Since 1991, the James Beard Awards have been among the most prestigious awards for culinary excellence in the United States. This year, from white tablecloth dining rooms to buzzy neighborhood bakeries, the New York City-based James Beard Award semifinalists tell a story not just of culinary excellence, but of the city itself. These chefs, restaurateurs, and beverage professionals are deeply rooted in the blocks, corners, and communities they call home, shaping their neighborhoods as much as they are shaped by them. From Flatiron and Union Square to Williamsburg, Crown Heights, and Chinatown, each address offers a glimpse into how food, design, and culture intersect at street level.
Taken together, the semifinalists form a map of a city in constant conversation with its dining scene. Legacy institutions evolve alongside bold newcomers, while global traditions are reinterpreted through distinctly New York lenses. Whether tucked above a Michelin-starred dining room, perched at the base of Lincoln Center, or hidden on a narrow downtown alley, these restaurants and bars reflect the energy, ambition, and diversity of their surroundings.
In this article:
The James Beard Foundation’s recognition highlights not only outstanding talent, but the neighborhoods that continue to make New York one of the most exciting food cities in the world. The finalists will be announced Tuesday, March 31, with the winners revealed later at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 15, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Gourmands from all over the world come to New York City to dine at its finest restaurants. However, the following listings are located within a few blocks of this year's James Beard Awards semi-finalists
Outstanding Restaurateur
Simon Kim, Gracious Hospitality, Flatiron District
Book a reservation at COTE NYC Flatiron here
Book a reservation at Undercote here
Book a reservation at COQODOQ here
COQODAQ (Jason Varney for Rockwell Group)
A Seoul native who moved to New York City and rose from busboy to restaurateur, Simon Kim is the founder and CEO of Gracious Hospitality Management, the restaurant group behind the Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse COTE NYC Flatiron (with additional locations in Miami, Singapore, and Las Vegas), Undercote (the appropriately named subterranean spot below Cote) serving craft cocktails, champagne surrounded by green living walls and moonlight shadows, and the acclaimed fried chicken concept COQODAQ.
All COTE locations and Undercote were designed by Modellus Novus, a studio celebrated for crafting spaces that balance striking visual impact with cultural depth and grounding each project in a strong sense of place and narrative. Renowned for seamlessly blending Korean culinary heritage with modern American dining, Kim has built immersive, quality-driven experiences rooted in craftsmanship, hospitality, and sustainability.
One Madison, #8A (Corcoran Group)
Jennifer Vitagliano and Nicole Vitagliano, Elizabeth Street Hospitality, Nolita
Book a reservation at The Musket Room here
Book a reservation at Raf's here
Book a reservation at Cafe Zaffri here
The Musket Room (OpenTable)
Though The Musket Room has been a fixture of New York’s fine-dining scene since 2013, its current incarnation began in 2020 with the arrival of Executive Chef Mary Attea and Executive Pastry Chef Camari Mick (the latter of whom has since left to open a new Afro-Caribbean restaurant). Joining forces with twin sisters and restaurateurs Nicole and Jennifer Vitagliano, the four formed a partnership that has become one of the most influential forces in post-pandemic dining. Under Attea and Mick’s leadership, The Musket Room evolved from its original New Zealand–inspired focus into a globally informed menu while maintaining its Michelin star.
Beyond the restaurant, the Vitagliano sisters, through Elizabeth Street Hospitality, expanded their creative reach with the opening of Raf’s, an all-day café housed in a former bakery, and the development of the bar at the design-forward home store Quarters in Tribeca. Most recently, the quartet opened Café Zaffri, a Mediterranean and Levantine restaurant called "Zaf's" by those in the know and located within Union Square hotel/private members’ club The Twenty Two New York. This further cements their impact on New York’s contemporary dining landscape.
55 Prince Street, #PHF
$3,995,000
NoLiTa/Little Italy | Cooperative | 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths | 2,500 ft2
55 Prince Street, #PHF (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
Outstanding Chef
Gabriel Kreuther, Gabriel Kreuther, Midtown West
Book a reservation here
Dining room (Gabriel Kreuther)
Located at the base of the distinctive vertically sloped landmark Grace Building overlooking Bryant Park, Gabriel Kreuther is a grand, light-filled dining room defined by quiet luxury and Old World polish. The lively bar draws an energetic after-work crowd, while the expansive dining room pairs cream-colored banquettes, curated artwork, and gleaming tableware with seamless, finely choreographed service. Chef Gabriel Kreuther, an Alsace native and previous James Beard Award winner (2009), cooks with a global sensibility grounded in classical French technique and deep regional pride.
