NYC Fall 2014 Dining

Perhaps the only consolation for the conclusion of summer is the burst of energy that comes with fall, when New Yorkers no longer head for the hills (or, Hamptons) each weekend, but rather catch up on the latest openings in town. In the city that never sleeps, a lot can happen over the course of a summer—and this year is no different. From a host of new French bistros touting cozy Provençal cuisine to hip ethnic fusion spots with a heavy emphasis on comfort food, New York is armed with hot spots ready to add some heat to the impending cold.

We’ve rounded up the latest arrivals that are holding their own in the city’s dining scene.

French Revival

Named after the 91-year-old woman whose restaurant in Vaucluse inspired the cuisine, this West Village spot’s menu includes not only classics from the South of France like ratatouille, but also North African–inspired dishes such as chicken tagine and lamb salad.

Upscale Comfort Food

This Lower East Side ramenya hails from Ivan Orkin, the unlikely Long Islander behind one of the best ramen shops in Tokyo. Inventive must-order plates range from a brothless four-cheese mazemen to the Lancaster Okonomiyaki, a savory waffle made out of scrapple.

Russ & Daughters Café The restaurant-style sister of the New York classic, Russ & Daughters Café is the place to go for a cure-all breakfast (think melt-in-your-mouth lox, fluffy knishes and greasy potato latkes).

Root & Bone If you get a fixing for cheddar cheese waffles with whiskey maple syrup or grilled corn on the cob with cornbread butter (and a popcorn topper), head to Root & Bone, the master of mixing down-home cooking with New York style.

Bar Primi The latest success from Andrew Carmellini, Bar Primi is a more casual take on a Roman trattoria, where the emphasis is clearly on the pasta. Instant hits include the linguini with four cloves of garlic and breadcrumbs, and the highly-photogenic fiore di carciofi, a spiral stuffed pasta topped with bacon and pecorino.

Uptown Debuts

The restaurant-bereft Upper West Side has a new go-to in Tessa, a spacious, multi-level Mediterranean spot serving refined but casual cuisine. Crowd-pleasers include burrata, pork belly Provençal, any of the multitude of pastas and the côte de bœuf for two.

The Simone Effortlessly elegant, with handwritten cursive menus and a charming townhouse setting, the eleven-table Upper East Side spot exudes sophistication without any stuffiness. Traditional cuisine ranges from goat-cheese soufflé and salmon tartare to grilled lamb and flounder with herbed bread crumbs.