Labor Day has come and gone and it’s suddenly back-to-school season. With the U.S. Open rolling on and Fashion Week beginning this week, New York is a bustling town again. Getting a table just got a bit trickier, but perhaps now’s the time to try something new—because the new bar and restaurant openings haven’t seemed to slow down. Since it’s still very much al fresco dining weather, consider checking out a new spot.
This week, we welcome a new Tribeca restaurant from a young McNally, a sandwich spot in the East Village, a massive new place to eat and drink in Red Hook, and more.
Red Hook Barrel Yard
Last week, Red Hook Barrel Yard opened: the huge new 40,000 square-foot waterfront venue which encompasses Red Hook Winery, Red Hook Cidery, and the soon-to-be-operational Red Hook Distillery. Serving unpretentious food designed to be shared, menu items include Chargrilled Oysters in a Garlic Butter and Rigatoni Bolognese—plus the epic Red Hook Barrel Yard Viking Burger, served on a brioche bun (made by Red Hook’s Brooklyn Mills bakery) with American cheese, a sweet and spicy burger sauce, and hand-cut skin-on French fries. Red Hook Barrel Yard keeps things local where possible, often sourcing within 10 blocks, including Brenman’s Meat Market and Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. 185 Van Dyke St., Red Hook, redhookbarrelyard.com
Faux
Faux is the first restaurant by George McNally, the 23-year-old son of Keith McNally (Balthazar, Pastis), and while Keith isn’t directly involved, the same hospitality flows into the new project. The Tribeca space has different concepts throughout: there’s a ground-level bar area that serves a late night menu, and on the second floor, a high-ceilinged dining room serving French classics. For late night fun, beneath Faux, there’s a vaulted bar called Prevz. Chef Kristina Ramos’ menu includes a Niçoise salad, Steak Frites, and a burger—plus a raw bar and seafood program. Already one of the buzziest spots below Canal Street, Faux has only been open for a matter of days, and will likely be teeming during NYFW. 277 Church St., Tribeca
Wu’s Dynasty
Wu’s Dynasty has been shaking up the Upper West Side after having its soft opening late last week. Derek Wu, of Chinatown’s popular Wu’s Wonton King, is behind the new Uptown spot that serves dim sum and authentic Cantonese cuisine. Between the expansive dining room, dim sum carts, fish tanks filled with live crustaceans, and an extensive Cantonese menu spanning Peking duck, beef, and seafood prepared in myriad ways, the restaurant has been busy and buzzing. Dim sum service will be offered daily, with over 50 types of bite-sized dishes to please every New Yorker. 208-210 West 70th St., Upper West Side, wusdynasty.com
The Boring Sandwich
Not that there’s anything wrong with a classic, but chef Michael Brafman is flipping classic deli sandwiches (like a chopped cheese) and giving them his touch at his new sandwich shop, the Boring Sandwich, which softly opened this past weekend on the Lower East Side. The result? A decidedly new interpretation and a likely success on Stanton Street. The chopped cheese is made with smoked brisket, poblano and corn, beans, cotija cheese, and jalapeño cremosa and the other Boring Sandwiches are just as unique. There are egg sandwiches of all kinds including the 11-7 Sando (Japanese style egg salad, kewpie mayo, cut in triangles), and breakfast sandwiches served all day. 97 Stanton St., Lower East Side, theboringsandwich.com
Rewind
Opening in Long Island City this Wednesday is Rewind, which brings three different experiences to one event space, including a cocktail bar, a Pan-Asian restaurant, and private karaoke rooms. The name Rewind refers to when guests press the “rewind” button on an 1980s-style boombox to reveal the underground cocktail lounge. Beverage director Min-He “Ken” Chen relocated from Taiwan to New York City and his craft-cocktail program was inspired by tea culture and the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, and earth), which he reinterpreted as flavors. Executive chef Alexander Lee’s creative takes on Asian comfort foods complements the distinctive beverage program, and for the singers, Rewind offers eight karaoke rooms plus one large private event space. 45-57 Davis St., Long Island City, rewindnyc.com
