The sun is out, the pool is shimmering, and I’m suddenly craving a bottle of Topo Chico every day. Yeah folks, summer is here. And while I’ve jumped head first into the season (Pool time? Check. Watching the sun go down after 8 p.m.? Check. Fruity sorbets? Check.), it’s the restaurant meals awaiting me as I travel around the country that have me most excited.
In my stateside trips this year, old standbys continue to impress while new restaurants open with unbridled confidence, even amid uncertain economic times. Chefs are returning to learned skills from their earliest days of training, borrowing from lessons from diverse colleagues, and merging flavors and traditions right on the plate. I enjoyed hot chicken at the original Prince’s in Nashville, and chowed down on crawfish étouffée at Liuzza’s by the Track in New Orleans. I was inspired by new spots Elmina DC in the capital, Baby’s Kusina and Market in Philadelphia, and Agnes and Sherman in Houston, all exemplifying a flavorful illustration of what we can see in the future.
Speaking of the future, there’s a lot upcoming in the restaurant world. This summer promises exciting openings, including fare from the Caribbean islands in Los Angeles and New York City, ramen paired with fair worker practices in Seattle, and so much more. Whether planning a staycation or prepping for that unforgettable road trip, here are some new restaurants to check out, from coast to coast.
Pidgin Cooperative, Seattle
Brothers Zach and Seth Pacleb are innovating at the table — and behind the scenes. The duo is opening Pidgin Cooperative, a worker-owned restaurant, with the aim of providing stable, long-term jobs, and serving sustainable, locally grown food. Taking inspiration from their FIlipina grandmother, who cooked with friends and loved ones in Hawai‘i, the restaurant, located in Highliner Public House space at Fishermen’s Terminal, will offer interpretations of the duo’s celebrated ramen from their previous venture, Ramen and Tacos, as well as staples like fish and chips and a burger — a nod to the space’s former bar identity.
Chicano Nuevo, San Fransisco
Toward the end of the summer, celebrated pop-up Chicano Nuevo plans to open in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights. The team has spent years raising funds for a brick-and-mortar location; their efforts will materialize this season. Eater associate editor Paolo Bicchieri says the restaurant’s blockbuster squid ink maize dish and decadent tamales offer ample reason to get excited about this one.
Mamani, Dallas
Dallas’s restaurant community continues to expand rapidly with the entrance of Mamani, coming this summer. This fine dining restaurant from Namo and Bar Colette owners and brothers Brandon and Henry Cohanim, in collaboration with chef Christophe De Lellis of the Michelin-starred Joël Robuchon in Las Vegas, will open at the Quad, an increasingly popular uptown space. Named for the brothers’ grandmother, the dinner-only restaurant will have 130 seats, a bar, and garden terrace. Details on the menu are minimal, but expect French cuisine with a touch of Italian influence.
Lucia, Los Angeles
Lucia will open soon in LA’s Fairfax District, in the former Black Star Burger space. This is chef Sam Jordan’s first solo venture, and the Northern California native will infuse his Caribbean heritage throughout the menu. Expect dishes like Jamaican patties, oxtail pepperpot, and loaded rice and peas, all crafted from the chef’s extensive travels through the Caribbean islands.
Bar Kabawa, New York
Eater correspondent Jaya Saxena was pretty impressed by the recently opened Bar Kabawa, where “it feels like everyone is having fun.” Barbados native Paul Carmichael runs the show at this reinvention of Momofuku, and places Caribbean food and drinks at the forefront. Frozen and rum-based drinks are the move here, and small plates like patties, octopus, and tum tum yum yum — raw shrimp on a bed of cabbage and pikliz — come highly recommended.
