Where we're snacking in NYC - Q2 in Review

Here’s what’s new, what’s buzzy, and what we actually think is worth your time (and money). These are the spots that everyone is talking about. We’ve been, and we have some thoughts. Scroll down to read our honest reviews of all of them and where we have our eyes on for Q3!

Here are our top new restaurants we tried in Q2 of 2026!

Pies by Michelle Kogan (Prospect Park Farmers Market) -

Matcha 116 (Greenwich Village) - the follow up to Matcha 108 in Two Bridges, this shop is small but cranking out high quality matchas. We’d recommend the orange miso latte for something different but a smile matcha will do the trick here.

10. Sanwits (East Village) - This is the newest sandwich shop in the old Rowdy Rooster space in the East Village from the team behind Naks and Semma. They’re doing Filipino style sandwiches that are big and messy, but delicious. We loved the BEC with wagyu brisket on it and want to go back to try more of their sandwiches!

9. Piccolo Morini (Soho) - The old faithful NYC restaurant Osteria Morini is back and better than ever. The Morini group closed down their original SoHo location and put in Crazy Pizza. Now they reopened in the old Kimika space with Piccolo Morini which feels like a fun younger cousin restaurant. They have an amazing cocktail program. Their spritz went down way too smooth, plus they’re doing $9 martinis because they want happy hour to be all the time.

8. Bar Chimera (Midtown) - This is the newest MASSIVE concept from the Cote team and there’s even a Cote hidden below it. There are 3 bars inside this space from a gin, wine and martini bar. You can get snacks like $7.50 salt bread, that’s divine, a classic burger, and raw bar. However, our favorite bite was the jambon beurre and the wagyu corndogs. Don’t do a bang bang meal like us - it’s too much food.

7. Nori Shinn (East Village) - If you love Ume, or Umeko then you will love Nori Shinn. This is their newest concept and it’s a handroll bar. Think Kazunori with higher quality fish with more unique fillings. We always get the yellowtail with spicy crunchy garlic crisps, toro, and the California roll is fun.

6. Somssi (Greenwich Village) - Atomix has a new a la carte offshoot restaurant! We didn’t have a bad bite though, everything is so solid on the menu. They are doing a really interesting blend of flavors. It’s that similar Korean-French hybrid that' we’ve seen from them in the past. Really a great new funky dinner option if you’re adventurous! Try the tongue dish, it’s so delicious if that cut of meat doesn’t scare you.

5. Myka (West Village, Union Square, Midtown) - We couldn’t make this list without a little froyo because it’s all anyone wants to eat at and wait in line for these days. Myka (and Madison Fare in Greenwich Village) are our top 2 in the city. Myka’s toppings are without a doubt some of the very best. The shops are small and will likely have a wait, but now that they have more locations it’s definitely helping.

4. Cleo (West Village) - So our video of this got a lot of views, but not for the best reason because people seem to be highly activated by any expensive rotisserie chickens in NYC. But we don’t care because it was truly a phenomenal rotisserie chicken. It’s from the team behind Margot’s and Montague Diner and the chickens are marinated for hours in a Lebenese 7-spice blend. It’s got a middle eastern kind of flare to it and we really loved it.

3. Beto’s Carnitas y Guisados (Lower East Side) - A completely underrated gem that more people need to be eating at. They specialize in carnitas and guisado (braised or stewed meats) which can be enjoyed in taco, torta, quesadilla form, and more! We were obsessed with the classic pork carnitas and the short rib was so tender yet flavorful.

2. Pizza Studio Tamaki aka PST (East Village) - What once was Moody Tongue pizza is now one of NYC’s hardest tables to snag and best pizzas available…PST is straight from Tokyo. Madison went while she was in Japan and the quality remains the same. Highest level of ingredients, perfect oven that they freshly salt with Okinawa salt before baking each pie. The Japanese attention to detail is obvious with these pies.

   What pizzas to get: the Margherita, signature Tamaki, 5 Formaggio and the newest Butter Chicken. Lean into the pizza here and the Okinawa salt ice cream for dessert, you don’t need a ton of apps.

1. Oriana (Nolita) - From The Noortwyck team and 2 Eleven Madison Park Alums, they know what they are doing an definitely know their way around a wood-fired grill. Watch our full video breaking down the meal. If you can get a reservation we highly recommend going.

Good Time Country Buffet (East Village) – From the team behind Kisa, this Southern buffet concept will serve fried chicken, cornbread, collard greens, and more. We are soooo excited about this one.

Oyatte (Murray Hill) – Experimental seasonal tasting‑menu restaurant from a vet of The French Laundry and Atomix in partnership with Crown Daisy Farm.