520 Fifth Avenue, #PH78 (Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group)
Kwame Onwuachi, Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi, Lincoln Center
Book a reservation here
Tablescape at Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi (Evan Sung)
Lincoln Center's Tatiana may be a natural destination for Philharmonic audiences, but it commands attention entirely on its own. Also designed by Modellus Novus, the dining room is bold, glamorous, and kinetic, animated by a fashion-forward crowd. Chef Kwame Onwuachi channels his West African heritage alongside the flavors of his Bronx upbringing, weaving memory, diaspora, and technique into a deeply personal menu.
The Grand Millennium, #21B
$4,250,000 (-3.3%)
Lincoln Center | Condominium | 3 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths | 2,157 ft2
The Grand Millennium, #21B (Corcoran Group)
(Lilia)
Prior to opening her own restaurants, Missy Robbins spent five years as the executive chef of Michelin-starred restaurant, A Voce, where she focused on developing her personal style of cooking. Before that, she honed her craft for five years in Chicago as the executive chef of Spiaggia and Café Spiaggia, which completely immersed her in the cuisine and culture of fine dining Italian restaurants.
Early in her career, Robbins spent many years training under critically acclaimed chefs in New York City, but her love of Italian culture began when she embarked on an excursion to Northern Italy. She worked in several kitchens, from family-run rustic trattorias to Michelin-rated restaurants, and grew intimate with the country’s products and cooking. Robbins quickly developed a long-lasting admiration for the simplicity, regional inspiration and innate focus on quality ingredients that characterize Italian food. She is now getting ready to open a restaurant in Domino Park.
33 Frost Street, #2B (Serhant)
Outstanding Restaurant
The Four Horsemen, Williamsburg
Book a reservation here
(The Four Horsemen)
The Four Horsemen is a Michelin-starred wine bar and restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, co-owned by LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy and the late Justin Chearno. Widely credited with helping shape New York City’s natural wine movement, it is known for an eclectic, rigorously curated wine list focused on expressive, well made bottles, alongside a concise, seasonal menu of refined yet unfussy dishes. The space is intimate and minimalist, with a warm, wood forward design that balances neighborhood ease with serious dining. Frequently cited among New York’s top restaurants, The Four Horsemen has achieved rare crossover status as both a culturally influential and critically acclaimed destination.
117 South 3rd Street, #5A
$1,949,000 (-7%)
Williamsburg | Condominium | 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths | 1,169 ft2
117 South 3rd Street, #5A (Corcoran Group)
Via Carota, West Village
Book a reservation here
(Via Carota)
Via Carota is a beloved West Village Italian restaurant known for its rustic elegance and deeply soulful cooking. Led by chefs and spouses Rita Sodi and Jody Williams, it celebrates simplicity and seasonality through impeccably executed dishes that feel both timeless and personal. The room hums with warmth and energy, drawing locals, chefs, and devoted regulars who return as much for the atmosphere as for the food.
71 Barrow Street, #19 (Compass)
Emerging Chef
Self described as “a (very) tiny Korean restaurant”, Sunny Lee’s Sunn’s is emerging as one of New York’s most thoughtful young chefs, blending Korean heritage with a refined, contemporary point of view. Her cooking is intimate and expressive, shaped by memory, technique, and restraint rather than spectacle. Sunn’s feels personal and precise, with dishes that invite reflection as much as pleasure.
Seward Park Building 1, #C1905 (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)
Rasheeda Purdie, Ramen by Ra, East Village
Book a reservation here
Rasheeda Purdie (Ramen by Ra)
Rasheeda Purdie of Ramen by Rā brings a fresh, intentional approach to a genre often dominated by tradition and repetition. Her ramen balances depth and clarity, combining meticulous broths with bold, personal flavors. The cooking reflects both discipline and curiosity, honoring technique while pushing beyond expectation.
196 Orchard Street, #4H (Corcoran Group)
Best New Restaurant
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Bong (Resy)
Bong is a Brooklyn newcomer making waves with its confident, tightly edited menu and unpretentious charm. The restaurant blends global influences with sharp technique, creating dishes that feel modern, playful, and grounded. Check out its website for some rollerblading fun!
