Nostro Ristorante, 710 Fifth Ave., South Slope
Open Since: February 2016
Type of Cuisine: Italian
A cozy new eatery is bringing a piece of Naples to South Slope with homemade pastas to fresh burrata, seafood risotto and more. Nostro Ristorante, which recently opened on Fifth Avenue, is currently BYOB.
Butterfunk Kitchen, 1295 Prospect Ave., Windsor Terrace
Open Since: April 2, 2016
Type of Cuisine: Soul food
The owners of nearby Brooklyn Commune are bringing Southern-style comfort food to Windsor Terrace with Butterfunk Kitchen. The menu includes soul food classics such as ribs, collard greens, fried chicken and cornbread.
Beer Garden at the Dazzler Hotel, 85 Flatbush Ave., Downtown Brooklyn
Open Since: mid-February
Type of Cuisine: Beer and cocktails
Sip on draft beers and Brooklyn-themed cocktails at the Dazzler Hotel’s new rooftop beer garden. The full service bar has eight beers on tap and offers cocktails like the Sunset Park (Baron tequila, triple sec, sour, jalapeno, orange juice), the Bushwick (Bulliet bourbon, lemon sour, pineapple juice, cherries) and the Greenpoint (Ciroc vodka, fresh lime, simple syrup, ginger beer). The beer garden is open from noon to midnight.
Grünauer Bistro, 1578 First Ave., Upper East Side
Open Since: March
Type of Cuisine: Viennese/Austrian
Restaurateur Peter Grünauer, of the former Vienna 79, is back on the Upper East Side with a new bistro, serving classic Germanic fare as well as some new and refined dishes, like pan-seared sea scallops with broth, bacon and potato, the “Farmer’s Delight,” which is a classic choucroute garnie, with roast and smoked pork chop, bratwurst, double-smoked bacon and sauerkraut, and for dessert, Viennese chocolate cake, apple strudel and more.
Tacombi Bleecker Street, 255 Bleecker St., Greenwich Village
Open Since: March 2016
Type of Cuisine: Ceviche
Tacombi’s still-new outpost on Bleecker Street just launched a new ceviche to-go counter just in time for spring.
Natural Blend Juice Bar & Bakery, 243 Malcolm X Blvd., Bedford-Stuyvesant
Open Since: End of February
Type of Cuisine: Vegetarian, Vegan
Grab your daily dose of fresh fruits and vegetables at Bed-Stuy’s newest vegan eatery. Natural Blend, which opened up its second location in Brooklyn, serves up a variety of fresh juices and smoothies, along with Jamaican-influenced dishes like ackee and codfish with breadfruit. Try vegan menu items, including stews and vegan citrus spareribs, curry chicken, and pepper steak, all made from soy.
Piesmith, 679 Grand St., Williamsburg
Open Since: Late March
Type of Cuisine: Pizza
From the owners of the Bensonhurst Italian eatery Europa, Piesmith promises Williamsburg residents custom-built pizzas with an array of delicious toppings and sauces to choose from all melted together in a wood-burning oven.
Chisai Sushi Bar, 569 Lincoln Pl., Crown Heights
Open Since: March 15
Type of Cuisine: Sushi/Japanese
A new spot for sustainably harvested sushi is now open in Crown Heights. Chisai Sushi Bar took the place of the short-lived grilled cheese and sandwich eatery Morris on Lincoln Place off Franklin Avenue, opening in mid-March with a menu of maki rolls priced between $4 and $12, rice bowls with eel, tuna or chef’s choice of sashimi (between $9 and $16) and standards like miso soup, seaweed salad and edamame. All their seafood and fish comes from Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co. and the Brooklyn-based organization Sea to Table that connects independent fishermen with restaurants.
Vite Bar, 25-07 Broadway, Astoria
Open Since: March 25
Type of Cuisine: Italian
The sister space to Vite Vinosteria, Vite Bar opened in late March serving Italian fare like lasagna and rice balls, plus panini, salads, cheese and charcuterie. The bar is currently open just for breakfast and lunch as it awaits its liquor license.
Ollie’s Noodle Shop and Grille, 2705 Broadway, Upper West Side
Open Since: Late March
Type of Cuisine: Chinese
A fire started in a Barnard dorm extended to the Ollie’s location at West 116th Street and Broadway, forcing it to close last March; but the popular chain has just reopened in a new location about 13 blocks south. The restaurant chain specializes in Sichuan dishes. This location has an extensive menu, with standbys like lo mein and General Tso’s Chicken but also specialties for more adventurous eaters, like the pork stomach with salted cabbage or pork intestine with chives flower.
Empire Steak House, 151 E. 50th St., Midtown East
Open Since: February 2016
Type of Cuisine: American
When you’ve got a hankering for good old fashioned bovine protein (or your parents are in town) head to this Midtown East steakhouse to indulge. It's the second location for the establishment, which also has a spot at 237 West 54th Street.