New on Resy: Pondicheri, Uchū, The Spaniard, and More

Alta Calidad signals the owner debut of chef Akthar Nawab, a seasoned veteran of the New York restaurant scene, with runs at Gramercy Tavern, Craft, Elettaria, and La Esquina. In the kitchen, he pairs Mexican flavor profiles with refined cooking techniques to offer dishes like shaved rib eye tacos and queso fundido (with honey, pumpkin seeds, and chiles). The space is modern and clean, and accented with a soundtrack of throwback hip-hop jams. Pro-tip: Ask about the “off-menu” items.

Born in London in 2011, Burger & Lobster is a global conceptual restaurant whose name says it all. This location is the second in New York City, and the same rules apply: a menu of burgers, lobster, and combos of the two, affordable prices, and a spacious dining room primed for group meals. Keep your eyes peeled for the chain’s newest offering: a tower that serves four.

Cafe Luxembourg is a timeless institution that has been dishing out French bistro fare since 1983. Owned and operated by Lynn Wagenknecht (The Odeon, Café Cluny), this Upper West Side gem continues to excel as a neighborhood bastion and steak frites destination. In the restaurant’s own words, it’s “a little bit of the Left Bank on the West Side.”

This Brooklyn newcomer focuses on two things: pizza and beer. In order to execute both to the greatest success, owner Gerry Rooney (of Putnam’s) roped together a team of well-regarded folks from the borough, plus a pizza maker — Luke Bruckert — from Portland’s Little Oven Pizza. Bruce Dillon (also of Putnam’s) is the head chef; Danny Bruckert (of Sixpoint Brewery) is the head brewer; and bartender Damon Boelte (of Grand Army) is in charge of cocktails and wine. At 6,000 sq. feet, Circa is a fully functioning brewery serving brunch, lunch, and dinner.

Dante, of Greenwich Village fame, brings its expert take on Italian cocktails and cuisine to Little Italy’s Genuine. Crafted specifically for this new space, chef Rachael Polhill’s menu includes a fritti selection, sourdough flatbreads, and tableside tiramisu service. And yet, still, beverages are the main event: come for the self-serve Negroni fountain, stay for a drink from the #SummerOfSpritz offerings.

At their second Egg Shop location, husband-and-wife team Sarah Schneider and Demetri Makoulis continue to do what they do best: serve dressed-up eggs. Like its original location in SoHo, Egg Shop of Williamsburg is not just a breakfast restaurant, but also an all-day spot dedicated to the versatile ingredient from which it takes its name. Look forward to a slew of breakfast sandwiches in the morning and dishes like frittata tacos and yolk-stuffed burrata at dinner.

Mathews Food & Drink is a modern Jersey City eatery inspired by the unique spirit and dining culture of the South. Simple, approachable dishes dot the menu, like sweet corn fritters; a roasted 1/2 chicken with peas, carrots, roasted garlic whipped potatoes, and pan gravy; and a fisherman’s stew. Cocktails, wine, and draft beer are served all day in a sleek space with a laid back vibe.

A high quality “Washoku” (read: traditional Japanese cuisine with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients) restaurant, Mifune features a menu crafted by Hiroki Yoshitake, the chef-owner of the Michelin-starred Sola, in Paris. Guests can order a la carte, or enjoy the chef’s tasting course. The name pays respect to the famous Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune, who, as the story goes, “crossed the ocean and became appreciated in the world.”

Chef John Keller oversees Minnie’s menu, which is comprised of bright, flavorful dishes inspired by owner Millie Stallings’ family recipes. Mediterranean-influenced American plates, like smoked cauliflower fritto with harissa yogurt, Fresno peppers, and jalapeno; farro pearls with spring vegetables, mint, pine nuts and pistachio; and roasted chicken with lemon-sofrito marinade round out the wholesome menu. Dessert is a family affair: the pink cake is a Stallings birthday staple, and the cookies are baked by Millie’s sister, Cooper.

PizzaMoto got its start in 2008, when chef Dave Sclarow began serving up his signature Neapolitan pizzas out of a portable wood-fired oven at the Brooklyn Flea. Fast-forward, and it’s now firmly situated in a cozy, neighborhood joint under the BQE, between Carroll Gardens and Red Hook. The pies, in the words of Pete Wells, are “among the top tier of New York brick-oven pizzas,” and they’re offered alongside fierce, seasonally-changing sides, natural wines, and a rotating selection of cocktails crafted with house-made syrups and bitters.

Last year, the James Beard Award-nominated chef Anita Jaisinghani came from Houston to open a New York version of her very well regarded pan-Indian restaurant, Pondicheri. Located in Flatiron, it’s an all-day affair where guests can enjoy masala eggs and jaggery coconut pancakes for breakfast, shrimp chutney salad and lamb mint bun kebab for lunch, and tandoori quail and vindaloo ribs for dinner. Rambunctious, nourishing, and vibrant, her cooking stands out in a city where that’s not so easy.

Quality Eats has brought its very appealing steakhouse concept to the Upper East Side, and it’s serving unique cuts in a casual and inviting environment. Just like at the West Village location, all chops are offered for less than $30, alongside complementary fare, nice wines, and signature cocktails.

Modeled after a Maine seafood shack, this location is the original Red Hook Lobster Pound. The husband-and-wife-owned establishment handpicks lobsters from the best lobstermen in Maine, ensuring the highest quality for multiple kinds of rolls, mac and cheese, and lobster dinners—which are only $25 on Wednesday nights. Fun fact: The water closet here is a sight to behold.

Taking inspiration from classic New York gastropubs, timeless bars, and steakhouses, The Spaniard serves quintessential pub fare (think Caesar wedge, oysters Rockefeller and patty melts) alongside expert cocktails, with a focus on whiskey (the bar stocks 100 different kinds). The atmosphere is swanky, but modern, with emerald-green booths and velvet-covered bar stools. Primed for the regular dining of neighborhood locals, the kitchen offers lunch, dinner, and anything-but-typical brunch. Plus: it stays open late.

A restaurant-within-a-restaurant (located downstairs from Mifune), Sushi Amane is helmed by Shion Uino from Tokyo’s highly acclaimed (3 Michelin stars) Sushi Saito. Each night, the chef serves his signature omakase to an exclusive set of diners. With only eight bar seats and a semi-private dining room for four, the focus is on the fish.

Acclaimed chef Eiji Ichimura helms Uchū, where he offers his distinctive omakase to guests at the ten-seat bar. In addition to the choicest cuts of fish, the menu utilizes fresh ingredients from the restaurant’s own rooftop garden. Uchū’s sister restaurant is The Bar at Uchū, also located at 217 Eldridge Street.