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Miss Korea
Nope, this isn't a new beauty pageant owned by Donald Trump—it's a new Korean barbecue joint on 32nd Street. What? A Korean barbecue joint…in Koreatown? Get out! DIY 'cue is, of course, the specialty here, with tableside burners grilling everything from galbi to brisket to cow tongue; swine fanatics can opt for pork belly or pork neck sirloin. As befits the eateries in this area, the menu fills out with dishes like with bibimbap and hot pot, plus a selection of sake and soju. Prices aren't exactly bargain-basement—barbecued entrees go for about $24 at dinnertime, and there's a two-order minimum to cook the meats at your table. But your best bet would be to swing by midday: Lunch specials (from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.) only go for about $13 a pop, and include all the bells and whistles (sides, soup, kimchi), along with meats grilled tableside. The best part? They're open 24 hours. Even Donald Trump would admit: That's a real beauty! (10 W. 32nd St. between Broadway and Fifth Ave., 212-594-4963)
Nuela
After a massive hiatus, the onetime Sapa space has now finally reopened as this upscale pan-Latin eatery—which is looking like a resurgent trend in itself. Over the past year, we've seen new luxe-Latin joints like Yerba Buena Perry and Zengo give NYC's saturated taco scene a run for its guacamole. Chicago transplant Adam Schop—a protege of "Top Chef Masters" alum Douglas Rodriguez—is the chef/co-owner here, and he draws mainly on the cuisine of Peru to anchor Nuela's fiesta of flavors. There's a rotisserie chicken marinated in aji amarillo (a kind of Peruvian yellow chili paste); hamachi ceviche; and a seco de cabrito goat stew indigenous to northern Peru. But wait—why is there shishito mayo and curry mustard on this menu? Schop explains that he wanted to pay homage to the totality of Peru's heritage, which includes a sizeable Japanese and Chinese population, whose contributions to Peruvian cuisine run rich and deep. Nuela officially opens on Monday, July 12. (43 W. 24th St. between Fifth and Sixth Aves., 212-929-1200)
B.E.S.
B.E.S., which stands for Boutique Eats Shop, expands the meager offerings for Chelsea gallery-goers who want to chow down. Even better, the restaurant lets you pig out while still in gallery mode. They've partnered with the area's galleries to create rotating installations that decorate the space. Want to fit in? Better bring your pseudo-European wire-rimmed glasses (how post-modern!). The menu takes inspiration from different bits of world cuisine. If you're a fan of Asian flavors, peanut-miso dressing is drizzled over a grilled snapper. Hankering for something on the comfort-food side? Hit the roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and truffle butter. Like the trendy art shops that surround this dinner spot, the menu is both diverse and well curated. With a cocktail list that features green-tea-infused vodka and fresh watermelon, you'll find something at B.E.S. to make you say Y.E.S. (559 W. 22nd St. between 10th and 11th Aves., 212-414-8700)
Serra Mediterranean Bistro
Located at the ground floor of the Vincci Hotel in K-town, this white-tablecloth joint offers Mediterranean classics that pull from a range of French and Italian influences, courtesy of Euro-trained chef Claude Alain Solliard. Expect surf (grilled branzino), turf (breast of duck and leg confit in a pink grapefruit gastrique with sweet potato gratin), and starch (gnocchi in truffle-and-porcini sauce, seafood paella). The bistro’s bar is open for drinks and snacks all day, though most of the tables are in the larger dining space, which seats around 70. (16 E. 32nd St. between Madison and Fifth Aves., 212-532-5344)
Also open:
Former Baohaus toque Eddie Huang rocks Taiwanese street food at his new Lower East Side Asian spot, Xiao Ye. (198 Orchard St. between Houston and Stanton Sts.)
At Tiella, which opens on July 12, a brick oven churns out something new: non-pizza Neapolitan dishes! Expect baked meats, along with an array of homemade pastas. (1109 First Ave. at 61st St., 212-588-0100)
Things can't get any fresher at Williamsburg juice bar San Xavier: The owner even grows his own basil and wheat grass on the shop’s rooftop. (524 Lorimer St. at Ainslie St., 718-486-6850)
Hole-in-the-wall Gyro King, in Ditmas Park, slings Middle Eastern grub worthy of some of the city's top street carts. (1017 Foster Ave. between E. 10th St. and Coney Island Ave., 718-421-6600)
Meals, deals, specials:
Tomatoes & Rosé at Bistro Benoit: From July 1 to Aug. 31, tomatoes and rosé are the inspiration for a Provençal-inspired menu, which includes chilled heirloom tomato soup and a tarte tatin of red and yellow tomatoes with ricotta cheese. They're available a la carte, and can be paired with a glass of Cinsault Côtes de Provence Château Miraval Provence Rosé for $10. (60 W. 55th St. between Fifth and Sixth Aves., 646-943-7373)
Summer Truffle Celebration at Perbacco: Starting July 10, they'll be offering a $59 three-course meal that celebrates the season's earthiest bounty, wish dishes like tagliolini pasta sautéed with black summer truffle sauce and burrata cheese cream. (The dishes are also available a la carte.) (234 E. Fourth St. between Ave. A and B, 212-253-2038)
Iced Tea Festival at Sanctuary T: The tea-rrific Soho eatery gets in the summer groove with a massive monthlong celebration in July that includes ice-tea-focused dinner pairings, demos and even an iced tea mix-off. (337B West Broadway at Grand St., 212-941-7832)
Additional reporting by James Mulcahy, Darren Atkins and Laura Dwulet; photo by Sean Ellingson
