Whether you’re bored with all your favorite dining spots, looking for a new neighborhood standby or plotting to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to the next big dining trend, the city will always meet your needs with new restaurants.
We know from experience it’s hard to keep track of them all — and sort out the affordable options from the splurge-y ones.
Here’s our guide to recent openings by borough, bound to mix up your diet and expand your palate without maxing out your wallet.
Manhattan
La Rossa
Chef Stefano Callegari, who opened his first pizzeria in Rome in 2005, is expanding his footprint to the United States with his first La Roma outpost. He chose SoHo to kick-start his American expansion. The La Rossa menu is known for its “suppli” (fried rice balls) and 12-inch pizzas.
The food: How does Italian pizza stack up to New York City pizza? You’ll find out at La Rossa. Classic pizzas include the Bufala e Pachino:, with fresh cherry tomatoes, mozzarella di Bufala and basil, the La Rossa, with San Marzano tomatoes, red onions and red pepper, among others. Pies range from $12 to $23 and salads, small bites and rice balls are priced between $5 and $14.
The drinks: Pair your pie with a glass of artisanal wine, served by the bottle and glass. La Rossa will look to highlight a rotational menu of Italian wines, priced between $9 and $18 per glass.
The vibe: Pop in for lunch or dinner, and if you’re really hungry, consider splurging on one of the more intricate pies priced at $23 each. The restaurant seats 22 guests and reflects the type of “upscale pizzeria” you’d find in Rome, according to a release. So, don’t expect to grab a $1 slice and go (but you can order out, if you please).
The details: La Rossa opened Friday at 267 Lafayette St. in SoHo. Open Mondays through Sundays 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Call 917-262-0302 or visit larossa.love for more info.
The Meatpackers American Brasserie
Chef Richard Farnabe’s Meatpacking District restaurant isn’t all that cheap — but there are plenty of menu options that won’t break the bank. Feeling fancy? Try the raw bar that offers affordable shrimp cocktail and oysters. Several menu items are priced under $25, you’ll just need to know where to look.
The food: Keeping it affordable, you’ll want to treat yourself to an oyster bar appetizer — with $2.50 and $3.50 oyster options — and pair it with a shrimp cocktail ($14). The vegan salad, with quinoa, pine nuts and pomegranate and mustard dressing will set you back only $14, while the tuna tartar with avocado totals at $16. Round out your small plates with the hamachi ceviche ($16) topped with a cucumber and mint lemon vinaigrette.
The vibe: This upscale restaurant with sleek booths, bar seating and an exposed-brick interior is ideal for happy hour and small bites (if you’re on a budget).
The details: The Meatpackers is now open Mon.-Fri. from 5:30-11 p.m., Thurs.-Sun. from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5:30-11 p.m.; 1 Little West 12th St., 929-341-4890, themeatpackersnyc.com
Clinton Hall
The beer hall with locations in Williamsburg, FiDi and the Bronx opened its fifth eatery in October. This latest installment puts down roots in midtown on 36th Street.
The food: There are the over-the-top bar bites — a giant soft pretzel ($9), Parmesan truffle fries ($10), Buffalo cauliflower ($10) — and an array of burgers — the CH classic ($12), the bacon, bacon, bacon ($15), turkey club burger ($14). Then there are your comfort dishes, such as doughnut grilled cheese with tomato soup ($15) and the fondue Pat LaFrieda burger ($15).
The drinks: Clinton Hall rotates its brew offerings, with up to 20 beers on the menu at all times. Well, it is a beer hall, after all. The pecan pie porter and the Octofest ales will get your taste buds in the fall spirit.
The vibe: Think: munching on an overflowing plate of fries while beating your friends at a game of giant Jenga or Connect Four. The spot is known for its casual dining experience, with seating inside and out. This new location has a “spacious bar with flat-screen TVs adoring the walls,” so consider kicking back on an NFL Sunday.
The details: Bites and meals range between $8 and $16. The new midtown location is open at 16 W. 36th St., from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays, noon to 2 a.m. Saturdays and noon to midnight Sundays. Call 212-695-0035 or visit clintonhallny.com.
