San Francisco import—and prevailing food-world darling—
Danny Bowien delivered the year’s most madcap, and fiery, fare: a delicious and unlikely hybrid of potent Szechuan, Southern
barbecue and old-fashioned
Chinese-American takeout.
154 Orchard St between Rivington and Stanton Sts (212-529-8800, missionchinesefood.com)
This shamelessly opulent grand hotel brasserie—from Daniel Humm and Will Guidara, the dynamos behind
Eleven Madison Park—showcased a rare return to New York City’s gilded-age decadence, with luxurious food in a sultry setting.
1170 Broadway at 28th St (347-472-5660, thenomadhotel.com)
The stealthiest opening of the year lured gastronauts to Bushwick for Carlo Mirarchi’s three-hour, 20-some-odd-course feast, helping to make Brooklyn—even at the high end—the city’s most exciting place to eat.
261 Moore St between Bogart and White Sts, Bushwick, Brooklyn (646-703-2715, blancanyc.com)
Andy Ricker’s true taste of
Thailand proved you don’t need to be reared in Chiang Mai to cook like a real native son.
127 Columbia St between DeGraw and Kane Sts, Red Hook, Brooklyn (718-923-9322, pokpokny.com)
Noma cofounder Mads Refslund brought New York its first taste of what a bold new generation has been cooking up near the arctic circle, with the city’s first outpost of New Nordic cuisine.
9 Great Jones St between Broadway and Lafayette St (212-203-2121, acmenyc.com)