The New York Restaurants We Loved in July

From start to finish…

… Bungalow was an amazing experience. The staff was incredibly helpful with their recommendations, making our dining experience even more enjoyable.

For starters, I highly recommend the banarasi puri; the flavors were incredible, and I found myself savoring every bit, even using a spoon to finish the remaining yogurt on the plate.

For a main course, the lamb shank Nihari was absolutely out of this world! Paired with garlic naan, it took me straight to India with its traditional and rich flavors. This dish is a must-have, especially if you’re a fan of lamb or goat.

But the standout moment was meeting chef Vikas Khanna — despite being one of the most popular chefs in New York, he was humble and down-to-earth. The restaurant’s vibe and design are among the best I’ve seen, reflecting the thought and care put into every detail.

Out of all the restaurants I’ve tried in the city, Bungalow is the most memorable. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for an exceptional dining experience.

Pro tip: If you meet chef Vikas, ask for his recommendations. He’ll describe the food in a way that’ll make you feel like you’re listening to a story.

— Amogh Reddy, Backend & DevOps Intern

A few Resy colleagues and I headed to an incredibly special meal…

… at Lilia after work. For appetizers, highlights were the focaccia with garlic butter, the cacio e pepe frittelle, and the toasted garlic bread with homemade mozzarella (and its unexpected-but-delicious addition of lemon zest). Then, we ordered almost every pasta on the menu, with the favorites being the ricotta gnocchi with broccoli pesto and pistachios and the famous sheep’s milk cheese agnolotti. We certainly didn’t skip dessert and ordered the gelato with olive oil and sea salt and the olive oil cake.

— Dani Cumming, Guest Marketing Intern

I only wish…

… I weren’t so full when I dined at Sawa, because there are still so many dishes there that I wish I could’ve ordered. All the more reason to go back, of course, and of the ones that I did try, all were 10s out of 10. The hummus with beef cheeks was sublime, and I also loved their take on kibbeh nayeh. The whole fish was cooked to perfection. And we couldn’t get enough of the gem salad and rakakat (halloumi cheese rolls). I already can’t wait to make a return visit.

— Deanna Ting, New York & Philadelphia Editor, Resy Editorial

It had been a loooong time…

… since I’d last visited St. Anselm, but it was just as good as we’d remembered. We sat in the lovely backyard and enjoyed some peace from the scorching heat. We had the strip steak au poivre, the steamed clam special, and a bunch of sides. The real stars were the pan-fried mashed potatoes, which are almost hashbrown-like, and were super creamy and buttery.

— Juliana Dutan, Program Manager

A huge axe-handle ribeye on a hot summer day…

… isn’t my usual combination, but after a visit to St. Anselm with Resy’s restaurant product team, it could easily be a new favorite. Nothing really beats their fun interior, warm hospitality, and, of course, decadent dishes like a lamb saddle with mint yogurt, a wedge salad with huge slabs of bacon, and their famous ribeye as the centerpiece. The staff here takes so much pride in what they do and they truly treat you like family!

— Charles Zhao, Director of Restaurant Product

This place has quickly made its way up the ranks…

… as one of my favorite places to eat in all of New York. Eyval is a beautiful restaurant tucked away in Bushwick, serving contemporary Persian fare. I haven’t had anything here that I don’t love, but I got the lamb ribs this past weekend, and they remain firmly on the list of my favorite bites in the city. I’d also recommend any of the breads (I’m partial to the barbari), the whipped feta spread, and the octopus kebab.

— Harkirat Anand, Technical Product Manager

A mass exodus of New Yorkers on the 4^th of July weekend…

… always makes for an excellent time to dine out. Case in point: A few friends and I nabbed a Resy in Popina’s glorious backyard. We started with sourdough, stracciatella, and cocktails (they have a white Negroni, my favorite), then shared a few pastas, a bottle of chilled red, and of course, the hot chicken Milanese. Popina is lovely any time of year, but their backyard is at its best in the summer: plenty of trees for shade, twinkly lights to set the mood, and even a bocce court for your post-meal entertainment!

— Alex Johnson, Senior Marketing Manager

I had a perfect lunch…

… splitting a cheeseburger and Caesar salad with my mom at Diner on the 4^th of July. More importantly, it was the Caesar salad’s 100^th birthday, and I personally think this is one of the best ones in town. Diner is a perfect neighborhood spot any day, but it was particularly calm and lovely on this quiet holiday when people typically clear out of the city.

— Isabelle Andrews, Director of Technical Product

All hail the brunch…

… at Sailor! Thanks to our mighty group of five, we were able to order nearly every dish on the menu, and though you might very understandably makes eyes at the burger (which, granted, is excellent), we are here to tell you that the sleeper hits on the menu are the Turkish eggs (which come with an exceptional side of flaky flatbread for all your saucing needs) and the perfectly wobbly quiche.

Trust us, and thank us later.

— Noëmie Carrant, Senior Writer, Resy Editorial

I can’t remember the last time…

… I had a halibut dish as good as the one they’re serving at the Gjelina pop-up right now. It was perfectly cooked and accompanied by a black garlic aioli that we were basically licking off the plate. Their “elevated” take on elotes, featuring New Jersey-raised corn, was also a highlight.

— Harkirat Anand, Technical Product Manager

A unique restaurant…

… with interesting flavor and ingredient combinations, Shmoné is a Greenwich Village gem that has a Michelin star to boot. I first got a taste of chef Eyal Shani’s food in Tel Aviv in 2015 at the original Port Sa’id (there’s one in New York now, so you should check that out, too!). My friend and I sat at the bar, which was quite the show — we could see meat being seared and bread being tossed into the oven. Our favorite dish was the “Norwich farms strawberries with burned tomatoes and Tulum cheese,” which was so flavorful and different than anything I’ve ever had. “There won’t be even one second of boredom when you eat this green salad” was impeccable, too. Definitely add this to your list for food like you’ve never had before!

