5 New Restaurants On The New York Dining Scene This Summer

by · Forbes

New York’s dining scene is back and hungrier than ever. In the last two years, the National Restaurant Association reported the shuttering of 90,000 bars and restaurants nationwide. Our city was starved of long nights under candlelights, making eyes with strangers at the bar, and undeniably one of the city’s biggest draws—its restaurants.

As diners sat in sweats scrolling through their 90s heydays and at-home recipes from their favorite restaurants, we dreamed of the good old days. Well, ladies and gentlemen, it seems as if the good old days are back. The streets today are brimming with droves of diners in 90s attire spilling out of cafes, each one of us lining up to get a taste. There’s a new hum breezing through our city’s streets, and with it, a new set of restaurants. Meet five new favorites on the scene this summer.

Emilia by Nai

Emilia by NaiEmilia by Nai by Kathryn Sheldon

Emilia by Nai feels⁠—and tastes⁠—like a celebration. Of the return of New York’s dining scene, of Chef Ruben Rodriguez’s native Galicia, and most importantly, of his mother and grandmother’s cooking. The First Avenue restaurant serves thoughtful tapas like Maitake Bomba Rice and Monkfish Liver Mousse complemented by a wine-based cocktail menu with otherworldly infusions like Black Truffle Rainwater. The bright, minimalist space lined with cave-like domes will give you all the perks of going out to eat, with the hospitality of being in a friend’s home.

The Noortwyck

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The NoortwyckThe Noortwyck

Where small-town warmth meets big city flare, find The Noortwyck. The latest West Village haunt is the kind of place that invites you to waltz in and order “your usual”—just know that your usual may change with the restaurant’s ingredient-focused and seasonal menu. The rotating selection of New American dishes currently features items like a White Asparagus Cacio e Pepe and a Tilefish with Green Curry. Casually helmed by Andrew Quinn and Cedric Nicaise, a couple of Eleven Madison Park alums, the vibe is sure to be buzzy and low-key no matter the season.

Verōnika

VeronikaVeronika

In a city where even the most upscale restaurants are filled with diners in jeans, Verōnika invites you to get dressed up. The lively scene is a feast for the eyes, from the custom-made velvet uniforms to the high ceilings, ornate chandeliers, and rotating photography installation by Fotografiska, the museum found just upstairs. The visual journey is only enhanced by the culinary offering, where celebratory dishes like Three Tempura Oysters are equally as dressed up as you are with Champagne Sabayon and Dutch Osetra Caviar.

Ester

EsterEster

Unless you’ve stumbled across this quaint and charming locale on Woodward Ave in Queens, it’s likely you haven’t yet met Ester. The unpretentious wine bar and restaurant hasn’t done much in vein of self-promotion, but that seems to be the beauty of it. This neighborhood spot is delightfully decorated—menus are etched onto a rusted mirror, a piano is tucked away beside the wall, and a co-working space hidden in the back. Ester serves up a small menu with options like crab cakes, scallop crudos, and of course, a loving list of pet nats, beers, and ciders. Best of all, the staff seems to embody the place itself—casual, effortless, and warm.

Nabila’s

Nabila'sNabila's

Nabila’s is bringing Lebanese classics to Cobble Hill and according to owner Michael Farah, “It’s the culmination of a years-long dream to bring the home cooking of my mother, Nabila, to the neighborhood I call home today.” Inspired by his mother’s spirited dinner parties, Nabila’s is found in a decidedly welcoming and appropriately modern setting where the mother-son duo can share that same spirit with their Brooklyn community. The ambiance may draw you in, but you’re sure to come back for fan favorites like Fattoush, Kibbeh, Malfouf, and more.