13 of The Hottest New Openings Across the Country in September 2025
Published:
There’s no way not to mourn the end of summer — tomato season, we hardly knew ye — but this side of Labor Day brings something to get us excited: the arrival of fall dining season. Menus everywhere are full of new dishes, and calendars are filling once again. And, most excitingly, new restaurants are opening across the country — just the thing to chase away any September scaries.
To find the newest spots in cities from coast to coast, New On Resy is your guide. And with all that intel about what’s happening, we decided to bring the most important bits of intel together in a national edition that distills some of the most exciting openings right now.
So, time to kick your fall planning into high gear — whether it’s trying a great new place across town, or exploring some culinary pleasures on a fall vacation. Start booking that hot new table. Get your Notifies in line. Whether it’s a famous name expanding their roster, or a new talent you want to be able to tell your friends about, we have you covered with this season’s hottest debuts.
Las' Lap Miami MIAMI | Miami Beach
He took New York City by storm (and earned a James Beard nom) with his Afro-Caribbean restaurant, Tatiana, and just two years later, made a splash with the opening of Dōgon in Washington, D.C. Now, chef Kwame Onwuachi has made his way down the coast to Miami Beach with Las’ Lap, in partnership with the team behind the New York original. And it’s a pretty perfect marriage: Onwuachi brings influences from his grandfather’s Trinidadian heritage to the West Indies-inspired rum bar, with truffle oxtail Cubans, jerk-rum-glazed lamb, and rasta pasta with Manila clams. It’s necessary sustenance to complement the extensive rum collection and adjacency to the shore.
Read more about Las’ Lap here.
KAYU WASHINGTON, D.C. | Dupont
This restaurant has been through a few evolutions, but through each iteration, chef Paolo Dungca has continued to showcase modern Filipino-American food that lives in a lane all its own. After a move from H street to Dupont Circle, Kayu is once again redefining itself and diving deeper into Dungca’s personal story: This time, they’re ditching the tasting menu for a more flexible à la carte format, with dishes that take inspiration from various regions of the Philippines. Options include favorites from the previous location, plus new additions like a half or whole chicken tocino with sweet garlic soy, annatto oil, and salted egg.
Read more about Kayu here.
Elise ATLANTA | Woodruff Arts Center
When the dining space at Midtown’s Woodruff Arts Center opened up earlier this year, chef Craig Richards jumped at the chance to inhabit the Renzo Piano-designed space and take inspiration from the surrounding visual and performing arts. In contrast to his flagship Southern European-inspired (and Michelin approved) restaurant Lyla Lila just a few blocks down Peachtree street, Elise zeroes in on French and Italian culinary influences with a fine dining approach. A specialty of Richards’ — handmade pasta — will be on full display, but he’s also leaning into seafood-driven dishes and an optional tasting menu (with forthcoming lunch) for an in-depth, and yes, artful experience.
Lex Yard at Waldorf Astoria New York NEW YORK | Midtown East
The historic Waldorf Astoria is back in action after a 10-year hiatus and full restoration, with none other than chef Michael Anthony of local standby Gramercy Tavern leading the culinary charge. Like the grand, bi-level space, the menu at Lex Yard will reference the building’s history through a modern lens, driven by seasonal New York ingredients. Yes, there is an (updated) Waldorf salad, plus a killer burger topped with Thousand Island dressing. And, there’s an equally decadent cocktail counterpart in the lobby: Peacock Alley, a cocktail bar curated by Please Don’t Tell (PDT)’s Jeff Bell. Still not convinced? New to the property is a kaiseki-style restaurant, Yoshoku, that sits on the hotel’s terrace in view of artist Louis Rigal’s 1931 “Wheel of Life” mosaic.
Read more about Lex Yard here.
I Cavallini NEW YORK | Williamsburg
A whole decade after The Four Horsemen brought its refined seasonal cooking and expertly curated wine cellar (plus, a stellar sound system) to Williamsburg, the team has gifted Grand Street with another spot for elusive pours. This time, they are zeroing in on Italy with both the wine list and the food (though not without some New York City-inspired creative liberties), as well as in a menu of cocktails that straddle bitter liqueurs and fresh, seasonal flavors. It’s all taking place in a larger space (50+ seats) to accommodate guests with a neighborly vibe and a forthcoming patio — all fit for aperitivo hour or a leisurely meal.
Read more about I Cavallini here.
Pastis – Nashville NASHVILLE | Wedgewood-Houston
With steak frites and duck confit galore, the original location grew to be one of New York City’s defining brasseries. Now with almost three decades and four locations under their belt (Miami, D.C.), restaurateurs Keith McNally and Stephen Starr have broken ground in Tennessee for the first time. Other than its Wedgewood-Houston locale — adjacent to Fort Negley Park — the restaurant is a pretty accurate clone of the Meatpacking District original, complete with gleaming subway tiles, bustling brunches, decadent cheeseburgers à l’Américaine, and espresso martinis at nearly every hour of the day.