— Lindsey Block, Product Designer

At the risk of sounding like a broken record…

… I am here to say that Massara, the new restaurant from the Rezdôra team, is astounding (run, don’t walk). I luckily snagged a reservation as soon as news that the restaurant was opening hit, and I’m happy to say it is absolutely worth the hype.

The restaurant has a lovely ambiance with high ceilings and unique touches, like a second floor with a direct view of the pizza oven downstairs. I went with two friends and when we ordered a zillion dishes, the waiter validated us by saying that portions were on the smaller side (and he was right), so it was perfect for sharing and trying as much as possible.

My favorite dishes were the stagione pizzette with asparagus and truffle, the candele pasta with a ragù like you’ve never tasted before, and the “modo Parmigiano” (a “contemporary” eggplant dish). We also ordered three desserts and they were amazing. This is a restaurant you don’t want to miss and I highly recommend checking it out.

— Lindsey Block, Product Designer

It was a sad day when I learned…

… that my favorite neighborhood restaurant, Oxalis, was closing. So, imagine my reaction when I learned they reopened the space as Cafe Mado! Just as charming as before with a slightly more casual vibe, I’m happy to report the Redwood Hospitality team has done it once again.

As always, there’s creative takes on familiar dishes like pork ribs with honey, pepper, and currant; blackened yuba with a smokey tomato sauce; and a homemade pici pasta with fresh pesto. A neighborhood gem is harder to come by these days and I’m beyond ecstatic I can retreat to a new favorite in a space that once housed an old favorite.

— Charles Zhao, Director of Restaurant Product

I expected nothing less from a Union Square Hospitality restaurant…

And everything about our experience at Manhatta was excellent. First of all, the view and the space are incredible — it’s so rare to have a 360 view of Manhattan. We went for an early dinner before a show and did the three-course menu. Every single dish was beautiful, intentional, and delicious. The service and open kitchen felt straight out of a movie.

We, very unfortunately, had to miss dessert because of our show (which they knew!), so they left us small, one-bite treats before we had to rush out. Definitely coming back just for sweets, though.

— Felicity Lin, Resy Benefit Management Manager

An awesome new spot…

… from the Miss Ada chef-owner, Theodora is the place to go for standout grilled fish dishes. I highly recommend the (off-menu) black cod collar if it’s available. Sit at the chef’s counter for great views of the wood-fired oven and grill, and don’t skip out on dessert!

— Melissa Linder, Strategic Partnerships Analyst

I was SO excited…

… to finally snag a reservation (TY Notify) at Theodora. Immediately upon walking into the restaurant, you’re greeted by the smell of the wood-fired dishes. Small plates are the game here, which means more things to try, especially if you’re with a big group!

Don’t skip out on the refreshing crudos to start, the fluffiest of fluffy pitas, the lamb flatbread, and the whole trout. Requirement to end with both desserts — strawberry jam donuts and the baklava sundae. So delicious, and I’ve already secured my next res’ in August. Can’t wait!

— Lala Liban, Senior Hotel Program Management and Innovation Manager

Priority Notify works every time…

I scored a Resy to Raoul’s day of at 6:30 a.m. thanks to it. I took a visiting colleague who was craving a New York staple. Service, bites, and ambiance were a hit and truly make you feel like you are at the same moment in SoHo time with every visit in the best way. You’re here for the steak frites, ratatouille, crème brûlée, and wine.

— Hannah Kelly, Chief Marketing Officer and VP of Marketing

We ordered almost every pasta…

… on the menu at Torrisi because we weren’t sure when we would get the chance to go back! To start, we got martinis and the bread basket, before we ordered the cucumbers, hams with zeppole, tortellini pomodoro, linguini with clams, raviolini with prawns, cavatelli with beef ragù, chicken alla griglia, and of course, the affogato. The tortellini was one of the best pasta dishes I’ve had in my life!

Pro tip: Notify works! I got an early reservation on a Saturday night thanks to it.

— Sami Lieberman, Senior Software Engineer

I’ve wanted to try…

… Tuome for the longest time, and it did not disappoint. It’s such an underrated Michelin spot and a bang for your buck. I loved every single dish, but the starter scallion puff, snow crab noodles, and lamb were highlights. I love how every single dish had familiar proteins and produces, but was spiced up with Asian influences.

— Felicity Lin, Resy Benefit Management Manager

The décor is amazing at…

… Sushi Goda, it has a really cool vibe to it. We had these delicious Brussel sprouts, pork dumplings , and green beans as appetizers, and a next-level salmon carbonara with udon noodles. It was all absolutely delicious.

— Zack Calhoon, Executive Assistant

The amazing view at…

… Laser Wolf is on par with the food. Since the menu is largely family style, I naturally had to snag a Resy and bring my parents when they visited. The prix-fixe dinner begins with their signature (and refillable) appetizer of fluffy pita and a variety of dips and small plates, like Tunisian potatoes and spicy cucumbers with harissa. Next, we each chose a main dish from the grill to share. We got the brisket kebab, the shawarma-spiced cauliflower, and the whole branzino with ginger and tomato, which was the star of the show.

Pro tip: Don’t skip the dessert, their brown sugar soft serve with strawberry rhubarb and pistachio crunch was the perfect summer treat to end our delicious meal.

— Dani Cumming, Guest Marketing Intern

Noëmie Carrant is Resy’s New York-based senior writer. Some of her other favorite meals this month took place at Sawa, Din Tai Fung (welcome!), Cosme, and Astoria Seafood. Follow her on Instagram. Follow Resy, too.