#nyc-restaurants

#nyc-restaurants

Part of investigating which viral foods are worth everyone's time and which are missable is, inevitably, encountering a lot of lines that should be skipped. Candidly, I could do without revisiting many of the dozens of picks I covered this past year, but that low batting average is both to be expected and a reason to celebrate the spots that are actually great. The lines below are all bangers, composed

Stars is the new, very tiny addition to the East Village, courtesy of the teams behind nearby sibling restaurants Claud and Penny. And the stars (ahem) of the snacky menu are the deviled eggs ($8). The adorable halved stuffed eggs are topped with spiced and poofy star-shaped pommes souffles, which adds a touch of cohesion and artistic flair. The wines are impeccable, unsurprisingly, since it's from the team behind Claud.

The calendar year may be winding down, but luckily, such is not the case for New York City's bar and restaurant scene. As anyone who lives here can tell you, December is never quiet: just walk by Rockefeller Center or Bryant Park if you don't believe us. But tourist hordes and giant Christmas trees aside, this last month of the year is quite literally festive, which means dining and drinking out right now takes on an extra glittery and magical sheen.

There is a momentjust as the door swings openwhen Berimbau Brazilian Table sweeps over you like a warm breath on your neck: slow, seductive, charged with life. Tis the season to be jolly, although New Yorkers know December can feel like a marathon wrapped in tinsel. Berimbau arrives as the perfect escape hatch. If you need a break from the holiday cheer, the office parties, or the Fifth Avenue crowds, this restaurant gives you a full Brazilian vacation for a fraction of the effort.

One of the city's best sandwich slingers, Cemitas El Tigre, is closing this month in Queens. The Sunnyside lunch counter's last day of service will be on Friday, October 24, at 45-14 48th Avenue, between 45th and 46th streets. Owner Danny Lyu and the team are known for making the namesake 10-layer Pueblo-style sandwiches, spanning traditional and new-school, such as barbacoa, fried chicken, and breakfast variations (along with burritos and tacos).

Open since 2022, Mayahuel is a family-run Mexican restaurant where Leonila Cazares and Carlos Vazquez grind corn to create fresh masa for their dishes.