After several years of takeout and delivery, Americans are happily returning to their favorite restaurants and eagerly exploring new ones. The pandemic may have temporarily shuttered restaurants, but tenacious restaurateurs have pushed ahead with ambitious projects, believing that the appeal of dining out will never fade. These pages feature a sampling of some of the most promising new restaurants in the country.
New York
Just a short walk from Union Square is Vallarta, the amazing first Italian restaurant by Top Chef co-host Tom Collicchio. “I grew up in an Italian family in New Jersey but never opened an actual Italian restaurant,” the celebrity chef reports. The menu is unpretentious and approachable—think homemade focaccia, arancini in spicy tomato sauce, and bucatini cacio e pepe—inspired by the home-cooked meals Colicchio and his family have prepared together during the pandemic. “After a year of cooking at home with my family, I realized that the dishes that brought us the most comfortable, natural sense of happiness were the ones I grew up with,” he explains.
chicago
With three coveted Michelin stars at Grace, chef Curtis Duffy and sommelier/restaurant Michael Muser continue their collaboration at the beautifully appointed Ever restaurant, offering an exquisite tasting menu. “Our quest for sophistication never ends,” Duffy declares, adding, “Our ambitions can only get stronger.” Esmé of Alinea Group alumni chef Jenner Tomaska and wife Katrina Bravo further testify to Chicago’s red-hot dining scene – Gone are the days when the Windy City was technically a steak and potato town. Linkin Park Restaurant incorporates art and philanthropy into fine dining without compromising on highly innovative world-class cuisine. “Esmé’s goal is to change the way fine dining restaurants serve guests, team members and communities,” Bravo reports, explaining that supporting local causes, artists and producers can enrich the culinary experience.
Angel
A-list projects continue to debut in Los Angeles, including celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck’s Merois at a chic new Sunset Strip hotel. The rooftop venue offers stunning city views and Asian-inspired dishes such as Kung Pao cauliflower, Peking duck and puff pastry with Vietnamese caramel sauce. “The Sunset Strip holds a very special place in my heart,” said Parker, referring to the original location of his iconic Spago. “Merois embodies my passion for combining classic French techniques with Californian and Asian influences,” he added. The restaurant proves once again that Parker, now in his seventies, is still incredibly relevant in the trendy Los Angeles dining scene he helped create.
Miami
Mediterranean and Asian cuisine themes, including diving scallops with foie gras and uni, shawarma spiced wagyu dumplings and oranges, and king crab escabeche and Tunisian spice mix. “We wanted to create an experience that merged our Mediterranean roots with our love for Japanese food and culture,” says co-founder Marine Galy of the venture’s inspiration. She added: “MILA’s motto is ‘Eudaimonia’ – the Greek word for a state of contentment, joy when you travel.”
Las Vegas
Retro is all the rage in Las Vegas right now, as reflected in the recent opening of the Mayfair Supper Club at Bellagio and Delilah at Wynn. Both are lavish throwbacks to a bygone era and feature dishes like Oyster Rockefeller and Lobster Thermidor that complement the ambience and evoke Las Vegas memories of Sinatra and company. At Delilah, caviar service precedes old-school fare like Beef Wellington or Fettuccine Alfredo, followed by Baked Alaska. Guests dress up for these club venues, which are welcome additions to the growing Las Vegas Strip.
Washington DC
Chef Nicholas Stefanelli – who has been awarded one Michelin star at the capital’s Masseria – has opened Philotimo, a gorgeous new Greek restaurant in the city centre. Delicious loukoumades are stuffed with taramasalata and add colour to a modern Mediterranean menu with golden Ossetra caviar, mantia (veal stuffed dumplings) and rosy lamb with tzatziki. “The idea for Philotimo started six years ago when I was on a wine tour in Greece. Since that trip, it has been amazing to explore another side of my heritage,” says Stefanelli, whose family has roots in Italy and Greece .
Atlanta
James Beard award-winning chef Hugh Acheson is known for infusing Southern cuisine with a sophisticated, modern sensibility without losing his soul. But at his new Mount Royal, the native Canadian paid homage to Montreal’s legendary kosher steakhouse, Moishe’s. Diners may start with Acheson’s Lyons Salad, Beef Tartare or Smoked Salmon Scones, followed by Grilled Canadian Lobster or Italian Rib Eye with torna sauce and diced meat.
This article originally appeared on houses and estates Magazine.
