The Resy Hit List: Where In New York You’ll Want to Eat in Dec. 2024
There’s no question we hear more often: Where should I go eat? And while we at Resy know it’s an honor to be the friend who everyone asks for restaurant advice, we also know it’s a complicated task. That’s where the Resy Hit List comes in.
We’ve designed it to be your essential resource for dining in New York City: a monthly updated (and expanded!) guide to the restaurants that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Five Things In NYC Not to Miss This Month
- Holiday Happenings: There’s also no shortage of holiday-themed events to take part in this month. After checking out Rockefeller Center in holiday mode, head to Le Rock, Naro, Lodi, Smith & Mills, or 5 Acres. Multitask your shopping and dining needs over at L’Avenue at Saks, Le Café Louis Vuitton, or the Blue Box Café at Tiffany & Co. Take the kids to Malibu Farm on Dec. 7 and 21 for brunch with Santa. Stop by The Dead Rabbit’s Jingle Jangle pop-up over at Pier 17 for some drinks and maybe squeeze in some ice skating on the rooftop. Order yourself a frozen Candy Stripe at Leyenda during its holiday pop-up, Sleyenda. Check out Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Lightscape light show, and then grab a meal at Yellow Magnolia Café’s Lightscape Lodge. And on Sundays this month at Bar Blondeau, stop by for a special holiday tea.
- Start Making Those New Year’s Eve Plans: Before you know it, 2025 will be upon us but first … celebration. Some suggestions: Ring in the new year with a three-course feast and live jazz over at The Django. Splurge on some sushi omakase from Shota Omakase. Have yourself a Portuguese feast over at Leitao. Celebrate with a Middle Eastern spread of dishes at Shuka’s annual Night in Marrakesh feast. Join the disco party happening over at The Bar Room at The Beekman. Or celebrate with a ceremonial-style Thai set feast ($75 per person) over at Kru. Find even more New Year’s events here.
- Dine Out For a Good Cause: On Thursday, Dec. 5, Sylvia’s is hosting its Sylvia & Herbert Woods Scholarship Foundation Fundraising Dinner, benefiting local students in the Harlem community. And every weekend this month at Central Park, The Migrant Kitchen is hosting its Winter Wonderland event on the north side of 65th Street, with cozy cabins serving up drinks and snacks ranging from sweet potato empanadas and holiday popcorn to hot chocolate and horchata lattes. Sales will benefit the Migrant Kitchen Initiative.
- Caviar Wishes Come True: If you’re looking to indulge in caviar this holiday season, you’re in luck. The Fulton by Jean-Georges is hosting a splurge-worthy night of Champagne and caviar on Dec. 9. Over at Marky’s Caviar, you can treat yourself to a carefully curated plate of caviar and accoutrements (salted French butter, Doritos, cucumbers, and more) that’s perfect for sharing, called The Danielle Service, through Dec. 31. And at Lucky’s – Soho, they offer discounted Petrossian caviar service every Sunday from 5 to 11 p.m.
- New on Resy: Celebrate the holiday season by checking out New York’s latest restaurant openings before everyone else catches on. Some suggestions: For creative drinks, enticing snacks, and a great playlist, head to Laziza in Bed-Stuy. For an all-day café that won’t disappoint, Leon’s near Union Square fits the bill. For sushi and/or pasta, consider Aqua NYC in Flatiron. We’ve got plenty more recs here.
New to the Hit List (December 2024)
Kiko, M. Wells, Passerine, Kancil, Smithereens, Cafe Rue Dix, Acru, Bridges, Time and Tide, Hani’s, Nin Hao
1. Kiko Hudson Square
At first glance, Kiko doesn’t seem particularly revolutionary, but once you go, you’ll understand how it quietly changes your understanding of “New American” cuisine. Chef Alex Chang takes familiar dishes — crab hand rolls, fried chicken wings, roasted duck — and transforms them into something exemplary. Spicy crab-fat mayonnaise melts perfectly into a mixture of sushi rice and meaty chunks of Dungeness crab. Makrut lime leaf, sansho peppers, and green peppercorns enliven a crisp thrice-fried chicken wing. Succulent roast duck accompanies a satisfying nabe consisting of hand-torn noodles swimming in spicy sesame and soymilk broth. They’re all touches of a chef who doesn’t just draw from his varied experiences, but also knows how to distill the very best of them into a dish. And it doesn’t hurt that the vibes — and service — are warm and inviting, whether you want a quick solo meal at the bar or an intimate date night.
2. M. Wells Long Island City
We implore you to get to M. Wells as soon as you can — because on Dec. 31, New York’s most beloved unconventional steakhouse and bistro is closing its doors. That means just a few more days to savor the brilliance of chef Hugue Dufour’s cooking. Right now, it includes a fig tarte tatin with foie gras, and a mortadella mille-feuille, as well as mushroom and squash stuffed cabbage and Montreal smoked-meat ravioli. Dining with a crew? Consider the tête de porcelet, an entire half of a pig’s head dressed richly in mushrooms and cornichons and roasted to perfection. And order yourself the coconut cake slice and apple pie for dessert. Whatever you do, don’t delay in paying this singularly special pioneer a visit.
