East Village – Dining

The East Village is definitely in the running for the New York City neighborhood with the most active, buzziest dining scene. New eateries crop up regularly to rub shoulders with favorites such as Ukrainian eatery Veselka, Italian specialist Supper, and Middle Eastern restaurant Cafe Mogador. (And let’s not forget Veniero’s for cannolis, tiramisu, and affogato.) Below are a few recent additions to the neighborhood.

 

Penny

This restaurant, which opened in March 2024, is a haven for those who love seafood but not the pretentiousness that sometimes comes with raw bars and caviar. In addition to raw oysters, shrimp, clams, and the like, you can also delight in the likes of squid with tuna and Swiss chard, Dover sole, and Maine lobster—and complete your meal with chocolate mousse or an ice cream sandwich. The wine list includes a variety of champagnes alongside plenty of whites, and walk-ins are encouraged.

 

Bungalow

Also having opened in March 2024, Bungalow prides itself on classics, and classics with a twist, from all regions of India. That means in addition to tried-and-true options such as chicken biryani and goat nihari, you can savor small plates such as Kiss of Kashmir (lotus roots, kidney beans, and pickled turnips with radish-walnut raita) and large plates like pineapple roasted with coconut, lemon, mustard seeds, and curry leaves. As you’d expect from an Indian restaurant, there are many vegetarian options, though if your diet extends to meat, you’ll find the Rajasthani pulled lamb hard to resist. Along with naan, be sure to order the ghee-roasted plantains for the table.

 

 The Lions

Come for the martinis, stay for the burgers—or vice versa. This bar and grill, which also opened in March 2024, devotes equal care to the food and the drinks. The burgers are made with dry-aged meat ground in-house daily, but if that still doesn’t win you over, try the mortadella sandwich with blue cheese and pickled peppers, the linguine with clam sauce, or the cheese-packed baked potato topped with egg. Likewise, if martinis aren’t your thing, there are plenty more classic cocktails to choose from, along with beer and a few wines.

 

Third Kingdom

The East Village has restaurants devoted to just about every type of cuisine, and since February 2024, with the opening of vegan eatery Third Kingdom, has one dedicated to mushrooms. Every dish, from dumplings made with lion’s mane mushrooms and served with daikon sauce to chestnut mushrooms with curry grits and saffron butter, has fungi in the starring role. Yes, even dessert features ’shrooms, in the form of rosemary-and-porcini ice cream accompanying lava cake topped with candied shiitake.

 

Bad Hombre

Given it takes inspiration from what it terms coastal Mexican cuisine, Bad Hombre has a number of seafood dishes on its menu: scallop crudo with habanero broth, shrimp tacos, fish tostada, grilled octopus with salsa verde, black-bean purée, and pico de gallo. But non-pescatarians are more than welcome too. The corn gratin with queso fresco and aged manchego accompanied by tortilla chips is a must for the table, as are patatas bravas with salsa brava. Chicken skewers with adobo, chipotle, and charred kale and St. Louis rib confit with a soy glaze are among the entrées carnivores will love. And as you’d expect, house cocktails spotlight tequila, mezcal, or in the case of the Caracara, both.