Bushwick: They Say That<\/a>, a new Thai restaurant and wine bar, opened in Brooklyn on Thursday, January 15. The large menu includes dishes such as an Isan-style hot pot with meats, seafood, and vegetables; fried rice with squid ink and a creamy salted egg sauce; and Panang curry mac and cheese topped with seared salmon. The restaurant also offers lunch specials that range between $12.95 and $15.95 and include soup or salad. 615 Wilson Avenue, between Schaefer and Decatur streets<\/p>\n Chelsea: Charlotte Patisserie<\/a>, Greenpoint\u2019s beloved bakery and cafe for over a decade, opened its first Manhattan outpost on Thursday, January 15. Brother-sister duo Michael Lechowicz (pastry chef) and Magda Stefanske (owner-operator) add a 700-square-foot home for its decadent cakes in black currant lemon and bourbon chocolate pecan varieties. Other familiar favorites include layered almond sponge soaked in coffee syrup, seasonal fruit and nut tarts, macarons, truffles, creme brulee, and more. Lechowicz is best known for his paczki<\/a> (jelly and cream-filled Polish doughnuts). This location will also have mignardises (bite-sized sweets), espresso, and petit fours. 78 Seventh Avenue, at West 15th Street<\/p>\n Flushing: Nong Geng Ji<\/a>, a restaurant chain from Hunan, China, opened its first NYC location on Sunday, January 18. The restaurant\u2019s staple dishes include pepper pork stir-fry, stir-fried chicken with tea oil, and high-pressure-cooked sweet-potato rice. With over 100 restaurants in China, the chain is now expanding globally<\/a>, with new locations in Canada, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and the U.S 135-15 37th Avenue, near Prince Street<\/p>\n Greenpoint: Popular taco pop-up Border Town<\/a> debuts its first full-on restaurant<\/a> in Brooklyn in mid-January. Co-owners and couple Jorge Aguilar and Amanda Rosa teamed up with partner and Meat Hook alum Ben Turley on the anticipated<\/a> 40-seat project. Tacos made with the team\u2019s superb Sonoran-style flour tortillas are full of stewy meats, and the growing menu includes spicy bean dip, burritos, aguas frescas, and drinks like micheladas and mezcalitas using agave spirits such as mezcal, tequila, and bacanora. 189 Nassau Avenue, at Humboldt Street<\/p>\n Hudson Yards: Yono<\/a>, the to-go sushi spot with its first location in the Moynihan Train Hall<\/a>, opened a second location on Tuesday, January 13. Inspired by the Japanese tradition of ekiben, boxed meals sold at train stations, the new restaurant sells grab-and-go sushi and chirashi, though this location will also include pastries and matcha and hojicha drinks. 20 Hudson Yards, Floor 4<\/p>\n Union Square: Rulin<\/a>, a new destination for hand-pulled noodles, skewers, and more, opened<\/a> on Tuesday, January 20, from Lane Li and Chris Wang, who also operate Noodle Lane<\/a> in Park Slope. Drawing on Li\u2019s experiences cooking around NYC, Rulin\u2019s menu will be a mix of Lanzhou, Cantonese, and Sichuan influences. Find dishes like bone-in short rib noodles and smoked razor clam salad. 15 East 13th Street, between Fifth Avenue and University Place<\/p>\n West Village: Birdie\u2019s<\/a> is on a mission to make frozen yogurt cool again, as part of this new fro-yo revitalization<\/a> happening in New York City, after the many early-aughts chains have come and gone, too. Open since mid-January, the nostalgic new shop \u2014 named for the owners\u2019 beloved Brussels Griffon \u2014 offers six flavors to start that swing from vanilla to vegan chocolate, plus an array of sweet-and-savory toppings like olive oil, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and mochi bites. Customers can also choose from an assortment of colorful candy mixes showcased in clear containers. 