This week in restaurant news we’re seeing tons of fresh summer menus, new life for the restaurant space that once housed Gotham Bar & Grill, and a tasty lunch service debuting at a favorite West Village spot.
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The 411
RIP Kiki’s
Beloved Dimes Square restaurant Kiki’s has suddenly shuttered. Based on reports and the sign on the door, the closure came after the government seized the restaurant. Turns out the owners owe over $1 million in back taxes. Some regulars recently held a memorial service in front of the restaurant.
The Top Rated Restaurant in NYC Is…?
The restaurant app, Beli, just announced the top five eater-rated new restaurants of 2026 in New York. And the winners are, in descending order: the French restaurant inside Sotheby’s Marcel, the buzzy izakaya Odo East Village, the southern Indian-accented Kidilum, northern Indian London import Ambassadors Clubhouse, and, at number one, Or’esh, the SoHo hotspot from the group that owns Corner Store and The 86.
Hamburger Heaven for an 87-Year-Old Eatery
The 87-year-old White Castle in Elmhurst, Queens, has passed on to hamburger heaven. The fast food spot, famous for diminutive square burgers, first fired up its grill in 1939, the year World War II officially began and the Wizard of Oz was released. The restaurant closed because the land it sits on is slated to become an apartment building. But have no fear: there are still two dozen other White Castles sprinkled around New York City.
Il Gothamo?
Chef Stefano Secchi, the Italian-American culinary wiz behind Massara and Rezdova, both in the Flatiron District, is taking over the Greenwich Village space that once housed legendary Gotham Bar & Grill until it shuttered in 2024. There’s no word yet about Secchi’s concept.
On the Menu
For the UES Ladies Who Brunch
Opened in April 2026 and located on the Upper West Side, Wainwright’s Tavern has begun serving Weekend brunch. Stop in on Saturday or Sunday to tuck into Pineapple and Coconut Pancakes, Crab Cake Benedict, or the Wainwright’s Burger. While you’re masticating on that, sip a Hugo Spritz or a Bloody Mary.
Pig-licious Feast
Pig & Khao, the Southeast Asian restaurant in the Upper West Side, has begun offering kamayan, a Filipin0-flavored feast that includes roasted pork belly, spatchcocked chicken, eggplant salad, garlic fries, fresh fruit, and lots of other Filipino delights. The meal feeds eight to fourteen people. The cost is $98 per person and must be booked at least 72 hours in advance. Read more about chef Leah Cohen’s chef journey here. To make a reservation, email events@pigandkhao.com.
For the West Villagers Who Lunch
Standout West Village eatery, Jack & Charlie’s No. 118, has just started its very first lunch service. Stop in any day between noon and 3 p.m. and let chef Ed Cotton prepare Hand-Cut Steak Tartare, a Prime Rib Panini French Dip, and Steak Frites au Poivre, among other dishes available at lunch.
Birthday (Pan)Cake
Atoboy, the lauded Korean cocktail bar and eatery, is celebrating its 10th birthday in July. To honor the decade they’ve been in business, the restaurant is collaborating with Korean instant noodle company, Nongshim, to create a crispy Shin Ramyun Jeon, a crunchy pancake topped with shrimp, cheddar cheese, and creme fraîche. The dish will be available from July 5 to 31. Book your savory pancake meal here.
The 20-Year-Old Little Owl Is All Grown-up
Little Owl, the beloved West Village neighborhood restaurant housed on the ground floor of the “Friends” building, is celebrating its 20th anniversary by offering new summer-long dishes, including Summer Chowder bobbing with corn, leeks, potatoes, and lobster and Fra-Diavolo-style Softshell Crab with Linguine.
Confidant-ly Summer
Confidant, the recently re-located restaurant in Brooklyn Heights, has just unveiled a brand-new summer menu. Some of the highlights include Scallop Crudo, a pasta entre Spicy all’Arabbiata, and a crispy Berkshire Pork Chop with peach mostarda and pickled ramps.
If Korea and Philly Collided …
It must be summer because Edith’s Sandwich Counter in Williamsburg and the West Village have recommenced their summertime sandwich series. For the first week of July, stop in for a collaboration with Kisa, the Lower East Side Korean restaurant. The sandwich special: a bulgogi cheesesteak sandwich.
Don’t Miss This Week
Need some dining out recommendations? Try these three hot spots, and make sure to check out the week’s events.
Thursday: It’s going to be nearly 100 degrees later this week. And if you’re like me, you’re going to want to settle into the cozy environs of Bar Susanne, a new Dumbo spot that serves up chilled oysters, cool shrimp cocktails, and even colder martinis.
Saturday: When I heard about the one-off menu item being offered at Gjelina, the NoHo Italian restaurant from Venice Beach, California, I immediately marked it on my calendar. In honor of America’s 250th birthday, the restaurant will be putting its much-raved burger on the menu at theNew York location on Saturday, July 4.
The grass-fed burger is topped with comte cheese and pickles. In addition to that, there will also be grilled fennel-accented sausages with sauerkraut available on July 4. After all, nothing says “God Bless America” like a German sausage and kraut!
Sunday: I recently returned from a trip to Prague, where I drank a lot of great Czech beer—as one does. On Sunday, I’ll be venturing to the Upper East Side to quaff more Czech beer at Bohemian Spirit.
That’s because on Sundays, the kitchen cooks Szegedin Goulash, a pork-and-sauerkraut stew that hails from Hungary but is often found on the menu of Czech pubs and is rarely seen on this side of the Atlantic.
