The Resy Hit List: Where In New York You’ll Want to Eat in Sept. 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.
Six Things In NYC Not to Miss This Month
- Set Those Weekend Plans: Whether you’re in town for Fashion Week, the Armory Show, or you call NYC home (lucky you), check out our 72-hour weekend guide for an itinerary that includes everything from hearty bowls of pasta to Thai desserts and an epic brunch.
- Dine Like Queens: If you’re here for the U.S. Open, may we also suggest checking out arguably the city’s most diverse borough when it comes to food? We’ve got plenty of recs for Long Island City and Astoria, plus an amazing Mexican food crawl along Roosevelt Avenue in Corona and Jackson Heights.
- Go Back to School: Sort of, with restaurants hosting special classes and events to help you learn something new. You could decorate a birthday cake with Milk Bar, or break down a tuna with Leland Eating & Drinking House. Or how about making sushi handrolls at Bondi Williamsburg, or perfecting your pizza skills over at Little Charli? The artistically inclined won’t want to miss a special Society of Illustrators Sip & Sketch night at The Regency Bar & Grill at Loews Regency New York on Sept. 17. Find more classes like these here.
- Head to Koreatown and NoMad: That’s where so many new and exciting spots have recently opened, including SEA, Joo Ok, and the Okonomi/Yuji Ramen pop-up in Manhattan. And for all the latest new openings in New York, we’ve got you covered here.
- Chill in Williamsburg: Make a Resy for the listening bar Eavesdrop on Sept. 5 when C as in Charlie pops by with their signature small plates combining the best of the American South and of Korea, with a special ‘80’’s and ‘90’s K-pop playlist curated by mdnghtdiningclub. And on Sept. 15, stop by Layla in Williamsburg for a lovely backyard barbecue hosted by chef Alistair McMurray and homegrown brewery Talea Beer Co. Find more pop-ups and special events and experiences here.
- Wine & Dine in Brooklyn: On Sept. 4, our very own Resy managing editor and author of “The New French Wine,” Jon Bonné, and Popina’s James O’Brien are teaming up for a very special one-night-only event at Kru that you don’t want to miss.
New to the Hit List (September 2024)
Le Veau d’Or, Naks, Sushi Oku, Hwa Yuan Szechuan, Quique Crudo, and Rice Thief.
1. Le Veau d’Or Lenox Hill
Photo by Gentl + Hyers, courtesy of Le Veau d’Or
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.
Photo by Gentl + Hyers, courtesy of Le Veau d’Or
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Naks East Village
Photo by Paul McDonough, courtesy of Naks
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.
Photo by Paul McDonough, courtesy of Naks
6. Bangkok Supper Club Meatpacking District
This might be a bit of an overstatement, but we think there’s never been a better time for Thai cuisine in New York City. You’ve got your OGs out in Queens, like Ayada and Chao Thai, as well as newer spots like UnTable, and Chalong. Then there’s Bangkok Supper Club, from the folks behind Fish Cheeks. Here, Bangkok street food gets refashioned in a way that subverts narratives of what we expect of Thai restaurants in America. Scallop ceviche gets topped with a watermelon granita. Fish sauce lands in your cocktails. A simple egg salad becomes a thing of beauty. And pork jowl fried rice becomes truly sublime.
7. Noodle Village Chinatown
Xialongbao are all the rage in the city this summer, thanks to the arrival of a certain Taiwanese restaurant chain in Times Square, but should you find it challenging to snag a table, might we suggest this Manhattan Chinatown stalwart? Noodle Village has some of the city’s best soup dumplings, with supremely thin, delicate wrappers and juicy fillings, plus a menu filled with Hong Kong-style specialties like shrimp wonton mein soup and pork claypot rice. Whatever you order, you can’t go wrong.
Walk-ins only. More info here.
8. 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.
9. 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. A few of our favorites include the pissaladière; blackened yuba; girolles d’été; and the fries with herbs de Provence. Save room for dessert, too.
10. 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.
11. Cosme Flatiron
Enrique Olvera’s stunner still possesses the magic that made it such a hit nearly a decade ago. From cocktails that never fail to satisfy to a menu of mainstays and seasonal specials that never disappoint, it’s got it all. If it’s your first time, or it’s been a while, consider ordering the classic duck carnitas for the table and the corn meringue for dessert, of course, but also don’t sleep on the dover sole al pastor served with luscious pineapple butter or the softshell crab with sikil p’aak and sorrel. Pro tip: While ideal for date night, Cosme has plenty of larger tables, too.