Ugly Baby (Williamsburg) – The cult favorite Thai restaurant is officially coming back after closing in 2024; the team is opening a brand new location in Williamsburg!

Dishoom (NYC) – London’s famous Indian café restaurant is widely reported to be opening in Manhattan in 2026, though details and exact location are still emerging (confirmed rumors).

Allegretto al Forno (Williamsburg) – From the Francie team, this Southern‑Italian spot is bringing Neapolitan pizzas (with unique toppings like duck sausage and pistachio pesto)

Bagatelle (NYC) – An NYC icon is reopening… French brasserie concept with seasonal coastal dishes and lively service; details still emerging as an anticipated arrival.

Tatte Bakery (NYC) – The beloved café brand continues to grow; potential new chef‑driven or flagship concept expected to open in Manhattan this July.

Socceria (Greenpoint) - From the team behind Tacquria Ramirez, it’s a soccer themed sports bar and they’re doing some yummy bites too.

Punjab Meet House (Jersey City) - From the team behind GupShup and Bungalow comes a new upscale Punjabi restaurant. Excited to try their elevated takes on regional specialties. Think tandoori meats, rich curries, and traditional street food. It officially opens July 3 and is already shaping up to be one of the biggest restaurant openings of the summer!

Bark Barbecue (Bushwick) - After building a cult following through backyard pop-ups, Smorgasburg, and Time Out Market, pitmaster Ruben Santana has finally opened his first full-scale restaurant in Bushwick. Expect Central Texas barbecue with bold Dominican influences, from smoked brisket and ribs to chicharrónes, longaniza, and whole-hog barbecue, plus standout sides like arroz congri and adobo-spiced mac and cheese. It's one of the most exciting new barbecue openings in NYC and a fresh take on what modern American barbecue can be.

Oberon (LES) - Located inside the newly expanded New Museum, Oberon is the museum's first full-service restaurant and one of the most anticipated cultural dining openings of the year. There is a hidden entrance through Freeman Alley!

Trudie’s Tavern (Carroll Gardens) - From the team behind Gertie and Gertrude's (which we love), Trudie's Tavern has taken over the former Buttermilk Channel space and they are doing rotisserie chicken, burgers, seafood towers, martinis, and a pretzel service starter.

Lalaon (Williamsburg) - There’s a new giant Korean BBQ restaurant in our neighborhood and we’re dying to try it. It’s literally in the heart of a residential area and it’s kind of confusing, but we are so intrigued by it.

Here are a few of the openings that are dominating the convo right now, plus our honest thoughts if we’ve already made the trip.

Deans (West Village) - From the team behind King comes Dean's, a British pub inspired by the coastal town of Aldeburgh, England. We thought the food was okay, but the real star is their guinness pour and their desserts. We felt like the fish and chips was good, but very small portion. They used a special Guinness technician to install their tap and it’s simply a perfect perfect pour.

Konya (Williamsburg) - Konban’s newest sister restaurant is doing Japanese and Korean flavors in a cozy izakaya setting. Expect the same creativity and attention to detail that made Konban a hit. We loved most of the bites, but had a few that were inconsistent! We’ll be back though.

Catch (Meatpacking) - Not a “new” opening, but sort of because they just reopened after they were closed for renovations. They revamped the food and the interior and we loved everything! It’s 2016 again and Catch is amazing.

Unnecessary (LES) - This is the best new ice cream in new york! The Double Chicken Please team has an ice cream shop around the corner and they’re pulling flavor inspo from the cocktails at their restaurant. The dirty martini ice cream was magical and we loved the yakult one too. Highly recommend! Doing 4 flavors for now (2 with alcohol, 2 without) and are changing them every Friday!

Dot Cakes (Roslyn, and at Butterfield Market on the UES) - EVERYONE was talking about Dot Cakes for about a month during Q2. We’ve had them yeaaaars ago, but went back to re-review them when the craze started up. Listen, are they delicious? Yes. Are they worth waiting an hour in line for? No! They are delicious fluffy cake with frosting and sprinkles. So simple. They totally hit the spot, but we’re so confused by the insanity surrounding them.

Koke (Greenwich Village) - Good matchas with fun flavors like apricot pistachio, but the black sesame soft serve wasn’t our favorite. The texture was too pastey and not something we’d run back for, but we love any additional matcha shops joining the NYC cafe scene.

Marcel (UES) - This is the infamous restaurant in the famed Sotheby’s building on the Upper East Side. It’s so grand inside with expensive art hanging on the wall. We may have ordered the wrong things, but overall we felt it wasn’t anything special in terms of food. It definitely caters to the ladies who lunch crowd who don’t mind an overpriced salad.