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[title]The following venues are expected to open by April 23rd. Always call ahead, as openings can be delayed.
Barchetta There’s a reason Dave Pasternack is known as the “fish whisperer”—he captains the seafood counter at Eataly and has helmed Hell’s Kitchen crudo enclave Esca since 2000. Now the pesce pro casts his first restaurant outside of the Bastianich-Batali empire with this sea-to-table trattoria, a collaboration with LDV Hospitality founder John Meadow (American Cut, Scarpetta). True to its name—barchetta is Italian for “little boat”—the 91-seat spot sticks to the Mediterranean coast: fusilli with Atlantic surf clams, roasted octopus with smoked paprika, and house-made spaghetti with lobster, spring onions and sorrel. 461 W 23rd St at Tenth Ave (212-255-7400)
Bootleg Bar Make like a pinball wizard at this arcade-game saloon, featuring acoustic live bands and beer-and-shot combos (Tecate and tequila, High Life and Jack). 1438 Myrtle Ave between Bleecker and Menahan Sts, Bushwick, Brooklyn (347-715-6307)
Chautari Get your momo and shapta (stir-fried beef) under one roof at this Indian-Tibetan-Nepali restaurant, featuring traditional South Asian music on weekends. 74-15 Roosevelt Ave between 72nd and 73rd Sts, Jackson Heights, Queens (718-424-4994)
Hogar Dulce Hogar San Sebastian comes to Soho with this Basque-inspired bakery, offering French-toast-like torrija, Iberico-ham croissants and outré coffee flavors (cupcake, doughnut). 341 W Broadway between Broome and Grand Sts (347-705-2290)
Ramen.Co Ramen Burger mastermind Keizo Shimamoto turns out three versions of his Smorgasburg favorite—original beef patty, chicken yakitori and shredded beef—at this FiDi noodle shop. 100 Maiden Ln between Gold and Pearl Sts (no phone yet)
Red Hook Lobster Pound At this Manhattan outpost of the Brooklyn seafood shack, find classic lobster rolls, a crustacean-studded caprese salad and New England beers (Narragansett Lager, Allagash White). 16 Extra Pl between 2nd St and Broadway (212-777-7225)
Smashburger The fast-casual patty joint launches its first Manhattan outpost, serving smashed-to-order burgers and handspun shakes at a 2,500-square-foot midtown location. 10 W 33rd St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (646-692-6445)
Tavern on the Green For 75 years, the gilded dining room nestled inside Central Park was a New York hallmark, a scenic magnet for tourists, brides and megawatt diners (Grace Kelly, John Lennon) alike. When the razzle-dazzle cash cow went bankrupt and shuttered in 2010, big-name backers from Danny Meyer to Donald Trump expressed interest in reviving the historic space. Surprisingly, a pair of Philadelphia crepe-makers won the bid: owners Jim Caiola and David Salama have revamped the landmark as an urban farmhouse decorated with wood-beam ceilings, leather-covered tables and multiple hearths. Chef Katy Sparks (Quilty’s, Mesa Grill) pulls a 180 from the original’s Eisenhower-era plates for modern, fire-driven fare: wood-roasted Japanese eggplant with pomegranate and sheep’s-milk yogurt, braised farro pasta with blistered sweet peppers, and lamb shank with creamed chards and mint gremolata. The 11,000-square-foot space is nearly half the size of the old Tavern, with a 300-seat courtyard and an outdoor bar. 1 Tavern on the Green at W 67th St (212-877-8684)
Wangs Soul food gets an Asian spin at this fried-chicken takeout spot, serving Korean-style wings, ginger-spiced collard greens and potato salad with black sesame and Japanese mayo. 671 Union St between Fourth and Fifth Aves (718-636-6390)