4 New York City Restaurant Experiences You Need To Try This Spring

New York City has so many unique dining experiences to offer and this spring there are four new ones to put on your radar. One is a standout new omakase tasting, the other an immersive dinner that will take you around the world (visually too), another is the quintessential elevated bar experience with great dining options, and the last one will transport you to a rare culinary destination.

Whether you’re visiting or live here, check out these dining experiences in New York City.

1. Domakase

This East Village omakase spot turns sushi into small works of art on Avenue B. Settle into one of their 15 seats and prepare for your mind to be blown for just $69 for 13 courses ($89 on weekends). You’ll dine on beautifully-crafted dishes like scallop with brown butter topped with pistachios or sea urchin adorned with a seaweed web. The chef also likes to wield a blow torch which results in delicious seared foie gras on rice or a lightly charred wagyu served in an open hand roll with pickled onions. You can see the magic happen right in front of you and the premium ingredients and experience make it feel almost too good to be true for the relatively affordable price tag.

2. Jac’s on Bond

There’s a new cool bar in town serving unique cocktails and globally-inspired small plates that will make you rethink what “bar food” means. Located in the space that was once The Smile, Jac’s on Bond is chic without being stuffy and the perfect place to grab a drink, play some pool, and try something new to eat, for example one of their bikini sandwiches. They’re triangular panini-style bites filled with jamon serrano or tuna, a highly tasty and portable bite to hold while you sip your drink. Their chilled crab dip served with Iberian potato chips is also a must, best paired with a caprese martini which is made tomato and basil-infused grey goose vodka, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and features a cherry tomato.

3. Journey NYC

This isn’t just a restaurant; Journey NYC is a sensory experience. This new immersive dining destination in Chelsea features floor-to-ceiling and tabletop 360 projection mapping allowing you to travel the world while you eat. During the five- course prix fixe you’ll go from the lush greenery of the rainforest to a fiery volcano to an underwater shipwreck with the dishes matching the taste and aesthetic of each location. This restaurant combines the concept of a dinner and a show directly onto the shared communal table taking you around the globe from the comfort of your seat.

4. Kebaya (pictured top)

One of the best things about New York City is that you can find practically any cuisine here, for example Peranakan food. Geographically this cuisine represents Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, while the ingredients are also influenced by Nyonya, Chinese, Indian, and Malay culture. As you can imagine with so many famed cuisines intersecting, the flavors at Kebaya are phenomenal. Try their Sate Lilit which is minced beef wrapped over lemongrass root served with sambal or Kuih Pie Tee Cups filled with egg, shrimp and jicama to start — they’re the perfect flavorful bites to kick off your meal. For your main, go with the Ikan Bakar which is grilled whole fluke served with fresh herbs, special sambal, and lime. This Flatiron is the first Peranakan food restaurant in New York City and a flavorful cuisine you need to try.