Welcome to the Neighborhood: The Haute 5 New Restaurants in NYC

The Lion

Chef John DeLucie, known for his work at the Waverly Inn, brings a refreshing and comforting cuisine to a serious bold name dinning room at his latest venture The Lion, which opened today May 13th.

The 140-seat restaurant spot has received roaring reviews and private preview attendance by the creme de la creme of the fashion and media world. In the last few weeks, its private preview dinners have been hot enough to run a Page Six tanning salon. W reports guests Nora Ephron, Lucy Sykes, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher. Menu selections include oysters, lobster pot pie to cheesecake in a jar.

The Lion is located at 62 West 9th Street, New York, NY (212-353-8400)

Walle

Florence Fabricant broke the news in early April on this sure to be hotspot on the east side. Set to open late this month/early June this Asian American fusion restaurant is destined to be the lunch spot of the rising power elite. Transitioning seamlessly from power lunch and after work networking to elegant dining and late night cocktails, expect owner and Manhattan restaurateur Wally Chin to greet you as he is known to enjoy the role of maitre’d.

Executive Chef Chris Cheung, formerly of Monkey Bar and Ruby Foo’s, brings quality natural ingredients to the menu. With a modern approach fusing American cuisine with a respect to traditional Chinese home-cooked delicacies this spot is sure to be palatable pleasing. Menu highlights to include bacon lobster tomato salad, walle burger on a shanghai pancake bun, liquid foie gras bun, bacon crusted black cod, and mac and blue cheese.

Walle will be located at 249 East 53rd Street, New York, NY (212) 371-0888

Rabbit in the Moon

Nightlife connoisseur Rocco Ancarola, whose resume of successful projects include Boom (Soho), Bang (Miami), and A La Playa (Hamptons) brings Rabbit in the Moon, his vision of a UK gastropub. The scene is set in a two-story brownstone fashioned like an English country home serving internationally-inflected cuisine alongside refined pub classics.

The location opens May 20th. Guests will enjoy gastronomical delights by chef Brian Bieler, whose work has graced tables at The Mott, JoJo, Bouley, and Momofuku Noodle Bar. Bringing his background as a young farm boy to the table as he sources all ingredients seasonally and locally. Ummm …. Yum.

Rabbit in the Moon will be located at 47 W. Eighth St. New York, NY

Beba

Chef Tom Papoutsis, formerly of China Grill, brings a delightful menu with inspired by his Spanish Mother and Greek father. Beba crowd pleasers include the “Beba Bundle” (a crab salad wrapped in smoked salmon), Prunes Stuffed with Roasted Walnuts and wrapped in prosciutto, and rack of lamb stuffed with with feta cheese and mint. For the sweet tooth polish it off with Apple and Halva Tart or homemade Baklava for desert.

Beba is now open for dinner, lunch and brunch!

Beba is located at 71 Spring Street, NYC (212) 343 2322

Pulino’s Bar and Pizzeria

Though reviews of Keith McNally’s latest venture and overnight success on the Bowery has caused quite the stir among the gastronomical tabloids (NY Mag Eater and NBC Feast) , it’s most definitely a place to see for yourself.

Pulino’s Pizzeria and Bar is packed with “indie-movie moguls, neighborhood tattoo artists, bewhiskered male models” according to food critic Adam Platt. James Beard Award Winner Chef Nate Appleman hails from San Francisco.  Enjoy menu items like Prosciutto Di Parma, Salame Piccante Pizza (salame piccante, tomato, mozzarella, olives, oregano & chiles),  and Panna Cotta for dessert. No one quite touches McNally’s ability to create instant frenzied fans and experiences similar to a Disney World ride. It’s a small world after all.

Pulino’s is located at 282 Bowery , New York, NY (212) 226-1966