Terra Firma NYC, 119 Ingraham St., East Williamsburg
Open Since: Dec. 2
Type of Cuisine: Coffee, breakfast, sandwiches, comfort food
Expect delicious meals all day long at this cafe, bar, restaurant hybrid that opened in early December. Terra Firma offers grits, breakfast burritos in the morning, pulled pork sandwiches and ratatouille for lunch and trout and steak for dinner among other tasty options.
Maroni Hot Pots, 307 E. 77th St., Upper East Side
Open Since: Dec. 9
Type of Cuisine: Italian
Maroni Hot Pots keeps its traditional Italian entrees, like meatballs, ravioli, or baked clams, warm in its signature red pots, which can be delivered or picked up. Customers can choose small, medium or large pots depending on how many need to be fed. If customers clean and return the pot, Maroni will offer a discount on the next order.
The Quarter, 87 Lafayette Ave., Fort Greene
Open Since: Dec. 12
Type of Cuisine: New American
West Village eatery The Quarter has expanded to Brooklyn with a second restaurant that will operate under the same name. The new location features a raw bar with $1 Blue Points from Long Island, $2 Deep Coves from P.E.I. Canada, $2.50 Hood Canals from Washington State, little neck clams and wild-caught shrimp. Also new to the menu, two new signature cocktails: The Vodka Brulee and the Brooklyn Q, a basil-infused cocktail made with Brooklyn Gin. The Quarter is open for brunch, lunch and dinner.
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer Meatpacking, 248 W. 14th St., Meatpacking District
Open Since: October
Type of Cuisine: Burgers, beer and shakes
The SoHo burger joint’s latest outpost in the Meatpacking District is serving up the same much-loved decadent burgers, craft beers and over-the-top milkshakes and sundaes. Pictured here is a kobe beef burger with blue cheese and a dill-buttermilk sauce.
Chef Eddie G's Kitchen, 1664 Park Ave., East Harlem
Open Since: First week of December
Type of Cuisine: Tapas style eatery and steakhouse
The menu is simple, plates are divided by price, ranging from $5 to $20. Early crowd favorites include the Jerk Chicken Masala and Mac & Cheese. Chef Eddie G described the food as "globally inspired dishes prepared with local ingredients.”
Lefkos Pyrgos, 33-02 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria
Open Since: Early to Mid-December
Type of Cuisine: Greek bakery and cafe
Greek bakery and cafe Lefkos Pyrgos reopened earlier this month in a brand new location on Ditmars Boulevard, after closing its original longtime spot on 31st Street earlier this year. We Heart Astoria checked out the new space, which continues to serve up killer coffee drinks, desserts and pastries, according to their review.
Playa Betty’s, 320 Amsterdam Ave., Upper West Side
Open Since: Dec. 28
Type of Cuisine: California-style Beach Food, gourmet tacos and cocktails.
This laid-back spot serves both families looking to grab a quick and easy dinner and groups looking to enjoy frozen margaritas and snacks. The menu is very taco focused, with a dozen options, but there’s also a whole roast chicken and make-your-own salad bowls as well. A taco pick-up window is on its way.
The Django, Inside the Roxy Hotel, 2 Avenue of the Americas, TriBeCa
Open Since: November
Type of Cuisine: Small bites, upscale bar food
Inspired by classic Jazz Age Parisian boîtes, The Django offers up small bites — like a cheese and meat plate, oysters and a chicken, mushroom truffle puff pastry — to snack on while listening to the live music. Craft cocktails and other libations are also on offer.
Oficina 1000 Miglia, 371 Broome St., Little Italy
Open Since: Dec. 10
Type of Cuisine: Farm-to-table Italian restaurant, wine bar and cafe
Named after the Mille Miglia, an open roof race in Italy, the menu reflects “the rich and exotic ingredients from the Italian peninsula,” as well as the New York area, according to its website.
Mr. Taka Ramen, 170 Allen St., Lower East Side
Open Since: November
Type of Cuisine: Japenese Ramen
Owned by two childhood friends — Takataoshi Nagara, whose restaurant Bigaya was named one of the top 22 ramen restaurants in Tokyo, and Takayuki Watanabe — Mr. Taka serves a variety of rice and ramen bowls as well as beer, sake and appetizers. The restaurant is cash-only.
Kat & Theo, 5 W. 21st St., Flatiron
Open Since: Fall 2015
Type of Cuisine: New American
Chef Paras Shah, a veteran of Per Se and Momofuku Noodle Bar, opened this new American joint in the Flatiron this fall to rave reviews. Try the cheesecake if you’re not too busy oogling the exposed brick walls and the gorgeous ironwork that decorates the rafters.
Shake Shack at Queens Center Mall, 90-15 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst
Open Since: Dec. 30
Type of Cuisine: Burgers
The long-awaited Shake Shack at the Queens Center Mall is opening a few days early, getting its griddle going two days before 2016. The company announced it would be opening its first stand-alone restaurant — its two other Queens locations are at Citi Field and JFK Airport — last summer, saying it would start cooking in 2016. This location will serve a borough-specific concrete, the “World’s Fare,” which has vanilla custard, matcha, marshmallow sauce and crunchies.