New on Resy: Minetta Tavern, The Grill, Barbuto

Arguably the most celebrated burger in the city can be found in this storied institution. A proper New York icon, Minetta Tavern was home to the literary elite of the 1940s before Keith McNally came in over a decade ago. And now, it’s what arrives on the plates that elicits patrons to rhapsodize: towering côte de boeuf, roasted bone marrow, and the aforementioned funky, dry-aged Black Label burger.

Leave it to Mario Carbone and Major Food Group to revamp one of Manhattan’s most extravagant dining theaters. The Grill rose like a phoenix from its ashes back in 2018, and the originator of power lunches has never looked better. Pasta à la presse is tossed tableside, dover sole is wheeled out and filleted before your eyes, and baked Alaska arrives in a fiery tangle of blue flames.

The city collectively mourned when Jonathan Waxman’s neighborhood gem served its last roast chicken and shuttered its garage doors several months ago. But Barbuto is back in a new location, alongside its legendary chicken and the beating heart of this West Village favorite: its original staff. So, what’s new? A roomier dining space, Hudson River views, and some new dishes, especially on the sweeter side of the menu.

Michael and Caitlin Toscano have returned to the city’s dining landscape, unleashing their vision of regional Italian cuisine. And what a homecoming: Set in the same digs as Perla (which shot Michael to fame years ago), da Toscano enraptures with offal cuts like beef tongue panino, snout-to-tail minestrone, and saucy pastas (get the lamb neck agnolotti).

This East Village spot is the best omakase you’ve never heard of. At Kura, chef Norihiro Ishizuka delivers a stellar sushi experience without the sanctity, presenting four different omakases at winning prices (16 pieces will run you $125). And the cuts themselves are a sight to behold, with stuffed squid, torched salmon, and creamy uni handed off with a smile, one after another.

With a menu that reads like a who’s who of the country’s best culinary hits, American Bar is the West Village’s answer to continental dining. Dreamt up by the same people behind Cafe Clover, this old-school haunt pays just as much attention to its ingredients, with chef Carolina Santos-Neves putting her spin on the classics of lore (moules au mezcal, anyone?).

You come to Pastai for one thing and one thing only: the pleasure of tucking into a bowl of handmade pasta. And with a name that translates to “the pasta makers,” this Chelsea eatery more than delivers, recreating some of southern Italy’s favorite varieties. Think wide and curly reginette twirled around short rib ragu, lemon tagliatelle tossed with lobster, and bucatini studded with sardines.

You’re going to want to perch yourself at the sleek counter of this wine bar: Farra is the casual counterpart to tasting menu destination Atera. Here, 20 seats and 25 wines by the glass are for the taking, with the list favoring Old World grapes, though the West Coast shines through here and there. The food menu veers new American and Nordic — don’t miss the scallop fried rice topped with trout roe.

This ramen shop has been perfecting its shoyu broth for over 50 years, and if the last days of winter don’t call for noodle slurping, what does? New York’s first Sanpoutei location is a dive into Japan’s Niigata Prefecture, where shoyu ramen reigns, but a rich paitan (chicken-based) broth is also on rotation, alongside perfectly crisp gyoza and wafu-chuka — that is, Chinese dishes turned Japanese.

Gramercy’s latest Greek restaurant is Eleni’s, where Eleni (the owner) welcomes you like a regular of 20-plus years. The setting is all-white and charming, with coiled rope chandeliers lending the room an ambient glow. Grilled pita and creamy hummus are set before you, and then it’s off to the motherland: Dolmadakia (stuffed grape leaves), lavraki (grilled branzino), and rolled baklava make a fine meal.

The sunny South doesn’t feel too far away at this fried chicken joint. With four New York locations (both LIC and LES are taking Resys), Sweet Chick’s deeply satisfying comfort food is a balm for the city. Rejoice in flaky biscuits drenched in gravy, mac-and-cheese dusted in Ritz crackers, and shatteringly crisp, juicy chicken.

At this East Village haunt, the holy trinity is mezcal, Tequila, and rye. A dimly lit and moody cocktail den, The Cabinet shakes up an array of revamped margaritas (some with Chartreuse, others with chocolate), cocktails, and flights. Get handsy with tamales from East Harlem’s Tamales Lupita and stay on the lookout for guest bartenders and mezcal master classes.

West Africa and France unite in a narrow, brick-walled bistro nestled in Park Slope. Run by the Cameroon-born, France-trained chef Melanie Delcourt, Le Succulent is an outstanding bi-cultural eatery where frites maison and fried plantains are the sides of choice, and yassa poulet rôti commingles with steak topped with chimichurri.

What happens when Sushi on Jones joins forces with Don Wagyu? You get katsu sandwiches as part of your omakase. New York’s most affordably-priced sushi tasting — $35 for seven courses, $58 for 12 — finds a new home in Gotham West Market, alongside decadent add-ons, like Wagyu dogs drizzled with Kewpie mayo.

New York has entered an age of omakase, and here to cater to the wallet-friendly seekers is Chelsea’s Mojo Omakase. At a polished wooden counter, the sushi chefs lay out 12 courses — two appetizers and 10 pieces of nigiri — for an astonishing $65 price tag. Be warned: You’ve only got 60 minutes to enjoy it all.