Gotham Bar and Grill, The Jones, Carbone, Now on the Resy Hit List

Because chef Victoria Blamey, no stranger to reinventing iconic restaurants, has stepped up to the plate at Gotham Bar & Grill. With her debut comes an entirely new, globally-inspired menu, a contemporary facelift, and a bar burger with bone marrow, American cheese, and mango bbq sauce.

Because at long last, the follow-up to critical darling Llama Inn is now dishing riffs on Nikkei cuisine. Erik Ramirez fuses Peruvian cooking with Japanese ingredients for a meal that’s equal parts original and delicious. Think: aged duck breast nigiri and Ibérico tonkatsu with udon verde.

Because Gabe Stulman knows that when one local fixture closes its doors, another must open. The seasoned restaurateur’s latest is The Jones, an effortlessly cool neighborhood joint housed in the space formerly home to The Great Jones Café. Grab a smoked bluefish tartine in the morning or a muffaletta at lunch, and stay tuned for dinner—launching soon.

Because the hour-long waits Win Son generates for sloppy bao and lu rou fan are well worth it. The menu is filled with inventive pastries, such as pineapple buns and mochi millet doughnuts; sandwiches on milk bread—like the Tawainese eggplant parm; a white sesame Caesar salad; and plenty more.

Walk-ins only.

Because soak in the seductive energy of September in Manhattan by going big at Carbone. Order an assortment of antipasti, linguine vongole and fettuccine con funghi, veal parmesan, and a bottle of red. And keep your eyes peeled for the oft celeb sighting.

Because this Middle Eastern grocery, designated one of “America’s Classics” by the James Beard Foundation, has expanded for the first time since opening its Atlantic Avenue doors in 1948. The spacious sequel is located in Industry City and boasts the addition of a café that serves mezze, shawarma sandwiches, Lebanese beers, and Moroccan wines.

Walk-ins only.

Because this ambitious locale hails from two veteran fine dining chefs and longtime collaborators. Nahid Ahmed and Arjuna Bull craft two tasting menus, one with meat, the other vegetarian, both of which begin with butternut squash fushka (a Bengali street snack) and end with frozen yogurt paired with semi-dried berries and sansho pepper granita.

Because Rick Easton—the baker and pizza whiz credited with launching Superiority Burger’s Focaccia Friday—has opened his nationally acclaimed Pittsburgh restaurant in Jersey City. His seasonal slices, heavenly sandwiches, stellar meatballs, and veggie-forward sides are destination-worthy, indeed.

Walk-ins only.

Because fashion week might be over, but the first-rate people-watching at this SoHo staple is forever. You’re here for the steak au poivre, and you’ll have it alongside a Martini—or a Manhattan—followed by profiteroles for the table.

Because Norm’s is the standout slice shop Downtown Brooklyn deserves. These thin-crust beauties take cues from all over the city: the vodka pie is inspired by Carbone, the white pie is an homage to Totonno’s, and the house olive oil is Franks’ Oro di Sicilia Green Gold.

Walk-ins only.

Because west~bourne and Upland have teamed up to make your California dreams come true. On 9/18 at Upland, delight in four courses of veg-centric fare and sustainable wine pairings. The next night, west~bourne will host a west coast house party complete with eggplant tacos, corn elote tempura, and old-school hip hop tunes. Take your pick, or better yet, double down.