Is it too early for dinner? Nah.
It's definitely not too early to make a reservation at one of these top notch new spots in NYC. Who's coming with us?
April is a pretty great foodie month, we must say, because it's still kinda chilly enough on some rainy days for a steaming bowl of ramen, but all the spring pop-up shops are also coming out of hibernation.
We are so ready.
Here's what's cooking and what's brewing at the very tip of the restaurant iceberg:
1. Hide-Chan (314 West 53rd Street)
Ramen shop number two from Hide-Chan is open at 314 W. 53rd St.!
Along with all the great menu items from their first Midtown location, the second also features "suprimp ramen" with a whole fried prawn on top. Traditional Japanese sake and beer are also well-stocked.
So if you feel the need to redeem the good in ramen, and can afford a little more than 25 cents a serving, check out Hide-Chan's slowly stewed, chewy noodles covered in everything from pork to prawns.
2. Korean Fried Chicken (25 West 32nd Street)
Rethink your acronyms folks, because Korean Fried Chicken— that's KFC for short, brought to you by Best of the Best Quality Chicken, has landed in Koreatown.
Poultry of every shape and size has been shliced and diced, seasoned and dressed to perfection here. Their signature extra virgin olive oil and grilled Jamaican BBQ are all pretty great, but their Gold Olive Chicken takes the cake, at six pieces with pommes frites for $16.99.
K-town is only so big, but to save you the experience of getting lost on the jam-packed block, the address it 25 W 32nd.
3. Donna Margherita (1304A Second Avenue)
Named after the daisy, not the pizza, Donna Margherita is a cozy (30 seats) bi-level restaurant serving up brick oven pizzas, pastas, and a variety of appetizers and salads all under a mural of a daisy-filled Italian countryside.
Chef Rosanna Di Michele, who grew up helping her parents in their family-owned pizzeria in Vasto, Italy (on Abruzzo’s coast), has come up with her own versions of classic Italian favorites like Lasagne Della Nonna(traditional meat lasagna), Penne Arrabbiata O Al Pomodoro (penne in a spicy homemade tomato sauce), and Melanzane Alla Parmigiana (eggplant parmigiana).
New Yorkers know good Italian food, and we are so down for Donna Margherita.
4. Sushi Roxx (120 East 39th Street)
If you're looking for some good vibes to go with your raw fish, Sushi Roxx is a high-energy gourmet sushi restaurant meets night club/dinner theatre!
The only sushi restaurant in NYC that can brag that all of their staff are also professionally trained singers, actors, and dancers who perform nightly!
With awesome happy hour deals, and weekly theme nights (stay tuned for Boogie Nights, a disco theme night premiering this month), this is the perfect place to celebrate with fellow sushi loving friends!
5. Luke's Lobster (Brooklyn Bridge Park, Dumbo)
Googly-eyed and big-pincered, Luke's Lobster has taken up residence in the shade of the Brooklyn Bridge.
It's true, Luke's Lobster is under the Brooklyn Bridge. There's a smokestack seasonal concessions stand in DUMBO where the Lobster is shacked up for the season, so check it out before it moves again.
We're talking about classic lobster, crab, and shrimp rolls, but also Tale and Kale salad, gluten-free clam chowder and lobster bisque, lobster and crab grilled cheese, and more.
What's more, the location has new and interesting alcohol choices, including the Lobsterman's Choice by Shipyard Brewing. So make it a priority, now that the weather is starting to turn.
6. Mel's Burger Bar (Multiple Locations)
With two locations on the UES (1450 Second Avenue) and UWS (2850 Broadway), Mel's Burger Bar boasts 18 different burgers, with mouth watering toppings like as mac and cheese, spinach dip, and chili.
Mel's also offers 50+ local and domestic beers to wash down their over-the-top, delicious burgers. And if you're a true beer nerd, you can become a member of Mel's Brew Crew and thrive in all of its mysterious, exclusive, members-only perks.
7. Los Pollos Hermanos (243 Pearl Street)
April 9th and 10th only, grab some Breaking Bad-inspired chicken at the corner of 243 Pearl Street!
It's a pop-up popping up to whip up some local interest in the new season of Better Call Saul. It's been everywhere, man, from Austin to LA to NYC, and now the fried chicken, curly fries, and dipping sauce selection of the one Gustavo Fring (and deceased associates) is all ours.
So get some Breaking Bad memorabilia and a crispy meal— and in twenty years people will ask why you have a framed paper bag with a doofy pair of chickens on it.
[Feature Image Courtesy Andrew Werner]