152 Seventh Avenue South, at Charles Street<\/p>\n West Village: The team behind Ume<\/a> and Sekai Omakase<\/a> opened chirashi restaurant Umeko<\/a> on Friday, January 16. The restaurant focuses on<\/a> doing \u201cless,\u201d but \u201cthoughtfully,\u201d and the draw here is the $48-per-person prix fixe, which features a generous assortment of fish over rice, like a set that features multiple cuts of tuna, with pickles and soup on the side. Pay attention when booking on Resy<\/a>: Seating options here include bamboo floor seats, for which guests are asked to remove their shoes. 63 Downing Street, between Varick and Bedford streets<\/p>\n A tray from Farmer J. Farmer J\/Official<\/p>\n Midtown: A new take-out lunch spot has arrived: London\u2019s fast-casual restaurant Farmer J<\/a> opened its first location in the United States on Tuesday, January 13, serving \u201cfieldtrays\u201d and \u201cfieldbowls\u201d featuring inclusions like charred harissa chicken, spiced date sweet potatoes, and charred greens with \u201cnori crunch.\u201d According to Deuxmoi<\/a>, Harry Styles is a fan. 31 West 52nd Street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues<\/p>\n Chelsea: Hale & Hearty<\/a> opened on Monday, January 12, marking its first licensed location operated by a woman-owned company. The nearly 30-year-old brand, known for its dozen-some soups like lobster bisque made daily, along with panini, salads, and pastas, which are sourced from Raffetto<\/a>. 180 Seventh Avenue, at West 21st Street<\/p>\n East Village: Prolific restaurant group Overthrow Hospitality opened its newest concept<\/a>, Long Count<\/a>, on Wednesday, January 7, in the space that housed a previous version<\/a> of Soda Club<\/a> (now located on Avenue A). With an emphasis on how aging transforms flavor, Long Count serves wine, sourdough focaccia, and other dishes that feature fermentation, like arancini with tempeh parmesan and lacto-fermented fries. As with DeRossi\u2019s other establishments, everything on the menu is vegan. 155 Avenue B, at East 10th Street<\/p>\n Gramercy: Chim Chim<\/a>, a new Thai bakery and coffee shop, opened in early January, serving eye-catching Southeast Asian treats, like a burnt Basque cheesecake with ube, salted egg yolk, and pork floss; and pie filled with butterfly pea-tinted cake beneath a layer of coconut jelly. 352 East 20th Street, at First Avenue<\/p>\n Theater District: Swaggy New American restaurant Pattin\u2019<\/a> debuted for pre- or post-show meals on Monday, January 5, bringing steak tartare, Caesar salads, seafood fettuccini, ribeye, and beignets to the entertainment district. 242 West 49th Street, near Eighth Avenue<\/p>\n Washington Heights: Billed as NY\u2019s first restaurant entirely dedicated to Dominican boiled dumplings known as \u201cdomplines,\u201d Don Plinada<\/a> debuted in late December. The comfort food comes paired with unique toppings like smoked pork, coconut seafood sauce, pesto, and burrata. The Don Plinada name is a bilingual pun combining \u201cDon\u201d with a play on \u201cdomplines.\u201d Open for delivery and takeout, too. 645 West 184th Street, near Wadsworth Avenue, Brooklyn<\/p>\n West Village: Day-to-night cafe and wine bar Aperitivo by Carta<\/a>, from the team behind Carta Wine Bar<\/a>, debuted on Wednesday, January 14. Start the day with Paloma Bakery coffee and fresh pastries, followed by soups, sandwiches, salads, wines, beers, vermouths, spritzes, a raw bar, and Mediterranean-leaning mains like lobster manchego mac and cheese and braised short rib. 101 West 10th Street, at Sixth Avenue<\/p>\n West Village: Thai restaurant Moon and Back<\/a> opened in January from the team that previously ran Pata Cafe<\/a> in Queens, which was a Michelin Bib Gourmand pick<\/a>. Chef Sunisa \u201cSusan\u201d Nitmai, who is from Isan, Thailand, is running the kitchen. Don\u2019t skip the pork blood larb<\/a>. 