One noteworthy opening, a few reliable favorites, and an across-the-street surprise that stole the show.
Before fashion week takes over the calendar entirely, here’s where I ate, drank, and lingered this past month—a mix of reopenings, reliable favorites, and one across-the-street surprise that stole the show. Consider this your before-the-rush eating list.
The Noteworthy Opening: STK Chelsea
STK Chelsea reopened in August in a new space and marked the move with a proper launch party.
The launch made its positioning clear: this is a room designed to function as both restaurant and scene. Sleek, high-energy and unabashedly social, it feels built for the kind of night that extends well past dinner.
The Johnny Said cocktail was the standout pour of the night—confident, polished and exactly what a launch drink should be. I didn’t try any of the food, so I can’t honestly comment on the dining yet; consider this a first impression of the room and its energy rather than a full review.
The Aperitivo Moment: Dante’s Martini Hour
Dante in the West Village runs a $10 Martini Hour daily from 3–5 PM, and it’s a masterclass in how a tightly defined drinks ritual can carry an entire experience. The pour itself is small—closer to a shot than a proper martini—but that’s beside the point. The room does the rest: golden light, real Sex and the City energy and a price point you won’t find twice in this city. I didn’t eat here this round, but I’ll be back specifically to try the food.
Greek Hospitality, Two Ways
Two different rooms, two different registers of the same cuisine.
Yalos Taverna, Island Park — New to me this month, and the atmosphere alone felt elevated: polished, coastal and the kind of room that makes you sit up straighter. The lavraki ceviche is the dish to know—bright, precise and the kind of plate that stops a conversation mid-sentence. Service matched the food.
Ovelia, Astoria — The return visit, and it never disappoints. I kept it light this time with feta cubes and the Monastiraki Bifteki, a Greek-style ground lamb-and-beef kebab and one of the dishes to know here. Both were excellent and genuinely transportive. Where Yalos plays elevated and composed, Where Yalos feels polished and coastal, Ovelia feels more lived-in and distinctly Astoria—still stylish and contemporary, but with the ease of a neighborhood favorite.
The Coastal Detour: Driftwood, Long Beach
Driftwood sits directly on the Long Beach boardwalk. It’s fast-casual, and the lobster rolls are the reason to go: Connecticut style, served warm with melted butter, and Maine style, served cold with mayonnaise, celery and lemon juice.
Both were impressive for a spot this unpretentious. It’s the kind of meal that belongs specifically to late summer, and I mean that as the highest compliment. If you’re torn between styles, get both and compare—that’s the move.
The Neighborhood Tables
Hendrick’s Tavern, Roslyn — A repeat visit, and repeat visits deserve just as much editorial attention as first ones. The outdoor space is the draw during the warmer months, but what actually earns Hendrick’s its place in the rotation is consistency. The food doesn’t waver from visit to visit, which is rarer than it should be. A reliable go-to is its own kind of luxury.
Hole in the Wall, Murray Hill — A quick, satisfying stop for a tight lunch window. The Cacio e Pepe Smashburger, paired with a separate order of Truffle Parmesan Fries, is the move: indulgent, satisfying and worth the detour. The rest of the menu has enough intriguing range to justify returning on a day with more time.
The Surprise of the Month: Los Mariscos
Directly across the street from STK’s new Chelsea space sits Los Mariscos—and it genuinely stole the show.
The fish and shrimp tacos, along with the ceviche, were bright, fresh and exceptional—the meal I kept thinking about after the more polished evening unfolding across the street. I also tried the Clamato with Beer, skeptical going in and won over by the first sip. The savory, briny drink complemented the seafood far better than expected.
One honest note: seating is tight and informal. Go for the food rather than the ambiance, and you’ll leave happy either way.
What should make the next edition? Send me the New York table, opening or under-the-radar experience I should know about.
Fashion Week is almost here—read what I’m watching as September 2026’s NYFW takes on a more global shape.
