The Resy Hit List: Where In New York You’ll Want to Eat in Oct. 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
- When Wine Is in the Plan: Consider getting a ticket for Le Crocodile’s intimate family-style feast in their private cellar on Oct. 8 where they’ll be showcasing wines from Alsace. And save the date of Oct. 23 for a very special wine takeover and menu over at Kru: Popina’s James O’Brien and sommelier Jeff Porter will be pouring wines that pair perfectly with a special one-night-only menu of Italian-inspired Thai dishes. ICYMI: Check out our interview with Claud and Penny’s Chase Sinzer on the state of wine in NYC here.
- Dance and Feast the Night Away: Cosme is celebrating its 10th birthday with a glamorous takeover of the iconic Rainbow Room, complete with live performances with famed cumbia group La Sonora Dinamita on Oct. 18. Get your tickets here.
- We’ll Toast to That: Wondering where (and what) to drink as the air turns crisp? Check out our guide to all the fall drinks you’ll want to have this season. And if you’re looking for someplace new, head to NoMad and make a Resy for Clemente Bar, the new upstairs bar from Eleven Madison Park, or The Riff Raff Club, for hard-to-beat rooftop views and one-of-a-kind drinks from a veteran mixologist.
- New on Resy: Lucky for you, we’re in peak fall opening season, and that means plenty of new restaurants to check out, from a newly revived and nearly 100-year-old diner (Kellogg’s Diner) to a new destination for Fujianese cuisine in Prospect Heights (Nin Hao). Head here for all the latest new openings in New York
- Get Cozy: From the coziest of restaurants to the coziest noodle soups, we’ve got you covered as sweater weather arrives.
New to the Hit List (September 2024)
Corima, Kisa, Dirt Candy, SEA, Nepali Bhanchha Ghar, Naro, Radio Kwara, and Phoenix Palace.
1. Corima Chinatown
Whether you drop by for an à la carte spread or a tasting menu (nine courses for $110), you won’t want to leave without an order of fresh, housemade flour tortillas. They’re the perfect vehicle for savoring many of Contra alum Fidel Caballero’s dishes, but you also wouldn’t be at fault for devouring them unadorned with anything but the accompanying richly spiced recado negro butter. Corima’s strengths lie in Caballero’s ability to draw from so many different influences and sources, and meld them beautifully with the cuisine of Northern Mexico, having spent most of his childhood between El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez . And it’s wonderful to see the restaurant finally getting its due. Pro tip: If you don’t mind trying something unexpected when it comes to cocktails, you’ll be richly rewarded with an order of the uni gin sour.
2. Sawa Park Slope
These days, there’s no dearth of restaurants plumbing the depths of the Levantine region — and doing so exceedingly well — but Sawa, a relative newcomer in Park Slope, stands out. There’s just something about the light but expert touch to the Lebanese cooking there, combined with the light-filled dining room (and the expansive backyard patio) that makes it so inviting and exciting. Our perfect order? Start with the hummus (the optional wagyu beef cheeks are a nice touch) and the baba ghanoush, then make your way into the meze section for a refreshing gem salad sprinkled with bits of halloumi, savory rakakat cheese rolls, rich kibbeh nayeh, and octopus that’s cooked to perfection. Follow it all up with either the whole roasted fish or lamb chops, and you’re set.
3. Bungalow East Village
This hit from acclaimed chef Vikas Khanna is proof positive that the city’s reverence for Indian cuisine continues to grow. Reminiscent of the clubhouses found throughout India during the British Raj, Bungalow invites you in with all your senses. Khanna’s cooking thoughtfully and elegantly represents lesser-known regions of India. You can’t go wrong with whatever you order, but do take note of these non-negotiables: yogurt kebabs, crisp on the outside and filled with creamy hung yogurt, paired with a fermented purple cabbage puree; and a stunning spice-roasted pineapple with a coconut sauce. Cocktails aren’t an afterthought, either; try the Chai Pani, which took more than two months to perfect.
P.S. Here are some tips for how to get a table.
4. Le Veau d’Or Lenox Hill
Satisfy your opposing desires for nostalgia and something new: A visit to Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson’s loving and long-awaited rebirth of the city’s oldest French bistro is everything you’d expect it to be. Continuing the city’s long-held love affair with French food, it captures all the timeless charm of a dining out in a New York French bistro in a way that can be best described as simply joyful. The $125 menu is prix fixe, but you should know your options are not at all limited, with more than 30 different dishes from which to choose. Our personal favorites? The pâté en croûte; fricassée chicken “en cocotte” vin jaune; gigôt of lamb with coco beans; the peach tarte tatin; and île flottante. Pair it all with a martini (their way), any of the low-intervention wines, and a digestive Trou Normand shot before dessert.
5. 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.
