My Top 5 New NYC Restaurants You Must Try

From TikTok-viral hot spots to newbie sister restaurants — here's my run down on some of the city's most talked about eateries this summer.

1. Win Son Bakery (Manhattan Pop-Up)

47 E 19th St.

Some of you might be thinking, “We’ve already been to Win Son, Scott. It’s all over TikTok.”

With its main location being in Brooklyn, I’ve been hesitant to make the trek since going above 14th St. gives me a nose bleed and traveling across the bridge is such a hassle. When I heard of its new pop-up in Manhattan, I knew it was my time to try Win Son.

I recommend that you get in line a bit early on a slow, mid-week day in the summer, especially when everyone and their mother is in Tuscany or the Hamptons, and you’ll have one of the best breakfasts you will ever eat. Yep, I said it, it’s that good.

I recently went with my girlfriend, and for just $40 for two, this breakfast will rock your world. The new pop-up shares a storefront with a place that I had never heard of called Vallata, which is part of the Craft family that I do know. At this location, I will say that the vibes could’ve been a bit warmer, but the sentiment is there. And I still have yet to do a vibe check at the Brooklyn location.

Because of the hype around so many of the menu items, I just had to try as much as my stomach could handle. The mochi donut is a must, and when hot, is one of the best things that you will ever put in your mouth — period. The custard toast is also a winner. Imagine creme brûlée meets buttery toast, which is never a bad thing. The egg sando, with havarti, bacon, and ginger, might be one of the best egg sandwiches that I’ve ever eaten. It’s like an egg sandwich quesadilla with an Asian twist. And last, but not least, we tried the fan tuan, which is a pork rice roll. It’s pretty solid, but if you’re only getting a few things, the egg sando and mochi donuts will make you rethink life.

Run! don’t walk! before the pop-up closes (and to avoid the trek to Brooklyn, while you can).

A bacon, egg, and cheese on a scallion pancake at Win Son. Credit: @/winsonbakery on Instagram.

2. Lucia Alimentari

301 W Broadway

I boasted in my NYC pizza round-up about my new favorite pizza spot, Lucia Pizza. Just next door, the same folks recently opened up an “adult” pizza spot — Lucia Alimentari. You get all the Lucia classics, but in a smaller, personal form. They have salads and desserts, which the latter you might not need if you’re going for a personal vodka, creamed spinach, or classic margherita pie, but that’s up to you. Apparently, like Mama’s Too and L’Industrie, they too make a great sandwich, which I have not yet tried, but I can definitely vouch for the ‘za.

A farmer’s market special at Lucia Alimentari. Credit: @/lucia.alimentari on Instagram.