The Citiblog

Zazzy's in the West Village is more than just a pizza spot. It's also cooking up comfort foods and plant-based items. Among the pizzas are square and round pies, including pepperoni and another with sauteed broccoli rabe and cherry peppers. Custom pies are also available. Meatless Meatballs, Cauliflower Buffalo Wings with vegan ranch, and Pepperoncini Poppers are counted among the plant-based options. Nutella Panzerotti, similar to a calzone, is offered for dessert. 75 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY

Louie's Gyros is now open Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The gyros made with meat or chicken are sold as sandwiches or platters with choice of rice or fries. Pork, chicken and shrimp souvlaki is also offered along with burgers, including a Greek Burger topped with feta. Greek sausages, called Locanico, are also offered. An assortment of salads are sold along with falafel pita and other vegan options. 7720 3rd Ave, Brooklyn

Kitchen Paradise is a new spot in Midtown specializing in nooodle dishes, including house-made pulled noodle. Soups include beef brisket, lamb, beef tendon and vegetable. Fried noodle dishes are also available along with Chinese classics like General Tso's Chicken, Sesame Chicken, Kung Pao Shrimp, Hot & Spicy Ribs, Dumplings and more. 48 West 48 St, New York, NY

Photo: Cititour.com

Za-Ya Ramen has arrived in Bushwick. The restaurant features signature gyukatsu-style ramen soups, along small plates for sharing. The ramen comes with choice of beef bone marrow broth, chicken broth or vegetable. The restaurant is open Tuesday thru Sunday from 5pm to 10pm. 321 Starr St, Brooklyn, NY

Impasto Pizza is back on the scene. The pizza place in Clinton Hill is known for its square pies, like Potate & Rosmarino, Burrata E Peppers, and Pepperoni. Pizzas can be purchased by the slice or pie. 373 Waverly Ave, Brooklyn, New York (718) 789-1520

Followsoshi in Queens is a Chinese spot selling roasted cold noodles, assorted Jian Bing and dumplings. The cold noodles come with sausage, spicy garlic crayfish and vegetabe with a number of different toppings. 135-34 40th Road, Queens, NY (347) 654-6466

787 Coffee, started by two coffee enthusiasts (Sam & Brandon), now has another location in the East Village. 787 grows its own coffee beans on 103 acres in Maricao, Puerto Rico and take it straight to the consumer. 319 East 14th St, New York, NY

Photo: Cititour.com/Tortilleria La Malinche

Tortilleria La Malinche is the place to go for freshly-made tortillas. They are light and delicate, and arrive warm. The tortilleria in Sunset Park, Brooklyn sells them by the pound. We got a nice stack for a buck fifty. The space also serves as a Mexican grocery. Add some sauces and fillings and start making some tacos! 4202 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Geena's Cucina is a full service trattoria serving al forno pizza, along with with pastas, salads and homemade desserts. About a dozen pies are offered including the Three Dog Night with sausage, soppressata and capicola, and Picasso topped with roasted peppers, spinach and gorgonzola. 36-21 Review Ave, LIC

Mimi Cheng's, known for its flavorful dumplings, now has a location on the Upper West Side. The dumplings are made from scratch daily with locally sourced organic meats and vegetables. Open from 1pm to 9pm, or until sold out. 309 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY (646) 344-1030

Davidovich Bakery is branching out. It now has a third location on Avenue A and another planned for Turnstyle Market at Columbus Circle. Look for things like bagels in assorted flavors, along with muffins, cookies and croissants. 36 Avenue A, New York, NY (646)-559-2553

I Like It Black coffee shop arrives in Harlem. The shop is open from 7am to 3pm and highlights black and Latinx roasters, according to Eater. 409 West 125th Street, New York, NY

FEBRUARY

Photo: Dhamaka/Cititour.com

Dhamaka is putting a new face on Indian cuisine at Essex Market. Chef Chintan Pandya and Owner Roni Mazumdar are cooking up dishes like Don Kleh (pork, lemon cilanto and ginger) and Lasooni Prawns (tiger prawns, roasted garlic and black pepper). Larger plates include Macher Jhol made with shark, tumeric, ginger, garlic and tomatoes. 88 Essex Street (212) 204-8616

Dagon, a new Mediterranean spot on the Upper West Side, is opening just in time for the restart of indoor dining. Dishes include a taste of Africa with the "Moroccan Cigar" filled with ground lamb, potato, dill and amba, along with several types of mezze. Elaborate desserts are also on the menu. 2454 Broadway (212) 873-3466

Cafe Calaca - A new cafe serving coffee drinks, pastries and empanadas by the Calaca owners and baristas from the previous shop called Daily Press. 505 Franklin Avenue, Brooklyn

El Toro Taqueria is a new spot for soft tacos in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. They come in flavors like Carne Assada, Carnitas, Chorizo, Al Pastor, among others. There are shrimp and fish versions, along with pig ear. 7302 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY (718) 333-5200

Jackass Burrito has arrived in FiDi. The pop-up is located inside El Vez in Battery Park. Jackass burritos and bowls are offered. They include Baja Shrimp with crispy shrimp cilantro, lime rice and baja sauce, and Frito Pie with ground beef, black beans, fritos and jalapeno queso. 259 Vesey Street, New York, NY (646) 540-9740.

