Resy staff picks in New York
Photos courtesy of Leonetta and Ly Ly Vietnam Cookhouse. Photo of Kaew Jao Jorm by Resy staffer Amy Schwartz

Staff PicksNew York

The New York Restaurants We Loved in January

By and

If there’s one thing you must know about the people who work at Resy, it’s that we genuinely love restaurants …

This month, we braved the cold for Thai food, crawled out from under our heated blankets for roasted oysters, got a table at New York’s hottest pop-up turned brick-and-mortar, and found a great first date spot.


There’s something extra special about a restaurant that’s tiny but mighty…

… and Kaew Jao Jorm is all that, plus more. We started with the chor muang, which were purple flower-shaped dumplings, whose nutty, crunchy, and sweet-and-savory chicken-and-peanut filling I’m still dreaming of. We also had the goong sa rong — jumbo shrimps wrapped with crispy noodles and served with sweet chile sauce. For our mains, we ordered their most popular dish: the gaeng poo, or jumbo lump crab meat and makrut lime leaves in a coconut curry, along with a classic pad see ew. Beauty is in the basics, and I’m a big believer that how a Thai restaurant does their pad see ew says a lot about them.

My favorite part of the experience, though, was how the staff made sure guests always had fresh, warm rice. You’re not given rice bowls; instead, they walk around with a bowl of warm rice and replenish your plate often. I wish dinner could feel so special every night, but I’ll be back, often.

Amy Schwartz, Senior Restaurant Marketing Analyst

 

Nubiani kbbq
Photo courtesy of Nubiani
Nubiani kbbq
Photo courtesy of Nubiani

It’s hard to come by worth-the-splurge Korean barbecue in Manhattan…

… but Nubiani is definitely worth it if you’re looking for a more high-end experience. The service, interior, and food (obviously) were all spectacular. Order any of their packages, and on top of the excellent meats you get, you’ll also receive unlimited, high-quality banchan and soft serve for dessert. It’s great to see a restaurant do side dishes so well — they were the highlight of the meal for us.

Felicity Lin, Resy Benefit Management Manager

 

I will always remember the hospitality…

… the staff at Kisa showed us. From being served warm tea as soon as we arrived (on a cold night) to a complimentary bottle of makgeolli on the way out, eating here was an incredible experience. Based on the sort of diner that Korean cab drivers would frequent, Kisa offers food that’s straightforward, delicious, and something you will crave. All you need to do is choose a protein (I recommend the spicy pork), which is served with a mix of incredible banchan. After my visit, I thought to myself: This is the sort of restaurant that makes me love dining in New York.

Evan Stein, Regional Sales Director, New York

 

My go-to cold-weather comfort meal…

… is the tuna melt at Golden Diner. Whether I’m ordering delivery to my apartment, or walking over to GD to catch up with friends over a cozy dinner (or lunch), I always order it, and I’ve already lost track of how many times I’ve had it during this (very cold!) New York winter. It’s unpretentious, yummy, and makes me feel all warm inside.

Gina Chun, Senior Technical Product Manager

 

Ha's Snack Bar oysters
Photo courtesy of Ha’s Snack Bar
Ha's Snack Bar oysters
Photo courtesy of Ha’s Snack Bar

You’ll immediately feel transported to Paris…

… when you dine at Ha’s Snack Bar on the Lower East Side, thanks to its cozy bistro and wine bar vibes. The menu changes often, but you can always expect a killer wine list and a perfect marriage of French technique with Vietnamese flavors. Don’t sleep on the vol-au-vent if it’s on the menu! (Made most recently with curried lobster and sweetbread.)

Alex Larson, GTM & Strategic Initiatives Manager

 

After years of hosting (and going to their) pop-ups around the city…

… Anthony Ha and Sadie Mae Burns have finally opened a brick-and-mortar and it’s spectacular. It has a cozy, hospitable, and warm room; fantastic pours; and a rotating menu that flips classic French dishes on their head with a Vietnamese lens. I can’t wait for Ha’s Snack Bar to become a rotational restaurant in my life.

