NYC’s hottest street of eats isn’t in Soho or Chinatown, it’s in Midtown South, where office workers are hungry for options.
“It’s a great mix of different concepts and different levels of hospitality plus the location is as accessible as it gets,” said Lee Block of the leasing firm RTL, who has matched restaurants to spaces along this short block of East 20th Street in the Flatiron District between Broadway and Park Avenue South.
NY Post photo composite
Almost every address on that block is now an eatery and for restaurateurs, a space is becoming so coveted that they’re paying upwards of $200 per foot — which rivals pricing on the avenues.
“There’s a dish for every palette on that block,” said Adelaide Polsinelli of Compass, who sold 27 E. 20th St. to the co-owner of Italian restaurant Rezdôra. “It’s like the United Nations of dining.”
902 Broadway: Aqua
Looking for up-“scale” dining? The eyes have it, at Aqua. Courtesy of Aqua
This opulent outpost features vibrant mix-and-match seasonal menus from Aqua Roma Italian and Aqua Kyoto Japanese — along with Aqua Spirit’s extensive bar menu. The cocktails and and DJs go from 8 p.m. till 2 a.m. on Thursdays for Kyoto After Dark.
No. 25: Devoción
Brick walls and greenery create a cozy cafe. Its Columbian beans are roasted in Brooklyn for 10 days to make what they claim is the world’s freshest coffee.
No. 27: Rezdôra
Chef Stefano Secchi is behind the plates of Rezdôra. Stephen Yang
Michelin-starred Chef Stefano Secchi and his partner David Switzer celebrate the cuisine of Emilia-Romagna as “head of household” — the nonna who hand rolls pasta. Offerings include the delightfully titled “Grandma Walking Through Forest in Emelia,” which is actually cappelletti verdi with roasted, sautéed leeks along with black mushroom puree. In other words, divine.
No. 29: Just leased
The last remaining hole on the block was 1,800 square feet and it just leased to a healthy cafe concept with dine-in and grab-and-go options. “It’s a very intriguing restaurant,” Block said.
No. 30: Antidote
Make a new friend out of what was once known as Nemesis. Stefano Giovannini
Leased through RTL and open about a year as Nemesis, the owners are retooling the spot with their Williamsburg Asian concept, Antidote.
No. 31: ’Ino
The former home of Singapura was leased by RTL to the owners of Chelsea’s Bottino. It’s Italian with inspiration from owner/chef James Kenyon’s British upbringing.
No. 33: Sugarfish
Nothing’s sweeter than sushi at Sugarfish. Courtesy of Sushi Nozawa, LLC
This was Los Angeles-based Sushi Nozawa Group’s first location in New York. “Simply great sushi” is the tagline.
No. 34: Nar Restaurant
Donning the Turkish name for pomegranates, Nar brings modern flavors and halal cooking to eggplants, zucchini blossoms, kebabs, quail, baklava and Turkish delight lava cake.
Nar bears the Turkish name for pomegranates. Stefano Giovannini
No. 35: Opto
It’s “not your yia yia’s Mediterranean,” said Chef Alex Tubero who offers whipped sheep’s milk ricotta and suckling pig shoulder along with fresh honey-spiced carrots and Moroccan rice pudding.
No. 36: Passerine
Passerine is a kid-free oasis helmed by Chetan Shetty. Stefano Giovannini
Here, seasonal Indian fare by Michelin-starred Chef Chetan Shetty blends mom’s Pune spices with Union Square Greenmarket’s produce. Both meat and vegetarian tasting menus are available along with tasty dinners and a drawing room bar with its own menu. Kids under 10 and strollers are verboten.
No. 40: LenLen
Enjoy retro-Thai with neo-noir ambience. Jared Dangremond
A new retro-Thai restaurant opened in this 3,541-square-foot retail condo, which was marketed by Block and purchased for $3.1 million. “They put in a great concept and, as owners, they are very excited to put their best foot forward,” he said. Come for cocktails, stay for noodles.
No. 41: Mari Vanna
Come for Eastern European fare with cozy, vintage décor — think LoveShackFancy meets the Victorian Age. Founded in her kitchen in St. Petersburg and now global, Maria Ivanovna opened the first restaurant in 2003 and in this spot in 2009 with a full bar, brunches, dinners and an after-hours palate imbued with Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian and Uzbek flavors — all mixed with her “secret ingredient” (love).
No. 42: Gramercy Tavern
Get your meat-and-bun fix at Gramercy Tavern. Stefano Giovannini
The block’s long-standing star is Danny Meyer’s soulful casual Tavern — with burgers, beets and broccoli — and an upscale dining room with seasonally focused offerings like roasted oysters, the vegetarian strozzapreti — kale, ricotta and basil — plus concord grape sundaes.
No. 43: Saint Urban
The French-inspired fine regional-seasonal cuisine is by Chef Jared Ian Stafford-Hill (from upstate). Come for the four- to eight-course prix fixe menus at pricing from $148 to $230 that rises to $290 with wine parings.
No. 45: Gogyo Gramercy
Look for this Japanese eatery later this year. Stefano Giovannini
This new global restaurant from Ippudo with other Manhattan spots is known for its classic Hakata tonkotsu ramen, along with its black ramen kogashi, a smoky dish made from burnt miso, as well as Wagyu beef sukiyaki. It now has a pre-open ramen menu.
250 Park Ave. S.: Barbounia
An institution of Gramercy dining, this Mediterranean family-style spot with Israeli roots anchors the street. It offers shakshukas, taboon-roasted meats and decadent desserts.