New Restaurant Openings: NYC, L.A. & More

Gabe Stulman made a name for himself in the West Village with a collection of restaurants that flirt with the line between neighborhood spots and date destinations. Now, he's stretching his empire north with three new projects in the Freehand hotel. Upstairs, there's the casual Studio, which looks to the Middle East for pastries like a simit and a honey-sesame twist, plus halva granola in the morning. Downstairs, American-focused restaurant Simon & the Whale should open soon, and The George Washington Bar is already pouring cocktails. 

Yunnan cooking has been gaining steam in New York lately with the opening of restaurants like Little Tong Noodle Shop and this Greenwich Village spot. Chef Liheng Geng, who is the son of the owner of Sunset Park's Yun Nan Flavour Garden, is serving a Crossing the Bridge Noodle dish that comes with thin slices of raw meat added to hot broth tableside. 

Californians have been waiting their turn for a David Chang restaurant, and it has finally arrived. Here, he's serving dishes like broken soft tofu with apples and honey, a tapioca lo mein and spicy fried skate rice with shiso. Majordomo is something new, rather than a remake of one of Chang's iconic Momofuku restaurants, but one idea that has transferred out west is large-format ordering. There are three options, including a spicy bo ssam, which can be prepared for a table of friends. 

Chang isn't the only New York restauranteur to open in L.A. this week. Daniel Humm and Will Guidara recently debuted a West Coast version of The NoMad with multiple dining areas and price points—similar to the New York setup. The Lobby is the most casual option, where you can drop in for a Cobb salad that's prepared with tuna and avocado, or lasagnette with smoked eggplant and Swiss chard. Reservations are required in the Mezzanine, where you'll find the team's legendary truffled chicken for two and suckling pig with persimmons. And they didn't forget the most important part of the migration: drinks from master bartender Leo Robitschek.

Now that Daniel Patterson has moved Alta out of its former home, Nigel Jones of Kingston 11 has moved into the space, collaborating with Patterson to set up an ambitious Caribbean menu that includes black pepper crab, oxtail stew, jerk chicken and punch bowls like the Zap Pow, made with blood orange, passion fruit, grenadine and jerk bitters.

Those living in SF no longer have to cross the bay to splurp Ippudo's legendary ramen now that the chain is up and running near Union Square. This location seats 86, so it might be slightly easier to get a spot, but don't count on it—Ippudo has legions of fans dedicated to its bowls of rich tonkotsu. 

Gather's team has opened a new place just a few steps away. Not ones to shy away from a theme, they've gone all out with birds on the walls and a sign that says The Early Bird Gets the Worm. To eat, there are options like a freekeh salad, a strip loin, Korean-style chicken wings, roast carrots with carrot hummus and a highly inviting skillet cookie.

Robert Del Grande, who won a James Beard Award for his restaurant, Cafe Annie, in 1992, has transformed part of that space into a prime rib destination. There's a Gulf shrimp cocktail to start the meal, but most of the focus is on the meat, which comes in 10- and 14-ounce sizes. Sides to go with these cuts include potatoes aligot and carrots with ginger, honey and vinegar.

The Breakfast Klub's Marcus Davis has a new Caribbean-leaning restaurant that's been testing the waters with a soft opening. He's serving jerk chicken wings, Nigerian akara, calas (a type of savory doughnut) and collard dip, and riblets.

The city's much-anticipated first food hall has made its debut with some of Austin's biggest culinary talent now under one roof. Emmer & Rye is trying its hand at fast food at Henbit with breakfast burritos and lattes with pecan milk, and Dai Due is manning a taqueria that serves wild boar al pastor tacos. There's bread to take home from Easy Tiger and goods from Antonelli's Cheese Shop. If you're staying, there are seats inside and outside. 

Local favorite Michael Schwartz's "love letter to Miami" has finally arrived, bringing with it Latin American flavors like empanadas stuffed with short ribs, olives and raisins; yuca cheese puffs; and a house riff on the Brazilian classic feijoada, made here with red beans, pork belly, marinated kale and grilled orange. Despite the wood-fire grill, the spot doesn't get smoky—a side of the restaurant opens onto the beach.

New York's highly praised Sushi Azabu has made its way down to warmer climes, taking up residence in the Stanton South Beach. Diners can settle in for a night of izakaya fare or be led through the kitchen to an 11-seat sushi counter for an omakase experience.