The New York Restaurants We Loved in February

I truly cannot recommend…

… Field Guide enough. Helmed by chef Tim Meyers (of Eleven Madison Park, Blanca, Charlie Bird, and Roberta’s), this Williamsburg opening is his debut solo restaurant, and the 60-seat dining room has an elegant yet casual feel, plus a very friendly staff — you can sense how excited everyone is about the farm-to-table creativity that their kitchen brings to life.

On our visit, we started with one of the most deliciously fresh salads I’ve ever had: a baby gem salad with duck prosciutto, verbena, and horseradish, alongside a starter of butternut squash rillettes. From there, there was a melt-in-your-mouth eggplant tortellini (so good, we ordered a second serving) and a rosé squash blossom risotto topped with pesto, before our mains arrived. We’d ordered the roast chicken, Iberian pork collar, and a perfectly cooked beef tenderloin — all of the meat was incredibly tender and served with sauces that highlighted a deft use of fruits, vegetables, and winter spices. After all of that, we still managed to find room for a citrus crème and meringue dessert.

The homey yet upscale menu is great for a cozy date night, or an intimate dinner when the parents are in town. The team updates the menu regularly, so be sure to check out their Instagram for the latest and greatest.

— Hannah Noyes, Senior Integration Manager

When your friend Emily comes to Brooklyn…

… it’s only natural to take her to Emily BK! The dictionary definition of a hidden gem, Emily properly blends into Fulton Street. There’s always room for walk-ins, enough range on the menu to visit twice in one week, and not a fuss in sight. We got the burger (duh) and pizza (duh-er). Pro tip: If you add yourself to the Notify list, they’ll probably text you with offline availability.

— Tess Gostfrand, Senior Travel & Lifestyle Services Manager

It’s the best feeling…

… to return to a place you loved before, and find that it’s just as good, if not better, than how you remembered it. That was certainly the case for me on a chilly Saturday morning when I grabbed lunch at Ammazzacaffè with friends. This East Williamsburg gem was the first place I dined at during the pandemic once outdoor dining was allowed, and I hate to admit that it had been nearly five years since I’d been back. The housemade pastas were still so excellent — our favorite was the cacio e pepe fusilli — and we were all wowed by the starters, especially the sunchokes with hazelnut pesto. If you’ve never been, or it’s been a while since you’ve gone, consider this a reminder to go because you definitely won’t be disappointed. Pro tip: They offer an incredible two-course lunch pre-fixe for $25 per person on a daily basis, and on Sundays they’ve got live jazz in the evenings.

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

There’s no shortage of excellent burgers in New York…

… but one of my favorites can be found at Gramercy Tavern. Bar seats are first come, first served, so we bellied up on a Friday night and sipped martinis while waiting for our turn. Gramercy Tavern’s burger is simple but comforting — perfect for these cold February nights — with white cheddar on a sesame bun.

— Alex Johnson, Senior Marketing Manager

I feel conflicted recommending this place…

… as Sushi Saikou is still a relatively easy spot to grab a seat. $120 for a 17-course omakase is absolute insanity — with pricing that defies the CPI report, you may think it’s too good to be true. But no, the only “catch” you’ll find is the fresh fish caught off the coasts of Japan that’s flown in overnight.

You start off with three appetizers that change frequently (the monaka filled with salmon and topped with ikura and caviar is especially divine) before an onslaught of nigiri, whose tastefully minimal additions elevate each piece of fish to new heights. Some of the most delightful pieces included akami with a wasabi-flavored paste on top, prawn with a sauce made from its guts, and torched firefly squid (the first catch of 2025 season!).

Service is also impeccable. As a lefty, I am an absolute sucker for when the staff notices and adjusts table settings accordingly. In the two times I’ve gone (both with different chefs), the sushi chef very quickly noticed my left-handedness and began orienting my nigiri in the opposite direction to make it easier for me to grab. For the staff to pay attention to such small details, it gives you confidence that they’ve truly honed in on the hospitality experience.

