12 up-and-coming New York City restaurants you need to try right now

Advertisement

12. Baita by Birreria

12. Baita by Birreria

200 5th Avenue

Eataly can do no wrong. Witness: Baita by Birreria, the new Italian Alps-inspired rooftop pop-up restaurant. Open only until March, the space has been transformed into a cozy winter-wonderland-style dining experience, complete with retractable roof and revamped menu.

Tuck into some hearty melted raclette or pork and veal sausages and pretend you're in Piedmont while the winter lasts.

Advertisement

11. Bierocracy

11. Bierocracy

12-23 Jackson Avenue

Bierocracy is a new upscale European-style beer hall located in Long Island City, serving a large collection of beer varieties on tap and by the bottle.

This place adds finesse to the standard beer hall food selection. Instead of the usual pretzels and brats, you'll find a brunch and dinner menu that's filled with unexpected offerings like baby kale salad and duck confit.

Advertisement

10. Combina

10. Combina

330 West Broadway

For those moments when you find yourself craving creative tapas in SoHo, Combina will come in handy. A Spanish-Israeli small plates spot from restaurateur Einat Admony (of Balaboosta, Bar Bolonat, and Taïm acclaim), open-kitchen Combina serves up dishes like persimmon carpaccio, a merguez burger, and fried eggplant in a window-filled corner space.

9. Tilda All Day

9. Tilda All Day

930 Fulton Street

Seasonally-focused New American restaurant Tilda All Day is Clinton Hill's newest obsession. The food is stylish but simple: heirloom squash and a roast beef sandwich are two entries on the tightly edited menu, and all items will cost you less than $12.

Open only until 5:00 p.m., Tilda All Day's pure white-and-wood interior and clean food makes it a destination for daytime visits.

Advertisement

8. Court Street Grocers

8. Court Street Grocers

540 LaGuardia Place

This gourmet Greenwich Village deli is all about one thing: the art of the sandwich. Building on its reputation from locations in Carroll Gardens and Red Hook, the Manhattan branch offers scrambled eggs-heavy breakfast sandwiches and artisanal lunch varieties.

Unexpected ingredients dot the menu: think anchovies and caper butter, broccoli and sauerkraut, or roast beef with chopped liver.

7. Hometown Hotpot & BBQ

7. Hometown Hotpot & BBQ

194 Grand Street

Need more restaurant options with dishes guaranteed to warm you up? Hometown Hotpot should fit the bill. This Little Italy restaurant is a no-frills favorite, offering all-you-can-eat hotpot for under $25.

A self-service sauce station and popular desserts (green tea ice cream and sweet soups) round out the options, making this a go-to for groups.

Advertisement

6. Raku

6. Raku

342 East 6th Street

Will udon become the new ramen? Find out at Raku, an East Village outpost of an Upper West Side favorite.

The tiny, minimalist Japanese eatery specializes in the thick noodles; try duck or tempura vegetable udon, and be prepared to wait — the 22-seat space takes no reservations and is consistently packed.

5. Llama Inn

5. Llama Inn

50 Withers Street

If you're headed to Williamsburg, consider a stop at Llama Inn, a Peruvian small-plates venue where the ceviche is fresh and the pisco is ready to pour. Don't be fooled by the airy, casual vibe: Llama Inn is the brainchild of former Eleven Madison Park sous chef Erik Ramirez, so whether you choose duck sausage or beef heart skewers, you can expect food that's attentive to detail.

Advertisement

4. Mr. Taka

4. Mr. Taka

170 Allen Street

When the weather gets cold, ramen restaurants heat up. The Lower East Side's Mr. Taka is a no-frills ramen and noodle house with efficient bar seating, bright lights, and big bowls of rich soup.

The open kitchen lets you in on the action while you slurp your noodles, but be sure to bring cash — no cards accepted.

3. The Bennett

3. The Bennett

134 West Broadway

TriBeCa's going old school: The Bennett is the latest offering from the team behind the well-loved Raines Law Room and Dear Irving classic cocktail bars. In the same cozy, sophisticated vein, The Bennett serves cocktail hits from its sister lounges as well as creative original recipes with names like Bergdorf Lunch and Wildest Redhead.

The best part: a switch at each table lets you call your server whenever you're ready to order or refill.

Advertisement

2. Insa

2. Insa

328 Douglass Street

Private karaoke rooms AND tasty Korean barbecue? This month-old Gowanus spot aims to both satisfy and entertain.

You'll find five private rooms where you can sing your heart out, while a full menu features classic Korean barbecue plus more unusual options, like seafood corn dogs and ox bone soup.

1. Mr. Purple

1. Mr. Purple

180 Orchard Street

A chic new rooftop bar on the 15th floor of Hotel Indigo, Mr. Purple is the Lower East Side's swankiest late-night option for retro cocktails, downtown views, and comfort eats from the creators of Melt Shop and Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery.

There's even a pool on one of the terraces — not that you'll be jumping in while it's still winter, of course.

Advertisement