The Most Exciting Restaurant Openings of 2022
eatingmynyc / December 14, 2022
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With 2022 came a wave of long awaited restaurant openings, after what felt like a forever hiatus as a result of the pandemic. From the reopening of old classics like Monkey Bar to new, innovative concepts like Mel’s, this year has seen some truly incredible new restaurants hit the scene. Now that we’ve successfully accomplished 365 days of trying as many of them as we can, we’ve done the impossible and narrowed down the exceptionally long list of restaurant openings to the top ten that were most exciting to us this year. So keep reading and start building your “to-eat” list for 2023!
Le Rock
PC: Eater NYThis was definitely our highlight meal of 2022 and worth the trip to Rockefeller Center. The team behind Frenchette has done a phenomenal job of transporting an energetic, downtown, sceney vibe into Midtown East. And every dish is pure perfection: the dressed crab, leeks vinaigrette, steak hache, and the off menu fries were our personal favorites. And don’t skip dessert! The profiteroles were hands down the best we’ve ever had.
Mel’s
PC: Eater NYHoused in the former Del Posto Space, Mel’s is a new pizza hot-spot among the many pizza places in NYC. Yes, the pizza is great. But the pizza itself isn’t the main reason why Mel’s made this list. We’re absolutely obsessed with the concept they pair with their pies: a full menu of sauces to accompany your leftover pizza crust – my personal favorite was the parmigiano fonduta. Plus, most of their other dishes come from their wood fire oven, like the giant clam and the mushrooms, both of which are must orders. We also can’t forget their dreamy ice cream sundaes like the coffee coconut and the tricolore stracciatella.
Thirteen Water
PC: Thirteen WaterAffordable omakase has been all the rage in NYC this year, and Thirteen Water is definitely the best bang for your buck in this category. For just $75, you get 13 imaginative courses. They use unique flavors, ingredient combinations, and sauces to elevate your experience from just a simple bite to a flavor explosions in your mouth. Some of our favorite bites here included the Salmon Tomato and Otoro Uni Caviar.
Laser Wolf
PC: Eater NYCAny restaurant would be successful with a view of the Manhattan skyline, but the food at Laser Wolf makes its view just the icing on the cake. Michael Solomonov did an incredible job of creating a beautiful, lively rooftop restaurant with delectable Israeli food. The concept here is simple: choose a meat, fish, or vegetable skewer and you also get a platter of unlimited mezze and pita, which is the star of the show. Who wouldn’t want to start their meal with a dozen bowls of an assortment of salads, dips, pickles, and breads? Top off your meal here with a serving of brown sugar soft serve for the perfect finish.
Fini Pizza
PC: Eater NYBrought to us by Sean Feeney of Lilia and Misi, Fini Pizza is an excellent addition to the slice shop scene in NYC. Here, Feeny utilizes clever twists to create superior slices, like the white pie slice prepared traditionally with mozzarella and parmesan, but also fontina cheese and lemon zest to cut the richness and fattiness – genius. Our favorite here was definitely a surprise though: the Sicilian with pepperoni. Come for a slice and a craft beer and end your meal with a homemade Italian ice sundae.
Monkey Bar
PC: TimeOut NYCAlthough Monkey Bar has technically been open since the 1930s, it recently reopened under the 4 Charles team’s ownership, so it’s everything you would expect and more. This Midtown restaurant is huge, exclusive and timeless, but now has a completely revamped menu. Come for the double cheeseburger but stay for the potato pancakes, truffle fettuccine, and artichoke, spinach & gorgonzola dip. The desserts here are massive and epic too – our favorites are the lemon meringue pie and banana split sundae, which are the same ones you’ll find at 4 Charles Prime Rib.
Kyu
PC: ThrillistIf you’re looking for a special occasion or big group hot spot, your search can end here. Transported directly from Miami, KYU has the perfect trendy, luxurious atmosphere where anyone and everyone will feel famous. The menu here is built for sharing and is filled with eclectic Asian-style dishes. You can’t miss the crispy rice and the Japanese sweet potato, which oozes with black sugar and buttery goodness! Such goodness we have a recipe remake for it-
Torrisi
Major Food Group has done it again with Torrisi. The restaurant is in the old Chef’s Club space in Nolita; a much bigger home than the former Torrisi Italian Specialties. The menu here isn’t just “Italian,” it feels very New York, with influences from Jewish Delis, Chinatown, and Little Italy. Must orders here include the Chopped Liver with Manischewitz, Octopus Nha Trang, Tortellini Pomodoro and the Linguini in a Pink Manhattan Clam Sauce. Pro Tip: you can do a walk-in for bar seating so go for an early dinner and skip waiting for a reservation.
Potluck Club
PC: Timeout NYCAs soon as we heard our friends over at Milk & Cream Cereal Bar were opening a second concept, we knew it would be good, but we had no idea it would be this good. You might mistake the entry for an art gallery, but rest assured, you’re in the right place. The menu here features Cantonese-American fusion with dishes like the salt and pepper chicken served with scallion biscuits and chili jam. The rock shrimp is also a favorite. We also love that the menu here is on the smaller side, so we could try the whole menu without any FOMO.
Kru
PC: Eater NYCKru is more than just another Thai spot. The concept here is this: traditional Thai dishes that historically only royalty had the luxury of eating. Sounds wild, right?! To put it simply, our meal here was mind-blowing; we’ve never had Thai food that is not just spicy, but also intricate, refined, and subtle. A perfect example of this is the signature kaeng pa beef tongue, which is extremely spicy but also layered with flavors of tender beef, thai basil, chili, and green peppercorn. All plates are meant for sharing, so bring a big group and devour as much of the menu as you can.
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