2 Midtown Spots Named Among Best New Restaurants In America

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — New York's high-end restaurants are bouncing back from the depths of the pandemic — and two Midtown eateries got an extra boost this week, when they were ranked among the best new restaurants in America.

Esquire magazine released this year's version of its annual list on Thursday, comprising 40 newly opened restaurants from across the United States.

New York City restaurants take up a quarter of the list, including eight in Manhattan. Here are the two Midtown spots that made it:

#13: Iris (1740 Broadway, at West 55th Street):

This Greek/Turkish restaurant is run by chef John Fraser, and opened in April on a stretch of Broadway "associated with lonesome office buildings" rather than exciting restaurants, Esquire writes. The magazine mentions Iris's hummus, quail kebab, quick service and "awareness-expanding" Turkish wine list as particular standouts.

The New York Times, in its own preview of Iris this spring, mentioned a sorrel-flecked tzatziki, lamb tartare, lemon potato salad and braised snapper as the standout Greek dishes, along with Turkish flatbreads and lamb meatballs.

Iris also nabbed a second honor: the restaurant's beverage director, Amy Racine, was named beverage director of the year in Esquire's ranking, with judges citing her lengthy wine list and sage advice to customers.

#35: Mark's Off Madison (41 Madison Ave., at East 26th Street):

Esquire describes the offerings at Mark's, located just east of Madison Square Park, as "a big-ass menu full of big-ass flavor." Free from small plates and "tweezered microgreens," chef Mark Strausman focuses instead on dishes like "Jurassic-sized chicken livers piled on top of sourdough and flooded with red-wine gravy." Other items on the wide-ranging menu include bagels in the morning, French fries, latkes and sandwiches, Esquire raves.

Before opening his own restaurant during the pandemic, Strausman was the longtime executive chef of Freds at Barneys. The Madison Avenue space was formerly home to the Italian restaurant A Voce.

The number-one-ranked restaurant in this year's list is a fellow Manhattan resident: Dhamaka, which serves Indian fare within the Lower East Side's Essex Market.

Other Manhattan eateries that made the list include Cadence, a vegan, Southern, soul-food restaurant in the East Village; and Contento, a Peruvian-inspired spot in East Harlem with a focus on accessibility.

The ranking notes that New York restaurants had more "representation" on the list than previous years.

"Why? Because New York is undeniably back in a big way," it states.

Full coverage: NYC Snags Top Slot In 'Best New Restaurants In America' Ranking