The New York Restaurants We Loved in November
This past month we continued our search for the coziest restaurants in New York and were rewarded richly, in addition to discovering some new spots we’ll most certainly add into our regular rotation. Another trend we noticed this month? Plenty of recs for nearby bars for an ideal pre- or post-meal drink.
Resy Staffer Spotlight: Noëmie Carrant
If there’s anyone at Resy who most embodies the Resy voice, it might just be senior writer Noëmie Carrant. For five years, she’s been crafting clever, witty, and insightful words about Resy restaurants and chefs across the country and, lucky for us (and you especially) doling out some of the best recs in the process.
Noëmie describes herself as the kind of diner who “over orders and eats a little bit too much” but that’s only because she understands (like you) that “dining out is one of life’s greatest pleasures.” That was something she learned firsthand from her family, all of whom are involved in the food business; her French dad works in wine and her Taiwanese American mom owns a cookie shop in Paris (where Noëmie grew up), her French grandparents were charcutiers, and her fiancé is a chef and partner of Jōji, one of New York’s newest Michelin-starred sushi omakase spots. That uniquely tri-cultural, food-oriented upbringing has certainly influenced her tastes, but if there’s one piece of advice she’d want to share with other New Yorkers, it’s this: “It’s always fun to try the hottest and latest places in New York, but a good neighborhood spot that you can go to time and again will never fail you.” Here’s a closer look at her favorite spots.
A Restaurant For All Seasons: Dirt Candy
They’re one of the few restaurants in the city that really surprises and delights me — it sounds cheesy, but it’s absolutely true. What Amanda Cohen and her team do with vegetables is so mind blowing and delicious, and every time I go — I try to go once per season — I’ve never been disappointed. They’ve done takes on chopped cheese, soup dumplings, and so many other dishes. And the staff there is just lovely. They just celebrated their 15th anniversary, and I hope they are here for many years to come. It’s one of the most fun New York City restaurants and they should really be up there with all the other big names.
A Restaurant For a Splurge: Luthun
For a fancy tasting menu that’s out of the ordinary, I like Luthun a lot (definitely book the chef’s counter). The chefs, Nahid Ahmed and Arjuna Bull, have this really interesting background that’s reflected in their cooking — so many tasting menus always play the same Wagyu and caviar notes, but this one is different, and I really appreciate the Southeast Asian ingredients and flavors they incorporate. It’s definitely for a splurge though, but it’s honestly one of the more unique tasting menus I’ve had.
For When I Want a Taste of Home in Paris: Le Crocodile and Bar Bête
I like Le Crocodile a lot because it’s a beautiful dining room but it’s also a 10-minute walk from my place. And I will always be forever in love with their roast chicken and fries, a killer and truly delicious combo. They do these skinny fries that I really like (allumettes in French) and the chicken comes drenched in herb jus: it’s the best sauce-sopping experience you can have. The dish itself just feels very simple, indulgent, and French to me.
If I lived closer to Bar Bête though, I would go there all the time. I think it really encapsulates what I miss most about dining back home in Paris, the bistronomie vibe and scene. Think really delicious seasonal cooking that always has amazing sauces. The staff is wonderful and their wines are really, really good.
My Go-To Canteen: Soothr
Soothr feels like a very New York spot: It’s always a fun vibe, the dining room is packed, and the staff there is the friendliest, coolest-looking, best-dressed staff in New York City. The Thai food here is just so soulful and comforting and nourishing. I always order the same thing over and over again, which is the koong karee (shrimp curry). When I first had it, it kind of blew my mind. And the nam tok (pork blood noodle soup) is really delightful, as is their amazing duck curry. I’m really excited for their second location to open soon.
The Perfect Bar for a Drink (and Great Food): Martiny’s
It’s my favorite bar in the city. (I also love Double Chicken Please, but it is nearly impossible to get into now.) Owner Takuma Watanabe really knows how to make a drink. He was the head bartender at Angel’s Share for 10 years and his cocktails are just out of this world. I love the Tea Ceremony cocktail there, and their martini with sake and blue cheese. I’m a bit biased, but my fiancé did the food menu, and it’s got fun bar bites you don’t see anywhere else, like deep-fried Japanese river crabs and burrata topped with trout roe. It’s a very cozy, lovely hideaway from the city that’s just steps away from the chaos that’s Union Square. Everyone there feels like family. It’s like a cozy living room away from my own living room.
For a Taste of Taiwan: Wenwen and Taiwanese Gourmet
First off, Wenwen has the best bathroom in all of New York City, with its disco lights and 80’s Canto pop playlist. But I also really like their vision of modern Taiwanese food that’s anchored in the flavors that I’m familiar and grew up with — I had lots of “Ratatouille” flashback moments tasting five-spice here and there. I love their vegetable dishes; the water spinach with shrimp paste and the pea shoots with tofu skin are so delicious. And they also have my favorite dessert in the city, a riff on a Taiwanese night market snack with tangyuan and ice cream that’s proof that cilantro belongs in desserts.