Bong NEW YORK | Crown Heights
This small-yet-mighty restaurant was a long time coming for owners Chakriya “Cha” Un and Alexander “Chapi” Chaparro, but also feels like it came to fruition at just the right time. After eight years as a pop-up, the chefs evolved their menu to encompass every part of their Cambodian-American story. Inspired by (and with ingredients from) Un’s parents and their heritage, dishes bridge family recipes like Mama Kim’s stir-fried lobster, with seasonal, New York-inspired dishes like hangar steak with herby fermented fish sauce and locally grown chicories. It’s deeply personal, which can be felt in every bite. The intimate, art-filled space is as vibrant and energetic as the line of guests usually clambering to get in the door.
Read more about Bong here.
Cane Pazzo CHARLESTON | Hanahan
Despite being a staunchly southern market with major loyalty to Lowcountry traditions, the Charleston area continues to play host to some of the country’s best Italian eats. The latest addition is thanks in part to chef Mark Bolchoz, who has planted his first solo venture in Hanahan, just north of Park Circle. It’s the culmination of many years of experience in the area (and generations for his family), most recently as culinary director for Indigo Road Hospitality Group. Dishes highlight the regional bounty of seasonal produce and locally farmed seafood and meat, gracefully towing the line between classic and creative: Pastas are housemade, the daily bread is charred by wood fire, and the bone-in pork chop comes from less than 50 miles away.
Étoile NEW ORLEANS | Garden District
It’s a homecoming for chef Chris Dupont: After two decades spent developing his slow food philosophy through fine French fare at his restaurant, Café Dupont in Birmingham, he’s returned to his hometown to bring locally-driven dishes to New Orleans’ Garden District. His seven-to-10-course tasting menus flow through elegantly-executed classics (ratatouille, braised rabbit, Wagyu pithivier) and seem right at home in the charming 1883 townhouse (formerly Cavan), complete with a restored porch and patio (and potentially, a few ghosts) overlooking Magazine street.
Jules SAN FRANCISCO | Lower Haight
Bay Area-born chef Max Blachman-Gentile cut his teeth cooking at some of New York’s top restaurants (including Roberta’s and Mission Chinese Food) before returning to his home state to take the helm at San Francisco’s Tartine as culinary director. His latest project, Jules, combines his love for sourdough and pizza with pies that are “not quite New York-style, not quite Neapolitan,” and earned Jules a cult following as a pop-up before they took residence in the Lower Haight this summer. The evolution from Oonis to a full deck oven means a constant rotation of seasonal pies in true California style (corn in the summer, caramelized onions in the winter), plus small plates and housemade ice cream.
Duchess FORT WORTH | Near Southside
Hotels across the nation are continuing to up their food game, this time with the help of “Top Chef” Casey Thompson, in partnership with chef Marcus Kopplin at The Nobleman Fort Worth. Thompson is celebrating her return to her home state with regionally inspired fare, with a bit of a nod to her previous gig on the California coast. Think beef tartare with smoked cheddar, pecans, and potato chips, or buttermilk-brined chicken in cilantro sauce, plus a selection of steakhouse-worthy cuts. It’s an all-day affair that includes breakfast and a bar menu (Pro tip: there’s a bar exclusive Duchess combo that includes a Caesar salad, housemade fries, and two martinis) right in the heart of the city.
Frenchie DALLAS | University Park
Even in Dallas — where barbecue is big and the steakhouses are even bigger — Travis Street Hospitality has been making a strong argument for French and French-plus fare in the area for over a decade. They came in swinging with Le Bilboquet (and then the incredibly ambitious Georgie and Le PasSage, among others) and now, the latest addition gives University Park an all-day brasserie offering bites from pastries to pavlova. The menu leans towards classics, with oysters, leeks dijonnaise, and branzino, but also sprinkles in a smattering of current foodie favorites (freezer martinis! A kale Caesar! Cheeseburger au poivre!). Also, who doesn’t love gnocchi offered as a side dish with ham and béchamel?
Bar Avoja LOS ANGELES | Hollywood
Where Mother Wolf is Hollywood’s palace of pizza and pasta — its vast space glowing and always buzzing — Bar Avoja is its chic and moody little sister. The dimly lit, velvet-clad lounge sits mysteriously behind chef Evan Funke’s Roman-inspired restaurant and carries the same glamourous vibes and superb Italian bites, but with a paired-down menu and a focus on aperitivo-inspired cocktails, often (weekly) accented by tunes from the DJ booth. To add to the exclusivity, it’s only open three nights a week, but if you can snag a spot on one of the plush couches, you’re sure to feel like a star.
Read more about Bar Avoja here.
More New On Resy
Trino in the West Loop Brings Latin Flair to the Steakhouse
Everything you need to know about chef Stephen Sandoval’s latest.
