New & Noteworthy

This week, I am removing Anton’s from this list post Pete Wells’ review.  I don’t think Wells had to make a disclaimer that he is not a “normal person” because I too would be put off by inconsistencies from the kitchen as well as the service staff. It is not inexpensive to eat out! (Also, I recently had a real bummer of service experience at  Chama Mama, a NYT Hungry City Critic’s Pick — the kind where the service staff upsells you on dishes and booze and patronizingly accuses the customer about a wrong dish order — the kind that puts one in a bad headspace throughout the whole meal and beyond. The food was fine but I would never return.) Wells’ experiences were much less egregious but I think that food, service and atmosphere are the three main parts of eating out. While I am curious about that spaghetti anchoiade, I can also live without it (or hoping that I get lucky that everything is firing on all cylinders the day I decide to go). Too many other places to try!

It looks like Da Toscano has still not opened its doors but they say that they will begin accepting reservations on Thursday of this week so I am going to add it to the list. I have enjoyed Chef Michael Toscano’s cooking in the past and look forward to his return to NYC. 

New & Noteworthy (week of Feb 3)

The Banty Rooster Opened mid-December

• Southwestern Flavors Take Center Stage at Celebrated Restaurateur’s First NYC Spot
• Banty Rooster Opens In W Village With Southwestern Flavors

Da Toscano Opened early-February

• Seasoned Regional Italian Cooking Vets Return to NYC With Da Toscano
• Da Toscano Opens, From the Former Chef of Perla
• Michael Toscano’s Da Toscano Opens Next Week in Former Perla Space

Ernesto’s Opened early-January

• Ernesto’s Is a Modern Tribute to the Food of Spain
• Fine Dining Vet Brings Basque Cuisine to Two Bridges

Kochi Opened early-November

• Daily Dish Kochi review: Observations from My First Visit 
• Former Neta Chef Opens an Elegant Korean Skewer Restaurant Tonight
• Kochi Arrives With a Focus on Korean Royal Cuisine
• High Dining Chef Opens Hell’s Kitchen Tasting Menu Spot

Lekka Burger Opened mid-November

• Dirt Candy Chef’s New Veggie Burger Spot Is the Cutting Edge of Junk Food
• Veggie God Amanda Cohen Enters the Plant-Based Burger Wars

Nami Nori Opened early-October 

• Masa Vets Are Opening a Playful Sushi Hand Roll Restaurant in the West Village
• The Owners of a New Sushi Spot Want to ‘Bring Back the Dynamite Roll’
• Temaki Hand Rolls With a Twist in the West Village
• Nami Nori, a West Village Restaurant by the Former Masa Chefs, Does Not Do Fusion

Piggyback NYC Opened mid-January

• Pig and Khao Chef Unveils Her Latest in Chelsea
• A Seasoned Team’s Irreverent New Pan-Asian Restaurant Opens Tonight Near Penn Station
• The Chef of Pig & Khao Brings Hainan Duck and Curry Puffs to Midtown

Sampotei Opened late-January

• It’s Mabo Tofu Ramen Time at Sanpoutei
• Sanpoutei Gyoza & Ramen debuts this evening on 2nd Avenue
• Off the Menu – Openings 

Verōnika Opened early-January

• Stephen Starr’s Latest Is a Grand European-Style Brasserie in a Sleek New Museum
• Restaurant Verōnika at Fotografiska Museum opens from Stephen Starr
• Roman and Williams imbues an impressionistic glow on Verōnika at Fotografiska

This weekly list is not comprehensive of every new place but a short alphabetized list of new places that I think are notable.  Restaurants that have been open for more than four months will not be included.