NYC's Best New Restaurant Roundup
A fresh roundup highlights NYC's best new restaurants spanning diverse cuisines and dining experiences. Meanwhile, Palate Magazine reviewed March openings including Ynyshir (despite hygiene controversy), Thamel Edinburgh (Nepalese), Mezzogiorno London, and Virtus Paris.
The hygiene controversy at Ynyshir centers on a one-out-of-five rating awarded to the two-Michelin-starred Welsh restaurant in November 2025. Head Chef Gareth Ward initially claimed the low score was due to inspectors' misunderstanding of techniques like aging raw, sashimi-grade fish. However, a full report later cited issues including flies, risks of cross-contamination, dirty facilities, and broken equipment. Despite the rating, which requires "major improvement necessary" in food safety management, the £468-per-person restaurant retained its two Michelin stars in February 2026. Ward has a history of controversy, including accusations of verbally abusing a diner in 2023, which the restaurant denied. He is known for an uncompromising culinary style, once stating, "People say you should cook for your customers. I say f*** that. You should cook for yourself." In London, Mezzogiorno is the new venture from acclaimed Italian chef Francesco Mazzei, located within the five-star Corinthia Hotel. The restaurant, which opened in November 2025, focuses on the cuisine of Mazzei's native Calabria and the broader Southern Italy region, emphasizing family-style cooking over formal fine dining. Edinburgh's Thamel is a new Nepalese restaurant from the team behind the popular Gautam's brand. It features a cosmopolitan menu with dishes like Himalayan hot pot and traditional momo dumplings, alongside a hidden speakeasy bar serving cocktails with Himalayan salt and mountain herbs. In Paris, Virtus is a one-Michelin-starred restaurant that saw a change in leadership in late 2021. New owners Chef Frédéric Lorimier, formerly of Cheval Blanc in Saint-Tropez, and his wife Camille Gouyer quickly regained the lost Michelin star. The restaurant is known for its relaxed atmosphere, 70s-inspired decor, and elegant, product-driven tasting menus.
