Where to Eat in December: Jupiter, Bar Bête, Hav & Mar, and More

The trio behind Soho favorite King have gone uptown for their second project, Jupiter. The all-day spot at Rockefeller Center is the ideal place for a pick-me-up in the midst of holiday shopping or tree spotting, as well as an incredible place to watch the ice skaters doing their thing out on the big rink. So, pull up a chair at the bar and treat yourself to a Sbagliato Bianco, an ultra-comforting bowl of pasta (we’re partial to the alfabeto in brodo or the pizzocheri, made with baked buckwheat pasta), a slice of that luscious King olive oil cake (it’s finally back!), and simply take it all in.

If there is such a thing as a near-perfect bistro in New York, Bar Bête might be it. The Carroll Gardens spot is just cozy enough, and its kitchen consistently delivers some of the best French Canadian fare you can find south of the U.S./Canada border. It’s a perennial favorite for excellent food and drink (especially the wine), but especially so when the temps fall and you want nothing more than an order of their chicken liver parfait, vol-au-vent, and wagyu steak brochette. Oh, and definitely don’t forgo an order of the yellow cake where the ratio of cake to salted chocolate frosting is nearly equal.

With two incredible chefs at the helm — Marcus Samuelsson (Red Rooster) and Rose Noël (formerly of Maialino Mare in D.C.) — this new Chelsea restaurant promises to be one of the most exciting new openings in the city. The menu, primarily focused on seafood and vegetables, draws on Samuelsson’s Ethiopian and Swedish heritage and Noël’s Haitian roots, and the restaurant as a whole is a celebration of Black excellence and sustainability. Don’t sleep on the Swediopian, made with berbere-cured salmon, or the she crab soup.

There are many restaurants in Jackson Heights and Elmhurst that specialize in Tibetan food, but it’s likely that Nha Sang is the only one that also serves a variety of Sichuan dishes, too. The family-owned spot has a menu that spans both cultures and regions, and does it with aplomb. The Sichuanese mala fish, crisply fried and dusted with numbing peppercorn powder, is a must, as is the Tibetan thenthuk, a soup with hand-pulled noodles, and, of course, an order of momos, too.

Call 347-730-6117 to make a reservation.

For those of us who prefer to spend their Christmas dining out at a Chinese restaurant, might we suggest CheLi? Specializing in Shangainese cuisine — a region not often explored in other Chinese restaurants here — it excels in surprising you with dishes, some familiar, and others not at all, but all balanced delicately and exceptionally well. And it does that all in a beautiful space resembling an antique Chinese village.

As he did with Laser Wolf, Philadelphia-based chef Mike Solomonov has yet again brought one of his well-loved restaurants from the city of Brotherly Love to Williamsburg’s Hoxton Hotel. This time, it’s K’Far, his charming all-day Israeli bar, restaurant, and café where you should definitely get your hands on the borekas (the brown butter artichoke is a must, trust us) and a Jerusalem bagel, among many other delicious options. Better yet, this outpost will serve dishes not seen at the original in Philadelphia, like a Persian lamb shank accented with sour cherries, and a game changer of a chicken schnitzel.

When you find yourself craving one of Mei Lai Wah’s legendary Chinese BBQ roast pork buns way past closing time, this new Greenwich Village counter from the family behind Mei Lai Wah is here for you in your hour of need. Munchiez serves up those beloved buns in addition to skewers, noodles, and even oden every Thursday to Sunday from noon until midnight, and on Fridays and Saturdays until 3 a.m. it’s the perfect solution after a long day of holiday shopping, or a way to cap off a long night of holiday cheer.

Walk-ins only.

Fradei, the bistro in Fort Greene known for its surprise blind tasting menus, now has a new chef and a whole new a la carte menu. The chef, Nico Villasenor, has some serious chops, having worked previously at The Four Horsemen and Place des Fêtes, so expect some exceptional dishes that make the best of the season and local ingredients.

Should you find yourself in Clinton Hill or nearby Fort Greene, consider tucking into this beloved spot where they’ve been serving rustic, classic Italian fare for the past decade. It’s comfort food in the form of creamy burratini with mission figs and balsamic vinegar, or plump beet gnocchi with kabocha and gorgonzola, or a rich oxtail burger with fries. Pro tip: Every day from 5 to 7 p.m. is aperitivo hour, with a long list of aperitivi and drink specials, including a baby ‘groni.

If you happen to be flying out of JFK this holiday season but you’re not in a rush, might we suggest making a trip out to this must-visit grocery store and restaurant for Sri Lankan specialties? You can’t go wrong with whatever you order from here, whether it’s rice and curry or fried rice, but do try the lamprais with fragrant basmati rice and curried meat or vegetables, all served atop a banana leaf.

Walk-ins only.

For a limited time, New Yorkers can warm themselves up with a steamy bowl of dwajei-gomtang (pork bone broth) served as gukbap (rice soup) from none other than famed South Korean chef Ok Dongsik at a pop-up of his eponymously named restaurant, OkDongsik, right in the heart of Koreatown. The menu is tiny — you’ve got the broth and kimchi mandoo (dumplings) — but a meal here is perfect for wintry days and nights. Reservations are recommended; there are just 10 seats at the counter.