. They also do some more experimental things, too; last time I was there, they served something with a tomatillo sauce that brought a Mexican flavor to it.
The One for a Group Hang: Cote Korean Steakhouse
It’s just a really interesting cross between an American steakhouse and Korean barbecue. The quality of it is just excellent. The banchan is also really good, and my friends all love the egg soufflé. We usually do the butcher’s feast when we go.
The One for Pizza: Razza
They are always amazing, but I admit that I recommend doing takeout rather than getting a reservation sometimes, just because they’re always so packed. The first time I visited them was just after they got featured in the New York Times, pre-COVID. I went at 5 p.m. on a Wednesday, and I got the only seat available at the bar. I ordered three pizzas and I ate all three by myself and I probably could have eaten more.
The One That’s Close to Home: Minka Japanese Kitchen
They’re a really good Japanese place with some unusual dishes, right around the corner from me. They have this really interesting unagi and foie gras donburi with black truffle that was probably the best unagi I’ve ever had. They also have A5 Wagyu if you’re into that, too, and a truffle tuna.
One of life’s joys is dining alone …
While watching a restaurant kitchen in full swing, and Bangkok Supper Club has a stunningly beautiful counter where you have a front row seat to the nightly choreography. You can feel the heat coming off the grill, and then taste that char on the beef tongue. You can watch the kitchen assemble the tiny, delicate crab tartlet, and then serve it right up. You’ll get FOMO watching more and more dishes go out to the dining room, but that’s why you’ll have to come back and try the rest of the menu.
— Paolo Lucchesi, Editorial Director, Resy Editorial
In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month …
Our small (but mighty!) group of Asian and Asian American coworkers made the pilgrimage to one of the oldest Taiwanese restaurants in all of New York: Taiwanese Gourmet in Elmhurst. As soon as you enter, you’re immersed in what feels like the perfect blend of Queens’ hustle and bustle with traditional Taiwanese dining rooms. Our group of 13, with BYOB bottles in hand, were led downstairs to our own little private area where we could wave to a camera if we needed the servers’ attention. Heaping plates of Taiwanese classics like fried pork chops, stinky tofu, three-cup chicken, Taiwanese sausage, and blood rice cakes, among much more, adorned the table faster than we could eat them. The star of the show for me was the staple fly’s head: a stir-fried mixture of garlic chives, pork, chili peppers, and fermented beans (where the name comes from) for the perfect blend of salty, savory, earthy, and spicy. After my last plates of lu rou fan and oyster omelet, I tapped out, stomach content with the warmth of being around my people during this important month.
— Charles Zhao, Director of Restaurant Product
As an occasional visitor to New York from London …
I’m always slightly floored at the depth and breadth of options that the city has when it comes to regional Asian cuisines. And despite only having 48 hours in New York, during which I ploughed through a four-venue food crawl [see below for a recap of that] following a case of in-flight food poisoning, there was nothing more I looked forward to than the feast I shared at Taiwanese Gourmet with my Resy colleagues.
On the train to Queens, the clouds finally parted and the first pangs of hunger in three days began to cut through the fog, like shafts of light interrupting a vampire slumber party in “Blade.” And what a restaurant to arrive at. With a case of Modelos in hand, I sensed we’d be in for a treat.
What followed was a procession of remarkable plates that were unbelievably delicious in flavor and beautifully presented. Pig’s blood cake and sticky rice sausage were ideal amuse-bouches, while standbys like deep-fried pork chop and three-cup chicken were so flavorful and faultlessly executed that you’d swear you could never get bored of them. A whole steamed striped bass made me momentarily pine for plain rice, before a deluge of plates — wind-dried sausage, clams stir-fried with holy basil, garlic chives sautéed with fermented black beans, pork, and chile — dropped on the table like bars in a 40-minute Kendrick diss track.
It’s BYOB and cash-only, and best experienced with a group of friends. But really, if I lived nearby (as opposed to, say, across the Atlantic), I’d be here at least a couple of times a month. I loved how the staff cracked jokes with us as they ferried dishes up and down those vertiginous stairs. And it’s clear that a huge amount of care goes into each and every dish. What a special place.
