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[title]83 & 1/2 Peripatetic chef Ryan Skeen rises from the ashes yet again to head this 40-seat restaurant, decorated with handcrafted tiles on the walls and zinc-covered tables. Look out for carnivorous dishes like pig's-head-and-lobster terrine, as well as the five-seat chef's counter. Renowned sommelier Jean-Luc Le Du is behind the wine list. 345 E 83rd St between First and Second Aves (212-737-8312)
Alaska Designed to evoke the grandeur of the Alaskan wilderness, this Bushwick bar boasts glass chandeliers, a mounted deer head and gold-and-maroon, antler-patterned wallpaper. Grab a seat on the burnished blond embroidered sofa and sample the namesake classic cocktail (a spare mixture of yellow chartreuse and dry gin), or opt for one of the 30 bourbons that line the back shelf. 35 Ingraham St at Morgan Ave, Bushwick, Brooklyn (718-628-3643)
Beurre & Sel Beloved cookbook author, blogger and baking maven Dorie Greenspan and son Josh are behind a pair of cookiecentric bakeshops. Snag Greenspan’s elegant treats: classic French vanilla sablés (shortbread), blueberry jammers topped with streusel, and her signature World Peace Cookies (Valrhona cocoa and extra-bitter chocolate with Guérande fleur de sel). 1590 Park Ave between 112th and 115th Sts • 120 Essex St between Delancey and Rivington Sts (no phone yet)
Cafetería La Mejor Homesick Miami native Jeremy Sapienza opened this Bushwick café to fill New York's Cuban-coffee void. The 13-seat spot is fashioned after flashy South Florida abodes, with stucco walls painted bright blue, hot-pink trim and mirrored tiles. Order a Cuban sandwich (roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese and mustard on toasted Cuban bread), along with a Cuban coffee, cortadito or café con leche. 146 Wilson Ave at Suydam St, Bushwick, Brooklyn (no phone yet)
Dirty Bird To-Go The West Village takeout joint expands into larger digs with this Tribeca offshoot, decorated with exposed beams, subway tiles and salvaged industrial lighting. Chow down on buttermilk-fried chicken, a slow-roasted rotisserie bird or chicken tenders—all made with free-range, hormone-free poultry—plus sides like mac and cheese as well as salads. Those craving outdoor seating can head to the nearby verdant Bogardus Plaza and get delivery. 155 Chambers St between Greenwich and Hudson Sts (212-964-3284)
Guy's American Kitchen & Bar Food Spiky-haired Food Network star Guy Fieri makes his New York debut with this tri-level Times Square space that reflects the chef’s boyish tastes. The menu features dishes like penne with chipotle sausage and shrimp, and a beer-and-honey-glazed porchetta, while the walls of the top floor are covered in huge images of Fieri’s favorite cars. Beneath a 12-foot-wide chandelier made from Fieri’s retired pots and pans, drink one of the locally brewed beers on tap—exclusive to the restaurant—that Fieri helped create in collaboration with Heartland Brewery. 220 W 44th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves (646-532-4897)
Heavy Woods The team behind the Bodega wine bar named this spin-off after the original 17th-century Dutch translation of Bushwick, back when the hip 'hood was a thick forest. The decor of the 40-seat space reflects the nabe's rustic past, with the dim lights illuminating swords and taxidermied ravens hanging on the walls. A wide selection of whiskeys, tequilas and mescals, along with 14 draft beers, complement a menu of pub-food classics like po' boys and chicken wings. 50 Wyckoff Ave between Starr St and Willoughby Ave, Bushwick, Brooklyn (929-234-3500)
LT Burger Chef Laurent Tourondel (BLT Fish, BLT Prime) brings an outpost of his popular Sag Harbor patty joint to Gotham. More than ten types of burgers—including beef, tuna and pork—come with toppings like hickory-smoked bacon, yogurt and horseradish slaw, while apple-smoked BBQ ribs and chopped-brisket nachos round out the menu. Vintage brass lighting fixtures illuminate the bi-level space (formerly a bank and a laboratory), and the oak-wood-paneled and white marble walls lend an air of clubby propriety. 8 W 40th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-582-8200)
Palmer's Comfort-foods twists like portobello Reubens and Manila-clam pizzas define the menu at this stylized diner in Fort Greene. Sugar fiends can indulge with pies like a chocolate–dulce de leche with a pretzel crust or artisanal sodas flavored with vanilla bean and fresh ginger. A vintage stained-wood bar anchors the decor of the 50-seat space, which exudes a sleek '70s vibe. 343 Gold St between Flatbush Ave Ext and Tech Pl, Downtown, Brooklyn (718-858-5866)
Pok Pok Phat Thai White-hot toque Andy Ricker installs a pad thai takeout spot in the space that once housed his popular wing joint, Pok Pok Wing. Find five versions of the dish: regular, ground pork, prawns, prawns and pork, and vegan, all made with the traditional mix of rice noodles, tamarind, chili, dried tofu and bean sprouts. Ricker banned touristy bastardization chicken pad thai from the spot, but the Bangkok specialty kuaytiaw khua kai (wide noodles stir-fried with chicken, egg, cuttlefish and green onions) is on the menu, along with hoi thawt (a mussel-and-egg crêpe). Wash the noodles down with Som's TONY-approved drinking vinegars, Thai iced tea or cold-brewed Stumptown coffee. 137 Rivington St between Norfolk and Suffolk Sts (212-477-1299)
Pudge Knuckles Pro climber Ivan Greene named his Williamsburg café after the swollen knuckles that mark serious rock climbers. Bean snobs can order single-origin pour-overs, made with a proprietary roast, or opt for the medium blend instead. Snack on Balthazar pastries and breads in the 40-seat space, which is furnished with reclaimed wood, like stools made from an Indonesian shipwreck. 184 Kent Ave at North 4th St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (347-457-5475)
Smush Casting itself as a "dessert deli," this colorful Bryant Park shop sells ice-cream sandwiches modeled after classic bodega sandwiches. Flavored cookies stand in for bread, topped with slices of fudge cut to the same dimensions as a Kraft single, while apple strings and Nutella replace condiments. Grab a "loaf" of packaged cookies to go, or try the cold-weather version of the dessert sandwich: a panini-griddled fudge-topped cookie. 28 W 40th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (847-903-3879)
The Stand Sons of Essex’s Seth Levine turns out comfort-food spins—like cheeseburger pot stickers and duck-topped pizzas—at this comedy club–restaurant hybrid. After dinner, head downstairs to the club, where you can sip cocktails designed by Minetta Tavern vets, while acts like Judah Friedlander and Artie Lange supply the belly laughs. Test your stand-up knowledge and try to name all the comedians on the wallpaper in the bathrooms. 239 Third Ave between 19th and 20th Sts (212-677-2600)