7 Restaurant Openings We’re Excited About This Summer, From Manhattan to Mayfair

It’s summertime, and the eating is easy: after a year and a half in lockdown, restrictions are lifting for restaurants not just in the United States but around the world. In New York City, you can get loud while downing Negronis indoors two feet away from another table again. In Los Angeles, you can star-spot actors at buzzy new openings. And in London, you can finally, finally indulge in a luxurious meal with your loved ones.

But now that you can go out, where should you go out? We’ve rounded up a few favorite openings from California to Manhattan to Mayfair. Some of them are by high-profile chefs like Thomas Keller. Others are transatlantic arrivals of American institutions, like the Polo Lounge’s new pop-up across the pond. And some of them are, just, well, cool—like Saint Theo’s, that West Village restaurant New Yorkers are seeing on every It-girl’s Instagram Story.

Without further ado, here are the new summer restaurant openings we’re constantly refreshing Resy for.

Regiis Ova Caviar & Champagne Lounge (Yountville, California)

Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry just became that much more of a dining destination with their new Regiis Ova caviar and champagne bar down the street restaurant in Yountville. Keller and co pair the delicacy with a smattering of creative assortments, like smoked salmon with lemon schmear and bagel wafers, avocado toast topped with radish, chopped egg, and toasted Sicilian pistachio, or tempura-fried chicken tenders with ranch dressing and French Onion dip. “We’re introducing something that hasn’t been seen in Yountville before; we’re creating a vibrant lounge with champagne, caviar and live music where our neighbors, friends and visitors can relax, gather and celebrate together,” Keller says.

Interiors are by fellow North California native Ken Fulk (recognized most recently as the maestro behind Miami’s Goodtime Hotel). He chose to swath the space in a palette of rich sea greens, to complement the earthy garden setting.

Damian (Arts District, Los Angeles)

Chef Enrique Olvera and Santiago Perez consider Damian, their new Mexican restaurant in L.A.’s Arts District, the “twin brother” of their Michelin-starred Cosme in New York City. Housed in a repurposed warehouse space, the menu is an homage to the rich culinary bonds between Mexico and California, crafting creative spins on traditional Mexican dishes with local ingredients sourced from the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys. There’s striped bass ceviche, smoked clams, tlayuda, duck al pastora, and homemade tortillas to bring it all together.

Sixty Three Clinton (Lower East Side, New York City)

It’s been said that millennials killed fine dining. But Samuel Clonts and Raymond Trinhl, two alums of the three-Michelin-starred Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare, make a case that the tasting menu, at least, is far from dead with their new restaurant Sixty Three Clinton. Tucked away in the Lower East side, their 60-seat restaurant serves a seven course meal that’s elevated but also, well, fun: think breakfast taco with ajitama, salsa verde, and trout roe; a caviar hand roll; charcoal-seared crudo and, for dessert, baked Alaska. The total cost? $92.

Carne Mare (Seaport District, New York City)

Andrew Carmellini, the man behind New York hotspots like SoHo’s The Dutch and Tribeca’s Locanda Verde, goes even further downtown for his newest venture. Actually, well, the furthest: Carne Mare opens in the burgeoning Seaport District which, post-hurricane Sandy, has seen several high-profile projects open in the scenic yet out-of-the-way Manhattan neighborhood.

The food is decadent, hearty and delicious, from the courtesy Parker House rolls to the lobster pasta. Then, of course, there are the steaks: get the “Il Buttero,” a porterhouse for two, and split it for date night.

Interiors are done by Martin Brudnizki, of Annabel’s fame, who chose to bathe the room in a glossy brick red, yellow leather, and gilded accents.

Saint Theo’s (West Village, New York City)

Since its mid-July opening, the West Village restaurant has attracted a glamorous crowd that can only be described as the new age New York glitterati: from Gossip Girl 2.0 actors to fashion designers to social media influencers. Part of it is the retro-Italian decor—the interiors are a collaboration between Martin Brudnizki (yes, again!) and co-owner Kyle Hotchkiss Carone, who accented the space with vintage Pirelli calendars and Venice Biennale posters. But part of it is the vibe—the sister restaurant to Greenwich Village’s buzzy American Bar, the lights are dimmed low and the playlist packed with 90s classics. Let Carone sum it up: “I like my places to be fun.” Chef Ashley Rath, formerly of Dirty French, offers a fresh, easygoing menu inspired by the Amalfi Coast: think spaghetti pomodoro, caprese salad, and spritzes aplenty.

The Polo Lounge (Mayfair, London)

Beverly Hill's preeminent power lunch hotspot, the Polo Lounge, pops up at The Dorchester rooftop this summer, bringing its iconic banana leaf wallpaper and bougainvilleas, along with it. Londoners, you can't go wrong with ordering their two classics—a Prickly Paloma cocktail and the McCarthy salad. (Back in Beverly Hills, over 600 bowls of the elevated Cobb salad are served every week.) Oh, and if you're in the mood for a long, luxurious lunch: finish your meal off with strawberry soufflé, complete with “Polo Lounge” logo dusted on top in chocolate.

Cherry on Top (Bushwick, Brooklyn)

Opening in Bushwick later this summer is Cherry on Top, a natural wine bar dreamt up by New York-based illustrator Cerise Zelenetz and the co-founders of Oddfellow Ice Cream, Mohan and Holiday Kumar. The interiors will resemble those of an eccentric, nostalgia-fueled pied-à-terre of a world traveler: Zelentz was influenced by her childhood in Vermont, her years as a student in Paris, as well as her Lower East Side apartment, originally decorated in the 1950s by her grandma Bea. The illustrator will define many of the adornments in the space, including its hand-painted lampshades and wall paintings. But it also serves as a showcase for local artists across the city, including Richard Phillips, Adam Lucas, Liana Finck, Laura Burke, Adam Baker, and Vinnie Neuberg. As for the food? The menu will be helmed by Chef Jordan Anderson, formerly of Sami&Susu, Maison Premiere, and Olmsted.

Originally Appeared on Vogue