Quick Bites

Just opened: Bar Chucho (Two Bridges), Soba Ulala (SoHo), Dean’s (SoHo), Pies ‘n’ Thighs Prospect Heights, Golden Mall (FiDi), Balera (Williamsburg), and more. Coming soon: Oyatte opens reservations April 4, Marcel arrives April 16. Recently closed: Elmo (Chelsea) shuttered after 25 years.

New Openings This Week

Bar Chucho — Two Bridges

37 Market St, New York, NY | Mexican cantina bar | Opened April 2

The team behind the celebrated Mexican fine dining spot Corima just dropped something more casual next door. Bar Chucho is a 39-seat cantina with a ten-seat bar serving cocktails, micheladas, and a tight food menu that includes a burger loaded with queso chihuahua, toreados, and bone marrow with burnt onion mayo. Open Tuesday through Sunday starting at 5 p.m. This is going to be a scene.

Soba Ulala — SoHo

73 Thompson St, New York, NY (near Spring St) | Japanese soba | Opened March 31

Chef Hirohisa Hayashi has transformed his restaurant into a dedicated soba house, and the noodles are made in-house twice daily using buckwheat flour from upstate New York blended with Japanese wheat flour. The a la carte menu features hot and cold soba with toppings like duck breast, plus sashimi, tamago, and rice bowls. A quiet, focused spot for noodle lovers.

Dean’s — SoHo

213 Sixth Ave, New York, NY (near King St) | British seafood pub | Opened March 31

Jess Shadbolt and Annie Shi of the beloved King have opened a walk-in-only British pub right next door. Inspired by Shadbolt’s coastal hometown of Aldeburgh, England, the menu leans seafood-heavy — think stargazy pie, beer-battered fish and chips, roasted Scottish langoustines, and potted shrimp on hot buttered crumpets. Guinness on tap. This is one of the most anticipated openings of spring.

Pies ‘n’ Thighs — Prospect Heights

244 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY (at St. Mark’s Ave) | American comfort | Opened April 1

The Williamsburg fried chicken institution finally has a second location in Prospect Heights. The new spot is more family-friendly with an expanded menu that includes chicken tenders alongside all the biscuits, pies, and thighs you already love. The original has been going strong since 2010 — this expansion was long overdue.

Golden Mall — Financial District

47 Broadway, New York, NY (between Morris and Rector) | Food hall | Opened March 30

The Flushing food hall legend has made the leap to Manhattan. This new Financial District outpost features vendors including Xing Fu Tang bubble tea and Zhengxin Chicken Steak. If you know the original Golden Mall, you know this is a big deal for downtown lunch options.

More Openings to Know

• Balera (442 Graham Ave, Williamsburg) — Roman-style pizza, Italian wines, and a DJ on weekends. Open until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Cafe Fleuri (109 Washington St, FiDi) — Southern French with North African influences, featuring poached haddock with clams and braised lamb shoulder.
• Tachi (339 W 44th St, Hell’s Kitchen) — A 12-seat Japanese omakase counter with a walk-in sake bar next door.
• Cocktail Omakase (217 Eldridge St, LES) — A Tokyo-inspired cocktail tasting menu with four drinks and four paired bites for $55. Walk-ins welcome at the adjoining Bar 7.
• Ayat Hind’s Hall (941 Amsterdam Ave, UWS) — The Palestinian chain’s final NYC expansion, featuring wood-fired “pizzawarma” with beef shawarma and halloumi.
• Nostos (420 E 59th St, UES) — Greek restaurant with braised classics and wood-fired meats in the former Mykonian Garden space.
• Dong Lai Pavilion (102 W 86th St, UWS) — Northern Chinese dim sum, Beijing duck, and typhoon shrimp.
• Guardian at the W (201 Park Ave S, Union Square) — Seafood restaurant and rooftop bar 22 stories up with downtown skyline views.

Coming Soon

• Oyatte (39th St & Lexington Ave, Midtown) — Chef Hasung Lee’s 30-seat tasting menu spot opens reservations April 4.
• Marcel (Madison Ave & 75th St, UES) — Opening April 16 in the Breuer Building with 1960s-inspired French cuisine from Parisian chef Marie-Aude Rose.
• Chama Mama bakeries (Chelsea & Bushwick) — Georgian bakery spin-offs called “Let’s Chama!” serving khachapuri and chocolate cigaretti.

Recently Closed

Elmo — Chelsea

156 7th Ave, New York, NY | Closed March 13, 2026

After 25 years as a Chelsea institution and one of the city’s most beloved LGBTQ+ gathering places, Elmo served its final meal when the building was sold for residential development. Owner Bob Pontarelli opened Elmo in 2001, and it outlasted nearly every other gay restaurant on Sixth and Seventh Avenues. A real loss for the neighborhood.

Know about a new opening or closing we missed? The NYC food scene moves fast — we update this beat daily. Check out our guide to NYC’s best brunch spots and cheap eats under $15 for more neighborhood dining intel.

FAQ: NYC Restaurant Openings & Closings

What new restaurants opened in NYC this week?

As of April 3, 2026, new NYC openings include Bar Chucho (Mexican cantina, Two Bridges), Soba Ulala (Japanese soba, SoHo), Dean’s (British seafood pub, SoHo), Pies ‘n’ Thighs Prospect Heights, Golden Mall FiDi, and Balera (Roman pizza, Williamsburg). Full details and addresses are listed above.

What restaurants closed in NYC recently?

Elmo, the beloved Chelsea LGBTQ+ institution at 156 7th Ave, closed on March 13, 2026 after 25 years when its building was sold for residential development. It was one of the city’s most enduring gay restaurants.

What restaurants are opening soon in NYC?

Coming soon: Oyatte (30-seat tasting menu, Midtown — opens reservations April 4), Marcel (1960s-inspired French cuisine, UES Breuer Building — April 16), and Chama Mama bakeries in Chelsea and Bushwick.

Where can I find NYC restaurant news updated daily?

HelpNewYork’s Food & Drink Desk tracks NYC restaurant openings and closings every day, covering every borough from Manhattan to Staten Island. Bookmark this page — we update it daily.

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