P.S. On Sept. 5 and 6, try all the Cosme classics with a special five-course pre-fixe menu celebrating the restaurant’s 10th anniversary.
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. Hwa Yuan Szechuan Chinatown
Chinatown’s palatial fine dining destination, which introduced cold sesame noodles to New York in the late ‘60’s is a must all year round, not only for those famous noodles but also for their Beijing duck, snow pea sprouts dumplings, and steamed whole fish with ginger and scallion. Also, do not sleep on the dry sautéed tangy crispy beef. This family-owned spot, which was reopened by the original 1968 owner’s son in 2017, is a New York classic that you should always have in your personal Hit List. It’s a classic for many reasons.
14. NARO TERRACE Rockefeller Center
The skating rink at Rockefeller Center has transformed into one of the city’s loveliest outdoor patios this summer, and should you find yourself in or around Rock Center, you should take advantage and grab a seat. You’ll find the same sophisticated interpretations of Naro’s traditional Korean cuisine on the terrace, albeit with an à la carte menu that’s a bit more casual. Think icy beef tartare with Korean radish; a Korean fried chicken sandwich; and tuna bibimbap. No order is complete without dessert,, and the mango bingsu for two should do the trick nicely.
P.S. Inside Naro’s main dining room, they’re debuting a new $75 tasting menu alongside their $165 menu, beginning Sept. 4.
15. Ramen By Ra Noho
Ramen — in this weather? The answer is a resounding yes, because 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.
16. Mắm Lower East Side
We’ve been longtime fans of Mắm since their early pop-up days in the pandemic, and we can confidently say chefs and owners Jerald and Nhung Dao Head are serving some of the best, heartfelt Vietnamese cooking in the city. We can’t think of a better way to spend a summer day (or night) than gathered with friends at their Chinatown spot, sharing everything on the menu. The bountiful platters of bún dau mam tôm are back (rejoice!) and they’ve also recently introduced an entirely vegan dish, nấm cuốn, which comes with mushrooms, three ways, and a fermented soybean sauce. The menu changes all the time, but if you see tofu on there, order it immediately; they make all theirs in house, and it’s incredible. P.S. After your meal here, head down the block to Lai Rai, owned by the Heads and Tuan Bui from Di An Di, where they serve natural-minded wines, Vietnamese headcheese with wood ear mushrooms, and housemade ice cream and sorbet. We’re especially fond of the ambarella sorbet.
17. TATIANA, By Kwame Onwuachi Lincoln Center
There are many explanations for why Tatiana topped so many of last year’s best of lists but these may be the two biggest reasons: It’s a restaurant with a clear, distinct point of view — a biography, if you will, of chef-and-partner Kwame Onwuachi — and one that’s a joy to dine at. That winning combination of powerful narrative and good vibes gets further amplified by the creatively crafted dishes on the menu, from a bright honeynut piri piri salad and egusi soup dumplings to braised oxtails and a pastrami suya.
18. Quique Crudo West Villge
With acclaimed chef Cosme Aguilar of Long Island City’s Casa Enrique behind the counter, you know this new seafood destination is going to be excellent. Quique Crudo’s menu celebrates the sea, with everything from a whole lobster ceviche and shrimp aguachile to crab tostadas and fried oysters, along with a few dishes from the land, like creamy guacamole with totopos, a bright baby gem salad, and sopecitos with chorizo. Don’t sleep on the steak tartare tostada, either, or a mezcal Negroni. And save room for some housemade ice cream for dessert.
Walk-ins only.
19. Massara Flatiron District
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. Rice Thief Long Island City
“Working “for your food has never been so delicious — or satisfying — as it is when you dine at Rice Thief, a specialist in ganjang gejang, or Korean soy-marinated crabs. What started as a ghost kitchen in Sunnyside now has a permanent home on the edge of Long Island City and Astoria where you can dig into — literally — this prized and often hard-to-find-dish. Gloves are highly encouraged for devouring these savory delicacies, along with marinated shrimp, scallops, salmon, and abalone, too. Pair it all with some rice, as the name suggests, and a handful of other entrees that include abalone congee, jokbal (pig’s trotters), and gamjatang (pork bone stew).
