FRIENDS OF EATER ON THE TOP RESTAURANT NEWCOMERS OF 2014
By Eater Staff, photos by Daniel Krieger
The best places to eat right now.
As is the tradition at Eater, our closeout of the year is a survey of friends, industry types, and bloggers. This year, we asked the group eight questions running the gamut from meal of the year to top restaurant newcomers. Their answers will appear throughout the week. Responses are related in no particular order; all are cut, pasted, and (mostly) unedited herein. Please, add your answers in the comments.
Lockhart Steele, Vox Media editorial director; Eater co-founder:
I tend to binge on restaurants when they open, which is what I did this summer at Bar Primi and Claudette, and this fall at Dirty French and Marta. Love all those spots, but my newcomer of 2014 is the restaurant I wish I’d dined at way more often: Narcissa. I first ate at John Fraser’s reinvention of the haunted Standard East Village restaurant space in January, right after it opened, and was blown away. I dined there again early in the summer, and then outside, tucked into the garden, in early September. Each meal was among the best I had all year. Three times just didn’t cut it; I’m doubling down on Narcissa in 2015.
Mimi Sheraton, restaurant critic and author of 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die:
North End Grill (new chef, Eric Korsh), The Clam, Gato, elan, Sushi Nakazawa, Cherche Midi, Batard.
Jordana Rothman, food writer and editor, cocktail expert:
Cosme is really the beginning and the end of the best new restaurant conversation as far as I’m concerned. I don’t love the cement room (or the resulting acoustics), but Enrique Olvera’s food is astonishing. Enfrijoladas, scallop aguachile, pozole, duck carnitas, husk meringue…I waited all year to be this moved by a meal.
I also had wonderful dinners at Via Carota, Upland, and Tuome. And I’m obsessed with this anonymous little Thai place in Red Hook called Kao Soy — it looks like a janky takeout spot but they are actually serving super meticulous and complex curries, noodles and snacks. Feels like a real discovery (and they deliver). Marta is great too, especially that lamb mixed grill, and definitely Ivan Ramen.
There were also a few great new bars to talk about this year. Long Island Bar is everything I have ever wanted in a local spot: Relaxed with good cocktails that aren’t self-conscious and easy-drinking food. I also love Rocka Rolla in Williamsburg because there’s a good juke, bad-girl bartenders, and because I am gross and I like drinking slushy bourbon out of fish bowls.
Bret Thorn, Nation’s Restaurant News senior food editor:
Limani, the Gander, and Bacchanal. I suspect Decoy, Cherche Midi, Marta, Root & Bone, Bâtard and Elan are great, but I haven’t been yet.
I’m also positive that I’ve forgotten a bunch.
Hillary Dixler, Eater associate reports editor:
Hands down my favorite 2014 additions to the NYC dining scene are Russ & Daughters Cafe and Marta. These are places I just keep going to back to.
Ben Leventhal, Resy co-founder; Eater co-founder:
Upland, Cosme, Marta, Claudette, Narcissa, Ivan Ramen, Bowery Meat Company.
Amanda Kludt, Eater editor-in-chief:
Cosme, Marta, Cherche Midi.
Kat Odell, Eater editorial producer:
Marta, Arcade Bakery, Dimes, Ivan Ramen, Tuome, Root & Bone, Cherch Midi, Russ & Daughters
Nick Solares, Eater NY, senior editor
Batard, Cosme, Cherche Midi, Dirty French, Marta.
Greg Morabito, Eater, Engagement Editor
Batard exceeded my very high expectations, both in terms of food and overall experience. That restaurant added a jolt of fun to the fine dining world. I also love that Batard doesn’t have a lofty concept or theme — it’s just a comfortable place with great food, attentive service, and a lively spirit.
I was surprised by the pizza, pasta, and salads at GGs. That place is not blazing any trails, but Bobby Hellen is clearly putting a lot of care into the cooking.
Also, on the pizza kick, I loved all my meals at Marta. That food is just so satisfying and I weirdly dig that clean, comfy dining room and Danny Meyer mega-hospitality vibe.
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RESTAURANT NEWCOMERS
