Importance Score: 35 / 100 🔵
New Restaurants in NYC
Banh Anh Em Opens Downtown Location
Following its successful establishment in the Upper West Side, Banh Anh Em, a celebrated Vietnamese eatery, has launched a second location downtown. Despite being open for five years, securing a table at the original shop remains challenging, highlighting its enduring popularity. This new venue, whose name signifies brotherhood or sisterhood in Vietnamese, is the latest venture from John Nguyen and Chef Nhu Ton. A key feature distinguishing this establishment is its commitment to crafting essential ingredients in-house; the baguettes for their signature banh mi sandwiches, a Vietnamese interpretation of the French classic, and the noodles for their flavorful pho are all freshly prepared on site. Patrons will also appreciate the more expansive dining space offered at this new location.
99 Third Avenue (13th Street), banhanhem.com
Little Fino Debuts in Williamsburg with Italian-Inspired Fare
Drawing inspiration from Italy’s culinary traditions, Little Fino, a new café and bar situated in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood, offers a menu that transitions from breakfast to evening. Patrons can begin their day with breakfast options such as cornetti and spinach frittata, progressing to all-day snacks, small plates, and sandwiches. Notable selections include a roasted artichoke sandwich, polenta tots, prosciutto, and a chicken muffuletta. This establishment is spearheaded by Anthony Ricco, a chef from Andrew Carmellini’s esteemed NoHo Hospitality Group. Little Fino is conveniently located on the ground floor of The William Vale hotel.
The William Vale hotel, 111 North 12th Street (Wythe Avenue), Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 718-581-5900, littlefinonyc.com
Async Bar: A Hidden Gem in Lower East Side’s YongChuan
Async, a novel bar concept, inverts the typical layout by positioning itself at the rear of the dining area within YongChuan, a Lower East Side restaurant. Tony Li, the owner, enlisted Droveen Zhang, the head bartender from Shanghai’s Epic Bar, to curate a drink menu that showcases the diverse flavors of China’s various regions. Cocktails such as the Spicy Madame, evoking Hunan province, and the Silk Road Negroni, featuring red date brandy representative of Xinjiang, offer a unique tasting experience. Complementing the drinks are culinary offerings including Peking duck tacos, Ma La prawns, and seaweed popcorn chicken.
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YongChuan, 90 Clinton Street (Delancey Street), 646-609-6324, yongchuannyc.com/bar
Akoya Introduces Japanese Cuisine to Times Square Rooftop Dining
Chef and restaurateur Charlie Palmer has broadened his culinary repertoire with Akoya, his inaugural Japanese restaurant. Located in the St. Cloud Rooftop at Times Square within the Knickerbocker Hotel, joining Mr. Palmer’s existing coffee shop, steak house, and bar, Akoya presents a refined Japanese dining experience. Sushi chef Taishi Yamaguchi, formerly of EN Japanese Brasserie, specializes in temaki hand rolls, prepared to order with fillings including grilled oysters, Australian Wagyu beef, and Okinawan sweet potato. High-quality, imported Japanese rice from the Rice Factory in Westchester County is utilized. Smaller dishes, such as spicy cucumbers with shredded kombu, are also available at the 13-seat sushi bar and surrounding tables. (Monday)
Knickerbocker Hotel, 6 Times Square (42nd Street and Broadway), 212-204-5787, theknickerbocker.com
Restaurant Closures in NYC
Kancil Closes on the Upper West Side
Kancil, restaurateur Salil Mehta’s Upper West Side venture in collaboration with Malaysian chef Simpson Wong, has ceased operations after a brief five-month period. Mr. Mehta cited the overhead costs of running the business as the primary factor behind the closure.