{"id":342059,"date":"2021-09-21T01:24:05","date_gmt":"2021-09-20T22:24:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/how-the-nyc-restaurant-scene-defied-the-pandemic\/"},"modified":"2021-09-21T01:24:05","modified_gmt":"2021-09-20T22:24:05","slug":"how-the-nyc-restaurant-scene-defied-the-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-the-nyc-restaurant-scene-defied-the-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"#How the NYC restaurant scene defied the pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;<strong>#How the NYC restaurant scene defied the pandemic<\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n<div class=\"inline-module inline-module--columnist inline-module--author\">\n<div class=\"inline-module--author__img\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"76\" height=\"69\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/08\/steve-cuozzo.png?w=76&amp;h=69&amp;crop=1\" class=\"attachment-nyp_columnist size-nyp_columnist\" alt=\"Steve Cuozzo\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/08\/steve-cuozzo.png 76w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/08\/steve-cuozzo.png?w=38 38w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 76px) 100vw, 76px\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>For New York City\u2019s restaurants, the future is mostly the past \u2013 and that\u2019s a good thing.<\/p>\n<p>The pandemic has not \u201cchanged everything\u201d \u2014 despite outdoor seating, no-contact menus and earlier eating hours \u2014 as many predicted it would. The overlooked, under<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>reciated, mind-boggling \u2013 and happy \u2014 truth about the city\u2019s restaurants is how\u00a0<em>little<\/em>\u00a0has changed. There are differences, of course, but there is no new, <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">game<\/a>-changing paradigm.<\/p>\n<p>Tens of thousands of virus-related deaths, two crippling lockdowns, an exodus of residents and the collapse of tourism and business <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">travel<\/a> have left the local restaurant industry bloodied, sure. But it\u2019s hardly been a knockout, and New Yorkers\u2019 hunger for eating out and making merry remains stronger than ever.<\/p>\n<p>Except for the obvious, perhaps permanent, alfresco phenomenon, the restaurant scene\u2019s contours remarkably resemble those of 2019. This is cause to celebrate because, for all the faults, Gotham\u2019s gustatory pleasures overall can\u2019t be topped by any city in the world. Nor can the economic benefits the business provides to all involved in it.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/wau-pandemic-restaurants-bar.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"The Southeast Asian restaurant Wau just opened on the Upper West Side. \" class=\"wp-image-19519107\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/wau-pandemic-restaurants-bar.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/wau-pandemic-restaurants-bar.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/wau-pandemic-restaurants-bar.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>The Southeast Asian restaurant Wau just opened on the Upper West Side, one of several buzzy debuts. <\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Stephen Yang<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For starters, our\u00a0kingpin, big-empire owners are the same ones as before \u2014 among them, Stephen Starr, Danny Meyer, Simon Oren, Major Food Group (The Grill, Dirty French), Andrew Carmellini\u2019s NoHo Hospitality Group (Locanda Verde,\u00a0the new Carne Mare) and Stillman Restaurant Group.<\/p>\n<p>Our top toques \u2014 such as Eric Ripert, Daniel Boulud, Tom Colicchio, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, David Chang and Daniel Humm \u2014\u00a0came through the nightmare mostly intact and rule the roost anew.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignright\">\n    <\/aside>\n<p>Our formerly favorite cuisine classes remain the favorites:\u00a0steakhouses, Italian, modern-American, Japanese and French. The cuisines that were gaining the heaviest traction before March 2020 \u2014 Korean and Israeli \u2014 continue to grow in popularity with big openings such as Dagon on the Upper West Side and Jua in the Flatiron. <\/p>\n<p>The outer-boroughs sprawl of lower-priced, esoteric offshoots of global cuisines, as lovingly chronicled by Eater.com and other sites, rolls on. We have birria-style tacos in Long Island City and Greenpoint, Hainanese chicken in downtown Flushing, Tibetan momo in Jackson Heights, Thai drinking snacks in Bushwick, and, in the \u201conly in New York\u201d league, Caribbean-tinted ramen in the Bronx\u2019s Little Italy.<\/p>\n<p>Despite concern about the end of fine dining, luxury is doing well, from the new Saga, where a meal 63 stories above Wall Street starts at $285, to the now vegan Eleven Madison Park to Boulud\u2019s Midtown hot spot Le Pavillon. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/saga-caviar.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"Dish at Saga restaurant at 70 Pine Street.\" class=\"wp-image-19519109\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/saga-caviar.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/saga-caviar.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/saga-caviar.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>The pandemic didn\u2019t kill fine dining. Saga recently debuted with a $245 set menu of luxurious seasonal fare.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Courtesy of Saga<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Yes, hundreds of places closed for good, and we\u2019ll miss Aquagrill, Esca, Chinatown\u2019s Jing Fong, Brooklyn Heights\u2019 Queen, 21 Club and many others. (It\u2019s worth noting that several regrettable closings had causes other than the pandemic, such as Caf\u00e9 Boulud for real estate reasons, and Delmonico\u2019s due to a partner feud.)