6. Naks East Village
When Naks first opened at the end of last year, it offered two menus: a robust kamayan tasting menu and an à la carte one. Nowadays, they’ve switched to fully à la carte. What hasn’t changed is that chef and owner Eric Valdez is doing is some of the city’s most exciting cooking, presenting Filipino cuisine and culture in a deeply personal way that’s also delicious. If you haven’t been yet, or perhaps it’s been a while, consider this your reminder to make a Resy as soon as possible. The Soup No. 5, pritong itik (duck), and ginataang alimango (crab) are especially good at dinner. For brunch, we’re partial to any of the Filipino breakfast options; pair it with some ensaladadang mangga (some salad for health, you know?). And don’t sleep on the drinks, especially the Puto Bumbong, with margarine-washed coconut Tequila and an Eden cheese foam on top, or the refreshing, alcohol-free Taho with delicate tapioca pearls.
7. Eel Bar Lower East Side
Should you be in search of some excellent bar fare, bookmark this newcomer from the same folks behind Cervo’s, The Fly, and Hart’s. More Basque-leaning than its sibling restaurants, Eel Bar has all the classic and contemporary-style tapas you’d want, from gildas and fried mussels on the half shell to creamy potato salad with trout roe and marinated peppers and anchovies. Save room for the meatballs and fries and/or the Roquefort-and-anchovy-anointed cheeseburger. And do consider pairing all of it with one of their prepared vermouths, whether you opt for a wet martini or a Sharona with manzanilla sherry. Our favorite pro move? Ordering some Minnow cod liver conservas and pairing them with some sourdough — the perfect pairing, if you ask us.
8. Cafe Mado Prospect Heights
Crown Heights is blessed with two destination-worthy all-day cafes (see also Agi’s Counter), and trust us when we say this newcomer from the same team behind Oxalis and Place des Fêtes is worth seeking out, whether you’re just popping in for some coffee and pastries in the morning, a mid-day meal of sandwiches, or a full spread of small plates for dinner. The menu changes all the time, depending heavily on what locally foraged ingredients they have on hand, but a few of our favorites include the pissaladière; blackened yuba; hake pil pil; and the fries with herbs de Provence. Save room for dessert, too.
9. Sushi Oku NYC Lower East Side
There’s no shortage of sushi omakase spots in New York City, but it’s not every day that you’ll find a sushi omakase counter inside what used to be a pizzeria. That’s the setup at Sushi Oku, which occupies the old Scarr’s Pizza space on Orchard Street. The decór inside is more or less the same as before — like a ’70s-era pizza shop — though you’ll likely notice some of the accents surrounding the stark white eight-seat sushi counter have changed to trappings from Japan. While discerning omakase goers might feel inclined to dismiss these trappings as a bit of contrivance, they really shouldn’t; executive chef Kei Yoshino takes his craft seriously, and it shows throughout the delightful 17-course omakase ($165 per person). If you’re so inclined, do splurge on the sake and wine pairing; you won’t regret it.
10. Dirt Candy Lower East Side
Photo by Aaron Richter for Resy
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.
Photo by Aaron Richter for Resy
11. SEA Chelsea
SEA is the kind of restaurant that plays with your expectations — in the best possible way. The passion project of acclaimed chef Jungsik Yim (yes, of Michelin-starred Jungsik), it playfully reinterprets Southeast Asian (hence the name) standards: Korean ssam and Vietnamese bun cha traditions come together in a perfectly crispy pork dish. Culinary traditions from Isan and Chiang Mai are combined into a singular take on Thai sausages. Pork noodle soup combines Vietnamese phở with Malaysian bak kut teh. Korean fried chicken is bolstered with Thai spices. Whatever you do, be sure to come hungry, and don’t leave without one (or both) desserts, either, especially the coconut sundae.
12. M. Wells Long Island City
If you haven’t yet been to M. Wells — or it’s simply been a while since your last visit — we implore you to get there as soon as you can. That’s because on Dec. 31, New York’s most loved unconventional steakhouse and bistro is closing its doors. That means just a few more months for you to savor the brilliance of chef Hugue Dufour’s cooking. Right now, that includes liver mouse banh mi and mortadella mille-feuille, as well as artichoke 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. Come cooler months, you’ll definitely want to tuck in for a bowl of their incredible French onion soup. But whatever you do, don’t delay in paying this pioneer a visit.
13. Nepali Bhanchha Ghar Jackson Heights
The restorative powers of a bowl of Nepali Bhanchha Ghar’s jhol momo are not to be underestimated any time of year, but especially when temperatures start to dip. The longtime Jackson Heights establishment and multi-time winner of the annual Momo Crawl (including this year!) makes some of the most exceptionally juicy momos in town, and they’re only enhanced further by the tangy and comforting tomato-based jhol broth. But don’t just come here for the momos — although you could do just that. You should also consider the fried sel roti, crunchy wai wai sadeko, the confit-like beef tongue to start, a warming bowl of thenthuk, and some fluffy eggs bara (pancakes made with lentils), to top it all off.
Walk-ins only.
