Rockefeller Center Draws Top Food Talent and Best is Yet to Come

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 Throughout the pandemic, and even before, Rockefeller Center was busy assembling top talent from some of New York Cities finest restaurants. It began on the concourse level with places like Black Seed Bagels, JJ Johnson’s Field Trip, Ace's Pizza, Dough and Momofuku’s chicken spot Fuku.

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Larger names would soon arrive like Lodi, which New York Times critic Pete Wells, questioned if the restaurant was too good for Rockefeller Center. But Ignacio Mattos’ Italian cafe became an instant hit with with freshly baked pastries, all-day menu and cocktails.

Photo: Pebble Bar/Nicole Franzen                                                                             

Also new to the scene is the Pebble Bar located in a townhouse atop Magnolia Bakery. It’s led by a team from Grand Army and Celestine.

Photo: Le Rock/Gentl + Hyers                                                                               

Le Rock is latest high-profile space to open from the founders of Frenchette, Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr, who earned accolades while helming such places as Balthazar, Pastis and Minetta Tavern.

Now this fall, a new slate of high profile restaurants are set to open alongside stalwarts like The Rainbow Room.

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From the forces behind King (Annie Shi, Jess Shadbolt & Clare de Boer) in the South Village comes Jupiter, a new restaurant celebrating regional Italian cooking with a focus on handmade pastas.

NARO by Husband-and-wife team Junghyun “JP” and Ellia Park of the highly acclaimed Atomix and Atoboy. NARO with offer the subtle and delicate flavors of Korea's regional and seasonal cuisines.

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Olmsted’s chef Greg Baxtrom’s is launching his first Manhattan project called Five Acres. The restaurant will offer a creative, vegetable-forward menu that rotates with the seasons and featuring lush greenery and natural materials throughout the dining room. The restaurant will open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Smith & Mills led by Industry veterans Matt Abramcyk and Akiva Elstein (Tiny’s, Yves, Employees Only) will also share a space in Rockefeller Center’s redesigns rink level with classic cocktails , an extensive raw bar program and European-inspired shared plates.

Also debuting this fall are 21 Greenpoint with seasonal American grab-and-go tems, and Breads Bakery, know.for its artisan breads and pastries, as well as its decadent chocolate babka.

Will it be enough to make Rockefeller Center a destination for more than just tourists?

Stay Tuned!