Drew Nordstrom, Resy Strategic Partnerships

 

For a great hole-in-the-wall Italian spot…

… hit up Via Della Pace in the East Village. The dining room in the back has a beautiful fresco painting that wraps around the skylight, which brings a lovely touch to the space. And the food is amazing — we especially loved the cacio e pepe (which rivaled some of the best in the city, IMO), the meatballs, and the lasagna. And because you can’t leave an Italian restaurant without tiramisu, we ordered one and are happy to report it was appropriately layered and decadent.

Lindsey Block, Product Designer

 

My idea of comfort food…

… involves all the foods my grandma used to make — dumplings, oil-slicked noodles, and roast chicken — and on a chilly night, Grandma’s Home delivered perfectly. Their xialongbao, filled with pork and crab, were superbly soupy. Their scallion oil noodles were the perfect complement to their soy glazed crispy fish. And the crispy skin chicken was excellent — the skin crackled even as the meat retained all its juices. My favorite dish, though, might have been the loofah melon in broth, a dish I often had growing up in L.A., but haven’t seen much of here in New York. It was, appropriately, a perfect little reminder of a taste from home.

Deanna Ting, New York and Philadelphia Editor, Resy Editorial

 

If you’re hungover on a Sunday morning…

… make your way to Jack’s Wife Freda (the SoHo location, in my case). Their green shakshuka was fire — though it may have reminded me a bit of “Green Eggs and Ham.” I highly recommend this joyously packed brunch spot.

Dan Snitzer, Card Membership & Marketing Capabilities

 

Ume set
Photo by Resy staffer Alexis Lam
Ume set
Photo by Resy staffer Alexis Lam

Came here to try the prix-fixe menu…

… and now, Ume is one of my favorite omakase spots. The experience is so unique — the omakase set comes with an assortment of fish with different seasonings, and you get to make your own handrolls. Pro tip: Their yuzu salt is good on everything.

Alexis Yam, Project Manager

 

I’d been searching my neighborhood for years

… for a Chinese takeout restaurant to satisfy my comfort food cravings. And right under my nose the whole time was Wei’s in Fort Greene. (New York really do be like that sometimes.) I love their hand-pulled noodles, Wei’s favorite chicken, their scallion pancakes, fried rice, spicy wontons, and general Tso’s.

Tess Gostfrand, Senior Travel & Lifestyle Services Manager

 

There’s not much that will get me out…

… from under my heated blanket in freezing January weather, but the roasted oysters at da Toscano were so worth bundling up for. We devoured an octopus carpaccio and branzino alla piastra with rock shrimp scampi, while sipping on a wonderfully balanced West Village Island Oasis, a rum and Falernum tiki cocktail. That’s what I love about New York: It may be frigid outside, but you can still find your island oasis just around the corner.

Adrianna Harris, Restaurant Success Manager

 

One does not simply walk into…

Bangkok Supper Club, especially as a group of five. That is, unless you are lucky enough to walk in on a particularly chilly Monday night. We were seated at a booth and proceeded to order what felt like the entire cocktail menu (their beverage director won a Michelin award for it), passing each drink around the table for a little a taste. The Smokey Milk and Fish Sauce cocktails are great places to start for lighter bites, before diving into the boozier Strawberry Toast and (my personal favorite) Dirty Pineapple with your mains.

As for the food, it was all exceptional, from the always-perfect egg on egg on egg salad (the yum khai dao) to the khao man gai (deliciously fried and deboned chicken wings stuffed with sticky rice). Get the pork jowl (everyone’s favorite main) and the Bangkok gai yang (charcoal-grilled chicken, a sleeper hit) for mains, and don’t skip the green beans on the side (they’re delicious).

Moral of the story / pro tip: Seek a hot restaurant on a Monday night when it’s freezing out.

— Noëmie Carrant, Senior Writer, Resy Editorial

 

Loved the cozy vibes…

… at Fairfax, where we had an early Sunday dinner. We went specifically for the burger, which did not disappoint. The cabbage Caesar salad was a great starter and you have to order the Old Bay tots on the side.