For more traditional Taiwanese food, I go to Taiwanese Gourmet in Elmhurst, which is just comfort by the spoonful. Their fly’s head is always impeccable. Every time I go there, the staff is eating family meal, having a great time, and going through beautiful plates of seafood, and if that’s not a sign of a well-cared for restaurant, I don’t know what is. Other favorites are the oyster omelet, stinky tofu, three-cup chicken, pork blood cake, and of course, the fried pork chop.
Few things bring me as much joy as …
The disco fries from Thai Diner. That being said, we also had George’s egg sandwich, Uncle Boon’s khao pat puu, Thai tea babka French toast, and Uncle Boon’s famous coconut sundae. What I loved most about the meal was the energy at Thai Diner. It’s got a beautiful interior and it’s tough to beat that energy when a restaurant is packed during a Sunday morning brunch. Additionally, the food and service are top notch. I would certainly recommend leaving some room for dessert.
— Evan Stein, Senior Regional Sales Director, NYC
I was lucky enough to go to the friends-and-family preview dinner for …
Figure Eight, the new spot in the West Village from Silver Apricot partner Emmeline Zhao, and it was so good. The menu is perfect for sharing; it’s not the kind of place where you want to just order one dish per person. The menu is really innovative and really makes seafood the star, but the soy poached chicken was, hands down, my favorite. The Nashville hot skate was a super unique take and had a ton of kick. The razor clams were super fresh, the lobster rolls were perfectly buttery, and the hush puppy HK egg waffle was out of this world; I had to ask them to take it away so I didn’t eat the whole thing by myself. If you’re a fan of Silver Apricot, this place is another home run.
— Alison Pantano, Experiential
I am a regular at Up Thai on the Upper East Side …
And it is, without a doubt, a neighborhood gem. I go often, but this month it really hit the spot. Everything I have eaten there is good, but this time around we ordered the crab fried rice (my favorite dish there), pad see ew with beef, and green curry with chicken. My cocktail of choice was the Thai espresso martini with Mr. Black and it was so good. Up Thai is just consistently a quality meal, as you can always tell by the long line of people trying to get in and the delivery bikes waiting to pick up all the to-go orders. This was my first time trying the green curry and the Thai espresso martini, and both will absolutely be added to my rotation. My advice is to try to snag a reservation or put your name on the waitlist (you can do so on Resy) before you get there, because there’s always a long wait for walk-ins.
— Laura Ackerman, B2C Media and Partnerships
On a chilly Friday night …
A few friends and I met in Alphabet City for a drink at Accidental Bar before dinner at Thirteen Water. Even if you don’t identify as a sake person, you should add Accidental Bar to your Hit List — the staff is so welcoming and will find a varietal you’re bound to love. A quick two-minute walk away, Thirteen Water was the perfect second stop. All guests are served a 13-course, $75 omakase menu, and the space is cozy and intimate. The night I was there, the entire room ended up singing “Happy Birthday” to one of the diners!
— Alex Johnson, Senior Manager, Marketing
When you want something a bit different from all the other French spots in the city …
I’d go to Café Chelsea where the ambiance, scene, vibe, and crowd really stands out. And that ravioli sheet, too. If you’re looking for a prime time Resy, I’d recommend using the Resy Notify. Also, order the chocolate soufflé ahead of time (it takes 30 minutes) and check out the Lobby Bar next door if there’s a wait.
— Erika Greengarten, Restaurant Success Manager
If you’re looking for something cozy and sleek …
With a sexy ambiance and incredible pasta, I’d head to Carlotto. I’d recommend ordering a couple of pastas to share, especially the casarecce Calabrese with spicy ‘nduja, datterini tomatoes, basil and stracciatella; tortelli di zucca with butternut squash, brown butter, sage, and amaretti; and the tagliatelle ragù cinghiale, featuring slow-cooked wild boar and parmigiano.
— Callie Randall, Premium Loyalty Strategy Manager
A quick trip back to New York City …
Immediately had me feeling run down, but a liquid-forward dinner at Bonnie’s was good for the body and soul. The gai tong (chicken broth with ginger), gerng jook (congee), and chrysanthemum tea warmed my belly for an outdoor dinner on a crisp fall night.
— Matt Glassett, Data and Analytics Manager
After a decade in New York …
It was time for a special occasion farewell dinner for a dear friend leaving New York City (and the States!) at Gage & Tollner. We made our way through a hefty list of “must go” and “must return to” restaurants before she left, among which needed to be a classic New York steakhouse establishment where we could dress up and drink martinis. Gage & Tollner perfectly fit the bill. We leaned into the kitschy cocktails and decor of The Sunken Harbor Club upstairs before indulging in onion rings, creamed spinach, and a beautiful piece of steak while cozied up in a red velvet booth downstairs. There was something extra satisfying about clearing a massive T-Bone with two other women.
