New and Noteworthy in NYC

Check out some of the latest and greatest spots that have opened in NYC that are pleasing guests uptown, downtown and all around the town. Whether you're looking for fine dining, drinks or anytime eats, you'll love to visit these eateries. And with the holidays going into full swing, it's always nice to discover something new in the city.

Nisi Estiatorio (West Village) Nisi Estiatorio is a gem of a restaurant that serves some of the freshest and most delicious dishes that the city has to offer. Their seafood is shipped fresh daily from the Mediterranean and their meats and vegetables are sourced from local, responsible, farmers. They just debuted new "Regional Tasting Menu" on November 1st. Nisi will help to bring the customer to the Meditteranean by way of the West Village with an unparalleled dining experience. These regional menus are inspired by Greek cities. November is the mountainous METSOVO, December has patrons escaping to the coast by way of VOLOS, and January takes us to the island of SANTORINI. These four course meals are served for $55. Nisi also serves a bottomless weekend brunch with a prix fixe menu that includes one-hour bottomless mimosas and a myriad of brunch favorites such as smoked salmon, pancakes, and eggs as well as some unique favorites including spanakopita, green pea hummus, and octopus carpaccio. Visit: https://www.nisinyc.com/.

Spring & Varick (SoHo) Spring & Varick is the newest addition to the SoHo culinary scene. Spearheaded by chef John Creger, formerly of Artisanal, Le Cirque and Bar Americain, the restaurant will feature Modern American cuisine, with a twist. The menu will consist of complex, and diverse, flavor profiles, incorporated into familiar dishes. Some standout dishes include the S & V Burger, with Pat LaFrieda Blend Burger, Tempura Comte, on a Brioche Bun with special S&V Burge sauce and fries, 12 oz Bone in Pork Chop with braised red cabbage, apple bourbon compote, and pork demi, and the delicious S'mores dish served under a glass dome with Cherrywood, when it hits the table the dome is slowly lifted leaving the table with a campfire-like scent. There will also be seasonal, rolling, dinner specials such as the Short Rib Pinwheel from Pat LaFrieda, crusted with Baby Hemp Leaf Gremolata. Visit: https://www.springandvarick.com/.

The FryGuys (Lower East Side) The potato powered FryGuys at 150 East 2nd Street, just east of Avenue A reflects the owners' love of the spud. They offer a French fry filled menu of 1.5 lbs. servings of fries with generously portioned toppings like twice fried chicken with maple syrup gravy, pulled pork or guacamole with bacon and cheddar. The intimate 12-seat eatery is the brain-child of McKenzie Foster and Marco Lanuto, partners in business and in life, who were inspired by their self-described fry addiction to create a retro 70s inspired fry focused joint. A laid-back place, the fry infatuated can indulge their spud love with disco balls handing overhead, a floor made of vinyl records and walls of iconic 70s images. Visit http://fryguysnyc.com/.

Evelina (Fort Green, Brooklyn) Evelina is a modern trattoria from Aurora Restaurant Group now open. Owner Ricardo Buitoni has appointed Managing Partner Giuseppe de Francisci, and together, they aim to provide the neighborhood with a convivial spot. Helming the kitchen is Executive Chef Lanfranco Paliotti whose cuisine at Evelina is Mediterranean with strong Italian overtones. He designed the menus with sharing and grazing in mind, and will change them daily based on what's fresh at the market. Highlights of the menu include Veal Tongue filled cappelletti in brodo; tender Charred Octopus with dry fava bean purée; and Grilled Mushrooms with sunchokes, housemade ricotta and hazelnuts. Seasonal cocktails named for Shakespearian women by Simon Sebbah include options like the Ophelia, Mizu barley shochu, Amaro Montenegro, grapefruit juice, lemon juice and shiso leaf and the Rosalind with London Dry Gin, cucumber water, lime juice, Thai basil infusion and sesame oil. Visit: http://evelinabk.com/.

Bar Gonzo (Hell's Kitchen) Bar Gonzo is a freewheeling, 70s-inspired restaurant and lounge new to the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. Gonzo skillfully marries modern sophistication with retro vibes and revelry. From delicious food to decadent cocktails and over-the-top special events and entertainment, Bar Gonzo aims to reignite some of the hedonistic magic of an erstwhile era. The culinary program is the work of Chef R.L. King, a talented veteran of both The Heath and Gallow Green at the McKittrick Hotel, as well as il Buco, Hundred Acres and Five Points. Visit: https://www.bargonzonyc.com/.