Erika Greengarten, Restaurant Success Manager

 

Bar Bonobo space
Photo courtesy of Bar Bonobo
Bar Bonobo cocktail and popcorn
Photo courtesy of Bar Bonobo

If you’re looking for a place to get to know someone new…

Bar Bonobo has you covered.  The chic, 70’s-inspired cocktail bar in Chelsea has nice drinks, a dimly lit setting, and a great playlist. Plus, it’s like real-life Hinge: great for watching people on first dates. Pro tip: Ask for popcorn with your cocktails and be sure to get a Resy in advance on prime nights as it fills up pretty quickly.

Dan Snitzer, Card Membership & Marketing Capabilities

 

My husband and I finally got to try…

Little Honey in our neighborhood (Park Slope), and it didn’t disappoint. We tried the prosciutto and leek pizza, the egg sandwich with ham, and a side of crispy potatoes — everything was delicious, but the pizza was out of this world. The dough was crispy while staying light and moist, and the toppings complemented each other deliciously (the Fresno hot sauce was amazing). We can’t wait to go back and try more.

Juliana Dutan, Senior Business Enablement & Operations Manager

 

During a special chef residency…

… I went to Yemenat in early January. Chef Akram Said was the guest chef at that time, and the vibes were spectacular — he welcomed us in, gave us recommendations, took our order, and his spin on Yemeni classics were just exceptional.

I loved the fahsa and lahm sughar — he’d added a hummus base to the lahm sughar and gave us the fries in a bag (just the way you’d get on the streets of Yemen) along with the greatest sour chile garlic sauce. Definitely leave room for dessert!

Salah Ahmed, Senior Engineer

 

With its small and cozy interior…

Ly Ly is a fantastic place to tuck into classic and comforting Vietnamese fare. The papaya salad with beef jerky was so flavorful (crunchy, chewy, and not too sweet), the shrimp summer rolls were packed with fresh shrimp (with a creamy hoisin-peanut sauce), and the bò lúc lắc was incredible, with tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef. Overall, I really enjoyed my meal, and I’m looking forward to going back to try the phở and bánh mì.

Tania Bou Samra, Senior Brand Designer

 

Ly Ly summer rolls
Photo courtesy of Ly Ly Vietnam Cookhouse
Ly Ly
Photo courtesy of Ly Ly Vietnam Cookhouse

Diners are a girl’s best friend…

… and Montague Diner nails it all: options, consistency, and the vibe. They have the diner classics you love to see, from early bird specials, senior discounts, and house accounts to a deal on an after-school grilled cheese. Their menu expertly pairs mozzarella sticks with orange wine, a pile of fries with Champagne, or a giant grilled cheese with a bottle of red that I’d recommend splitting with some friends.

Tess Gostfrand, Senior Travel & Lifestyle Services Manager

 

For a good selection of sake and cocktails…

… head to Sake Bar Asoko in Chinatown. If you’re not really sure what you want, talk to the owners, they’ll offer great recommendations. The space and decor are intimate, and the karaage is especially good.

Leonard Mazzone, Senior Software Engineer

 

An all-time Greenpoint favorite…

ACRE is especially wonderful for their karaage sandwich and bento boxes. I took a friend who was visiting to eat their salmon bento box in the backyard, and they were just the most heartwarming and cozy meal you could have on a cold sunny day.

Pro tip: Their matcha loaf is definitely underrated — it’s the most perfectly dense texture and has a strong matcha flavor.

Felicity Lin, Resy Benefit Management Manager

 

This doesn’t feel like it belongs…

… on the Upper East Side. With a bustling bar next to its entrance, combined with the swanky decor of its dining room, Hoexters rather makes you feel like you’re at a new opening in SoHo. The gorgonzola garlic bread was delicious and the burger was one of the best I’ve had in recent memory. I will be back!

Shane Gilligan, Senior Strategic Partnerships Analyst

 

I had such an amazing experience…

… at Rosella. They’re known for sustainable, locally sourced fish, and everything was so fresh. Each dish had such unique flavors, the staff was super friendly, and the wine was perfectly paired. Sit at the sushi counter if you can, because the chefs were awesome and gave the best recs. (I can’t even choose a favorite dish, but definitely don’t skip the ceviche!)

Melissa Linder, Strategic Partnerships Analyst

 

Definitely trust your server…

… when you go to Rosella. Ours chose a few items from the menu and he brought the courses out in waves, similar to an omakase. My favorite bites were the pickled mussel roll and the shrimp nigiri, which came out together and were quite unique. But other highlights included the fluke ceviche, the spicy avocado roll, and a delicious miso carrot cake.