— Sean Park, Senior Product Manager at Tock

To celebrate my birthday…

… I went to Dinner Party with my best friend and loved it so much that I want to make it my birthday tradition. For me, the staff is really what sets Dinner Party apart — they were all lovely and made us feel so well taken care of. Their four-course menu changes weekly and if you go on a Tuesday, everything is discounted 20% for the first night of the new menu. Our week, there was a crudo, followed by one of the best salads I’ve ever had, then strip steak, and coconut cake for dessert.

— Cami Grandjean, Associate Product Manager, Consumer Team

There’s nothing I love more than a burger and a Manhattan…

… so that’s what I get whenever I go to Minetta Tavern. I also got both soufflé flavors on this recent visit (Grand Marnier and chocolate), and it was absolutely worth it. But honestly, you can’t go wrong with anything on their menu.

— Duncan Goodwin, Sr. Implementation Specialist

Didn’t think the star of a caviar dish would be…

… tortillas?! Just one of the many ways that Cactus Wren, a new opening from the Sixty Three Clinton team, will utterly delight you. (On those mighty flour tortillas, they’re made in house and used as receptacles for their seven-layer caviar dip). For a restaurant that’s only been open for a week, the staff and kitchen were well into their groove. Every spoonful of the lobster pot pie was coziness embodied, the fish sauce-laced salad was perfectly zippy and bright, and the cinnamon toast-infused sundae was nostalgia itself. Can’t wait to go back to try more of the menu.

— Noëmie Carrant, Senior Writer/Editor, Resy Editorial

For a great pre-theater restaurant…

… Mitr Thai has you covered. The restaurant was buzzy and full at 5:30 p.m., with a way cooler crowd than you’d expect at that time on a Friday night. The roti massaman was amazing (I’d order it 100 times more) and the drinks menu was really fun, too.

— Stephanie Cohen, Director of Sales

I loved the ambiance at…

… Leon’s (from the same folks behind Anton’s) — it was light, airy, and open, with a great buzz. We had the cucumbers and vinaigrette, the eggplant boulettes (my favorite dish!), the octopus salad with beans and mussels, the red shrimp carpaccio (highly recommend), the brick chicken baharat, and the beans Alexandria (shoutout to our server who was so helpful with navigating the menu). For a drink, I’d highly recommend the bitter margarita, which felt like a hybrid between a Negroni and margarita.

— Richa Mehra, Consumer Product Manager

For a hidden gem in the heart of East Village…

… head to Crispiano. My friends and I took a chance by walking in on a busy Saturday night, and they were so accommodating — we were seated within 10 minutes. We started with the bruschetta and the Caesar salad (which made very good first impressions), before sharing the penne alla vodka and a pesto pizza that just melted in our mouths. We ended our lovely meal with their tiramisu, which hit the nail on the head — dare I say it was the best I’ve ever had? All in all, Crispiano was a perfect cozy dining option in the midst of a heavy snow storm, and it quickly became a new staple.

— Isha Shrotriya, Product Services Analyst

To celebrate a friend’s birthday…

… a group of five of us went to Txikito. With the help of our server’s recommendations, our table ordered about nine dishes (excluding desserts). Our first plate of patatak (rough-cut potatoes) quickly turned into a second one — the green dipping sauce was out of this world and truly a perfect match for those potatoes. My personal standouts, though, were the octopus carpaccio  and a steak dish, the filete y riojanos. Since it was our friend’s birthday, the staff also gave us a complimentary dessert. Overall, it was a phenomenal meal with a chill ambience, exquisite food, and flavorful cocktails. A perfect venue to celebrate a milestone birthday.

— Emman Johari, Senior Business Enablement & Operations Manager

I’m not surprised…

… that The Snail‘s chef-owner had previously worked at Hogsalt (the same hospitality group behind 4 Charles and Au Cheval, among others) after trying their burger. They might not cut and drizzle the egg yolk in front of you from high above, like they do at 4 Charles, but The Snail’s double cheeseburger is arguably just as good. I also was a big fan of their steak au poivre and sticky toffee pudding for dessert.

— Shane Gilligan, Senior Strategic Partnerships Analyst

I had an incredible dining experience…

… at Nonna Dora’s, where we ordered the three-course $54 prix-fixe menu. I had the burrata, the Bolognese pasta (my friend ordered the pesto gnocchi and was completely obsessed with it), and a delightful cheesecake with blueberry compote. Everything was so fresh — it tasted as if we were dining in Italy.

