The July Hit List: Moono, Gertrude’s, Scarr’s Pizza, and More

Early reports are in, and by all accounts, it looks like Michelin-starred JUA chef Hoyoung Kim has yet another hit on his hands. In a town where we’re already very blessed with a variety of excellent Korean restaurants, Moono stands apart by offering an experience (and dishes) we haven’t quite encountered before: Pyongyang cold noodles, uni sotbap, and burdock ice cream, to name a few. Our advice? Make a Resy now before it gets tougher to get in.

Perhaps you know chef Eli Sussman from his memes. Perchance you’ve devoured many a bagel sandwich from Gertie. Regardless, you’ll want to be acquainted with this new Prospect Heights restaurant from the team behind Williamsburg’s Gertie. Similar to Gertie, Gertrude’s spotlights Jewish cuisine but also incorporates influences from iconic New York restaurants and beloved European bistros. It’s a truly New York bistro, if you will — one where you should keep an eye out for the spaetzle of the day, and save room for chocolate layer cake at the end.

PSA: Scarr’s Pizza takes reservations! Now that Scarr Pimentel’s quickly iconic slice joint has moved across the street to a slightly larger space, you can plan out your date with one of the city’s most beloved and highly esteemed pizzerias. You’re definitely going to want to order a few slices for yourself, as well as a side or two (we’re partial to the eggplant Parm). And if you’re feeling particularly inspired and ambitious, maybe take home some of their pizza dough or housemade, stone-milled flour, too?

It’s not every day that you get to dine at a sushi counter helmed by someone whom many consider a true legend, but that’s exactly what you’ll find at Sushi Ichimura. At this intimate 10-seat spot in Tribeca, the venerable Eiji Ichimura (Ichimura at Brushstroke, Uchu) holds court, still wowing diners with his masterful expertise in dry-aging fish. Yes, it’s an investment to dine here, but true sushi connoisseurs know you can’t put a price on an experience like this. Expect to see some of Ichimura’s signature dishes, like the uni caviar in a rice cracker, served as an appetizer, as well as new dishes he’s perfected, too.

Chef Nasrin Rejali’s American dream has finally come true with the opening of this, her own restaurant. The Iranian refugee, who made her way to New York in 2016 by way of Turkey, has amassed a following over the years as a private chef, known for her mastery of Persian cuisine and dishes like ash reshteh and ghormeh sabzi. Now, you can find those dishes, and much more, just a few blocks away from Central Park. We, for one, can’t wait to pay a visit.

Walk-ins only.

What was once Niche Niche, a dinner party destination in Soho, is now the site of the first international location of Roscioli, the famed Roman bakery, salumeria, and restaurant. In Rome, family-owned Roscioli is known as the quintessential Italian trattoria — a one-stop shop for all your food-and-drink needs, whether you’re seeking out gourmet ingredients, cured meats, cheese, wine, or pasta. Similarly, their outpost in New York will offer many of the same experiences, including an upstairs salumeria and a downstairs tasting menu.

Note: Roscioli’s downstairs tasting menu is now open and accepting reservations. The walk-ins only upstairs salumeria is slated to open later this month.

Summer is the ideal time to catch the ferry and head to Governors Island and these days, there’s more to do there than ever before. When you’re not at the spa, biking around the island, or exploring historic Fort Jay, consider feasting on some ceviche, sopes, and a cocktail or two over at Gitano Island. You might think you’re in Tulum once you settle in among the palm trees and the sand, but you won’t lose sight of the Manhattan skyline while you dine.

July calls for visits to the beach and should you find yourself in Brighton Beach, Tashkent Supermarket is a must. Here, you’ll find a veritable buffet of Uzbek specialties, from lagman noodles and lamb-filled samsa to salads, borscht, and manti. Take it to go and find yourself a perfect perch along the sand or the boardwalk, and enjoy.

Walk-ins only.

Aunts et Uncles excels at vegan, plant-based comfort food, perfect for leisurely brunches and laid-back dinners. So get going south of Prospect Park, and don’t sleep on the Tivoli taco, spiced with cumin and ground chiles, the So Simple sandwich, their riff on a chicken sandwich, or the bake and saltfish, made from hearts of palm. Make sure you check out their gift shop, too.

Yes, there are many incredible ice cream parlors in New York, but we think it’s time you checked out the city’s oldest, located on the corner of Metropolitan Avenue and 72nd Road in Queens. Since 1925, the family-owned ice cream shop has been serving up housemade, classic ice creams using recipes passed down through the generations. For summer, you won’t want to sleep on the signature peach or blueberry flavors. P.S. It’s also a 20-minute walk away from Forest Hills Stadium, should you find yourself there for a show this summer.

Walk-ins only.

The team behind Hunan Slurp in the East Village is also behind this new noodle shop in Long Island City where you can slurp on a variety of mifen (rice noodles), and bite into inventive dim sum, like salted-egg-filled fried pumpkin balls and durian puff pastry. For the summer, we can think of nothing more refreshing than ordering a bowl of chilled mifen, seasoned with soybean sauce and sesame, or a numbing mala ribs mifen.

Walk-ins only.