The Atrium at Hendriks (Midtown East) Hendriks, the classic New American restaurant and craft-cocktail bar in Murray Hill, has expanded to include the Atrium, an intimate extension of Hendriks that offers a quieter, more sophisticated dining experience. Located just around the corner with a separate entrance on 37th Street, the Atrium opens to a chic, granite bar with an industrial style exposed-brick backdrop. The ambiance extends to two partially separated dining rooms, one of which is a sky-lit, glass-enclosed patio and the other a smaller, more intimate dining room. Highlights of the menu, created by Chef Jaime Munoz include smoked pork belly risotto with wild mushrooms and green peas and seared rainbow trout with spicy kale, crispy pancetta, tarragon corn puree and fingerling potato. At the Atrium, guests can enjoy new cocktails like the Gin Fizz, with gin, lime juice, St-Germaine, and a fresh mint garnish, and the Earl Grey Pisco Sour, made with Pisco, Earl Grey-infused simple syrup, lime juice, and egg whites, among other craft cocktails. Visit: http://www.hendriksnyc.com/.

Clay (Harlem) Inhabiting a sleek corner space in Harlem that once housed historic Perk's jazz club on Manhattan Avenue at 123rd Street, Clay is a new American farm-to-table restaurant and natural wine bar on Manhattan Avenue. The vision of long-time Harlem residents, Owner/Bar Director Andrea Needell Matteliano, Partner/Wine Director Gabriela Davogustto, and Executive Chef/Partner Gustavo Lopez, Clay is at once an homage to the rich cultural background of the neighborhood and a force propelling its dining scene forward. Executive Chef Gustavo has cooked at Terroir (Marco Canora), Lupa (Mario Batali & Lidia Bastianich) and DBGB (Daniel Boulud), and helmed the kitchen at Vinateria. His dishes at Clay include Confit Duck Leg with celeriac, smoked faro, collard greens and tart blueberry gastrique, Pork Tenderloin with apple mostarda, potato and charred romaine, Chicken Breast with heirloom rainbow carrot, nigella, chicken jus and potato. Visit: https://www.claynyc.com/.

Tapa (Murray Hill) Led by restaurateur Abishek Sharma, Tapa is a colorful cocktail and hookah lounge serving globally inspired Indian tapas and creative cocktails in a laid-back, relaxed atmosphere. Tapa features an extensive "Bread Bar" complete with eight different varieties of naan. Highlights from the Tapas section of the menu include Badass Chicken Tikka marinated in a house-blend of spices, yogurt, and jalapeños and Masala Calamari tossed in Indian masala. Cocktails by Warren Bayani include signature creations like the Sari Not Sari (tequila, lime, cucumber, mint, salted rim), Flight to Mumbai (gin, lime juice, cardamom), and Sassy Lassi (housemade mango lassi, rum). Tapa also offers hookah, featuring over 40 flavors for guests to enjoy divided into three sections on the menu: House Hookah, Exotic Hookah and Exclusive Hookah. Visit: http://tapaloungenyc.com/.

THEP Thai Restaurant (Upper East Side) This new restaurant anchors the corner of 2nd Avenue at 75th Street. From the City of Angels, Bangkok, aka Krung Thep, is where the name and concept of THEP derived. Their mission is to create a dining experience with authentic Thai food and an artisanal cocktail menu. THEP strives to become a neighborhood, go-to restaurant for fine Asian cuisine. Visit: http://thepnewyork.com/.

lil' gem (Lower East Side)The energy and passion of Lebanese dining is brought to life at lil' gem, the new restaurant by Chef Melissa O'Donnell and restaurateur Lesly Bernard. At lil' gem, Chef Melissa shares her passion for the Lebanese foods of her childhood. The restaurant features an open kitchen, including an authentic Saj oven and rotisserie. Her modern menu consists of small, sharable and large family-style plates along with dips, pies, flatbreads and a variety of shawarma. Lesly Bernard, known for his warm and inviting designs inspired by culture and current tastes, transformed the intimate 49-seat space into a cozy dining room with high-top seating, exposed beamed ceilings, white-washed walls and original artwork from American-born and native-Lebanese artists. Visit: https://www.lilgemnyc.com/.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Nisi, Clay, Bar Gonzo

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