The September Hit List: Foxface Natural, Uzuki, Al Coro, and More 

The sandwiches with a fervent following are gone, but you won’t miss them at this newest iteration of Foxface, which opened in April. Here, chef David Santos puts forth a menu that’s constantly changing and keeps you in suspense — in a good way — something that’s increasingly rarer to find post-pandemic when it’s safer for most chefs to simply play things safe. One night, you may find yourself uncoiling a single, lengthy raviolo filled with rich boudin noir. Another night, you might be snacking on hiramasa “pastrami,” or, if you’re lucky enough, inhaling their uni-laden ode to the famed malloreddus found at San Francisco’s La Ciccia. Throw in a killer list of decidedly natural wines, and you’ve got a spot worth seeking out.

Veteran chef Shuichi Kotani puts his soba-making skills on full display at this sleek, industrial-influenced restaurant in Greenpoint. Here soba is served in what is called kake style in some circles, in which broth or sauce are served in the same bowl as the noodles, versus being placed on the side. As for the noodles themselves, this is soba in its purest form — made entirely from buckwheat flour and water, in comparison to other versions that blend buckwheat and wheat flour. The result is nuttier and more intense. Signature dishes include a warm bowl of soba in a clear duck-based shio broth, and a deluxe sashimi soba with cold, matcha-infused noodles in a dashi broth. There’s also a smattering of Japanese small plates like soba-flavored chips and tofu, and even soba ice cream, plus some exclusive bottles of sake from Tsuki no Katsura, the oldest sake brewery in the Fushimi ward of Kyoto.

Uzuki is slated to open on Sept. 7. 

You’ve got approximately four months left to try one of the city’s best pasta tasting menus, period, and we implore you to go before Al Coro closes its doors permanently on Dec. 31. The five-course tasting, at $135 per person, is indeed a splurge, but it’s well worth it, with expertly executed pastas that stand out for their creativity, finesse, and flavor. The pasta tasting menu changes every six weeks, and on a recent visit, standouts included a cappelletti alla vodka (pictured above) with smoked ricotta and a spicy tomato vodka sauce, and a calamaretti with crisp cubes of cured lamb belly, green garlic, and pecorino. It’s not all pasta, either; there are a few surprises at the start and end of your meal, too. Get to it.

Likewise, you’ve only got a little over a month to stop by Takesushi, one of the city’s oldest sushi counters, before it closes in October. Originally opened in midtown Manhattan in 1974, this low-key gem of a sushi restaurant eventually made its way to Queens more than a decade ago, where chef and owner Robin Kawada serves the best fish he can find at the Fulton fish market in the Bronx. Don’t sleep on the chirashi and, if you really want to treat yourself, opt for the omakase, priced at $150 per person.

Call (718) 729-8253 to make a reservation. Note: Takesushi only accepts cash. 

Indian hawker cuisine is the main focal point of this new restaurant from the same team behind acclaimed Indian fine dining establishment Junoon. Jazba takes over the space once occupied by the original Momofuku Ssäm Bar, and it promises to be one of the season’s most exciting new openings. Some dishes to expect from chef Akshay Bhardwaj include Coorg Pandi (pork) curry, Ros omelet from Goa, and a shack-style fried fish.

Reservations are forthcoming on Resy. Jazba is slated to open in mid-September. 

New Haven-style pies get their due on the rooftop of one of the city’s best breweries. Lala’s Brooklyn Apizza specializes in a super-thin-crust pie made from house-milled malted wheat and a housemade sourdough ferment that’s baked in an Italian wood-fried oven. Seasonal pies not to be missed include the clam pie with little necks and a riesling butter sauce, a squash pie with squash medallions and squash blossoms, and the cozy pie, made with mashed potatoes and fermented cherry tomatoes. Better yet, you’ve got your pick of Grimm’s house line of natural wines, beers, and cocktails to pair with everything, too. Go now before rooftop season comes to a close.

Walk-ins only. 

The original Manhattan location of the famed Blue Hill has evolved into the backdrop for an ever-changing family-style menu of dishes that makes the most of what’s in season, and it’s well worth going to, especially if you happen to be dining with a crew. The four-course menu, priced at $145 per person, is never quite the same each day, but you might just find yourself savoring blueberry-glazed corn on the cob, tender cuts of beef topped with chanterelles and served alongside rösti potatoes, and the fluffiest whole-wheat pita breads with rye butter that tastes like toffee. Whatever you do, do save room for dessert, especially if it happens to be a deconstructed cheesecake with plum compote and wheat graham-cracker crisps.

One of our other favorite spots in the city for family-style feasting is Falansai, Eric Tran’s heartfelt tribute to his Vietnamese and Mexican heritage. The dac biet tasting menu, priced at $88 per person, is perfect for groups and changes all the time. One day, you might find yourself devouring banh xeo-style tacos and fresh oysters, and another might find you digging into green curry with grilled squid, and so much more. And even if you decide not to opt for the dac biet option, know that the à la carte choices are always fire, especially the confit duck necks and whole fish. If you don’t feel like taking in a whole meal, be sure to stop by and walk into the Bia Garden in the backyard — and don’t forget to order yourself a turnip cake burger, available only in the garden, while you’re at it.

Note: Falansai is closed from Sept. 3 to 7, but reopens on Sept. 8.

There are many incredible bakeries throughout the city — we have a whole guide to many of them right here — and A&C Super is a strong contender to be added to the list. This bakery/deli/and grocery is run by a pair of Craft veterans, pastry chef Abby Swain and front-of-house manager Chrissa Yee, and if you haven’t had one of the strawberry brioche donuts, jambon beurre, or croissants yet, what are you waiting for?

Walk-ins only. 

If you’re looking to stock up on pasta and jarred tomato sauces from Misi and Lilia chef Missy Robbins, head straight to her just-opened pasta shop/cafe/aperitivo bar. While you’re there, you can also order yourself some spaghetti with breadcrumbs and bottarga, as well as a grilled artichoke sandwich, some mozzarella in carroza, and a lovely cocktail, enjoying it in their lovely, sun-lit backyard. It might just be the next best thing to dining at, well, Lilia, or Misi.

You don’t want to miss this one-day pop-up event on Sept. 21 from chef Quan Ngo. Ngo, a former chef from Di An Di, is known for drawing from his Vietnamese American roots and upbringing in Flushing to create menus that celebrate a diversity of cultures. This time, he’s drawing from his memories of going to Korean community cookouts with friends, family trips to Northern Boulevard, and nights out spent devouring jokbal and golbaengi muchim (Korean whelk salad). Appropriately, expect to see a dish that combines Vietnamese snails with pork sausage, spicy picked rambutan, and Vietnamese balm, as well as some Vietnamese kimchi, and a dish of braised pork trotters in the style of Korean jokbal, with caramelized mam ruoc and Cognac.

Note: Grab your tickets here.