The NYC dining map shifted again this week, with one of the most ambitious Midtown openings of the year and a quietly buzzy SoHo walk-in pub leading the headlines. Here’s what you need to know about the spots that just opened and the places that closed their doors.
Quick Bites: TL;DR
- Cote 550 & Bar Chimera — Simon Kim’s massive three-concept Midtown debut at 550 Madison opened April 18.
- Dean’s — A British-leaning walk-in-only pub from the King’s and Jupiter team is now open in SoHo.
- Pier i Cafe — Riverside Park’s seasonal favorite is back for the warm-weather months.
- Closings — Italian institution Barbetta served its final meals after more than six decades in business.
Manhattan Openings
Cote 550 & Bar Chimera — Midtown
Address: 550 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022
Simon Kim’s biggest move yet. The Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse Cote opened a glossier second location inside the historic 550 Madison building on April 18, and it brought two siblings with it. The new Cote is subterranean, sleek, and built around the brand’s signature smokeless tabletop grills, with a DJ booth and a bar that wouldn’t feel out of place in a club. Right next door, Bar Chimera is the buttoned-up counterpart — three distinct bars under one soaring roof, each with its own specialist (one for martinis, one for wine, one for whiskey). Wagyu corn dogs are reportedly already a thing. Open Monday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to midnight.
Dean’s — SoHo
From the team behind King’s and Jupiter comes a walk-in-only restaurant reimagining the British neighborhood pub through a more polished, ingredient-driven lens inspired by England’s coastal cooking. No reservations, just show up.
Pure Green — Upper West Side
Address: 2041 Broadway (between W 70th & W 71st), New York, NY 10023
The acai bowl, juice, and smoothie chain quietly added another UWS location earlier this month — handy if you’re heading to or from the park.
Pier i Cafe — Riverside Park
Seasonal but always welcome. The waterfront cafe in Riverside Park is open again for the warm months, and it remains one of the most pleasant places in Manhattan to sit with a glass of something cold and watch the river move.
Brooklyn & Queens Watch
Let’s Chama (and a Bushwick bakery) — Coming Up
The Chama Mama team is opening two Georgian bakeries — one in Bushwick offering classic Georgian pastries, breads, and sandwiches, and a smaller spot called Let’s Chama right next to the Chelsea flagship. Worth keeping an eye on if khachapuri is your love language.
Closings
Barbetta — Theater District
One of the city’s grand old Italian institutions, Barbetta served its final meals to customers this past Friday after more than six decades in business. A reminder that even legacy spots aren’t immune to the current restaurant climate.
Per Eater NY’s running list, nine NYC restaurants closed this past week alone — the broader pattern is closures continuing to outpace some borough-level openings, especially among older, full-service rooms.
Why It Matters
April’s big-ticket opening — the 550 Madison complex — signals that capital-A ambition is still flowing into Midtown despite a tough macro environment for full-service dining. Meanwhile, the rise of walk-in-only spots like Dean’s hints at the direction smart, smaller operators are heading: lower overhead, less reservation drama, more feel.
We’ll be back tomorrow with the next openings & closings update. Got a tip on a spot that just opened or quietly closed? Send it our way.
