We’re only halfway through the year, and 2025 is already shaping up to be a blockbuster for the best new restaurants in NYC. Just take a minute to consider this epic roster: Momofuku’s first new restaurants in years, a French-inspired bistro from the two MICHELIN-Starred Sushi Noz team, and a swanky Union Square destination for arak and Middle Eastern food from The Musket Room stars.
We have the inside scoop on all those spots and other new restaurants that you absolutely cannot miss. Read on for the must-order dishes, pro tips like where you might spot celebrities dining next to you, what the critics are saying, and more.
Meet the best new restaurants in NYC to try this summer, and book them all on OpenTable.
Kabawa (East Village)
The x-factor: Momofuku’s first new NYC restaurant in years is reason enough to get excited—but internationally celebrated chef Paul Carmichael running the kitchen takes it to the next level.
The food and drinks: Carmichael showcases his Barbadian heritage through a three-course menu with dishes like jerk duck sausage and braised goat with spicy scallop creole. It’s all complemented by a wine collection that’s been curated for more than 15 years and even an NA option.
The vibe: Custom mosaics, the open kitchen with counter seating, and a welcome roti platter set the tone for a relaxed, Caribbean home-like experience.
The reviews: This is “fun and loose” fine dining, per The Infatuation, with New York magazine chief restaurant critic Matthew Schneier writing of the food, “It’s just delicious.”
Pro tip: Start or end your evening next door at Bar Kabawa with a new-school take on a daiquiri.
Caffe Zaffri (Union Square)
The x-factor: All the A-listers are heading to this private members’ club-adjacent restaurant where chefs Mary Attea and Camari Mick, the pros behind fashion favorite Raf’s and MICHELIN-Starred The Musket Room, are fresh off their Food & Wine Best New Chefs win.
The food: All-day dining pulls flavors from the Middle East in dishes like a walnut baklava croissant, grilled meat skewers, and lamb tartare. And it’s always a requisite to order a Mick dessert.
The vibe: A vaulted glass ceiling, rich, deep tones in layered fabrics, and statement art and wallpaper all make for a truly stunning dining room. You’ll want to post this one.
The reviews: “Caffe Zaffri is the chicest room south of The Polo Bar,” writes The Infatuation in a review that praises the “inventive lamb Wellington,” while a Bon Appétit feature on gorgeous restaurant design calls Zaf’s an “it restaurant.” But a two-star NY Times review assures that “a place that cared only about aesthetics wouldn’t serve food this innovative.”
Pro tip: Those in the know call this “Zaf’s” and keep their eyes peeled for celebs—GQ hosted its Met Gala after party here, while the likes of Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Leonardo DiCaprio have all been spotted dining.
Joomak (West Village)
The x-factor: At this highly anticipated reboot of MICHELIN-Starred Joomak Banjum, chef-owner and pastry whiz Jiho Kim leans into his Korean roots and fine-dining pedigree.
The food: Settle in for a playful, eight-course contemporary-meets-Korean tasting menu starring the likes of an otoro “cheeseburger” amuse bouche and Norwegian king crab with gochujang tuile. The optional wine pairing is full of pitch-perfect French-forward pours, but don’t sleep on clever cocktails like April Wind with gin, cherry blossom, and fortified wine.
The vibe: With just 27 seats, marble-topped tables, a six-foot fireplace, and plush rose and seafoam green seating, this intimate spot screams special occasion.
The reviews: “Joomak’s fancy tasting menu isn’t too precious to have fun,” proclaims The Infatuation, which raves about the restaurant’s “electrifying” dishes like langoustine in gochujang bouillabaisse and mandarin granita with chili oil.
Pro tip: Whimsical desserts—think a chocolate-encased banana bread pudding shaped like a pint of Guinness served with butter beer ice cream—showcase Kim’s top-notch pastry skills.
Laliko (West Village)
The x-factor: From the stellar food and wine to design details like hand-painted murals and backgammon-tiled tables, meals at Laliko are an immersive Georgian cultural experience thanks to this being Georgian restaurateur Gurami Oniani’s first U.S.-based restaurant.
The food: Expect a menu filled with traditional and contemporary Georgian dishes, including khachapuri (cheese-filled bread) and khinkali (dumplings) made by dedicated chefs, along with standouts like mtsvadi (meat skewers) and crispy half-chicken with walnut sauce. Don’t skip wine from the all-Georgian list.
The vibe: Anchored by a 16-seat communal tiled table and surrounded by vibrant, hand-painted Georgian murals and textiles, meals here feel like stumbling into a super cozy dinner party.
The reviews: The New Yorker critic Helen Rosner praises Laliko’s “excellent, plump, and floppy khinkali” and the restaurant’s exceptional wine list, filled “with indigenous varietals that are nearly impossible to find elsewhere.”
Pro tip: Bring a crew to split the viral sensation Mother Khinkali, a massive dumpling filled with six smaller steamed ones of your choice.
Chez Fifi (Upper East Side)
The x-factor: Beloved by celebs and other A-listers alike, this stylish French-inspired bistro from brothers Joshua and David Foulquier of two-MICHELIN-Starred Sushi Noz is one of the city’s most coveted reservations.
The food: You’re here for the sophisticated French-Basque bistro fare from Café Altro Paradiso vet Zack Zeidman—think escargot, filet mignon au poivre with frites, and Gallic-style roast chicken with cubed potatoes. It all pairs well with the 3,500-bottle, French-leaning wine list that focuses on historic vintages.
The vibe: Located inside a historic townhouse, the intimate, bi-level spot is filled with luxe design touches like rich floral fabrics and world-class art (Calder, Miró), while the sounds of Èdith Piaf will transport you straight to your favorite Parisian cafe.
The reviews: In Grub Street, New York Magazine chief restaurant critic Matthew Schneier praises the “letter-perfect” escargots and says the deep wine list is full of “interesting surprises.” Condé Nast Traveler dubs the silky crème brûlée some of the city’s best.
Pro tip: Ask for a table at one of the restaurant’s two intimate, fabric-framed booths—co-owner Joshua Foulquier’s favorite seats.
From Momofuku’s buzzy new Caribbean-inspired spot to a French bistro-inspired stunner from two-MICHELIN-Starred Sushi Noz, these are the best new restaurants in NYC to add to your summer dining bucket list.
Book a table at one of the best new restaurants in NYC on OpenTable ASAP.
For more on NYC’s top restaurants, check out these guides:
- The 10 best restaurants to dine outdoors in New York City
- 10 NYC restaurants with epic views
- Where to eat brunch in NYC
Stefanie Tuder has built her career on creating guides to the best restaurants and telling the most fascinating stories about the food industry. She’s worked at Eater, Cosmopolitan, Good Morning America, Food Network Magazine, and more, and she now leads editorial content at OpenTable.
Laura Scholz is an Atlanta-based writer and editor who has covered food, travel, and more for publications like Atlanta magazine, Bon Appétit, Eater, Food & Wine, and Travel + Leisure. She edits OpenTable’s blog content and works closely with local and industry experts to produce top-tier restaurant guides.
Tanay Warerkar has spent more than a decade as a journalist, including several years as a food reporter and editor. He’s worked at the San Francisco Chronicle, Eater, and the New York Daily News, among others. He now oversees features content at OpenTable, where he also stays on top of the hottest trends and developments in the restaurant industry.
