The Top-Rated New Restaurants Of 2023
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The Top-Rated New Restaurants Of 2023
It’s about that time again. The time when we consider the restaurants that opened this year and get all sappy about how they made us feel.
This go around, we’re reveling at how many ingredients a martini can have without becoming a salad. We’re leaning back into describing food as “fusion,” because what else are you going to call carnitas tonkotsu ramen? We’re in awe of burgers so good they don’t need cheese. We’re reminding ourselves we’re lucky to be jaded by crudo. And we’re especially grateful for the little things, like condiment caddies, potato salad in general, and karaoke in the bathroom.
Dining out takes forethought, money, and shoes, and the spots below are worth it all. These are the best new restaurants of 2023.
photo credit: Gab Bonghi
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
Walking through the carpeted doorway, stopping our internal “minutes without Kalaya” clock.
A Perfect Order For Your Annoying Friends From New York
Dumplings, gui chai, any stir fry (with a side of turmeric rice), and one fruity shaved ice.
The Best Time To Go
Saturday night, 8pm. Between the people-watching, sexy lounge music, and coconut milk-infused cocktails, you won’t even notice you’re waiting for a table.
Collective Team Visits
19
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
Walking through the carpeted doorway, stopping our internal “minutes without Kalaya” clock.
A Perfect Order For Your Annoying Friends From New York
Dumplings, gui chai, any stir fry (with a side of turmeric rice), and one fruity shaved ice.
The Best Time To Go
Saturday night, 8pm. Between the people-watching, sexy lounge music, and coconut milk-infused cocktails, you won’t even notice you’re waiting for a table.
photo credit: CLEVELAND JENNINGS / @EATTHECANVASLLC
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
Walking into the karaoke bathroom just as the chorus to Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn" came on.
A Perfect Order For Two Small Plate Enthusiasts
Lotus root salad, scallop pomelo goi, steak tartare, ribs, wings, two pig-ified cocktails with a collective eight teats.
The Best Time To Go
Saturday night, looking cute, around 9pm, after having exactly one shell-tini at Over Under.
Collective team visits
16
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
Walking into the karaoke bathroom just as the chorus to Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn" came on.
A Perfect Order For Two Small Plate Enthusiasts
Lotus root salad, scallop pomelo goi, steak tartare, ribs, wings, two pig-ified cocktails with a collective eight teats.
The Best Time To Go
Saturday night, looking cute, around 9pm, after having exactly one shell-tini at Over Under.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
When we giddily booked dinner before we’d even finished lunch.
A Perfect Order For A Night Of Romance
Half a dozen oysters, escarole salad, rabbit with mustard sauce, chips, and a spoon battle over the crème caramel.
The Best Time To Go
On a brisk Thursday night, post sharpener at St. John’s bar. Nothing will make you happier than butter and chips after.
Collective team visits
5
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
When we giddily booked dinner before we’d even finished lunch.
A Perfect Order For A Night Of Romance
Half a dozen oysters, escarole salad, rabbit with mustard sauce, chips, and a spoon battle over the crème caramel.
The Best Time To Go
On a brisk Thursday night, post sharpener at St. John’s bar. Nothing will make you happier than butter and chips after.
photo credit: Tabia S. Lisenbee-Parker
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
When we started online shopping for our own beautiful Japanese ceramics collection.
A Perfect Order For Jealous Types
The $135 sake pairing since each generous pour is presented in a cool glass.
The Best Time To Go
A weekday dinner when you're more likely to be seated in front of the head chef, who adds a stream of anecdotes about each course.
Collective Team Visits
3
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
When we started online shopping for our own beautiful Japanese ceramics collection.
A Perfect Order For Jealous Types
The $135 sake pairing since each generous pour is presented in a cool glass.
The Best Time To Go
A weekday dinner when you're more likely to be seated in front of the head chef, who adds a stream of anecdotes about each course.
photo credit: David A. Lee
THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT
Lauryn Hill’s “Lost Ones” blasted through the dining room, nearly rattling the chain-link curtains.
A PERFECT ORDER WHEN YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT “SOMETHING GREEN”
Egusi dumplings, curried goat patties, short rib pastrami suya, braised oxtails, and the Bodega Special for dessert. (Oh, just get the honeynut piri piri salad too.)
THE BEST TIME TO GO
Show up at least 20 minutes before they open at 5pm, and put your name down for a table. Or try and snag a seat at the walk-in only bar.
Collective team visits
5
THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT
Lauryn Hill’s “Lost Ones” blasted through the dining room, nearly rattling the chain-link curtains.
A PERFECT ORDER WHEN YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT “SOMETHING GREEN”
Egusi dumplings, curried goat patties, short rib pastrami suya, braised oxtails, and the Bodega Special for dessert. (Oh, just get the honeynut piri piri salad too.)
