Where to dine in 2024

RESTAURANTS • New Year’s Report

The last time I was at Libertine was that June night the smoke from Canadian wildfires turned the New York City sky orange. As we scrambled into the (then-brand-new) restaurant, the vibe in the West Village was surreal. But once seated inside this nouveau bistro, the experience transported us to spring in Paris. Last month, during a return visit on the shortest day of the year, Libertine brought to mind a chilly winter evening in the City of Lights. (Try the excellent trout beurre rouge, new to the menu, and order the rice pudding for dessert.)

Seasonality in restaurants isn’t just about what’s on the plate, though of course, ingredients emerging as seasons change are a huge part of the joy of dining out. (Is it too soon to start anticipating ramps?) It’s about the vibe that a place gives you, whether on a sidewalk table in high season, or a plush banquette in the depths of winter. 

At FOUND, we track the wave of restaurant openings in spring and fall with what we call Restaurant Rush, and we like to talk as well about the so-called Restaurant of the Summer. But now here we are in the depths of winter, a restaurant season without a catchy name, and the truth is that there are a lot of promising openings in view. Below, find a fresh paid-subscriber-only Nines list of notable restaurants that opened in Q4, for your immediate booking needs. And here’s a quick preview of what’s coming in early ‘24.