Ate at 3 terrific new restaurants over the last week. Highly recommend all of them, each for different reasons/occasions. But the one that will clearly become my go-to is THAI DINER (pics above). Not only is it right by my house, it is an off-shoot of Uncle Boon’s (my favorite Thai restaurant). ! I love it when things work out like that, don’t you?

Scroll down for reviews of each.

Thai Diner, 186 Mott (corner of Kenmare)

I’ve been keeping tabs on this place over the last few months, watching the build out slowly proceed. I wrote about it back in October (#4 on the list). As luck would have it, it opened just as I returned from my travels.

It’s still in soft opening mode which means not yet open for dinner. Current hours are 7:30am – 4pm. Closed Mondays.

As I mentioned, it’s from the team behind Uncle Boon’s, the restaurant many consider the best Thai place in NYC.

I went there for an early lunch yesterday and was bowled over. The place is gorgeous – I think this will be more popular than Uncle Boon’s. It feels more spacious and airy as well as more comfy than the original on Spring Street. It’s going to be a huge hit. I recommend sneaking downtown for a weekday lunch or breakfast. I’d not even attempt to do a weekend brunch. I heard the wait this past Sunday was almost 2 hours.

Here are a few (not so good) pics but rest assured, I will be here often so you know where to find me around lunchtime.

Tavern by WS, 37 Hudson Yards (entrance at 11th Avenue just south of 33rd Street)

Tavern by WS is a partnership with Wine Spectator which means this is Marvin Shanken’s pet project.

It is housed at Hudson Yards and is absolutely stunning (designed by Rockwell Group). Somewhat formal but not stuffy. What I especially love about it is that you can hear yourself talk – there is background music but it is kept at a level that is conducive to having conversations with your dinner partners.

The staff is fantastic, warm, friendly, professional, absolutely top-notch. And the food is terrific. We started with the fluke crudo which was my favorite dish of all. I had the salmon as a main, my friends had steak and pasta – all excellent. We had three different desserts, the sundae was my favorite.

I will be back this coming Friday and have made additional reservations for later in the month. It’s a little out of my way but worth it for a great dinner. It is not inexpensive but not outrageous either. And, of course, there is a strong emphasis on wine – but the wine list encompasses all price ranges. While we were there last Saturday, the sommelier was offering an amazing Sauterne by the glass for $12 (a wine that would normally be $30 or more per glass).

More photos below.

The Consulate, 519 Columbus Avenue near 85th Street

This is my current favorite restaurant on the Upper West Side. Love the French bistro vibe, the staff is terrific and the food and wine were both great. I will be back.

And finally…

If you’re looking for a millennial-centric restaurant, try Lamia’s Fish Market (47 Avenue B at 3rd Street)

I had dinner here on Monday night and while the staff is wonderful, my big takeaway is that this is a restaurant designed primarily with Instagram in mind. It is a multi-level, multi-room space – very cute but nothing about it brings culinary excellence to mind.

They open at 4pm for dinner – I got there at about 5:30 and sat at the bar with the owners and the servers and got a feel for the place.

They have an “early catch” menu so I got the ceviche trio ($15) and 2 glasses of wine ($8 each) plus the halibut and a rather unique version of tres leche cake served in a sundae glass. The food was good but not great. By the time I left, young couples and groups of women were coming in for dinner. Based on the decor, the diners that I did see while there and the comments online, I’m pretty certain Lamia is a popular downtown choice for birthday and bachelorette parties.

It’s not a place I will in all likelihood return to but here are some photos to give you a feel for the ambiance. By the way, they do not have a full liquor license which means no cocktails made with spirits only sake, soju etc.

Bottom line.

Lots of exciting new restaurants. Fingers crossed people come out to support them and keep NYC’s foodie scene alive until we can kick coronavirus to the curb and the economy has a chance to right itself.