14. Radio Kwara Clinton Hill
When chef Ayo Balogun’s Dept. of Culture first opened in 2022, it received critical acclaim almost immediately for his deeply personal take on Nigerian food. In 2023, he followed it up with Radio Kwara, which he describes as Dept. of Culture’s “Nigerian American cousin,” and, suffice to say, it’s been a sleeper hit ever since. So, consider this your occasional PSA not to sleep on Kwara any further. The intimate spot, located just a few doors down from Speedy Romeo and next door to Radicle Wine, is serving up some of the city’s most satisfying dishes, from buttery, thick slices of toast topped with red pepper sauce and sauteed oyster mushrooms to a warming bowl of goat meat pepper soup with a generous twirl of angel hair noodles. Don’t miss the moi moi, a steamed bean pudding/dumpling served atop a savory spread of red pepper and mackerel, or the showstopping roasted guinea fowl.
15. Lai Rai Lower East Side
For fans of the Parisian original, consider this your Vietnamese Folderol. Lai Rai is primarily a natural-minded wine bar from the same folks behind Di an Di and Mắm that also happens to serve some truly excellent ice cream and sorbets, along with superb Vietnamese snacks. We’re especially partial to their Vietnamese coffee ice cream, their refreshing ambarella (June plum) sorbet, and pandan-esque banana leaf ice cream, and we can’t get enough of the housemade giò thủ (headcheese), sprinkled with bouncy wood ear mushrooms and cracked pepper. The relatively compact wine list, curated by Raquel Vo (formerly of Foxface Natural) has plenty of great, reasonably priced bottles and by-the-glass options, too, hailing from France, Italy, Spain, Austria, and California. Pro tip: Our ideal visit to Lai Rai would take place before or after a hearty, comforting meal at Mắm, just down the block.
Walk-ins only.
16. NARO Rockefeller Center
Naro’s sophisticated interpretations of traditional Korean cuisine are subtle, delicate, and well worth a visit to Rockefeller Center. And while the terrace is lovely in warmer climes, with the fall weather, it’s not a bad idea to head indoors to their main dining room. Whether you opt for the signature seven-course tasting menu ($145 per person) or their three-course prix-fixe ($75 per person), you won’t leave disappointed, but the new prix-fixe is especially thrilling — a concise encapsulation of everything that makes Naro so good, and so delicious. Think fresh snow crab swimming in cool pine nut milk with just a hint of sesame, perfectly cooked snapper topped with lardo, and a whimsical corn ice cream dessert that’s almost too pretty to eat. And to drink? Don’t overlook the cocktails and if you’re inclined to order wine, know that they’ve bet big on riesling; it’s a perfect pairing for nearly everything on the menu.
17. Penny East Village
Just as they did with the wine bar Claud, Chase Sinzer and Joshua Pinsky took a simple dining concept — in this case, the raw bar and seafood counter — and updated it into a new classic all its own. While they say they were inspired by the dual restaurant concepts that you’ll find in Paris (as with Bistrot Paul Bert and L’Ecailler du Bistrot) Penny is uniquely New York, and the better for it. Stuffed squid, a creamy potato salad with octopus, and confit oysters served with cream cheese and crackers have become new standards all their own. Of course, the wine list is impeccable, but don’t overlook the Suntory, and whatever you do, don’t skip the ice cream sandwich for dessert.
18. Phoenix Palace Chinatown
This sequel to Potluck Club continues the owners’ commitment to rewriting, and redefining the canon of Cantonese American cuisine. You see it from the moment you step inside, in the custom-made Asian American jukebox that juxtaposes clips of “In the Mood for Love” and “Rush Hour” and a photographic mural of personal photographs of the owners’ families. And you can taste it in the food. Some standouts? The baby bok choy dragon salad dotted with longan; chile crab noodles referencing Singapore; sautéed ong choy; piping-hot youtiao studded with olives; chilled tofu with a whipped sesame sauce and pickled shiitake mushrooms; and salt-and-pepper cuttlefish served with a savory heirloom tomato relish.
19. Massara Flatiron
Stefano Secchi earned critical acclaim for his pastas over at Rezdôra and now, with Massara he turns southward from Italy’s breadbasket, Emilia-Romagna, to the very heart of its Mediterranean roots, Campania. That means plenty of tomato sauces ripe for the season, diminutive pizzette that pack a punch, expertly wood-fired fish and wagyu beef, and outstanding pastas, including a memorably chilled one featuring uni and shrimp crudo. Our personal pasta picks, though, would be the corteccia, candele, and paccheri pomodoro.
20. Ramen By Ra Noho
Ramen is always a good idea, especially in this weather. Frankly, though, Rasheeda Purdie’s ramen renditions with a decidedly breakfast-style twist transcend any season. Whether you opt for a smoked bacon, soy-marinated egg, and parmesan cheese ramen or a gravlax one topped with cream cheese foam, crispy capers, and dill, you simply can’t go wrong. Pair your ramen with a selection of refreshing teas or zero-proof sippers, like a sparkling caramelized pear and kombu drink with vanilla, cardamom, and agave. Pro tip: Do book a Resy if you can; it’s a tiny five-seat counter at Bowery Market.