— David Jay Paw, Senior Editor, Resy Editorial
Getting the entire Resy Editorial team in the same place for the first time …
Is a cause for a celebration. And celebrate we did — in proper style. In our case, that meant starting with cherry-blossom martinis and other magical drinks at The Bar Room at the Beekman, one of the grandest hotel lobby bars in the grandest of cities. (Also conveniently located around the corner from the office!) From there, we began our crawl north to Cha Kee, arriving at 5 p.m. on the dot so as not to miss the Mission Chinese Food pop-up where Danny Bowien has returned to serve some of his greatest hits. We’re happy to report that the spice-dusted Chongqing chicken wings remain fire, although a new dish, the cold, spicy Sprite noodles, has quickly earned its place in the MCF canon, too. From there we made our way to Penny, which we’re crushing on as hard as everyone else. If you liked Joshua Pinsky’s sizzling red shrimp downstairs at Claud, they are even more succulent and perfect in a shrimp cocktail upstairs, matched only by the stunning razor clams. Afterward, we made our way down the stairs to Claud, where one of our favorite Paris chefs, Robert Compagnon of Le Rigmarole, was popping up, offering a joint menu with Pinsky. If anything could improve a menu full of things like a spring mille-feuille with morels (mille-feuille level unlocked) it would be dishes like Compagnon’s fanciulle with a somber cuttlefish ragu.
— Jon Bonné, Managing Editor, Resy Editorial
Who doesn’t love a sneak preview?
That’s exactly what I got when a friend and I dined at Parcelle Chinatown on a Tuesday night for a pop-up from Kiko, a soon-to-open restaurant from two seasoned restaurant industry vets: Lina Goujjane, a manager at Michelin-starred Sushi Noz, and her husband, chef Alex Chang, who’s currently at Il Buco Alimentari. We ordered one of everything on the compact menu, but we especially loved the marinated sardines served with a salted plum butter on buckwheat sesame bread; the twice-fried chicken wings served with a perfect makrut lime leaf, sansho, and green peppercorn sauce; and the little gem salad with a natto-based dressing. The wines from Parcelle were a perfect pairing and, needless to say, we can’t wait to check out Kiko once it opens later this year in Hudson Square.
— Deanna Ting, New York & Philadelphia Editor, Resy Editorial
I truly had the most incredible experience …
At Rezdôra. The food was obviously fantastic (the Pisarei pasta literally took my breath away), but it was the service that took the restaurant to the next level. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly, and our waiter helped us navigate the menu well, providing honest, genuine opinions and helpful tips. The restaurant comes across as a casual, neighborhood spot, but it is far from it. If you really pay attention, you can see the staff clocking every single detail in the dining room and actively identifying ways to create an amazing guest experience, which they definitely did when I was there. My advice is to try as many of the pastas as you can, and get the gnocco fritto to start. I already can’t wait to go back!
— Julia McAvoy, Senior Manager, Restaurant Partner Marketing
Brunch at Glasserie …
Has always felt like a homecoming to me. I have so many happy memories there. I tragically hadn’t been back since pre-COVID, so when I walked in, I felt an overwhelming amount of joy and nostalgia: Memories of long dates that poured into Sundays of moseying over to Archestratus, Achilles Heel, Dandelion Wine, and Transmitter Park. Spring birthday meals that left me full of great food and friendship.
And while I’m not usually a brunch person, Glasserie’s is something special. Their mezze feast is incredible, and it rotates with new dips and pickles often. Their pita is somehow even better than before? (How?!). Their drink menu is fun and full of herbaceous concoctions. There are also great options for the no/low-ABV gang, too (important!). As penance for taking so long to get back there, I’ll be going back regularly now, which is more than OK with me.
— Alex Larson, Sales Development Manager
A surprise dinner for a girl’s rainy night out …
Turned out to be one of my favorite recent meals. Daphne’s is such a cute, cozy neighborhood spot where they don’t rush you at all, with amazing service and vibes. We loved the baked scallops, reginetti, and pan-roasted half chicken. My advice? If you want a quick coffee before dinner, stop by Corto just a block away for one of the best coffees I’ve had in town.
