Tin Building, Seeds and Weeds.
Photo: Nicole Franzen
6 of New York City’s Most Beautiful New Restaurants
From a glitzy French-style brasserie at Rockefeller Center to a culinary mecca in the Seaport by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten
If the last few months are any indication, the 20s are roaring again. New York City’s world-famous dining scene—once left for dead—has returned with gusto thanks to a number of high-profile restaurants and epicurean experiences opening their doors, from the newly redeveloped eateries at Rockefeller Center to a sprawling culinary mecca in the South Street Seaport by Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Not only do these exciting Manhattan establishments offer mouthwatering gourmet meals, they also boast breathtaking interiors that further enhance the joy of dining out.
Check out Galerie’s list below of the city’s most beautiful new additions.
Le Rock, the flagship restaurant at the newly renovated Rockefeller Center. Photo: courtesy of le rock
1. Le Rock
The flagship restaurant within the newly redeveloped Rockefeller Center, the stunning Le Rock comes from the chef-owner duo behind hit Tribeca bistro Frenchette, Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson, who are alums of Keith McNally’s restaurant group. Masterminded by Brooklyn-based studio Workstead, the 4,000-square-foot brasserie fosters a glamorous social atmosphere with open sight lines, Art Deco touches, leather banquettes, and terrazzo floors. The cavernous space seats 130, and the menu is split evenly between perfectly prepared French classics and dishes that will change seasonally. It’s the latest spot to see and be seen.
The Rockwell Group designed Zaytinya’s light, neutral-toned interiors. Photo: Zaytinya
2. Zaytinya
Chef José Andrés has brought his celebrated D.C. establishment Zaytinya to Manhattan, setting up shop in the sparkling new Ritz-Carlton NoMad hotel. Award-winning firm Rockwell Group imbued the 140-seat eatery with a juxtaposition of warm woods and cool blue tones—a nod to the Mediterranean sea—and tapped the Alpha Workshops to create hand-painted linen light pendants that illuminate the airy ground-floor space. A standout area (and one bound to be all over Instagram) is the bar, which features a blue lava stone top and a backlit glass screen with a transfixing motif inspired by Greek “evil eyes.”
The House of the Red Pearl in the Tin Building. Photo: nicole franzen
3. Tin Building by Jean-Georges Vongerichten
A culinary mecca following in the footsteps of Eataly and Le District, the Tin Building by legendary chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten takes over a 1907 warehouse in the South Street Seaport that was renovated by SHoP Architects with interiors by Cass Calder Smith and Roman and Williams. Spread across some 53,000 square feet, the two-story food hall features no less than six full-service restaurants, a half-dozen quick-service counters, an array of bars, plus a private dining area and a trio of specialty shops. Ranging from Asian-inspired glamour to modern Scandinavian, the eclectic interior design pays homage to the building’s historic setting in what was once the city’s leading seafood marketplace.
One Fifth from Marc Forgione. Photo: Evan Sung
4. One Fifth from Marc Forgione
Helmed by chef Marc Forgione, known for his work at Peasant, One Fifth is located on the ground floor of an Art Deco co-op in Greenwich Village that was previously home to Otto Enoteca e Pizzeria, Gotham Bar & Grill, and the original One Fifth restaurant. Design studio 71 Collective breathed new life into the 145-seat space by looking toward the past: walls are sheathed in dark wood panels and One Fifth’s original terrazzo flooring has been restored. (Plus, the host stand is made from 200-year-old butcher block.) The Italian-inflected menu utilizes ingredients sourced from the nearby Union Square Greenmarket and features dishes such as hanger steak with green tomatoes, smashed burrata with peach, and delectable house-made pastas, while the wine program includes some 350 labels of mostly Italian vintages.
Parcelle. Photo: Collin Hughes
5. Parcelle
One of the city’s top sommeliers, Grant Reynolds is expanding his popular e-commerce wine shop with the opening of Parcelle wine bar in lower Manhattan’s burgeoning Dimes Square neighborhood. In an inviting space designed by Paul Renwick, guests can sip glasses of more than 500 conversation-worthy labels while perched on array of super-chic furnishings, among them vintage pieces by Gio Ponti, Verner Panton, and De Sede. Giving the boîte a touch of whimsy are wall hangings playfully embroidered with motifs of mushrooms, lush greenery, and fish. In addition to being a full-service restaurant with an ever-changing menu, the stylish destination offers a wine school with themed classes each week.
Oiji Mi in Flatiron. Photo: Christian Harder
6. Oiji Mi
The high-end sibling to popular East Village spot Oiji, Flatiron’s new Oiji Mi perfectly blends traditional Korean design with New York flair thanks to a sophisticated interior by AvroKo. Inspired by classical Korean hanok homes, the restaurant features extensive use of natural materials such as timber on the floor and ceilings, plus light pendants modeled on Korean jewelry. The five-course tasting menu, which features such options as dry-aged duck with beech mushrooms and black bass with truffle sauce, has a focus on traditional flavors.
Cover: Tin Building, Seeds and Weeds.
Photo: Nicole Franzen