3. Kisa Lower East Side
Dining at Kisa is simply a delight. Allow us to list the reasons why. First, you don’t have to overthink it: You’re limited to just four entree choices — bulgogi, spicy pork, stir-fried squid, and a vegetarian bibimbap — all of which are excellent (although we’re partial to the pork and squid). Second, it’s arguably one of the best deals in town: $32 for a dinner entree, plus endless refills of several seasonally rotating banchan, plus soup and rice. Lunch (walk-ins only for now), served Friday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., is also a steal, priced at $18 for gamjatang (Korean pork bone stew) or $17 for donkatsu (deep-fried breaded pork cutlet), plus accompanying banchan. And third, there’s the warmth of a dining room that charms with thoughtful details that nod to the restaurant’s namesake kisa sikdang: Korean taxi-driver restaurants.
4. Passerine Flatiron
There’s no shortage of incredible Indian restaurants here in New York City at this very moment, and Passerine is a welcome addition to the scene. Helmed by chef Chetan Shetty, formerly of D.C.’s Rania and New York’s Indian Accent, it continues the Indian fine dining tradition launched years ago by counterparts like Junoon, and it’s not afraid to mix in truly global influences to delicious effect. Take, for example, the scallion uttapam with aged Comté (served in the walk-ins-only drawing room), the grilled oysters topped with a savory Ajwain masala hollandaise, or the blue corn bhakri, reminiscent of handmade tortillas, served with brown butter. Our ideal order would likely include all of the above, plus savory lamb cheela, hay-smoked dayboat scallops in a coconut moilee, and the pistachio cremeux.
5. Kancil Upper West Side
It’s been six long years since chef Simpson Wong has been cooking regularly in New York, and his return couldn’t come soon enough. What was once Wau, Salil Mehta’s Upper West Side ode to Southeast Asian street food, has been transformed into Kancil (pronounced kan-chil), a showcase for Wong’s take on Malaysian cuisine. Over the years, Wong has built a reputation for fusing Asian cooking traditions with greenmarket sourcing, and that’s put on full display. Puyuh goreng (fried quail) is perfectly crisp thanks to an exceedingly light rice flake crust. Lala bee hoon, a vermicelli noodle soup with fresh clams, is wholly restorative. Handmade abacus beads (taro and butternut squash dumplings with the consistency of mochi) are paired with a flavorful duxelles of fresh mushrooms. For lucky Upper West Siders, this is an ideal neighborhood gem; for those of us further afield, it’s well worth the trek.
6. Smithereens East Village
The heady aroma of browned butter that wafts through the air is a portent of what awaits you at this new subterranean spot from Claud alum, chef Nicholas Tamburo, and Momofuku Ko alum, Nikita Malhotra. Smithereens is a celebration of New England-style seafood, from the anadama bread served with seaweed butter (a must) to the creamy yet light hake and clams, a deconstructed version of clam chowder. Other standouts include the beets with seaweed and rose oil, with its variety of different textures; the unctuous beans with red shrimp, squid, sea urchin; and for dessert, the mind-bending celery ice cream float topped with marinated cherries and a drizzle of coffee oil. If you love white wine, Malhotra’s fondness for riesling puts you in good company; but there are other playful options, including cocktails. (Order the Ben Affleck; trust us.)
7. Theodora Fort Greene
The list of New York City restaurants touting the magic of dry-aged fish keeps growing (we see you, Time and Tide), and over at Theodora it’s put on full display, literally. But it’s not just seafood that’s drawing crowds to this bustling spot from chef Tomer Blechman (Miss Ada). It’s also the warm, welcoming service, and the fact that the menu has a little something for everyone. Our ideal order? Anything from the crudo section of the menu, followed by za’atar kubaneh and some hummus topped with monkfish liver and ‘nduja, an order of wood-fired greens, and either one of the whole-roasted fish or the lamb. Don’t sleep on the desserts, either.
8. Cafe Rue Dix Crown Heights
Now that it’s officially cozy season, you should definitely keep Cafe Rue Dix in your rotation of cozy locales. Why? Because you’re bound to feel right at home the moment you pull up a chair at this Senegalese-French restaurant, a neighborhood staple for more than a decade. With its cozy bistro-inspired setting, and hearty mix of fare, you’re bound to leave feeling full and satisfied. Our favorite picks? A steamy platter of thiebou djeun (Senegal’s national dish of jollof rice and fish), the spicy mafe (beef stew cooked with a creamy peanut butter sauce), and steak frites, paired with some café Touba (traditional Senegalese coffee blended with spices).
9. Phở Gà Vàng Chinatown
If you’re a firm believer in the restorative powers of a bowl of chicken soup, this relatively tiny storefront in Two Bridges, with other locations in Virginia, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Vegas, is a must visit. Their chicken broth is clear yet rich and flavorful and honestly one of the best in the city. As the name indicates, Phở Gà Vàng is first and foremost, a chicken phở specialist, but don’t let that deter you from ordering their platters of rice and vermicelli noodles, either. They’ve also got beef phở on the menu, too.