— Isabelle Andrews, Director, Technical Product
I love how I had the ability to eat …
Two of my favorite staples at once — oxtail and pasta —when I dined at Lagano Bar & Restaurant in Astoria. The menu is a bit cuisine agnostic but leans heavily into Eastern Europe. I started with chimichurri steak bites and then transitioned to my main, an oxtail cavatelli, paired with a glass of merlot. My one piece of advice? Don’t be like me and skip dessert; that’s what to-go boxes are for, after all. I loved how Lagano has something for everyone, no matter how adventurous (or not) you are with your tastebuds, too. I’m still on a mission to find more neighborhood gems and I’m looking forward to trying some of the other enticing dishes on the menu.
— Chelsea Diakite, Analyst, Brand Strategy & Growth
We ordered a ton of stuff …
For our product and engineering team dinner at Khe-Yo: the Nong-Khai-style pho, papaya salad, pork spring roll, sweet chile chicken, and spareribs. Everything was delicious and unique. The pho and sweet chile chicken were our favorites. What we loved most about the meal was the incredible service — they brought us extra bottles of wine — and it’s just such a great spot for a group dinner. There are lots of large, shareable plates, and it’s easy to get a table, even at the last minute. Pro tip: Grab a drink at Weather Up either before or after your meal; it’s a great combo.
— Julie Arditti, Restaurant Product Manager
Nothing ever beats …
A bowl of pasta on a cold night, and the ones at Ammazzacaffè always satisfy. If you’re hungry, the correct number of pastas you’re ordering for a table of two is three, and one of those needs to be the gramigna, a delightful pasta in the shape of a curl, which comes with housemade sausage, cherry peppers, and broccoli pesto (yum). Pro tip: There’s live jazz every Sunday night from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
— Noëmie Carrant, Senior Writer, Resy Editorial
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Exactly a year ago …
My group of friends and I all met at Rolo’s, the results of a random friends of friends’ invite/get-together, and since then we’ve become each other’s go-to group for Resy invites and more. So, of course, we had to return to Rolo’s this year for our one-year anniversary. The signature chile polenta bread is to die for, and well, we underestimated the cheeseburger from the looks and sound of it, but it might be one of the best I’ve had in the city. The grilled onions with Dijonnaise and pickled long hot pepper just melt in your mouth. We had to share just one cheeseburger among the six of us because it has limited availability, so definitely go early and snatch it.
— Felicity Lin, Senior B2B Marketing Analyst
Everything was a 10 out of 10 …
When we dined at I Sodi. We ordered the steak tartare and bread basket to start, then moved on to the white truffle pasta from the daily specials and the famous meat lasagna. The food, vibe, and service was great. My pro tips? Walk in early on a weeknight to get in without a reservation! I put my name down around 5:40 p.m. and was seated in 30 minutes. They also own a great bar, Bar Pisellino, right around the corner, where you can wait for your table.
— Sami Lieberman, Senior Software Engineer
A recent pop-up at Hana Makgeolli …
Reminded me just how much I miss Porcelain, and chef Kate Telfeyan’s incredibly inventive, heartfelt, “vaguely Asian” cooking. For just one night in late October she served up a delightful menu of mashups: pumpkin dumpling soup with a pumpkin broth and chile-spiced pepitas; chestnut chicken with rice porridge and pickled chile; and a hungry human plate with housemade soondae patties, fried eggs, and potato jeon. My favorite dishes of the night were the tuna melt tteok, featuring a griddled rice cake topped with tuna and melted American cheese, and the pork cheek sujebi in brown butter. I can only hope she lands somewhere in the new year where I can visit more regularly but until then, I’ll be following her various pop-ups throughout the city.
— Deanna Ting, New York Editor, Resy Editorial
We ate almost the entire menu …
At The Polo Bar. I have been trying to score a reservation at The Polo Bar since I started working for Resy almost five years ago, and it was the perfect place to meet my mom’s boyfriend for the first time. The plaid pillows, classic velvet drapes, and all the equestrian memorabilia had me in awe, while all the food kept us very full: pigs in a blanket, crab cakes, shrimp cocktail, dover sole, bone-in ribeye, the Polo burger, sundae, Polo brownie, and coconut cake. Oh, and plenty of vespers, smoking jackets, and martinis, too.
— Lane Allen, Product Marketing
Every time I come to Barbuto …
I have to order the insalata di cavolo; it’s absolutely delicious. During lunch they also serve an amazing smoked salmon pizza with avocado and crème fraiche; it’s incredibly tasty and the perfect pairing for that kale salad I can never get enough of.
— Callie Randall, Premium Loyalty Strategy Manager
Deanna Ting is Resy’s New York Editor. Some of her other favorite meals this month took place at Sailor and Gem Wine. Follow her on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). Follow Resy, too.
