You know it’s truly spring in NYC when the events start stacking up! We’ve put together our ultimate guide for the best food & drink events this season. From Michelin starred chef pop-ups to finding the best croissant in the city!

Before we get into it, we have to talk about our favorite bite this month…

Chef Silvia Barban is serving some of the most underrated Italian food in NYC at LaRina in Brooklyn. She uses the heritage of her family in her recipes with touches of global elements like the black lime in the stunning agnolotti del plin. These were like little clouds that burst with flavor and covered in a beautifully glossy sauce which is made from the meat juices of the chicken & veal that fill the inside. We could’t get enough of it!

Another must-order is her signature smoked spaghetti with olive oil, garlic, Calabrian chillies as well as hazelnut bread crumbs for the perfect amount of nuttiness.

Highly worth a visit if you’re in the mood for some very well done pasta dishes, plus the space is gorgeous - outdoor dining season will soon be upon us and their backyard is gorgeous.

TRIVIA QUESTION

• The Line Up - April 10th, 24th @ MOABET in Williamsburg. A new season of dinner parties cooked by up and coming chefs from NYC’s top restaurants such as Ernesto’s, Chez Ma Tante and Lola’s.

• Ubeland x Phillipines Fest - April 5th, East Village. An ube filled street event!

• French Morning Best Croissant Competition - April 5th @ 5th&Mad. Sample the best croissants in the city and cast your vote.

• Smoked Spice x My Three Sons Bagel Collab - April 5th. 14 hour smoked brisket, egg and cheese on a hand rolled bagel sounds like the perfect weekend treat!

• Dinner Series - Chef Michael Ayoub at Fornino’s - Every Monday, April 14th, May 5th, Greenpoint. The menu will be a secret until served and will change each month! A 5 course tasting menu cooked from the wood fired oven.

• Oriole x Corima Pop-Up - April 15th @ Corima, Chinatown. One night only tasting menu collaboration between Chicago’s 2 Michelin starred Oriole and Fidel Caballero’s Corima, which earned a Michelin star within its first year of opening.

• JBF Greens NYC x Ensenada - April 28th @ Ensenada. An evening of mariscos & mezcal with Chef Luis Herrera.

• Annual Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit - April 26th @ Pig Beach, Astoria. All food and booze from 25 vendors is included in the ticket. We’ve been to this one multiple years and it’s always a great time.

• Friends of the Noortwyck Dinner Series - April 10th @ The Noortwyck. Collaboration dinner with Chef Trevor Lombaer of Little Grenjai.

• Alinea x Olmsted Pop-Up - Until April 13th @ Olmstead, Prospect Heights. Chicago’s 3 Michelin Starred Alinea is going on tour to celebrate 20 years with a 3 week stint in Brooklyn.

• Bangkok Supper Club presents the Bar Residency - April 9th @BSC. Chunyanuch “Ning” Yodsuwan, head bartender at BKK Social Club takes over for one night only.

• Brisket King - April 23rd @ Pig Beach, Astoria. 20 chefs and restaurants serve up their best brisket. See who will be crowned king of them all!

• Chef Nate Kuester Residency - Until May 10th @ Fulgrances, Greenpoint. Chef Nate has over 10 year experience in fine dining and is doing a residency here while working on his new project, Aftergold.

• Dock to Chefs - April 29th @ Alaluna. Celebrating sustainable fishing and uncovering the untold story of “bycatch” with Chef Riccardo Orfino (Alaluna) and Chef Daniel Garwood of Acru.

• Rib King - May 24th @ Industry City. Get your fill of ribs at this all inclusive event where one rib will be named king!

• Taste of Tribeca - May 17th. Bringing together chefs from over 50 of the neighborhood’s restaurants.

• Eleven Madison Park Alumni Series - May 8th, May 30th @ EMP. Alumni chefs return to the restaurant! A shared experience with seating at communal tables in their private dining room.

• Masala y Maiz x Corima Collaboration Dinner - May 31st @ Pier57. Mexico City’s Masala y Maiz and NYC’s Corima together for a one-night-only collaboration.

Return of Seasonal Markets

• Smorgasburg (weekly) All market locations begin first weekend in April and end last weekend of October.

• Queens Night Market (weekly) April 12th, 19th. Sneak Preview tickets on sale

• Bronx Night Market (monthly) April 26th, May 31st

• Uptown Night Market (monthly) April 10th, May 8th, June 12th

• Dragon Fest - June 8th, 16th, 22nd. Multiple locations. Outdoor Chinese food & culture festival.

• Japan Fes - Various dates and locations throughout the year. The World’s largest Japanese food festival.

We’re very excited to be hosting some of our own events later in the year so stay tuned for those!

We’ve been long time fans of Chef Cosme’s cooking and have dined at his LIC restaurant, Casa Enrique, many times over the years. His new spot Quique Crudo has quickly made its way up to the top of our favorite NYC restaurants list for the intimate, lively setting and incredible seafood dishes like live scallop with aguachile negro and razor clams with aguachile verde.

Here’s Chef Cosme’s hit list!

• Gramercy Tavern

• Casa Mono

• Llama Inn - For incredible ceviches.

• Superbueno - For bartender’s choice & a great vibe.

• Noortwyck - A place he thinks needs more love.

• Daniel - For when he wants to treat himself.

Check Out Chef Interviews Here 

Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Fest

Earlier this month we attended the 3rd annual NPIWFF at Atlantis Bahamas (from the same founder as SOBEWFF & NYWFF). We attended cocktail hours, saw Shaggy perform and of course chatted with chefs!

The trip was the perfect combination of incredible food from both big name and local talent as well as enjoying some winter sun. We can’t wait to go again next year!

Where Michael Symon Eats in NYC

Michael told us the place that him and his wife, Liz, eat at most often in NYC is Shukette! He says “We’re blown away every time” and “We just kind of let her (Ayesha Rare) cook for us. Her hummus is the best I’ve ever had.“

We can attest, this spot is worth it!

April 1st marks the return of Outdoor Dining in Roadways in NYC. 2,600 establishments have been approved to operate on roadways or sidewalks — Full Outdoor Dining Guide coming soon!

Sweet Linda joins a wave of new bars in the East Village such as Schmuck, Monsieur and Bateman’s. Think velvet seating, moody lighting and bar bites.

Essex Pearl, previously located on the subterranean level of Essex St Market called The Market Line, was one of our favorite restaurants. In spring 2024 the team were given abrupt notice that The Market Line would be shutting down within weeks. It’s taken a while but Essex Pearl announced they’re finally reopening on March 21st at Pier57. We can’t wait to see what the new version is like!

Birrialandia is going brick & mortar! It’s set to open in Flushing at Tangram’s Mall.

The dual concept trend is still going strong! A music focused dual concept cocktail bar & omakase counter, Hear and There, has opened in Williamsburg. And Please Don’t Tell is launching a new project for the first time in 20 years, One Cornelia is set to launch in Spring with ‘LA tacos & New York Cocktails’

Chef Sal Lambolgia of Cafe Spaghetti is taking over the 120 year old Ferdinando’s Focacceria after having recently opened Sal Tang’s, a Chinese American dining spot with Wilson Tang of Nom Wah (the brand) and Cha Cha Tang.

Everyone’s favorite, Radio Bakery, now has a location is Prospect Heights. Is the line there just as long?!

Chef Gregory Gourdet, former finalist on the twelfth and seventeenth seasons of Top Chef, is set to open Maison Passaerelle on April 17th in the new Printemps department store at One Wall Street. Kent Hospitality is the group overseeing the project.

The World’s 50 Best Launches 50 Best Restaurants in North America for 2025!

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