— Felicity Lin, Senior B2B Marketing Analyst
More New Openings
I want to gatekeep this place so badly but …
I think I should share Carlota because everything we had here for my recent birthday dinner was so yummy, and the space was intimate and cozy. Everyone should pay it a visit. I feel like really good tapas are tough to come by in New York, and I’m grateful for this spot. After finishing the gambas, we ordered extra bread to dip in the garlicky olive oil. Pro tip: Book a Resy for drinks at the Swan Room just across the street after your meal here.
— Gina Chun, Senior Technical Product Manager
It’s been almost a year since I last dined …
At Leland Eating and Drinking House, and I can’t imagine waiting so long again for my next visit. The staff is warm and every dish was special and unique on its own. We started with the eggplant fries and smoked pollock fritters — both are so light and flavorful. For mains, I will forever dream about the most tender duck confit leg with shoestring fries. It would be a shame to leave a meal without dessert, and the creme brûlée pie can’t be missed!
— Lala Liban, Senior Manager, Hotel Partner Growth
As a longtime lover of Din Tai Fung …
I am here to say that Pinch Chinese may become my new go-to spot. The pork soup dumplings, pork and chive dumplings, and spicy wontons set the tone for the meal at the start, with the housemade sauce on the spicy wontons being truly finger licking good. We then moved onto the spicy marinated cucumbers, three-cup chicken, and dan dan noodles. I look forward to going back and sitting at the bar (they often have space) and feasting on some of their vegetable dishes like the string beans, eggplant, and pea shoots. All that to say: You can’t go wrong when eating at Pinch Chinese, and even with Din Tai Fung opening in New York soon, I look forward to frequenting this Soho hot spot.
— Natalie Weil, Experiential Marketing
Officially crowning this my new favorite Korean barbecue in town …
Yoon Haeundae Galbi came to Midtown in 2021 by way of Busan, South Korea (the O.G. started in 1964), and the quality of the meats is just really impressive. The prime/marinated package is a good place to start before the add-ins kick in: The seafood silken tofu soup, Busan cold noodle soup, and Wagyu kimchi fried rice were all excellent. Just don’t forget to order some potato noodles at the very end, which your server will cook in the delicious meat drippings post-grilling.
— Noëmie Carrant, Senior Writer, Resy Editorial
Book a date or come here for any celebration …
Sake No Hana on New York’s Lower East Side has an ambiance and textures that immediately stand out when you walk down into its dark, sultry setting. When it comes to the food, you can’t go wrong with the wafu carbonara in an uni cream sauce that’s finished with truffle and a poached egg. It’s insane. Anything coming off of the live fire is also not to be missed, including all of the robata.
— Khoran Horn, Sales Development Representative and Chef
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I was thrilled to learn …
That Mystica in Greenpoint is transforming into a new location of Mariscos El Submarino, and I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon to grab some incredibly delicious aguachile takeout. I’ll be back soon to make my way through the rest of the menu while sipping on some exciting agaves in their backyard.
— Isabelle Andrews, Director of Product
I love having dinner at the bar …
And the vibes at Roscioli – À La Carte this past weekend were perfect for just that! The upstairs space truly felt like you were sitting at the deli in Rome. Standout bites were the tuna crudo, burrata with prosciutto, and the amatriciana pasta. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a more casual version of the Roscioli tasting menu.
— Emily Lyons, Experiential Marketing Senior Analyst
For a pre-ballet dinner …
A friend and I popped into Old John’s Luncheonette. It was a tough call between all day breakfast and dinner entrées, but we decided on a Greek salad to share, a grilled chicken sandwich for her, and a turkey club for me. It was the perfect, no-frills predecessor to Lincoln Center, only a five-minute walk away.
