Welcome to your monthly guide to the must-know food-world news in New York City right now. Discover the latest industry trends, the hottest restaurants to try, and more. Dine on.
If you’ve yet to lock in New Year’s Eve plans, don’t worry, you haven’t dropped the ball just yet (leave that to Times Square). Many New York City restaurants are taking advantage of the Saturday night celebration by offering extra-special, bookable experiences.
- Benoit Restaurant and Wine Bar channels 1920s Paris with a luxe, five-course New Year’s Eve tasting menu, featuring sea urchin toast and roasted squab with black truffle, among other dishes. To add to the festivities, a DJ and photobooth show up at 9 pm.
- At The Smith, the 31st means a three-course meal featuring party favors and a Champagne toast at midnight. Dishes on the brasserie’s party menu include ricotta gnocchi, filet mignon, and sticky toffee pudding, served at its NoMad, Lincoln Square, Midtown, and East Village locations. If you’re craving a late-night treat—or need extra dancing fuel—à la carte snacks and a raw bar are available.
- Chef Andy Kitko’s sophisticated, year-end seafood lineup at Oceans in Gramercy Park includes Instagram-worthy whole-fish sashimi, toro tartare, and more. Plant-based meals are also available, and dessert includes a platter of shareable sweets.
- At Indian gastropub Baar Baar, the party kicks off at 8:30 pm and stretches into the wee hours with passed hors d’oeuvres, a dinner buffet, dessert spread, open bar, plus Bollywood music, dancing, and party favors (call the restaurant directly to secure tickets).
Here’s some other food news you don’t want to miss this month:
- NYC’s NoMad neighborhood is officially on a mission to become the country’s most eco-friendly dining destination, with a little help from the Green Restaurant Association.
- A Fulton Street space morphed into 1980s Miami at the Golden Girls pop-up restaurant, which debuted on December 7.
- Raw bar menus may soon include Manhattan as a province. The Billion Oyster Project is replenishing New York Harbor’s edible oyster community with empty shells from restaurants.
Before you go, these are the new NYC restaurants to check out this month:
- Feast on modern Japanese plates at the Tao Group’s latest stunner, Sake No Hana. Book now
- Dig into Oaxacan fare by a Le Cirque alum at IXTA. Book now
- Explore seafood-forward Yucatán dishes at Richard Sandoval’s tán. Book now
- Order egusi soup dumplings stuffed with black sea bass at Top Chef Kwame Onwuachi’s Afro-Caribbean New York City debut, Tatiana.
- Enjoy inventive Italian American food against a glitzy backdrop at Torrisi Bar & Restaurant.
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner is a writer based in Brooklyn, where she lives with her wife and rescue dog. You can follow her on Instagram @melissabethk and Twitter @melissabethk