<\/p>\n<p>But new places by the score are bravely taking the plunge to replace them. Since indoor dining was restored in February, debuts have included posh-Indian Sona, ultra-lux Le Pavillon, revived Southern-American classic Gage &amp; Tollner, Japanese-influenced Cantonese Cha Kee, omakase-heaven Saishin (on the Gansevoort Hotel rooftop, no less), Peruvian-themed Contento, Turkish-tinted Greek Iris and just-launched, Southeast-Asian fantasy Wau.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"693\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/08\/o1123939-1024x693.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"London-import Hawksmoor has a lively bar scene and decadent menu. \" class=\"wp-image-1089841\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/08\/o1123939-1024x693.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/08\/o1123939-1024x693.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>London-import Hawksmoor has a lively bar scene and decadent menu. <\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>There\u2019s irrepressible energy at every price point. Elegant London import Hawksmoor on Park Avenue South spearheads a wave of steakhouse openings. Banh Vietnamese Shop House on the Upper West Side graduated from outdoor pop-up to sit-down dining room. Mo\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">General<\/a> in Williamsburg is the latest entry in the \u201cnew and original\u201d pizza field.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>And there\u2019s much more on the horizon: a major Italian-influenced place, Ci Siamo, in the Manhattan West complex \u2014 Danny Meyer\u2019s first fine-dining restaurant in three years. A third edition on Midtown Sixth Avenue of Avra, the shining star of the Greek seafood boom. A new restaurant, Dowlings, at the Carlyle Hotel. A new dining room at Restaurant Daniel.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/avra-3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"Avra Madison Estiatorio has a lively outdoor dining scene amidst Covid. \" class=\"wp-image-19519284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/avra-3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/avra-3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/avra-3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Avra\u2019s Madison Estiatorio has kept quite busy amidst the pandemic. A third Avra is set to soon open on Sixth Avenue in Midtown. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Does all this sound like a doleful, mortally wounded restaurant industry limping into the future? Hardly. <\/p>\n<p>In fact, the major difference between 2019 and today affects owners more than customers: the well-reported labor shortage. It\u2019s the main reason why so many restaurants that opened for dinner months ago have yet to open for lunch. There just aren\u2019t enough cooks and servers to cover both shifts.<\/p>\n<p>But that crisis might be on the wane. Several owners told me they already see an uptick in job-takers since federal unemployment benefits ended this month.<\/p>\n<p>Sure, all the good <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a> could come crashing down again if a more lethal, more transmissible Godzilla virus strain were to come along. But the trends in New York City do not show that.\u00a0For now, let\u2019s understand and enjoy what we have: the world\u2019s best restaurant scene that endured its season in hell and came through it gloriously reborn.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/wau-pandemic-restaurants-2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"New UWS Southeast Asian spot Wau serves up savory donuts (clockwise from top), Nasi Lemak, Crispy Lotus Root and Sea Bass.\" class=\"wp-image-19521120\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/wau-pandemic-restaurants-2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/wau-pandemic-restaurants-2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/wau-pandemic-restaurants-2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>New UWS Southeast Asian spot Wau serves up savory donuts (clockwise from top), Nasi Lemak, Crispy Lotus Root and Sea Bass.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Stephen Yang<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more News articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/09\/20\/how-the-nyc-restaurant-scene-defied-the-pandemic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#How the NYC restaurant scene defied the pandemic&#8221; For New York City\u2019s restaurants, the future is mostly the past \u2013 and that\u2019s a good thing. The pandemic has not \u201cchanged everything\u201d \u2014 despite outdoor seating, no-contact menus and earlier eating hours \u2014 as many predicted it would. The overlooked, underappreciated, mind-boggling \u2013 and happy \u2014&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":342060,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/boulud-meyer-saga.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[116244,92396,80935,72095,22512],"class_list":["post-342059","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-9-20-21","tag-daniel-boulud","tag-danny-meyer","tag-dining","tag-restaurants"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/342059","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=342059"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/342059\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/342060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=342059"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=342059"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=342059"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}