Adam Pell, Marketing Data Analyst

 

On a cold and snowy night…

… my friends and I went to Leonetta (which opened not too long ago), and safe to say, we’re obsessed. The restaurant vibes are immaculate, and the food and drinks are great.

The spanakopita-stuffed pita bread was a fantastic start to our meal. We also loved the black garlic hummus, the little gem Caesar, and the Israeli couscous, but the star of the show was the black truffle mafaldine. We couldn’t stop talking about it days after we went — I would go back for that dish alone. Obviously, we couldn’t leave without dessert, and the olive oil semolina cake with pine nuts, a rosemary crumble, and fior de latte gelato was a fitting ending to an amazing meal. I will definitely be back.

Lindsey Block, Product Designer

 

Clemente Bar space
The lounge at Clemente. Photo by Jason Varney, courtesy of Clemente Bar and Studio
Clemente Bar space
The lounge at Clemente. Photo by Jason Varney, courtesy of Clemente Bar and Studio

I can’t wait to return to…

Clemente Bar to try more of the menu. On my first visit, my favorite cocktail was the Apples to Oranges (Tequila, calvados, blood orange amaro, and spiced mandarin), which was absolutely delicious. And I so enjoyed the tucked-away, cozy space. The art by Francesco Clemente is beautiful, the energy is sexy and warm, and I’m also a sucker for their playful branding — so much so that I snagged a coaster for my desk.

Jamie Goldstein, Resy Strategic Partnerships

 

Having been for brunch…

… a couple of times recently, I can say that Sailor’s really does not disappoint. I’m a burger boy (theirs is exceptional) but the star of the show might actually be the French toast. And coming from me, that’s saying something, because I’m normally not a sweets-for-brunch kind of guy.

Duncan Goodwin, Senior Implementation Specialist

 

There’s nothing like hummus that’s creamy and smooth…

… to start off your meal. And if you’re at Balade in the East Village, you’re going to want the hummus lahme (topped with lamb and olive oil) and the labne bi toum (infused with za’atar) to begin, with plenty of pita. We got the namesake Balade mixed grill platter to share, which was great if you want to try lots of options — think beef kafta, lamb kabab, and chicken tawook, plus fries.

Dan Snitzer, Card Membership & Marketing Capabilities

 

It’s a win-win when…

… a great cocktail bar has tons of seating and takes reservations. And such is the case of Pineapple Club in the East Village. We only went for drinks (though the food options looked so good), and loved their take on a lychee martini (I’ll Never Lychee Go), the piña chile margarita, and the maple old fashioned. I’ll definitely go back, especially since some of the cocktails are seasonal.

Lindsey Block, Product Designer

 

I was completely caught off guard…

… when I approached the stairs leading down to the subterranean dining room of Ping’s on a rainy Saturday night. There, I found two big tables filled with some of my closest friends from near and far, and I was in complete shock. My fiancé had gathered them to celebrate our recent engagement and it was so incredibly sweet. Still in disbelief, I asked my friends to take charge of ordering for the table, and they didn’t let me down. We had all the Ping’s classics, like the “dragon whiskers” (a stir-fry of jicama, baby silver fish, squid, and chives) and the signature roast pork belly. We also tried a Lunar New Year special that I’d never had before: a casserole of stir-fried clams and cubes of fried turnip cake, topped with soft scrambled eggs and ground meat. The food was great, as always, but the company was even better.

Deanna Ting, New York and Philadelphia Editor, Resy Editorial

 

My coworker Ria and I were seeking dinner before…

… a Resy happy hour and planned to try and do a walk-in at Claud. They were completely booked for a pop-up, but miraculously, perfect Penny was just upstairs. A few moments later, we were bellied up to the bar, where we were meant to be. I loved every bite, everything from the raw bar, and especially the brioche. It’s exactly how I love to dine out.

Tess Gostfrand, Senior Travel & Lifestyle Services Manager


Noëmie Carrant is Resy’s New York-based senior writer and editor. Follow her on Instagram. Follow Resy, too.