THE BEST TIME TO GO
Show up at least 20 minutes before they open at 5pm, and put your name down for a table. Or try and snag a seat at the walk-in only bar.
photo credit: Liz Silva
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
The millisecond the first bite of roasted sweet potato and labneh melted in our mouths.
A Perfect Order For Date Night
Beef tartare, sweet potato, grits, half order of fried chicken, and all four desserts.
The Best Time To Go
Whenever you want to snuggle up in a corner booth—just secure a reservation first.
Collective Team Visits
3
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
The millisecond the first bite of roasted sweet potato and labneh melted in our mouths.
A Perfect Order For Date Night
Beef tartare, sweet potato, grits, half order of fried chicken, and all four desserts.
The Best Time To Go
Whenever you want to snuggle up in a corner booth—just secure a reservation first.
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Moment We Knew We Loved It
Halfway through our second black garlic gibson, while staring into the glossy eyes of a Romanesque horse bust.
Perfect Order For Two
Tableside caesar, veal parm, Italian lemon ice.
Best Time To Go
After realizing money is a construct, so you might as well spend it.
Collective Team Visits
13
Moment We Knew We Loved It
Halfway through our second black garlic gibson, while staring into the glossy eyes of a Romanesque horse bust.
Perfect Order For Two
Tableside caesar, veal parm, Italian lemon ice.
Best Time To Go
After realizing money is a construct, so you might as well spend it.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
We finished the burger and didn't even notice there was no cheese.
A Perfect Order For 1AM On A Monday
A vegetable, the burger (the only constant entree on the menu), and a Miller High Life.
The Best Time To Go
Unless you want to wait two hours, after 10pm or 30 minutes before they open at 6pm.
Collective Team Visits
8
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
We finished the burger and didn't even notice there was no cheese.
A Perfect Order For 1AM On A Monday
A vegetable, the burger (the only constant entree on the menu), and a Miller High Life.
The Best Time To Go
Unless you want to wait two hours, after 10pm or 30 minutes before they open at 6pm.
photo credit: Nina Palazzolo
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
When the potato salad was even better than the one at the original Bloomingdale location.
A Perfect Order For Unbuttoning Your Pants
The BBQ sampler platter with a side of spiced fries and crispy brussels sprouts.
The Best Time To Go
Friday after work, so you can get all the brisket and smoked wings to last through a weekend of TV binging.
Collective Team Visits
3
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
When the potato salad was even better than the one at the original Bloomingdale location.
A Perfect Order For Unbuttoning Your Pants
The BBQ sampler platter with a side of spiced fries and crispy brussels sprouts.
The Best Time To Go
Friday after work, so you can get all the brisket and smoked wings to last through a weekend of TV binging.
photo credit: Nate Watters
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
As we plopped the chipotle shrimp onto a chorizo fundido-drenched tortilla chip.
A Perfect Order For Anyone Who Likes Great Food
Chorizo fundido, camarones mojo de ajo, roasted pork tacos, and a slab of key lime pie.
The Best Time To Go
On a Wednesday, when waits are short, parking isn't catastrophic, and sincronizada leftovers can become Thursday's lunch.
Collective Team Visits
7
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
As we plopped the chipotle shrimp onto a chorizo fundido-drenched tortilla chip.
A Perfect Order For Anyone Who Likes Great Food
Chorizo fundido, camarones mojo de ajo, roasted pork tacos, and a slab of key lime pie.
The Best Time To Go
On a Wednesday, when waits are short, parking isn't catastrophic, and sincronizada leftovers can become Thursday's lunch.
photo credit: Carly Hackbarth
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
That first bite of the extra juicy and crispy al pastor.
A Perfect Order For A Late Dinner
One al pastor taco, one asada taco, one fish taco, and one shrimp taco.
The Best Time To Go
9pm on a Friday night for some of that pre-going-out fuel.
Collective Team Visits
7
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
That first bite of the extra juicy and crispy al pastor.
A Perfect Order For A Late Dinner
One al pastor taco, one asada taco, one fish taco, and one shrimp taco.
The Best Time To Go
9pm on a Friday night for some of that pre-going-out fuel.
photo credit: Richard Casteel
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
When steam from the bowl of carnitas tonkotsu ramen fogged our glasses as we gazed down the rice aisle.
A Perfect Order For A Solo Lunch
Carnitas bowl with salsa macha and half ajitama, hamachi tostada, and a lengua taco. Then another hamachi tostada.
The Best Time To Go
Weekdays at noon, before everything sells out. Grab some donuts next door for the office to avoid questions about your long lunch.
Collective team visits
5
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
When steam from the bowl of carnitas tonkotsu ramen fogged our glasses as we gazed down the rice aisle.
A Perfect Order For A Solo Lunch
Carnitas bowl with salsa macha and half ajitama, hamachi tostada, and a lengua taco. Then another hamachi tostada.
The Best Time To Go
Weekdays at noon, before everything sells out. Grab some donuts next door for the office to avoid questions about your long lunch.