A Critic’s Choice of Restaurant Newcomers By SAM SIFTON

December 28, 2010
A Critic’s Choice of Restaurant Newcomers By SAM SIFTON

FOLLOWING is a list of my favorite new restaurants among those that I reviewed in 2010. They are presented in alphabetical order. But Torrisi was awesome.

ABC KITCHEN Jean-Georges Vongerichten opened a greenish, market-driven restaurant on the ground floor of ABC Carpet & Home. And it turned out to be great! 35 East 18th Street; , abckitchennyc.com.

THE BRESLIN The evolution of the gastropub, and the chef April Bloomfield’s triumph of fat, flavor and defiant British cooking. 16 West 29th Street (Broadway); (212) 679-1939, thebreslin.com.

CASA LEVER An elegant Italian restaurant well suited to adults, set within the beauty of Lever House, beneath copious Warhols. 390 Park Avenue (53rd Street), Midtown; (212) 888-2700, casalever.com.

COLICCHIO & SONS The taproom is best for beer and sandwiches. But if you can take advantage of Tom Colicchio cooking a tasting menu in the main dining room? That’s aces. 85 10th Avenue (15th Street), Chelsea; (212) 400-6699, colicchioandsons.com.

FATTY ’CUE American barbecue technique is married to the flavors of Southeast Asia. The congregation cheers. 91 South Sixth Street (Bedford Avenue), Williamsburg, Brooklyn; (718) 599-3090, fattycue.com.

KIN SHOP A Thai-inspired restaurant from Harold Dieterle, calm and adult, the sort of place everyone wishes to have in the neighborhood. 469 Sixth Avenue (West 11th Street), Greenwich Village; (212) 675-4295, kinshopnyc.com.

MAIALINO Danny Meyer’s Romanish trattoria in the Gramercy Park Hotel, with excellent pig cooking from the chef Nick Anderer. 2 Lexington Avenue (21st Street), Gramercy Park; (212) 777-2410, maialinonyc.com.

OSTERIA MORINI A church of Emilia-Romagna, consecrated in butter and cream, worth visiting once at least. 218 Lafayette Street (Spring Street), SoHo; (212) 965-8777, osteriamorini.com.

RECETTE A casual West Village dining room belies Jesse Schenker’s immense culinary ambition. 328 West 12th Street (Greenwich Street), Greenwich Village; (212) 414-3000, recettenyc.com.

TORRISI ITALIAN SPECIALTIES Italian-American food best understood as a first album from a duo — Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone — who should properly end up as big, big stars. 250 Mulberry Street (Prince Street), Little Italy; (212) 965-0955, piginahat.com.