Crab Du Jour Seafood Market and Cajun Restaurant is located on 6th Avenue in Manhattan. Assorted baskets come with things like fried catfish, shrimp and oysters. Boils include crawfish, Dungenese Crab, Cing Crab and lobster tail. 316 6th Ave, New York, NY (212) 837-1234

Crab Bros in Bedford-Stuyvesant now has an outpost in Crown Heights. The restaurant is known for its Cajun-style cuisine including Fried Soft Shell Crab and Oyster Po'boys, Fried Shrimp and fries, along with seafood boils. 770 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Soup Shop is on a mission to help restaurants and New Yorkers struggling through the pandemic. Participating restaurants include Marlow & Sons in Williamsburg, Tanooreen in Bay Ridge and The Islands in Crown Heights. Together they plan to offer different soups each week that are picked up at various locations.

Vanessa's Dumplings now has an outpost on West 82nd Street in Manhattan. Pan-fried and boild dumplings are offered along with homemade noodles and sesame pancake sandwiches. 452 Amsterdam Ave (646) 559-2887

Black Seed Pizza is now available in the East Village. The pizza is in collaboration with chef Bobby Hellen, formerly of GG's. The Pizza is available for pick-up and delivery from 4pm-10pm Sunday through Thursday and 4-11pm Friday and Saturday. 176 First Avenue, New York, NY

Ace's Perfect Pizza on Driggs Avenue in Williamsburg is striving for perfection. Detroit-style pies come with assorted toppings including Pepperoni, Cheese Burger and Supreme with sausage, green bell pepper and raw onion. Wings and salads are also on the menu. 637 Driggs Ave (347) 725-4366

Blank Street Coffee has set up shop along Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg. Started as a cart, Blank Street has grown into a brick-and-mortar location serving assorted coffee drinks and pastries provided from local businesses like Parlor Coffee, King Street Baking, Pain D'Avignon and King David Tacos. 225 Wythe Ave (646) 532-8772

Photo: FIELDTRIP/Cititour.com

FIELDTRIP, Chef JJ Johnson's Harlem spot where "rice is culture" expands to the Concourse at Rockefeller Center. FIELDTRIP is known for its sustainable rice bowls, including Crispy Chicken with Carolina Gold fried rice with sticky barbecue sauce, and BBQ Brisket with Texas brown rice & chipotle black beans. 30 Rockefeller Plaza

Red Tacos Grill in on Myrtle Avenue Bushwick is turning up the heat with Taco De Birria, special corn tacos dipped and grilled with slow smoked beef, melted cheese, onions and cilantro. Other options include slow-cooked chicken, steak, carnitas and baja fish tacos. 1264 Myrtle Ave (917) 336-9269

Aunts et Uncles is a plant-based cafe on Nostrand Avenue in Flatbush. Dishes include Wild Flower Salad with roasted purple cauliflower and wild rice, Lobster Roll made with hearts of palm and The Roots, a mix of roasted beats, carrots and sweet potatoes. Cocktails are also served. 1407 Nostrand Ave (347) 295-0001

Brooklyn Hero Shop located on Vanderbilt Avenue in Clinton Hill is owned by longtime Brooklynite Vito Randazzo. The shop is offering 30 different signature hot heros, soups, salads and panini sandwiches. Think Shrimp Parm, Nashville Spicy Chicken, Turkey "Philly" and more. 270 Vanderbilt Ave (718) 576-3958

Coco Pazzeria is offering pizza, oysters and bubbles on in SoHo.The menu features open faced mini calzone with toppings like nudja, bomba and trevigiano. Rustic breads are also offered along with pizza ranging from a traditional margherita to the Pazza with thinly sliced potato and black truffle paste. 307 Spring St, New York, NY (646) 850 1003

JANUARY

Photo: Tamam/Cititour.com

Tamam Falafel near Union Square is a vegan plant-based eatery where chickpeas are the star attraction. Aside from falafal served three ways (sandwich, platter and salad bowl), a cauliflowe schwarma is offered along with Sabich made with crispy eggplant slices served with warm chickpeas.

Debajo describes itself as a neighborhood hangout in NoMad at the Made Hotel. Tapas like Txistos, a crispy chistorra sausage roll, and Boquerones, anchovies with fennel pollen, garlic and parley on bread, are offered along with raciones, or rations. Think pulpo with roasted sweet potato and pork belly with a shrimp vinaigrette.

7 Elephants is spicing things up on East Broadway on the Lower East Side. Look for traditional Thai cuisine like Massaman Curry or Red Curry with choice of protein and small plates of gyoza (dumplings), chicken satay with peanut sauce and curry rolls stuffed with chicken and potato.

Up in Smoke at Estela on Houston Street is a new take-out concept offered every Saturday and Sunday from 12-4pm. The outdoor barbecue is cooking up skewers "yakitori-style" ranging from grilled chicken wings with miso and chili to Foie Gras in grape leaf.

Falansai Vietnamese Kitchen on Harrison Place in Bushwick is a cultural mash-up run by Chef/Owner Eric Tran. Dishes range from Confit Duck Necks where diners are urged to "roll up your sleeve" to Weekend Lamb "Bun Bo Hue," a spicy lamb soup with lemongrass and aromatics.

Peppa's is spreading its wings. The popular jerk chicken spot in Brooklyn now has a location on Stanton Street on the Lower East Side. Aside from the jerk chicken, the restaurant is also serving up oxtail, escovitch porgy and fried chicken.

Evil Katsu on the Lower East Side isn't evil at all. Instead, diners will discover a house marinated Pork Katsu Sando featuring a twice-fried cutlet with nori kewpie, carrots, radish and cabbage on milk bread. A chicken version is also offered along with a Pork Katsu Set served with a choice of egg salad or potato salad.

Check back soon for more opening!