With Eater editors dining out sometimes several times a day, we come across lots of standout dishes, and we don’t want to keep any secrets. Check back for the best things we ate this week.
I wasn’t expecting to snag seats at the tiny Ha’s Snack Bar anytime this year, but then I found myself blessed by the Resy gods when I randomly checked for reservations recently. Everything was, predictably, delicious — the instant you open the door, you’re greeted by the smell of butter and fish sauce, which bodes well for everything you’re going to eat here. But if I had to choose a single favorite dish, I’d say the pate chaud, with its flaky crust and its just-right balance of savory meat filling against the slightly sweet sauce surrounding the pie. At this time of year, all I want is buttery and cozy. It’s a luxuriously rich dish, so splitting it with a date is the perfect move. 297 Broome Street, between Forsyth and Eldridge streets, Lower East Side —Bettina Makalintal, senior reporter
The salted yolk Danish at Hom. Nadia Chaudhury/Eater NY
I was in the Brooklyn neighborhood looking for somewhere to hole up for a little bit to get some work done, and saw that this cafe was on my to-check-out list. It’s a cozy, stylish space, with a long counter leading up several steps to the dining room. I got the salted yolk Danish ($7), made up of this soft and fluffy pastry with the thick salted yolk cream — it was sweet with slight hints of savory, which paired well with my pandan latte ($7). 72 Seventh Avenue, at Berkeley Place, Park Slope — Nadia Chaudhury, deputy dining editor, Northeast
I went to the opening night at Stars, the new wine bar (an actual wine bar, not a restaurant) from the Claud and Penny duo, Chase Sinzer and Joshua Pinsky. The room is warm and welcoming, and the bartenders really know the broad strokes and the fun details of the wines on the list. It’s also refreshing that the by-the-glass options are $11 to under $20. I tried a bunch of snacky items, and was smitten by the shrimp sandwich ($14), a small but satisfying couple of bites on focaccia with shrimp that were sliced crosswise, layered with a dab of creamy aioli, and a barely-there mandolined lemon slice with the rind that really punches up the citrus. Walk-ins only — it’s wonderful. 139 East 12th Street, at Third Avenue, East Village – Melissa McCart, lead dining editor, Eater Northeast
The shishito pepper beef at Peppercorn Station. Missy Frederick/Eater
Our original pre-theater dining plan was to grab kati rolls from the Kati Roll Company location near Bryant Park. But the sandwich board menu outside Peppercorn Station caught our eye, and the smells drew us inside. Our change in game plan worked out — particularly my decision to order the shishito pepper beef ($27). Choosing something with their namesake peppercorn spice felt like the move, and this dish combines numbing green peppercorns with tender beef and the milder fresh green pepper, offering substantial, but not overwhelming heat. The flavors meld together to create that can’t-stop-eating-it quality that the best Sichuan dishes do. 66 West 39th Street, near Sixth Avenue, Midtown — Missy Frederick, editorial director, dining
The popular Queens Ethiopian Eritrean food truck finally opened its restaurant this month. The new space is warm and inviting, featuring Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Italian influences in its meticulously designed space as well as food. If you’re a fan of injera and its traditional pillowiness, not to worry — it’s served with many of the dishes. With the injera bruschetta ($12), however, an unexpected preparation gives it a new and satisfying crispiness, and makes it a phenomenal vehicle for the sweet, acidic, and salty tomato mixture. I can still hear the crunch. 46-11 Skillman Avenue, between 46th and 47th streets, Sunnyside — Nadia Q. Ahmad, senior copy editor
The sesame shao bing at Lei. Stephanie Wu/Eater
Every dish at Lei, the Chinese wine bar from Annie Shi of King, is thoughtfully done and made for sharing. But the one I can’t stop thinking about is the simply named sesame shao bing ($9), the flaky Chinese flatbread that’s often found at breakfast stalls across China and Taiwan. The version here, from chef Patty Lee, has zero frills, with a crackly, sesame-laden exterior giving way to soft, buttery layers. Dip it in any remaining sauce from the other dishes, or enjoy it plain, as intended. Pro move: Ask to sit at the two window seats that face out onto the pedestrian-only street for impeccable people-watching as the night goes on. 15-17 Doyers Street, between Pell and Bowery, Chinatown — Stephanie Wu, editor-in-chief
Sushi and wine at Momoya. Tierney Plumb/Eater DC
I checked out the glassy downtown location of NYC’s mini-Japanese chain. This most-recent one, open since 2022, stands apart with stunning views of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral across the street. I scored the last seat at a soft turquoise bar stool to watch the team’s sushi-making skills at work. The classics are done well, as seen in my six-piece spicy tuna roll ($15), which paired well with a unique glass of Japanese white from Katsunuma Winery ($18). A front-row seat at the bar doubles as a show, with my high-pouring mixologist producing seasonals that currently toy with sake, garam masala, and anise. The Manhattan company is now on Grubhub and DoorDash, which makes for a nice night of sushi at home. 47 Prince Street, at Mulberry Street, Soho – Tierney Plumb, Northeast editor
Soup is comfort for me this time of year, whether it’s a soul-warming dashi, savory onion with melted gruyere, or hearty barley. One of my favorite staples is minestrone, chocked with vegetables, and I prefer the herbaceous green version from northern Italy ($22) served at this jewelbox across from Gramercy Park, to the more acidic red one from the south. It’s an aromatic brew with zucchini, kale, carrots, celery, and kidney beans, as well as arborio rice that manages to retain its consistency and not turn into mush. It’s perfect with the restaurant’s thin and crunchy breadsticks, and there was something particularly satisfying about downing it this weekend, while looking out on the snow-dusted street. 102 East 22nd Street, between Park Avenue South and Lexington Avenue, Gramercy — Beth Landman, contributor, Northeast