Sterling Curve, #3F (Corcoran Group)
Kabawa (Momofuku)
Founded by Momofuku’s David Chang, Kabawa’s Caribbean inspired cooking offers a refined, contemporary lens, spotlighting bold flavors with precision and care. The prix fixe three-course menu honors tradition while embracing innovation, resulting in dishes that feel both celebratory and composed.
259 Bowery, #2A (Compass)
Lei (Resy)
Lei is known for its elegant interpretation of Chinese flavors. The cooking is nuanced and modern, highlighting balance, texture, and restraint. With a polished yet welcoming atmosphere, Lei bridges cultural heritage and contemporary dining with confidence.
123 Baxter Street, #4A
$2,150,000
NoLiTa/Little Italy | Condominium | 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths | 1,521 ft2
123 Baxter Street, #4A (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)
Outstanding Bakery
Bánh by Lauren, Chinatown/Lower East Side
Order online here
(Bánh by Lauren)
Bánh by Lauren, a concept by former Gramercy Tavern pastry chef Lauren Tran, is a bakery rooted in Vietnamese flavors and French technique, producing pastries that are both nostalgic and inventive. Each offering reflects careful craftsmanship, subtle sweetness, and a strong sense of identity.
One Manhattan Square, #77B
$2,595,000
Lower East Side | Condominium | 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths | 1,034 ft2
One Manhattan Square, #77B (Extell Marketing Group LLC)
Librae, East Village
(Librae Bakery)
Librae is a globally inspired bakery known for its striking laminated pastries and bold flavor combinations. Influenced by flavors from the Middle East using fermentation techniques from Copenhagen, Librae balances visual drama with technical rigor. The result is a bakery that feels both playful and precise, with pastries that are as memorable as they are refined.
344 Bowery, #3 (Compass)
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
(Birdee)
Located at The Refinery at Domino, Renata Ameni of Birdee brings elegance and clarity to modern pastry, creating desserts that are restrained, architectural, and deeply thoughtful. Her work favors balance over excess, with flavors that unfold gradually rather than overwhelm. At Birdee, pastry feels intentional and emotionally resonant.
One Domino Square, #31-C (Two Trees Management Co)
Eunji Lee (Lysee NYC)
Inspired by her love of pastry as edible art, Eunji Lee is celebrated for her sculptural, meticulously designed desserts that blur the line between pastry and art. Her work emphasizes texture, precision, and subtle sweetness, often inspired by Korean flavors and aesthetics.
140 Fifth Avenue, #2 (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
Best New Bar
Bar Snack, East Village
(Bar Snack)
Inspired by the snaquiri, the smaller version of a classic daiquiri, Bar Snack is a sharp, unfussy bar that prioritizes strong drinks, good food, and an easy sense of fun. The menu is compact but confident, designed to encourage lingering rather than spectacle.
232 East 6th Street, #6E (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
Clemente Bar, NoMad/Flatiron District
Book a reservation here
(Clemente Bar)
Located above the Eleven Madison Park dining room, Clemente Bar is an intimate cocktail bar and chef’s counter from Chef Daniel Humm and artist Francesco Clemente. Clemente Bar blends classic cocktail sensibility with contemporary creativity, offering drinks that feel both familiar and surprising. Small dishes are made in the same kitchen as Eleven Madison Park.
The Stanford, #37A (Corcoran Group)
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service
Borgo (Resy)
Lee Campbell of Borgo is recognized for a beverage program that mirrors the restaurant’s thoughtful, ingredient driven ethos. His selections emphasize harmony with the food, showcasing wines and drinks that enhance rather than dominate. Campbell’s approach is grounded, informed, and quietly expressive.
88 & 90 Lex, #5C (Corcoran Group)
Amy Racine, La Marchande, Financial District
Book a reservation here
Amy Racine (La Marchande)
Amy Racine of La Marchande is one of New York’s most respected wine professionals, known for her discerning palate and globally informed selections. Her work emphasizes discovery, balance, and a sense of place, connecting diners to producers through thoughtful curation. Racine’s influence extends beyond the list itself, shaping how guests engage with wine.
Cambridge Club Condominium, #15A
$595,000
Financial District | Condominium | 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath | 622 ft2
Cambridge Club Condominium, #15A (Serhant)
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
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Or call us at (212) 755-5544
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Contributing Writer
Michelle Sinclair Colman
Michelle writes children's books and also writes articles about architecture, design and real estate. Those two passions came together in Michelle's first children's book, "Urban Babies Wear Black." Michelle has a Master's degree in Sociology from the University of Minnesota and a Master's degree in the Cities Program from the London School of Economics.
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