117 West 10th Street, at Greenwich Avenue<\/p>\n West Village: Aussie-styled coffee and \u201ctoasties\u201d descend on NYC with the arrival of Tuckshop<\/a> on Saturday, January 10. Australian favorites include a Mont Blanc (sweetened cold brew, cream, orange zest, and nutmeg) and sandwiches like a beef-and-pickles built with Brooklyn\u2019s Ends Meat pastrami; ham and cheese; and tuna melt. Vegemite is obviously in the mix, too. 323 West 11th Street, near Greenwich Street<\/p>\n Williamsburg: Founded in 1919, all-day Israeli standby Cafe Landwer<\/a> debuted<\/a> in NY on Wednesday, January 7, with breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, cocktails, and late-night bites. Mediterranean-styled dishes like short rib shakshuka and chicken shawarma hummus are longtime hits in the States. 247 Metropolitan Avenue, near North Third Street<\/p>\n Williamsburg: Dolly\u2019s Swing & Dive<\/a>, the Brooklyn bar named after iconic crooner Dolly Parton, reopens in bigger digs on Thursday, January 15. A grand opening party on Friday features new cocktails like a frozen rum Jane Fonda cocktail and giveaways. The dive comes from married couple Devin Schuck and Teresa Brown, whose nickname was Dolly growing up. Naturally, there\u2019s a shrine to Dolly Parton in the bathroom, per Greenpointers<\/a>. 146 Wythe Avenue, near North Eighth Street<\/p>\n Williamsburg: Blank Street Coffee \u2014 the high-tech global chain that got its start in Williamsburg way back when \u2014 exited the McCarren Parkhouse after it reportedly failed to renew its lease, reports Greenpointers<\/a>. In its place is a locally owned java stand called Parkhouse Cafe<\/a>, which opened on Thursday, January 1, with beans from roaster Verve Coffee and the addition of pour-over service. \u201cThere\u2019s no shortage of great coffee around North Brooklyn, but we wanted to build a cafe that feels\u2026smaller and more personal,\u201d per a statement<\/a>. 855 Lorimer Street<\/p>\n Williamsburg: East Village\u2019s popular Tex-Mex spot Wayne & Sons<\/a> relocated<\/a> across the bridge to Brooklyn on Tuesday, January 13, with its familiar lineup of crunchy tacos, queso dip, and margs. \u200b57 South Fifth Street, near Wythe Avenue<\/p>\n Windsor Terrace: The Cat<\/a>, a cozy corner jazz spot dotted with marbled bistro tables, debuted on New Year\u2019s Eve<\/a>. Longtime New Yorker and creator Robin Aigner spearheaded a fundraising effort to debut the \u201cmusic-loving, music-creating, and music-listening bar\u201d of her dreams in Brooklyn. The set list also calls for olive oil martinis, house-made hummus, tinned fish, local bread, and charcuterie. 1238 Prospect Avenue, near Reeve Place <\/p>\n A loaf from Justin\u2019s Salt Bread. Justin\u2019s Salt Bread\/Official<\/p>\n Bushwick: Ace\u2019s Pizza <\/a>opened a new location in late December. It\u2019s the fourth location. 423 Troutman Street, at Wyckoff Street<\/p>\n Crown Heights: To-go spot Tamaler\u00eda La Madrina<\/a> opened late last year from owner Artemio Baltazar of Taqueria Milear<\/a>, and his wife, the chef and co-owner, Marisol Lopez. The specialty is tamales \u2013 made from corn masa and wrapped in fresh corn husks or banana leaves, with fillings like birria and pollo mole. There\u2019s a larger menu, too, including breakfast burritos. 735 Nostrand Avenue, at Sterling Place<\/p>\n East Village: A new bakery dedicated to salt breads<\/a> opened in Manhattan last month, by the team behind Japanese noodle restaurants Okiboru. Justin\u2019s Salt Bread<\/a> opened on Sunday, December 28. The counter-service spot serves the carbs as well as lattes like the salt matcha and salt coffee. 