The Best Restaurants of 2019
Sydney Brown / December 30, 2019
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With so many amazing food adventures and delicious NYC eats in 2019, we’re back to highlight the best restaurants of the year. From the massive, beautiful Middle Eastern spreads at Lamalo to the super fresh, innovative hand rolls at Nami Nori, we’ve had our fair share of great meals this year. So, as promised, here are our favorite new restaurants to open in 2019.
Lamalo
PC: Alexa MatthewsA modern Middle Eastern restaurant in the heart of NoMad, Lamalo offers guests The Daily Spread (for $25 per person) comprised of fresh vegetables, mezze, and more hummus than you could possibly eat (we’re not complaining) all paired with warm traditional Jerusalem Laffa bread. For entrees, we love the Shabtai-Style fish with tomato salsa and chickpea, Israeli Couscous and The Grilled Octopus.
Wayan
PC: Alexa MatthewsWayan is an Indonesian restaurant brought to us by Cedric Vongerichten. With a modern French influence, the menu here presents savory Southeast Asian flavors with seasonal ingredients. Some highlight dishes include the chicken satay with peanut sauce and keffir, coconut duck with chili-scallion sambal sauce, and the fresh vegetable spring rolls with green chili and mint. Not only is this Nolita hotspot one of the most stunning restaurants we’ve seen this year, but the bold flavors and creative dishes make this dining experience one to remember.
Tak Room
PC: Alexa MatthewsTak Room, a Thomas Keller managed restaurant, serves dishes representing widespread continental cuisine in an ambience described as “nostalgic luxury meets a modern day vision.” Located on the fifth floor at Hudson Yards, enjoy dishes here like the New York Strip Steak, some of the best Caesar Salad we’ve ever had and an extremely decadent chocolate layer cake. This stunning and timelessly chic restaurant is a great choice for any special occasion, making it one of our top picks of the year.
The Fulton
PC: Alexa MatthewsFor a beautiful waterside dining experience in New York City, you’ve got to check out The Fulton, Jean-Georges Vongerichten newest concept at Pier 17. With amazing quality seafood, stunning views and hand-painted murals across the main dining floor, it’s difficult to have anything short of an exquisite dining experience here. Menu highlights include the octopus paired with burrata, the sea trout and oyster crudo, the sweet and rich scallops, and the soft shell crab.
Kawi
PC: @momolongplayKawi, a branch of Momofuku located in Hudson Yards, is a direct reflection of chef Jo Park’s fine dining background integrating her experiences in Korea and her work with Momofuku’s David Chang. Super savory and rich with umami, this is one meal that will leave your tastebuds tingling afterwards! Be sure to to order the sweet and sour ribs, the rice cake dumplings with parmesan truffle butter and the spicy bigeye tuna kimbap. With a similar vibe to Momofuku and such creative delicious dishes, Kawi became a popular, must-try restaurant of 2019.
Pastis
PC: @pastisnycLong-time favorite Pastis returned to the Meatpacking district this year, this time with the help of Stephen Starr. Serving classic french fare with some slight twists, Pastis’ vintage decor with a mosaic tiled floor, makes it one of the most authentic French bistros you can find in New York. Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, some standout dishes include the french onion soup, the steak sandwich with onions, gruyere, and aioli, the moules frites with white wine sauce and garlic, and of course, the double cheeseburger.
Wayla
PC: @wayla.nycIf you’re looking for an authentic Thai experience with a cool aesthetic and food that packs a punch, Wayla is your place. The restaurant takes pride in ingredients offering greenmarket sustainability which just makes us love Wayla that much more. Enjoy brunch highlights like the Kai Jeaw Puu– a famous street style omelette with lump crab meat and sriracha or the “after school noodles” stir fried with peanuts, chives, egg, and beansprouts. If you’re coming in for dinner, make sure to check out the Sen Chan Pad Lobster which is a stir fried lobster with rice noodles, peanuts, chiles and egg crepe and the signature cocktails.
Maison Yaki
PC: Alexa MatthewsMaison Yaki, located directly across from the sister restaurant Olmsted, was born out of chef Greg Baxtrom’s deep love and respect for French cuisine and yakitori, the japanese concept of skewered meats. The playful and refreshing fusion of these cuisines means you can expect super unique dishes like cauliflower okonomiyaki, a beef tongue sandwich and baguettes with yuzukosho butter and tempura frog legs.
Nami Nori
PC: Alexa MatthewsNami Nori, a clean, white brick sushi spot in the West Village is brought to us by Masa vets Taka Sakaeda, Jihan Lee and Lisa Limb. Here they’re serving remarkably fresh hand rolls and signature temaki as well as a large variety of innovative vegetarian selections with great prices to match. Pro Tip: they just started offering lunch which includes an epic $19 special.
Rezdora
PC: Alexa MatthewsRezdora, the Italian word for “head of the house-hold,” serves up the best house-made pastas we’ve tried this year. Rated three stars by The New York Times, this cozy Italian getaway offers a variety of traditional dishes with modern spin, like the Spaghettoni con Vongole, Gnocco Fritto with pancetta, prosciutto, and mortadella, and our favorite, the ouvo raviolo stuffed with ricotta and spinach and topped with white truffle.
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