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If there had to be one word to describe 2018’s restaurant scene, it would be international. One of the best things about dining out in NYC is the sheer variety of international food, and 2018 has continued to take New Yorkers’ taste buds on a trip. Exploring 2018’s restaurant openings involved packing a culinary passport (along with an Amex Gold for most of them)! Out of all of 2018’s restaurant openings, a few spots stood out, not only for their remarkable cuisine, but mainly because they brought something new to the New York food scene. Take a look back at the best of 2018 with the year’s top 5 (or 6) New York City restaurants! Can’t wait to see what 2019 has in store!
5. Legacy Records
517 West 38th St
Hudson Yards
www.legacyrecordsrestaurant.com
$$$
♥♥♥
Legacy Records is the newest restaurant from Delicious Hospitality Group, a.k.a. the team behind NYC favorites Charlie Bird and Pasquale Jones. This third venture opened in March 2018 in a rather unusual neighborhood for a Manhattan hot spot: Hudson Yards, with DHL and the Lincoln Tunnel as neighbors. The restaurant is located in a large space inside the Henry Hall Hotel with a beautiful, art-decor interior. The 85-seat hangout may not be as charming as its sister restaurants, but you’ll find an equally fun vibe as well as the signature old-school hip hop soundtrack, and most importantly, great food. Chef Ryan Hardy cooks a seasonal menu inspired by Italy’s northern coasts. A great variety of appetizers, crudo and veggies, pasta dishes (and a $60 risotto for 2 that changes seasonally), and the best honey-lacquered duck you’ll ever have…for $98 (for two). You’ve guessed it, Legacy Records ain’t cheap, especially considering the small portions and in comparison to its peers. I guess the hefty price point would be the major con of Legacy Records. Drinks wise, ($18) cocktails take center-stage (have one before your meal at the beautiful horseshoe-bar at the entrance), as well as a curated, European-centric (and pricey) wine list (Charlie Bird still wins the award on the wine front though). All dishes are served family-style, so come with a group and share (the food and the bill!). Big props to the incredibly friendly and professional service, especially since this is a no-tip establishment. Reservations have gotten a lot easier, but still recommended.
Open for:
Dinner 5:30pm-11pm, Tuesday-Saturday / 5:30pm-10pm, Sunday-Monday.
Brunch 11:30am-3pm, Saturday-Sunday.
Do not go without having the duck for 2!
Legacy Records Bar Space
Honey-Lacquered Duck for 2 for $98! Worth it though
4. Manhatta
28 Liberty Street, 60th Floor
Financial District
(212)-230-5788
www.manhattarestaurant.com
$$$
♥♥♥
“I really want to go to that new hot spot in FiDi but it’s impossible to get a table” – said no one cool ever – until Manhatta came along! Teasing aside, Danny Meyer opened his newest restaurant in the summer of 2018, perched high atop an iconic mid-century skyscraper on Financial District’s Liberty street. An ear-clogging elevator ride up a whopping 60 floors takes you to a sleek bar and dining space surrounded by breathtaking New York City views. The setting is unprecedented, with a large area enclosed by floor-to-ceiling windows showing off the most stunning 360-degree views. Although Manhatta seems to be all about the scenery, the food is meant to be the main attraction. Danny Meyer’s brought in Chef Jason Pfeifer from his Italian staple Maialino to now cook a French-inspired fare. No à-la-carte (except at the bar), but a 3-course $78 menu with a selection of soulful, refined dishes, which include a Lobster Quenelle or Veal “Blanquette”, with a New-American twist. Along with the in-house cocktails, Manhatta serves a great selection of Burgundy wines. The flawless service and super friendly staff definitely are a big part of the pleasant dining experience (and it’s a non-tipping restaurant!). If there’s one thing Meyer knows, it’s hospitality. Despite Manhatta‘s fancy downtown setting, it’s meant to feel warm and familiar, with hospitality group’s signature down-to-earth spirit.
Sunday – Wednesday: 5pm-9:30pm
Thursday – Saturday: 5pm-10pm
Read more about Manhatta here!
The Manhatta Cocktail with THE view
Manhatta 2nd courses Turbot, Veal Blanquette, Lamb and Zucchini & Squash Roulade
3. Frenchette
241 W Broadway
Tribeca
(212) 334-3883
www,frenchettenyc,com
$$$$
♥♥♥
Frenchette was one of the most anticipated openings of 2018. The winning chef duo of 20 years, Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson, left the Keith McNally legacy (Balthazar, Pastis and all that jazz) to finally open their own spot in April 2018. Frenchette is a modern French brasserie (what they do best) in Tribeca, with the signature lively bistro vibe. If there is one thing Frenchette excels at, it’s the ambiance! Brown leather banquettes and comfy booths surround the dimly lit restaurant that will make you feel like you’ve been transported to Paris. Frenchette has already become a Tribeca staple, and the favorite haunt of New York’s best chefs and hospitality peeps (most often spotted dining solo at the bar). The menu changes regularly, but you can be sure to always expect a unique twist on hearty, French comfort foods. Think escargot on your scrambled eggs, trout roe on your tortilla, duck replacing your traditional steak-frites, a truffled veal blanquette, sweetbreads on squash etc. The menu is not ideal for vegetarians, and definitely not for vegans (buttered veal brains anyone?). Prices are steep, the service is spotty, and the truth is the food is hit-or-miss, but the cuisine takes New York bistro dining to whole new level (as does the natural wine list). Frenchette is still one of the hardest tables to score, so make sure to be on top of your reservation game!