58 Second Avenue, between East Third and Fourth streets<\/p>\n East Village: Burgerhead<\/a> opened <\/a>a second location in this neighborhood; the menu includes burgers and beef tallow fries, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, and shakes. 145 Second Avenue, at Ninth Street<\/p>\n Harlem: The spacious CopperLeaf Bakery<\/a> opened in December with baguettes, sourdough bread, and pastries made on premise. Its extended menu includes breakfast sandwiches, salads, lunch toasts, and wine. From Friday through Sunday, it offers an aperitivi hour with cocktails, mocktails, and charcuterie and cheese plates. 2118 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, between West 114th and 115th streets<\/p>\n Lower East Side: Sourdough takeout spot Hots Pizza<\/a> opened on Saturday, January 3, with slices and pies. Slices range from $4.50 to $6.50. More specialty options include a mushroom pizza with creme fraiche and smoked mozzarella and \u201cthe Hots,\u201d a pizza with spicy pork sausage, hot peppers, and red onion. 181 East Broadway, between Rutgers and Jefferson streets<\/p>\n Midtown: Brasa Peruvian Kitchen<\/a>, the fast-casual Peruvian chain with locations in NYC and Toronto, opened its newest location on Monday, January 5. Its customizable bowls and salads feature ingredients like spicy rocoto peppers from the Andes, large-kerneled Peruvian corn, and quinoa. 685 Third Avenue, between East 43rd and 44th streets<\/p>\n Midtown: The neighborhood gets a new Italian spot, Elia\u2019s Casa Bianca<\/a>, which opened December 19. Look for a robust menu of starters, salads, straightforward and unusual pastas, main courses from fish stew to steaks, and more. 398 East 52nd Street, at First Avenue<\/p>\n Noho: Buddy Buddy<\/a>, a \u201cnut butter coffee bar\u201d with locations in Brussels and Paris, opened its first cafe in NYC on Friday, December 19, serving drinks like an iced latte with peanut butter and raspberry puree and a mocha made with cacao and hazelnut butter. Its milk options include a peanut-butter milk made in-house, available for no upcharge, and the menu states that cross-contact with peanuts and tree nuts is \u201cunavoidable.\u201d 340 Bowery, between Great Jones Street and Bond Street<\/p>\n Noho: The Hamptons-based Indian cafe Hampton Chutney Company <\/a>opened a new location<\/a> in Manhattan on Tuesday, January 6. The company opened its first location in Amagansett in 1997 and expanded<\/a> to Manhattan in 2001, running two cafes until 2021. It serves dosa with an assortment of fillings, like potato masala with roasted tomatoes, spinach, and cheese; grilled chicken with goat cheese; and arugula, avocado, and fresh tomato. 2 Astor Place, near Broadway<\/p>\n Park Slope: Thai restaurant and bar DOK<\/a> opened in early January, as spotted by Park Slope Living<\/a>. In addition to classics like pad Thai and basil fried rice and hearty dishes like lenk zab, a tart and herbal pork rib soup, the restaurant offers a selection of drinking food, like kai yang, grilled chicken with a spicy tamarind sauce. 339A 2nd Street, near 5th Avenue<\/p>\n Soho: California\u2019s Croft Alley<\/a> opened serving breakfast, brunch and lunch favorites similar to the menu in Los Angeles. 210 Sixth Avenue, at King Street<\/p>\n Sunnyside: Stellar Ethiopian Eritrean food truck Makina<\/a> finally opened<\/a> its Queens restaurant on Friday, December 12, 2025. Eden Gebre Egziabher\u2019s menu includes East African dishes like berbere-sliced prawns, chicken tibs, and lamb alicha, plus coffee and drinks. 46-11 Skillman Avenue, near 46th Street<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/item-1600000000137274088_1764763623.jpg\"\/)
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