New Places to Eat in NYC

I’m always on the lookout for great new places to eat. Since I’m planning to go to NY in less than a month, I decided to do some research on what are the new places I haven’t yet been to that I should. Here were my sources, for the nominees of where to spend my food bucks. At the end what my final choices were.

Grub Street & NYMag

Where to Eat 2014: This is one of my favorite features that comes out every year and I very much look forward to it. I think Adam Platt’s judgement is always top notch, and his review of the dining scene is interesting. There are numerous articles toread here, but the  main highlights for me are always his takes on The 10 Best New Restaurants and the 5 best New Chefs. What made the cut for these in 2014:

Best New Chefs:

1. Fredrik Berselius – Aska
2. Daniel Burns – Luksus
3. Richard Kuo- Pearl & Ash
4. Daisuke Nakazawa – Sushi Nakazawa
5. Bryce Shuman – Betony

10 Best New restaurants:

1. Alder
2. Aska
3. Betony
4. The Elm
5. Estela
6. Han Dynasty
7. Luksus
8. Marco’s
9. Pearl & Ash
10. Sushi Nakazawa

The Underground Gourmet’s Spring Restaurant Preview: Another source of great new restaurants, opening throughout Spring, one to bookmark. What looks good? Bar Bolonat sounds quite interesting as does Cafe El Presidente

Grub Street’s Restaurant Power Rankings: They come out every week and always a great source of what restaurants are buzzing. What’s at the top of the list this week:

1.  Contra
2.  Torrisi Italian Specialities/Parm/Carbone/ZZ’s Clam Bar
3. French Louie
4. Rôtisserie Georgette
5. Gato

What did I add to my potential list from here? Contra, ideas of wanting to go back to Torrisi, Mission Cantina, Estela, Betony, All’Onda

James Beard Awards

The James Beard Award Nominees  for 2014 have come out and here is what is nominated in NY.

• For Best New restaurant: Betony, The Elm, Estela,Uncle Boons
• For Outstanding Chef: Andrew Carmellini, Locanda Verde; Gabrielle Hamilton, Prune
• Rising Start Chef of the Year: Daniel Delaney, Delaney Barbecue; Malcolm Livingston II, wd~50; Eli Sussman, Mile End; Michael Toscano, Perla
• Best Chef: NYC: Jonathan Benno, Lincoln Ristorante; Fredrik Berselius, Aska; April Bloomfield, The Spotted Pig; Paul Carmichael, Má Pêche; Amanda Cohen, Dirt Candy; Dan Kluger, ABC Kitchen; Mark Ladner, Del Posto; Paul Liebrandt, The Elm; Anita Lo, Annisa; Carlo Mirarchi, Roberta’s; Seamus Mullen, Tertulia; Joe Ng, RedFarm; Alex Raij and Eder Montero, Txikito; César Ramirez, Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare; Masato Shimizu, 15 East; Justin Smillie, Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria; Alex Stupak, Empellón Cocina; Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone, Carbone; Jonathan Waxman, Barbuto; Michael White, Marea

What gets added from this list: Of the Best NY Chef I haven’t been to Aska, Dirt Candy, Red Farm, Txikiti, 15 East or Brooklyn Fare so all these are in the running. As for Best New Restaurant, Betony and Estela look really interesting

Time Out

Food & Drink Awards 2014 Readers Choice  : Some of the highlights here for my list: Sushi Nakazawa, Toro, Alder, Lafayette, Mission Cantina, Uncle Boons, Pearl & Ash, Estela, Luksus, Betony

Food & Drink Awards 2014 Critics Pics: What caught my eye: Alder, Betony & Estela

 Eater

The 50 Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings of 2014 : Sadly a lot of the ones that got me very exited here are not going to be opened by the time I’m in NY, but a wonderful list to keep handy. Definitly need to check out the Morimoto in Miami when it opens as well as Cosme and the new Alex Stuapk project! Another must is going to be ABC Home Grown & Brooklyn fare Manhattan (maybe I will finally be able to get a reservation)

The 38 Essential New York Restaurants, January ’14 This is quite a great list.  Where have I been: Bathazar, Peasant, ABC Kitchen, Gramercy Tavern, Bar Boloud. Where do I want to go: Perla, Momofuku, Alder, The Spotted Pig, Hanjan, Betony,  Red Rooster, Talde

NYTimes

Prized Performers: The 10 Best Restaurants of 2013 : These where the 10 chosen, with my thoughts:

1. Sushi Nakazawa: Although I really want to go, getting a reservation might prove more that I can manage.
2. Carbone: Been there done that, didn’t love it as I stated in my review
3. Betony: definitely going on the list
4. Uncle Boons: One to consider, although probably not at the top of my list
5. Hanjan: I love Korean food so this one I have to try
6. Mighty Quinn’s Barbeque: Im not a BBQ lover so this one will go down the line
7. The Elm: This one I somehow don’t seem that exited about, but so much buzz might make me want to check it out
8. Estela: They had me at Mediterranean
9. Pearl & Ash: I went to this one and loved it. Their Wine list is incredible and so is their food
10. Alder: Making my reservation as I type as WD-50 is one of my faves!

From Thrillist: 20 New Ny Restaurants You Need To Go To Immediately: What got added from this list: Contra looks really interesting, Kingside, La cenita and Sushi Nakazawa

Who got my reservation? Im going to a bunch of my favorites, but for mew things to be tested the following are getting my business next month: Betony, Estela, Alder and Luksus

What I’m going to again: Torrisi, Empellon Cocina and PEarl & Ash (my sister has to try it!) and Comodo for Brunch

What is on my must list for next time: Atera, Sushi Nakazawa, Dirt Candy, Uncle Boons, All’Onda, Cosme ABC HomeGrown, Mission Cantina, Contra