Fall Openings 2021
A number of new restaurants, plus a bonus list of pre-fall spots that I (gasp!) had missed.
Before the Fall…
Before I go into fall openings, I want to highlight some restaurants that have opened over the last year that I’ve only recently added to the map. H/T @iamjoshuablum for many of these restaurants:
Vegan (certified kosher):
- Tamam Falafel (Certified by Cup K; they’ve opened three locations: East Village, UES, and Union Square)
Vegan (not certified kosher):
- Innocent Yesterday (Bakery and cafe)
- JERRELL’S BETR BRGR (Burger joint w/shakes)
- LOOKER (“Plant-based bar”)
- Next Stop Vegan (Latino and Caribbean fast-casual)
- [plant-baked] (Bakery)
- Pop’s Eat-Rite (Burger stand w/soft serve)
- Purple Thai (Thai fast-casual)
- Riverdel (Vegan cheese monger) @ Essex Market
- Vistro Burger (Burgers, “apple pie empanadas,” and “polenta fries”)
Vegetarian (not certified kosher):
- Happy Veggie (Asian fusion)
- Nefista / Çiğ Köfte (Turkish; menu consists mostly of vegan kofteh in various forms)
Fall Openings
Beloved Cafe (vegan; not certified kosher)
According to their website, they host “musicians, dances, tea ceremonies, and other events that bring the community together.” In addition to coffee and tea, their menu includes omelettes, waffles, parfaits, and sourdough donuts. They also bake sourdough bread with a “150-year-old San Franciscan and German culture.”
Café de L’Enfer (vegan; not certified kosher)
Part of Ravi DeRossi’s vegan restaurant empire. According to their website, they’re an “absinthe and champagne bar inspired by the legendary Cabaret de L’Enfer in Victorian-era Paris.” They’re located above Amor Y Amargo, another DeRossi late-night destination.
Great American Health Bar (dairy; certified by the OK)
They had closed over the Pandemic, but they’re back! It’s an old-school casual diner, complete with booths.
HipCityVeg (vegan; not certified kosher)
This “Latina-owned plant-based empire” has finally made it to NYC. They started out in Philly, but with two locations in Washington D.C. and their first restaurant in NYC, they seem to be taking over the East Coast. Their menu features burgers (including my fave, Bistro Bella: grilled portabella, herb dijon glaze, artichoke, tomato, arugula, olive tapenade, & red onion), wraps, salads, smoothies, and shakes. FYI: they’re currently in soft-open mode; they’ll be fully open as of Thursday, 10/28.
Patis Bakery UES location (dairy; certified by the OU)
A new Upper East Side branch of this artisanal French bakery opened recently. They offer sandwiches (e.g. Pastrami Lox Croissant Sandwich w/roasted garlic cream cheese, pickled onions, capers, and dill, as well as tarts, macarons, babka, cookies, cheese twists, and baguettes. Their flagship location is in NJ (delivery to NYC available; $55 minimum).
Sherry Herring (vegetarian; not certified kosher)
Simply the best (and perhaps most expensive) smoked fish sandwiches. This is the first US location of the famed Tel Aviv sandwich stand in the Shuk HaNamal, as seen on Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil. Apparently, Sherry herself is “still waiting for her travel documents to enter the United States, and “the herring is still aging at a Dutch processor, patiently soaking up the brine and flavors that must meet Ansky’s approval.” They still offer sandwiches with other kinds of smoked fish in the meantime.