— Alex Johnson, Senior Manager, Marketing
Nothing will ever replace The NoMad for me …
But the addition of Café Carmellini to Fifth Avenue and 28th Street brings back some of that showmanship and fun in a way that is very exciting for New York. It’s a beautiful restaurant and as the sun sets, you can’t help but feel the warm glow that takes over the dining room. The food is a little Italian, a little French, sophisticated, and delicious. And Portrait Bar is a little gem of a space right behind the restaurant that I also cannot wait to get back to.
— Aaron Ginsberg, VP, Strategic Partnerships and Industry Development
I celebrated another trip around the sun … …
At Ammazzacaffè. The ambiance of the restaurant is how I typically like to approach birthdays: dimly lit, small, and intimate. I decided to order one of the specials that night and landed on the gnochetti, which had lobster, crab, and shrimp, pairing it with a glass of Champagne and some glorious bread and olive oil, of course. I couldn’t end the night without dessert (regardless of it being my birthday) and ordered the tiramisu, which will never go out of style for me, as well as the yuzu cheesecake, which was a first for me but will definitely not be the last. The staff also treated me to an extra dessert for the occasion: buttermilk panna cotta that came with a candle that I used to make a wish. If you are looking for a place to celebrate an intimate occasion or just to celebrate getting through the day, I’d highly recommend adding Ammazzacaffè to your list.
— Chelsea Diakite, Brand Strategy & Paid Marketing
The ideal weekend brunch can be found …
At Agi’s Counter. They’ve got a wonderful mix of savory and sweet options. Their take on the BEC is excellent, they serve a hash brown that would put most steakhouses to shame, and their Hungarian crêpes are perfect to share. Most importantly for me, however, is some sort of smoked fish and the country club plate certainly delivers.
— Evan Stein, Senior Regional Sales Director, NYC
From the moment I arrived …
At KYU NYC, they made me and my party feel very welcome and like family. The service was exceptional; they even went out of their way to create a tailored menu for one of my friends who has food allergies. The restaurant is also beautifully designed with a lively atmosphere and the food was 10/10! Must-haves include the tuna crispy rice, chicories salad, beef short ribs, fire-roasted branzino, and the Korean fried chicken. Be sure to save room for dessert, too. The coconut cake and s’mores cake were my favorites, and I was also pleasantly surprised by their lavender yuzu vegan ice cream. This spot is great for groups, too, since most of the dishes are meant to be shared family style.
— Justin A. Brown, Restaurant Success Manager
I know everyone’s crazy about flat, wide udon noodles in New York these days but …
The Inaniwa udon they’re serving on Friday and Saturday nights over at Dashi Okume in Brooklyn is well worth seeking out — without a crazy long line to endure. And with the added benefit of grabbing some dashi broth packets to take home with you. Of course, the singularly bouncy udon is the star of the five-course menu but honestly, every course was a hit, especially the creamy dashi-rich potato salad with a perfectly soft-boiled egg. The sake pairing, if you’re so inclined, is also exceptional, with a variety of sakes that you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.
— Deanna Ting, New York & Philadelphia Editor, Resy Editorial
The thing with dining at either location of The Izakaya …
Is that there’s always some small dose of genius quietly hiding on the menu. On a recent visit, it was the nori tempura, which is exactly what it sounds like, with a fiery salsa macha-like dipping sauce. Rectangles of seaweed dipped in batter seem almost too simple to be restaurant food when, in fact, they’re a masterwork of texture, just the sort of thing proprietor Yudai Kanayama can finesse. It even might have trumped the vongole ramen, two words that should be seen together a lot more often in my humble opinion.
— Jon Bonné, Managing Editor, Resy Editorial
Our friend’s family owns this restaurant on the Upper West Side …
But I’m not biased to say that it’s so very good. Raku 2 is a perfect Sunday early dinner, walk-in spot following a Central Park stroll or picnic, where you can get a $27 bento box with miso soup, pork katsu, gyoza, a roll of sushi, and matcha ice cream for dessert.
— Felicity Lin, Senior B2B Marketing Analyst
Deanna Ting is Resy’s New York & Philadelphia Editor. Some of her other favorite meals this month took place at Mắm, Le Gratin, and Lola’s. Follow her on Instagram. Follow Resy, too.
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