Now that this nor’easter has fizzled out, we’re back to our usual fall activity of restaurant and bar-hopping around town. With so many hot tables, it’s truly an embarrassment of riches for diners in the Big Apple, from classics celebrating anniversaries to a whole new cadre of restaurants creating a buzz.
This week, look out for a New York-meets-Shanghai bar on the Lower East Side, a new Ginza-style cocktail bar in Hudson Square, a hot bagel shop on 19th Street in Chelsea, and more restaurant openings.
MadDough Bagels
After tinkering with a bagel recipe for many months, MadDough finally opened its doors on 19th Street in mid-September. Within hours of opening, the restaurant was sold out of bagels even though they’d made two days worth.
Needless to say, Chelsea residents welcomed MadDough warmly, pun intended, and aside from toasty bagels with schmears of cream cheese, the shop also offers breakfast sandwiches, fresh coffee, and pizza bagels served with a side of ranch dressing. 261 W. 19th St., Chelsea, maddoughbagels.com
Diner 24
New Yorkers who lament the lack of all-night places to eat should rejoice over the second opening of Diner 24, debuting this week in the Theater District. Even in the city that never sleeps, it’s hard to find 24/7 eateries post-pandemic, and Diner 24 does double duty as a performance venue too.
Upstairs there’s a live stage and 20-foot runway which will feature Broadway and Off-Broadway performers singing live at :15 and :45 past every hour, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The tagline for Diner 24 is “Show Tunes, Crazy Shakes & Burgers!” and diners should look for a milkshake bar that will take up a third of the counter, making it ideal for sipping dessert and ‘gramming them too. 1674 Broadway, Times Square, diner24nyc.com
Don’t Be Shy
Last week, in the SoHo-adjacent area of Hudson Square, Don’t Be Shy opened, offering a Ginza-style cocktail experience inspired by the classic bars of Tokyo. Combining a chill vibe with the unhurried pace of traditional Japanese cocktail culture, the bar invites guests to step away from the bustle of the city, slow down, and journey across Japan, one cocktail at a time.
Leading the beverage program is head bartender Shinya Yamao. The bar’s name comes from a phrase Yamao often heard throughout his career in New York City. Known for his reserved demeanor, he was frequently told “don’t be shy” and the result is a cool Japanese-American bar with top-notch bar snacks to pair with excellent drinks.
Look for inventive cocktails like Edo made with sweet potato and miso infused vodka, vermouth bianco, and a sweet potato Campari ice cube. Pair it with umami burrata and hot sandos. 68 Charlton St., Hudson Square, dontbeshy.nyc
BEBO
Meaning grandmother in Georgian, BEBO was inspired by the founders’ own grandmother. The restaurant recently popped up on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn Heights.
“Nothing felt like home so we brought Grandma’s table to Brooklyn,” reads BEBO’s Instagram bio, and indeed the cozy space with flowery curtains, tables, and a beautiful long bar feels like it could be a cozy and quaint geriatric home. On the menu you’ll find comforting Georgian classics including meat and vegetarian dishes, plus Georgian wines to pair with it. 145 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn Heights, no website
TIN’s Bar
Open for just two months now, TIN’s is still a newbie on the block and worth shouting out for their exciting drink offerings. The Lower East Side cocktail bar serves Shanghai-inspired bites and drinks and the name is an acronym for Things I Need.
Run by co-owners Mercury Tin and Philip Dizard, Tin’s has been buzzing about since opening this summer and the three-story space was designed to transport guests. Among the intriguing cocktails, a White Negroni Sour (made with Fords Gin, Cocchi Americano, Suze, Acqua di Cedro, acidified pineapple, egg white, and bayleaf). 109 Ludlow St., Lower East Side, tinsnyc.com
