🚕 April’s Notable New Restaurant

Good Morning NY!

Today, we’re bringing you a lineup of exciting openings and exclusive events that are shaking up the NYC dining scene.

A viral London chef is making his mark in Soho, and a Miami favorite is gearing up to bring bold Mediterranean flavors to Flatiron.

Plus, we're highlighting the freshest restaurant debuts from April, new spots making waves in the Financial District, Chinatown, and Koreatown.

A Korean-inflected Passover Seder is setting the stage for some creative cultural fusion, and a major NYC restaurateur is sharing an unforgettable celebrity encounter that’s been making headlines.

Keep reading to stay ahead of the latest buzz in the city!

Speakeasy Drinks and Prohibition History Tour

Step into the world of secret speakeasies and hidden history with the Prohibition Pub and History Walk in NYC.

This guided tour takes you back to the 1920s, where you’ll sip craft cocktails in historic bars, uncover the wild stories of Prohibition, and explore the underground world that kept NYC buzzing.

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Book your spot and toast to a night of history, mystery, and damn good drinks! 🥃✨

London’s Viral Chef Lands in Soho

Thomas Straker, the London chef known for his viral butter videos and modern British-Italian cooking, is officially planting roots in NYC.

He’s taking over the iconic 59 Grand Street space in Soho, the former home of Keith McNally’s Lucky Strike, which closed in 2020 after a 31-year run.

The move marks Straker’s first permanent U.S. restaurant, following his popular pop-up in NYC last October that sold out in minutes.

His Notting Hill restaurant, Straker’s, earned praise from the UK Michelin Guide and regularly draws crowds for dishes like tagliolini with Cornish crab and burnt honey ice cream.

With more than two million followers across Instagram and TikTok, Straker’s stateside debut is already one of the city’s most anticipated openings.

No official name or opening date has been announced yet, but anticipation is already building for what could be Soho’s next hotspot.

If his NYC spot mirrors the vibe and flavor of his London original, expect a high-energy room packed with pasta, butter, and plenty of buzz.

Miami’s Mediterranean Favorite Heads to Flatiron

Motek, a beloved Mediterranean restaurant with six locations in Miami, is finally making its move to New York City.

The first NYC outpost will open in the Flatiron District this fall, bringing its bold Middle Eastern flavors to Manhattan.

Founded by Charlie Levy, a former New Yorker turned Miami restaurateur, Motek has built a strong following for its comforting, flavor-packed dishes.

Expect menu staples like falafel, shakshuka, schnitzel sandwiches, and grilled kebabs, all served in a vibrant, welcoming setting.

Motek’s expansion won’t stop at one: Levy plans to open five locations across the city in the coming years.

A second concept, Yalla Motek—a kosher street food spinoff—is already scheduled to debut in winter 2026.

Levy says opening in New York feels natural, noting that many call Miami the “sixth borough.”

With its focus on tradition, quality, and hospitality, Motek could quickly become a staple in the city’s fast-casual Mediterranean scene.

April’s Notable NYC Restaurant Debuts

April’s restaurant openings are a reminder that New York’s dining scene never sleeps.

In the Financial District, Maison Passerelle has landed inside the new Printemps department store at 1 Wall Street.

Helmed by James Beard Award-winner Gregory Gourdet, the menu highlights global flavors with dishes like duck with pineapple and Creole cassoulet.

Chinatown just got sweeter with the debut of Daniel Corpuz Chocolatier at 60 Mulberry Street.

Corpuz, formerly at Canal Street Market, is crafting bonbons infused with Filipino ingredients like calamansi, pandan, and black sesame.

Koreatown welcomed DubuHaus, a sleek new Korean spot at 6 E. 32nd Street that puts house-made tofu front and center.

It’s part of a trio of fresh concepts on the block from Urimat Hospitality Group.

And over in the West Village, Fedora is back.

Once shuttered during the pandemic, the historic address at 239 W. 4th Street has been revived by the team behind St. Jardim.

Edge: See NYC Differently

Experience NYC at the Edge, the city's highest outdoor sky deck. Standing at 100 stories above the Hudson Yards, Edge offers unparalleled 360-degree views of the skyline, from the Statue of Liberty to Central Park.

For you risk-takers out there, you can step onto the glass floor and gaze down at the bustling city streets below. It's an adventure that blends excitement with breathtaking beauty.

Whether you're planning a memorable outing with friends or seeking a unique perspective of the city, Edge provides an unforgettable experience.

Book your tickets now and see New York from a whole new vantage point!

A Korean Passover Seder Lights Up Chinatown

Chinatown’s Sunn’s recently played host to one of the city’s most unique Passover celebrations.

Chef Sunny Lee partnered with the Jewish Food Society and accessories brand Susan Alexandra to create a Korean-inflected Seder at her restaurant.

The menu blended Jewish tradition with Korean flavors, including smoked whitefish kimbap, brisket in porcini-pine-nut broth, and lemon-braised fennel banchan.

Foot-long matzo boards from Elbow Bread’s Zoë Kanan added flair to the table, along with an avgolemono-inspired matzo ball soup adapted from Alison Roman’s recipe.

Lee, who married Jewish artist Michael Siporin Levine, has hosted eight Passovers and continues to reinterpret the holiday through her culinary lens.

Guests included notable NYC names like Naomi Fry, Marisa Meltzer, Andy Baraghani, and Liana Satenstein.

Rabbi Samantha Frank led a lively retelling of the Seder story, keeping tradition alive in a modern setting.

Naama Shefi of the Jewish Food Society praised the cultural blending as meaningful and delicious.

Susan Korn, founder of Susan Alexandra, called Lee’s food joyful and soul-filling.

With flavor, flair, and humor—this Seder showed how old traditions can find new life in the hands of NYC’s creative culinary voices.

Keith McNally Reveals A-List Celebrity's Rude Behavior at Balthazar

Keith McNally, owner of the famed NYC restaurant Balthazar, recently shared an incident involving comedian James Corden that led to the celebrity’s temporary ban.

McNally called Corden the “most abusive customer” in Balthazar’s 25-year history.

The first incident occurred when Corden found a hair in his food and became aggressively demanding, threatening negative reviews unless free drinks were provided.

In another instance, Corden yelled at a server over an omelet, criticizing the dish for having egg white and requesting a salad instead of home fries.

Despite attempts to calm the situation, including offering champagne, Corden’s behavior left the server shaken.

Following McNally’s public remarks, Corden reached out to apologize, which McNally accepted.

McNally expressed that anyone who could apologize deserved a second chance and lifted the ban.

This episode sheds light on the challenges faced by restaurateurs when managing celebrity clientele and the impact of such disputes on their reputation.

While Corden’s apology was accepted, it serves as a reminder of the importance of treating restaurant staff with respect.

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