New on Resy: Win Son, Anton’s, Morimoto

This is one sensation you’re not bound to forget. Tucked off a quiet street in East Williamsburg, Win Son is a bombastic ode to the flavor-packed foods of Taiwan, delivered within a buzzing and lush neighborly space. Be warned: The pan-griddled pork buns will ruin you for others, and the thrilling menu revisits everything from night market treats (the o-a jian oyster omelette, a crispy big chicken bun) to treasured classics (danzi mian, or prawns and pork in shrimp broth, and lu rou fan, or minced pork belly). Tables are for five or more, so gather your closest friends, and make a Resy, pronto.

Anton’s is a brand-new restaurant that already feels like a classic. Maybe it’s because it’s housed in the former Frankies 570 space, and has as much cush and charm as its old tenants. Maybe it’s because chef Nick Anderer (Marta, Maialino) built a menu of spruced-up comfort food, where angel hair pasta brushes up against bouillabaisse à la Manhattan. Maybe it’s the top-notch service and retro New York feel. Maybe it’s all of the above. All we can say is that we wouldn’t be surprised if Anton’s were to become a corner fixture for decades to come.

An institution of the early aughts, Morimoto still stands as a bastion of cross-pollinating Japanese cuisine. In the swanky wood-clad space — designed by architect Tadao Ando — a stylish crowd meanders its way through tuna pizza (sashimi-grade fish drizzled with olives and anchovy on a tortilla), duck three ways (aged breast, confit leg, and seared foie gras) and the very pretty toro tartare, served on ice and spread on a chilled glass tray. The shadow of Masaharu Morimoto is in every dish, and the chef who electrified America on “Iron Chef” excites just as much at his eponymous place.

We’d trust any restaurant that was founded on a love of bread. Enter High Street on Hudson, a Philly import and the West Village’s favorite all-day haunt, where the ovens churn out freshly-baked goods on the daily. Munch on the award-winning bagels in the AM (breakfast here is a must), delve into sandwiches at noon, and find love in the supper-style plates at night, where the skillet chicken comes with crispy drippings breads, because they know sopping up sauce is what bread does best.

What happens when a notorious Philly restaurateur meets an acclaimed English chef? You get The Clocktower, a Michelin-starred restaurant whistling a British tune. Housed in the New York Edison Hotel, this Stephen Starr gem calls back to the exclusive clubs of London — purple felt billiard tables, lustered woods, attentive staff — with Jason Atherton’s menu to match. Tuck into briny bivalves and chilled Maine lobster, a dry-aged burger studded with bacon, and a whole roasted Dover sole, under the watchful gaze of the rock’ n roll elite — their gilded portraits, that is.

The French Laundry, José Andrés, and Jean-Georges are but some of the kitchens that chef Maria José Yáñez Jaramillo has worked at. And she’s the chef behind the 18-seat counter at Restaurant Ukiyo, a Franco-Japanese jewel box of a space where a tight seasonal menu presides. Opt for the eight-course tasting ($98) to grasp the Mexican chef’s masterful chops, or go à la carte, and delight in cayenne brioche slathered in uni butter botarga, binchotan-grilled octopus tacos, and duck magret paired with umeboshi.

In a city oversaturated with cheffy burgers, chef Jae Lee’s stood out. His dry-aged kimchi mayo burger drew lines at his pop-up, Him, and now it’s on the menu at his latest East Village brick-and-mortar. Named after Lee’s Korean hometown, Nowon is a non-traditional eatery and a showcase of his Korean-American heritage, where joy-inducing bites are devoured to the tune of 90’s hip-hop beats. Think Shin ramyun chicken wings, chopped cheese rice cakes, royal kimchi fried rice, and spam egg and cheese spring rolls.

Editor’s note: As of April 2, 2024, Mister French has rebranded into a new concept, Chica and the Don.

At this new French hotspot, burlesque dancers and magicians are the backdrop for reimagined French fare. Inspired by Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel, the glitzy Mister French is all tufted leather banquettes, crystal chandeliers, and Greek marble busts. And what comes on the plate is just as decadent: house bread is set aside in favor of fresh-from-the-oven gougères, black peppercorn gets saucy with bacon and uni, mac-and-cheese becomes soigné, and pommes frites get an opulent pop with a salty caviar sabayon dip. Bon appétit.

When the local hitmakers behind Court Street Grocers tapped Battersby’s Walker Stern, we knew we were in for a good time. And The HiHi Room, located in lucky Boerum Hill, does not disappoint. The modern diner, prefaced by neon lights, is the embodiment of a neighborhood mainstay, whipping up breakfast, lunch, and dinner to the tune of the seasons. Expect the same quirkiness from CSG paired with Stern’s deft and delectable plates, like spaghetti with duck chili, chicken glazed in cane syrup, and trout roe-topped whitefish with buckwheat waffles.

At this sleek L-shaped counter, 12 patrons are led on an exploration of Asian cuisine. Welcome to Chiko, a family-owned chef’s table in Greenpoint, where Sushi Dojo alum Xiaowei Zheng imbues the traditional Japanese omakase with French and Italian strokes. As such, you’re in for unique preparations such as cod milt topped with truffles, thread-sail filefish dusted in Parmigiano, Spanish mackerel sprinkled with paprika, and fatty tuna paired with black olives.

Sippers of natural wine, right this way. Kindred comes from the minds behind wine destination Ruffian, and this time around, they’re pouring bottles from the Adriatic. The opening menu revolves around small shared plates — smoked olives, onion dip, crostini, chicken meatballs — with the kitchen planning to produce heftier plates very soon. As for the wines, expect a bevy of by-the-glass options and bottles from Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy, with a focus on skin-contact, or orange, wines.

In a pretty, brick-walled setting, a modern and leisurely Italian meal unravels in the blink of an eye. Housed in the former, and iconic, Da Silvano space, Roberto Deiaco’s Avena Downtown aims to be just as legendary. The Northern Italian chef whips up a fresh and zippy cuisine, doling out ravioli filled with fresh ricotta and quail egg yolk, risotto with zucchini flowers and Alaskan king crab, and grilled lobster with Valerian greens. The food is there; the glamorous clientèle, pending.

Named after the Mexican Elvis, El Vez is a bustling cantina with a south-of-the-border soul. Strung up in twinkly lights, Stephen Starr’s technicolor Mexican foray is designed for groups, where the crowded tables are piled high with chips and guacamole (the latter is amped up with mango and red bell pepper), chorizo-topped nachos, and overflowing tacos and margaritas galore. It’s Mexican fare with a twist, and a fun one at that — don’t leave without a souvenir from the photo booth.

A pan-Asian lounge straight out of Hong Kong, Helen’s is an extravaganza nestled away in the Meatpacking District. The subterranean space feels like an ornate den, where hand-carved wooden décor meshes with temple-red columns and a checkerboard floor. And though Helen’s boasts hundreds of locations across China and Hong Kong, this first US outpost comes with new concoctions, from the Mandarin High Line (bourbon, Mandarin cordial, seltzer) to the Strawberry Fields (mezcal, tequila rose strawberry cream, orange bitters).

Just in time for the snowy season, the Winter Hideaway has popped up in the Hoxton’s courtyard. The cozy glass houses will stand from November to March, offering fuzzy blankets, family-style plates (slow-roasted lamb shoulder, cheese fondue, homemade pie), plus cold-weather drinks (hello, Grand Marnier) to keep the cold at bay. Squad up with six to 12 of your friends, and hygge your heart out.