19 NYC Restaurants Were Awarded Their First Michelin Stars For 2022
It's no secret that New York City is one of the culinary capitals of the world. From gastronomic esoterica to classic comfort food (and everything in between), food is inextricably woven into the NYC zeitgeist. New Yorkers can grab a slice or an H&H bagel daily. And special occasions might mean a trip to one of the best Jewish delis in the country for a pastrami sandwich or to Peter Luger's for filet mignon. But, for extra special occasions, New York City boasts some of the most top-rated dining establishments, many of which boast Michelin stars.
According to Eater, Michelin's 2022 guide was recently released, confirming that one of those establishments, Eleven Madison Park, which went totally vegan last year to heavy criticism, has retained its three-star rating. Considering that Eleven Madison Park was again awarded the highest nod by Michelin after a thorough menu overhaul and concept re-imagination, the establishment seems like the plant-based foodie's Mecca. Four other three-star NYC restaurants also retained their elite ranking in Michelin's 2022 guide: Le Bernardin, Masa, Per Se, and Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare.
Earlier this week, the Michelin Guide awarded star status to over 70 New York City restaurants — and the new lineup puts the "Big" in "The Big Apple." Here are the 17 restaurants who earned their first Michelin star and the two who earned a double.
One-star winners
Of the 17 first-time Michelin star winners in 2022, only one is located in Brooklyn: Clover Hill in Brooklyn Heights. But, take a thirty-minute M train ride into Manhattan and it's a straight shot into Michelin's new all-star lineup. In the Lower East Side resides the modern 63 Clinton and the vegetarian-friendly Dirt Candy. Slightly North, in the East Village, resides Yoshino, for sushi with theatrical presentation. In Midtown East, New Yorkers (and everybody else — it's worth the trip) can sit down for a meal at Le Pavillon, which boasts high-fashion Metropolitan French cuisine.
Moving Westward, in Tribeca, sushi fans can visit Shion 69 Leonard Street, or Icca, which exclusively sources its fish from Japan. The avante garde L'Abeille pairs French cuisine with Japanese cooking style. One White Street is a 19th century townhouse that has been converted into a multi-floored modern wine bar with a tasting menu.
Midtown West is Michelin's 2022 Asian cuisine hub. Joomak Banjum started as a pop-up. Mari (Korean for "roll") takes hand rolls to the next level in Hell's Kitchen, and Oiji Mi comes from the previous owners of Oiji. Keep the sushi tour rolling at Noz 17 in Chelsea. In Greenwich, there's Frevo, a French-inspired tasting-menu-only spot with a rotating art gallery. Folks can feast on Indian food at Semma, on Asian fare at Red Paper Clip, or on Yakitori at Torien, the sister restaurant of Torishiki in Tokyo, which also has a Michelin star.
Two-star winners
This year, two restaurants stole the show by landing first-time Michelin status with a two-star rating. Introducing: Saga and Al Coro.
Saga offers urban dining in the heart of the Financial District, located in the towering art deco skyscraper that is 70 Pine Street. Saga describes its culinary style as "rooted in European technique" but with international influence. The main dining room is filled with carved green marble tables and seats upholstered with emerald and peach velvet, raves Michelin. At its location on the building's 63rd floor, Saga offers guests exclusive views of downtown Manhattan with an open-air balcony – but, it also occupies floors 62, 64, and 66, as well. Floor 62 is filled with private dining spaces; Floor 63 is the cocktail bar; And floor 66 is a dedicated observation deck. Experiential diners, get ready to swoon.
The other two-star winner, Al Coro, is an Italian restaurant with New York flair in Chelsea. Al Coro calls itself "a restaurant built for celebrating," and indeed it seems to be, with live music every night and ten-top tables in the main dining room. Although, the reviews are a little mixed, depending on who you ask. In a review written last month, the New York Post called Al Coro "a pretentious nightmare" but admitted that it has "great food. Make that a lot of great food." Dinner at Al Coro is five to seven courses long, depending on which menu you select, with offerings that change every six weeks.