Lunch – Mon-Fri: 11:30am-3pm
Dinner – Mon-Sun: 5:30pm-11pm
Weekend Lunch – 10am-3pm
Start with cocktails at the bar before focusing on wine with dinner
Frog legs bien sûr
2. Atomix
104 E 30th Street
Murray Hill
www.atomixnyc.com
$$$$
♥♥♥♥
Atomix is the fine-dining winner of this best of 2018 list. This upscale modern Korean restaurant was opened in May 2018 by the husband-and-wife team from Atoboy (which I absolutely love for casual-yet-refined Korean small plates). Chef Junghyun Park (ex- Jungsik, NYC’s other high-end Korean restaurant) and his wife Ellia took on a totally new challenge with Atomix: a 14-seat, multi-course tasting menu serving innovative and elaborate Korean gastronomy. An immediate culinary win, as Atomix earned a Michelin star shortly after its opening (as well as a 3 star NYTimes review, among several other acclaims). The new Korean cuisine, and the whole dining experience overall, are spectacular – but obviously come with a hefty price. the $205, 10-course tasting is the only option (it already got bumped from the initial $175 pricing), not including drinks of course (cocktails are stupendous). Reservations are pre-paid and must be made 30-days in advance via Tock. Come a few minutes before your reservation and enjoy drinks at the bar before heading downstairs to the zen-inspired tasting counter This is definitely a special occasion kind of place.
Open Tuesday through Saturday with 2 seatings: at 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m
Bar/lounge is open from 5:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Do not easily accommodate to all dietary restrictions 🙁
14-seat chefs table
1. It’s a Brooklyn tie!
Oxomoco
128 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn
Greenpoint
(646) 688-4180
www.oxomoconyc.com
$$$
♥♥♥♥
Brooklyn is where it’s at! Oxomoco is a modern taquería, opened in June 2018 in a gorgeous airy Greenpoint space with a Cali vibe. Justin Bazdarich, the chef behind Speedy Romeo, brought his wood-fire magic versión mexicana to Oxomoco. Pronounced “Oh-shoh-moh-koh”, after an Aztec goddess, he serves new Mexican cuisine and the most deliciously unique upscale tacos. Oxomoco is not for Mexican purists: this is a trendy, “Mexican-nouveau” restaurant with a dash of hipsterdom, full of Cosme-lover foodies who are not dismayed by $20 tacos. But just like Cosme, this is not your regular taquería, and the hype (and pricing) is justified — so much that Oxomoco impressively earned a Michelin star just months after its opening! Oxomoco is also great for vegetarians/ vegans, with a bunch of innovative dishes that will satisfy all taste buds. Their wood-fired tacos are a must try of course. Drinks wise, cocktails are the way to go, with a wide array of agave based cocktails (and no less than 5 different Margaritas)! To add to the unique dining experience, Oxomoco has an awesome vibe, located in a large whitewashed modern space in Greenpoint, with lots of greenery and high ceilings that give the room a bright, lively feel. For warm weather months, they also have a cute 25-seat patio out front. Dinner reservations are highly recommended, but the good news is Oxomoco also serves a brunch menu 7 days a week!
Brunch: Mon-Fri 12pm-3pm / Weekends 11am-3pm
Dinner: Mon-Wed 5:30pm-10pm / Fri-Sat 5:30pm-11:30 pm / Thur-Sun 5:30pm-10:30pm
Best seats are the open kitchen counters at the very back!
Bar snacking before the Mexican feast
Beautiful & delicioso innovative tacos
Misi
329 Kent Ave, Brooklyn
Williamsburg
(347) 566-3262
www.misinewyork.com
$$$
♥♥♥♥
Misi was probably the most anticipated restaurant of 2018. Pasta genius Missy Robbins, from the critically acclaimed Lilia, opened her 2nd Brooklyn hot spot in September 2018. Still in Williamsburg (Southside though), in a similarly cool, industrial-style space, serving equally delicious Italian cuisine – only this time, with a more simple Italian cooking focusing on hand-made pasta and veggies. The menu is divided into 3 straightforward categories: 10 kinds of pasta, just as many vegetable dishes, and a handful of gelato. Occasionally you will have a rib-eye special of some sort. The sleek, modern dining space has ample seating options, but the very best dining spot is the kitchen counter, with front row Missy action. With Lilia’s never ending popularity (that earned chef and owner Robbins the James Beard Best NYC Chef Award in 2018), Misi had a lot to live up to. And just like it’s older sister restaurant, it’s one of the hottest NYC tables to snatch.
Open daily for dinner 5:30pm-11pm
Misi is hoping to be serving Lunch soon!
Chickpea Pappardelle is a must order
Marinated leeks, anchovy, parsley, pistachio
