Back Open in New York: Pig & Khao, ACME, Michael’s, and More

Because acclaimed chef Meir Adoni bestows his delicious and contemporary takes on Middle Eastern food on NYC at this gem of a restaurant near Gramercy Park. Among the expert preparations are the (oversized) Jerusalem sesame bagel, smoked eggplant, scallop sashimi, and horias.

This latest iteration of Momofuku’s second restaurant sees it moving from the East Village to South Street Seaport — namely in the former Bar Wāyo space, and now helmed by Eunjo Park, the celebrated former chef behind now-closed Kāwi. Fans of both Ssäm Bar and Kāwi will find plenty to love here, as Park masterfully presents her take on a Korean restaurant in New York. Think soy-marinated salmon kimbap that takes inspiration from an everything bagel with lox and cream cheese, and an inventive chilli jam popcorn shrimp that plays on Korean fried chicken. The ssäm is always on point, and whatever you do, don’t sleep on the white-pepper wings.

The city’s rollicking ode to all southeast Asia. As it well should be: Dining at Pig & Khao feels like eating through the night markets and hawker stalls of the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and beyond. There’s hip-hop in the air and colorful plates heaped with all sorts of enticing street food. Pro tip: Get the coconut rice.

Tucked along Great Jones Street, ACME has been a fixture in this part of the Village since 2012 — its many iterations (do you remember the new Nordic phase?) now culminating in a new-American bistro. Make your way around the buzzy room and you’ll see tables wining and dining, spooning orbs of roasted bone marrow, and devouring tender duck ragu. Pro tip: Head downstairs for a more intimate cocktail experience, or for a revved-up version of the party. All depends on what time it is.

Romantic and inviting, Salinas is where you go to feel like you’ve booked yourself a first-class ticket to Barcelona or Madrid. Whether you settle into the tapas lounge and bar, the main dining room, or the lush garden in the back, you won’t forget chef-owner Luis Bollo’s cooking. A native of San Sebastian, he infuses traditional recipes with plenty of creativity, and a few surprises.

Since the late 1980’s, Michael’s is where Gotham’s media moguls (and everyday New Yorkers, too) love to gather for a power breakfast of egg whites, spinach, and citrus salad, or a power lunch of one of the city’s best-known Cobb salads. (P.S. Breakfast returns this fall.) Bottom line: Everyone feels like a somebody when they dine at Michael’s. Don’t miss out on perusing the restaurant’s impressive collection of contemporary art.

Stylish and sleek, here’s where to satisfy your craving for pan-Asian cooking when you’re on the far West Side. There’s a lot of joined inspiration coming out of the kitchen here — covering the diversity of Asian cuisines, and resulting in bicultural dishes like curried lamb momo, crab mac and cheese wonton, and Singaporean crab croquettes.