— Valerie Dellorto, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at Tock

These days, I’m often skeptical of brunch…

… but Cafe Mado hit every mark of an ideal brunch spot. On a rainy Sunday, we walked in and our 45-minute quoted wait time ended up being just 10 minutes. We were sat at the bar in the greenroom, which is just as lovely on a rainy day as I imagine it’d be on a sunny one. Between two of us, we ordered two savory and one sweet dish – the sweet was a guava clafoutis with citrus anglaise hot out the oven. And if you don’t have time for brunch, they also have a café set-up in the front with pastries from Laurel Bakery and a full coffee menu.

— Cami Grandjean, Associate Product Manager, Consumer Team

It’s Sweden by way of Manhattan…

Smør just moved down the street and I’m smitten. It’s a new spot in my rotation — it’s where I took my new sister-in-law for cheesy eggs, where I go after a particularly exhausting workout and only a chicken salad sandwich will do, and where me and my husband land when we’re not in the mood to cook and don’t want “going out” to be a whole thing.

— Tess Gostfrand, Senior Travel & Lifestyle Services Manager

For a unique and vibrant dining experience…

… head to Anixi. It’s a great spot for anyone looking for fresh, plant-based Mediterranean cuisine in a stylish setting. The atmosphere is chic and elegant, with purple drapes and sparkling chandeliers to set the mood. The food is creative, with standout dishes like the grilled “steak” shish kabobs, a delicious herb bread served with flavorful spreads, and arak-cured soy “salmon.” Don’t miss the vegan rose malabi for a subtle, refreshing finish. I’ll be going back for more!

— Sai Nallamshetty, Director of Technical Project Management

On a busy Friday night…

… we had an amazing time seated at the bar at Sawa. The staff was really helpful as we were first-timers and gave us intel on what to order. We started with the chicory salad and hummus with the Wagyu beef cheek add-on (highly recommend) and were told to try the rakakat: akkawi and halloumi cheese rolls, which were delicious! Then came the octopus, the moghrabiyeh (a chicken dish), and the special of the night: the lamb shank molokhia, which was one of the best dishes I’ve had in recent memory. For dessert, we had the semolina cake and mint lemonade sorbet. I was also really impressed by the beverage options from the non-alcoholic offerings to the Bekaa Valley wine by-the-glass selection. All in all, do not miss out on Sawa!

— Margo Valiente, Regional Sales Manager, New York

Though it is categorically a bar…

… the food was the real highlight for us at Sip & Guzzle. We were in the upstairs “Guzzle” bar (definitely need to check out “Sip” downstairs in the future — they have different spaces and menus) and we especially loved the “addictive cabbage” with tempura crunch and white sesame; the bikini (self-described as the “world’s thinnest sandwich”) with Comté ganache; the mochi french fry; and the electric chicken, which you cut up with a pair of scissors. You also cannot skip dessert here as their soft serve is amazing — we got the white strawberry pavlova one and I am still dreaming about it. Overall, the vibes were immaculate and the cocktails were great — we loved the yuzu margarita and spicy paloma.

— Lindsey Block, Product Designer

If you want to see incredible hospitality in action…

… go to Sushi Nakazawa. This famous omakase restaurant is worth the hype, the Michelin star, and the check. The entire restaurant feels like your fancy neighbor’s newly redone kitchen: sleek, modern, outfitted in black and white, and exactly what you wish yours looked like.

Though the restaurant has three dining areas, you’ll definitely want to book the sushi counter, where the real magic happens. The dressed-to-the-nines staff was on top of it all, and the fish was just exceptional — I’m talking lean tuna, chu-toro, o-toro, barracuda that pleasantly surprised me, and a seasonal sweet shrimp that dazzled me. As for the most underrated bite? Dessert: a Japanese-style crème brûlée with piping hot green tea. It was a true fine-dining experience from start to finish.

— Amy Schwartz, Senior Restaurant Marketing Analyst

If you have a gluten allergy or intolerance…

… Passerine is the place to go. I loved the restaurant and its interior design, and their paloma was one of the best I’ve ever had. We ordered the lamb cheela, the chicken saagwala for two, the fenugreek thepla, and my favorite dish, the crispy cauliflower.

