After a brutal heatwave, nonstop World Cup viewing, and a weekend of celebrating America’s 250th, the rain has arrived and with it, a new batch of places for drinking and dining.
During said heatwave, we checked out two hot new ice cream spots, Unnecessary and Lost Borough Ice Cream, which recently opened in Upper Manhattan in the Inwood neighborhood. Great stuff all around! On the restaurant side, the lineup includes a huge new barbecue spot from a self-taught pitmaster in Bushwick, the expansion of a legendary sandwich shop near Madison Square Park, a taste of Paris downtown, and more.
Taco Lane
The couple behind Brooklyn’s beloved Noodle Lane (which started as Smorgasburg in 2011, eventually landed in a Park Slope brick-and-mortar location in 2023), opened Taco Lane on Monday, July 6 in Union Square. The Asian taco bistro fuses Chinese culinary traditions and taco culture, carving out a new niche in New York City’s colorful and evolving taco landscape.
“I want to subtly infuse Mexican tacos with Asian flavors—not reinvent the wheel,” said chef Lane Li in a press release. “I’ve always loved tacos as a culinary medium, and thought that some of the meats at Noodle Lane would work well in that form…I hope New Yorkers enjoy and appreciate the marrying of these classic Chinese and Mexican flavors as we bring something unique, yet familiar, to the taco landscape.”
Taco Lane offers six Chinese-inspired tacos: the Grilled Chicken with Mustard Pickle Consommé, Braised Short-Rib (apple kiwi marinade), XO Fish, Smoked Honeycomb Tripe with fried pig ears, Shiitake Mushroom, and Dan Dan Pork. All come with corn tortillas, onions, and cilantro. The mustard pickles, salsas, and chili oil are all crafted in-house and served on the side as well. The house salsas are even infused with Chinese flourishes. For example, the red is made with Sichuan peppercorn and the mustard pickle consommé is inspired by Noodle Lane’s Sichuan-style pickled fish. 15 E. 13th St., Union Square, tacolanenyc.com
The Granola Bar
This week (on July 9), The Granola Bar is opening two distinct Midtown destinations: a full-service flagship on Madison Avenue and The Granola Bar Takeaway, a grab-and-go concept around the corner at 22 E. 43rd St. The restaurant group, with locations in Connecticut and Westchester, reimagines brunch culture and the new Madison Avenue flagship will feature all-day dining and menu items like Sweet Potato Pancakes, Parmesan Crusted Avocado Grilled Cheese, and, yes, house-made granola. Dinner includes a daily pasta of the day, steak frites, and truffled deviled eggs.
“Madison Avenue has incredible energy — people who move with purpose and know what they want,” said Julie Mountain, co-founder and co-CEO of The Granola Bar. “We built The Granola Bar for exactly that: somewhere you can feel the room the second you walk in, where the experience moves as fast as you do, and the food meets you where you are.” 330 Madison Ave., Midtown East, thegranolabar.com
Alidoro
Alidoro, the iconic Italian sandwich shop founded in SoHo in 1986, will officially open its newest Manhattan location at One Madison Avenue on July 9, right near Madison Square Park. Recognized across the city, the sandwich shop has attracted a legion of devoted sandwich lovers who will wait in line for artisan bread baked, imported meats, cheeses sliced to exact specifications, and house-made spreads.
Alidoro’s menu features 21 Italian sandwiches and certain condiments, including black garlic mustard and truffle cream, have become signatures. This new opening coincides with Alidoro celebrating its 40th year. The opening also marks the next chapter of its citywide growth, with additional outposts planned for the Empire State Building, JFK Terminal 6, and in the Financial District throughout this year and into 2027. One Madison Ave., NoMad, alidoronyc.com
Maison Madison
Opening later this week on July 10 in Battery Park City, Maison Madison is a French-inspired dining and cocktail destination from the team behind Merchants and Ophelia. The bar/lounge space is inspired by the legendary salons of Paris, but the menu remains American approachable. Look for French onion sliders, steak frites, and interesting cocktails, like the Café Noir Martini (made with Cazcanes Reposado, espresso, Borghetti, peanut, and amaro).
“With Maison Madison, we saw an opportunity to bring a new kind of hospitality destination to Battery Park City,” said partner James Belakh. “As the neighborhood continues to evolve, we wanted to create a place where people could spend an entire evening.” 301 S. End Ave., Battery Park City, maisonmadisonny.com
Bark Barbecue
Bark Barbecue officially opened last week in Bushwick, debuting its first standalone restaurant. The 8,000-square-foot flagship represents a significant evolution for Bark, which mainly operated as a pop-up and market stall prior. Founded by self-taught pitmaster Ruben Santana, Bark blends Central Texas-style barbecue with the flavors and traditions of his Dominican heritage. The new restaurant features an expanded menu of live-fire smoked meats, housemade sides inspired by family recipes, and a Dominican-leaning coffee program.
The name “Bark” refers to the intensely-flavored outer crust that forms on smoked meats and the menu has just that: brisket, pork ribs, smoked carnitas, pulled pork, chicarron, and rib tips, each sold by weight. You can also indulge in specialty meats such as Longaniza sausage, coffee-rubbed beef ribs, and chicken halves, which are smoked and then fried.
Don’t miss the Cerdo a la Leña either. The pit-smoked whole hog comes from the Dominican tradition of cooking pork over live fire, and it’s not common in Brooklyn. Guests can also order Bark’s signature sandwiches, including the Tres Golpes (pulled pork, fried cheese, maduros, Bark Sauce) and Bark’s famous Chopped Chicharron & Brisket. 25 Thames St., Bushwick, Brooklyn, barkbarbecueny.com