Walk-ins only.
10. Bridges Chinatown
Over in Chinatown’s old Hop Shing space, you’ll find chef Sam Lawrence, formerly of Estela, pulling from a multitude of global influences — French, Basque, Japanese, Cantonese — to create standout dishes that are both familiar yet unique. If you love Estela, chances are very likely you’ll feel the same about Bridges. (And the crowds indicate that’s a lot of you.) Yes, the Comté tart topped with chanterelles indeed lives up to the hype, as does a delicate egg custard topped with sea urchin and shrimp. Vin Jaune gelato with passionfruit is a non-negotiable. The dimly lit, sleek dining room only adds to the experience of it all.
11. ACRU West Village
While it’s only been open since October, Acru is the sort of place that feels like it’s been open for years — a testament to warm hospitality, and the assuredness of the cooking from Atomix alum Daniel Garwood’s kitchen. In keeping with their vision of bistronomie cuisine with a decidedly Australian influence (Garwood hails from Tasmania), plus Scandinavian and Korean references, Acru keeps its prices relatively affordable. (The tasting menu is $95 with two optional supplements.) Current standouts include monkfish liver pate surrounded by a spiced carrot broth, tile fish served with crisp chicken skin and a chrysanthemum sauce, and brûléed golden haytime ice cream bars. If you’re keen to dine à la carte, that’s also an option for the walk-ins-only bar.
12. Time and Tide Rose Hill
The newest restaurant from Kent Hospitality Group (Crown Shy, Saga) bills itself as a steakhouse for seafood lovers, and it certainly hits that target. Executive chef Danny Garcia and pastry chef Renata Ameni have fun playing with steakhouse tropes and seafood ingredients. There’s the gigantic goldfish cracker that really does taste like an even more buttery version of Red Lobster’s famed cheddar bay biscuits. And there’s the longfin squid charred over a binchotan grill and sauced with creamy cacio e pepe. A showstopping halibut pithivier with mushroom duxelles pairs perfectly with T&T’s housemade vin jaune cream, and grilled prawns, head on, shine when laced with a flavorful mussel butter.
13. Hani’s Cooper Square
If you’ve ever loved the chocolate chunk cookies from Gramercy Tavern, or pined for the peanut-butter-and-jelly layer cake they used to serve over at the now-closed Untitled at the Whitney, you’ll definitely want to head to this new bakery from acclaimed pastry chef Miro Uskokovic and his partner, Shilpa Uskokovic. Together, they’ve put together a bakery that entwines much of their backgrounds: Russian medovik, or honey cake, something Miro grew up eating in his native Balkans, is on the menu, as are plum butter lekvar-filled rugelach. Masala chai references Shilpa’s Indian heritage. The only difficulty you might have is deciding which of the Uskovics’ treats you’ll want to purchase, but that’s what return visits are for.
Walk-ins only. More info here.
14. Borgo Flatiron
More than two decades after restaurateur Andrew Tarlow forever changed the Brooklyn dining scene with Diner, followed by a slew of hits that include Roman’s, Marlow & Sons, and Achilles Heel, he’s now crossed the river into Manhattan and if we’re being honest, it’s a very welcome addition to the neighborhood. The same throughline of detail, care, and attention to craft that you find at each of his Brooklyn venues also finds its way at Borgo, albeit on a slightly grander, more grown-up scale, cozy wood-burning fireplace included. The food aims to comfort, and it succeeds, from the fluffiest focaccia and creamy fava puree to savory beef heart spiedini offset with a Thomcord grape sauce and a showstopping timballo.
15. Nin Hao Prospect Heights
New York has been in a long-term relationship with Chinese food since the late 1800s, but for most of that time, the focus has primarily been on Cantonese and Sichaunese traditions. This newcomer upends that by putting a spotlight on Fujianese cuisine, known for its seafood dishes and complex flavors. Tender beef short ribs draw inspiration from nearby Sunset Park; seafood pancakes include “Fujianese immigrant oysters” and dried seaweed; steamed whole fish is served alongside silken tofu and pickled greens. It serves all of this against a contemporary backdrop that’s got high floor-to-ceiling glass windows draped in curtains, a 12-foot-long aquarium behind the bar, and a uniquely eclectic playlist. Another standout tidbit? The ever-rotating, guest sommelier-curated wine list.
16. Dirt Candy Lower East Side
Is there anything chef-owner Amanda Cohen can’t do? She’s a pioneer of vegetable-forward cooking who’s also intent on building a better restaurant industry, and we are the beneficiaries of her talents and efforts. Every season, Dirt Candy debuts a new tasting menu, offered both in a vegetarian and vegan version, priced at $105 per person; each one is as creative as the next, from takes on chopped cheese and soup dumplings to zucchini takoyaki and a spinach millefeuille. And it’s an especially opportune time to pay a visit to this longtime New York destination because Dirt Candy is celebrating its sweet 16th birthday. In fact, we’ve got a look at some of the restaurant’s most iconic dishes from the past few years here.