— Richa Mehra, Consumer Product Manager

I’ll take any chance I get…

… to eat a meal centered around seafood, so I’ve had my eye on Smithereens since they opened. The space was perfect for a cold night — low ceilings and lights, a beautiful open kitchen, cozy tables, warm staff. They were sold out of the candied seaweed mille-feuille dessert, so our server brought us the celery ice cream float instead. As a lifelong celery hater I was doubtful, but the first bite (sip?) won me over. We also ordered the tropical fruit sundae and apple cider donut, which were the best possible versions of themselves. I can’t wait to go back.

— Cami Grandjean, Associate Product Manager, Consumer Team

Tucked in West Harlem…

… Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is a beacon of heat. Once inside, it’s like you’ve been transported to a completely different (and warmer) state, with more space and a distinctly non-New York vibe. Get a little bit of everything (definitely go for the “Pick three meats” combo platter) and the Syracuse-style salt potatoes, which I highly recommend (what is that glorious sauce they’re served with?!). I didn’t ever want to leave.

— Tess Gostfrand, Senior Travel & Lifestyle Services Manager

My only qualm with…

… my meal at Nomad Tea Parlour is that I wish I’d gone with more than just a single other person: there were so many dishes on the menu we wanted to try. But the dishes we did have were so special, from the amazing chicken truffle soup dumplings and blistered string beans (great way to get some greens into the meal) to the flavor-packed dan dan noodles and crispy chile beef (which was our absolute favorite dish). You have to check it out.

— Lindsey Block, Product Designer

If you’re looking for a very cool drinking spot…

… head to All Blues. It’s a listening room concept featuring state-of-the-art speakers and a DJ. I’m usually a huge dirty martini fan but I actually loved the umami martini with gin and dry vermouth. The one thing I’d call out is that everyone is there to listen to music — you’re supposed to keep voices down, so it’s not necessarily the best spot for a catch-up.

— Richa Mehra, Consumer Product Manager

Thanks to Notify…

… a group of friends and I recently got to check out Borgo. The restaurant feels like you’ve been whisked from New York to a cozy restaurant Upstate (fireplace included). The food was great and continuously rotates — our favorites when we visited were the fried artichokes, mushroom risotto, and fettuccine ragu. As for the drinks, the cocktails were very creative — I was especially into the Nonna’s Nonno, a scotch drink with applejack, brown butter, and sour cherry, which felt like a cold version of a hot toddy in the best way.

— Lindsey Block, Product Designer

If you’re traveling to the Catskills…

… I can’t recommend dining at Deer Mountain Inn enough. It was one of those dining experiences that hits all three: great service, food, and vibe, with attention to detail on every front. Do start off the meal with their fresh house sourdough with burnt carrot and tahini spread, which was so flavorful and well balanced. The crispy tofu with heirloom beans in a curry sauce was the type of dish that happily makes you realize the vegetarian options get just as much attention as the rest of the menu. And finally, get the popular-for-a-reason ice cream sundae with halva and shaved coconut — I still haven’t stopped thinking about it, and I’ll be dining there every time I’m in the area from now on.

— Sarah Slaton, Product Designer

My wife and I were lucky to spend…

… a long weekend upstate at Wildflower Farms in Gardiner, N.Y. On its own, it was a beautiful escape from the city with cozy cottages, picturesque scenery, and touches of luxury. However, what really elevated the trip were our meals at their restaurant, Clay. It’s farm-to-table in its truest form, featuring produce grown directly on-site and ingredients sourced close by. We couldn’t stop coming back during our stay and enjoyed breakfast, lunch, and dinner on multiple occasions. Everything was just so fresh, delicious, and beautiful. Our favorites were the olive oil pancake, the mushroom and truffle gnocchi, and the hangar steak with fresh yuzu chimichurri prepared tableside. A special shoutout has to go to their classic “two eggs your way“— I’ve had a variation of this breakfast hundreds of times at this point, but never when the ingredients and produce are as fresh as theirs.

— Charles Zhao, Director of Restaurant Product

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