🚕 Ayah Brings Vibrant Moroccan Flavors to SoHo

Good Morning NY!

This week, New York City’s dining scene is blending bold reinventions with nostalgic returns.

From a two‑Michelin‑starred restaurant reimagining Southern-inspired fine dining to an East Village spot celebrating inclusivity and radical hospitality, innovation is on the menu.

Historic flavors are coming back too, with the Fulton Fish Market returning to Manhattan for a limited-time pop-up.

Downtown diners can also explore vibrant Moroccan cuisine in SoHo, complete with late-night dining and theatrical presentations.

And in Midtown, a beloved Italian institution is securing its next decade while adding fresh touches to keep loyal guests coming back.

This edition spotlights heritage, creativity, and community across the city’s ever-evolving culinary landscape.

Saga Reopens with Chef Charlie Mitchell’s Bold New Vision

Saga, the two‑Michelin‑starred restaurant atop 70 Pine Street, is reopening on September 1 under Executive Chef Charlie Mitchell.

Mitchell takes the reins following the passing of founder Jamal James Kent and introduces a fully reimagined menu and dining experience.

Drawing inspiration from his Detroit roots and his grandmother’s Southern cooking, Mitchell’s dishes offer a unique blend of heritage and refinement.

Highlights include tempura-style fried fish, cornbread crowned with gold Osetra caviar, Tsuyahime dirty rice, warm potato salad, and a Moroccan tea service to finish.

The new approach favors smaller, curated dishes, giving diners a more controlled and focused tasting experience.

Saga’s interior has been redesigned with nods to the 1990s Financial District, featuring black marble tables and uniforms by designer Sergio Hudson.

R&B and soul tracks, from Usher to Aaliyah, set the soundtrack, completing a warm, modern, and soulful ambiance.

HAGS Brings Radical Inclusivity to Fine Dining

Chef Telly Justice and partner Camille Lindsley are redefining New York City’s dining scene with their East Village restaurant, HAGS.

The intimate 18-seat space is playful and bold, blending soft pink tones, riotous floral displays, and even quirky touches like 3D-printed ice cream cones.

The menu is hyper-seasonal and nearly all gluten-free, designed to satisfy both omnivores and plant-based diners alike.

Justice and Lindsley also curate a wine list spotlighting queer-owned producers, alongside a thoughtful nonalcoholic selection.

On Sundays, HAGS opens its doors for sliding-scale brunches, allowing guests to contribute what they can or reciprocate with gratitude.

Justice calls the restaurant “a pirate ship that just sails into the night,” a reflection of its mission to create belonging and joy.

At HAGS, fine dining is more than food—it’s a celebration of community, inclusivity, and radical hospitality.

Fulton Fish Market Returns to Manhattan with a Pop-Up

The historic Fulton Fish Market is making a special return to the South Street Seaport this fall.

Once a staple of lower Manhattan before relocating to the Bronx in 2005, the market will bring its legacy back through a limited-time pop-up.

The Fulton Fish Market Experience will run from September 5 through October 31 at 226 Front Street, between Beekman Street and Peck Slip.

Visitors can stop by on weekends, Saturdays and Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to explore the offerings.

Highlights include smoked salmon and caviar on Tompkins Square bagels, seafood delivery kiosks, dinners, and a series of special events.

This pop-up offers New Yorkers a chance to reconnect with a piece of the city’s culinary history.

It’s a rare opportunity to experience the flavors of one of New York’s most iconic food institutions right in the Seaport.

A Taste of Morocco Arrives in SoHo with Ayah

SoHo just welcomed Ayah, a stunning new Moroccan restaurant from 3rd Space Hospitality.

The restaurant opened on September 10 at 77 West Houston Street, bringing vibrant North African flavors to downtown Manhattan.

The menu highlights classics like tajines, couscous, and chicken-and-almond stuffed pastillas, alongside showstoppers such as whole fishes and racks of lamb prepared tableside.

Ayah also features a playful cocktail program, including the “Climbing Goat,” a creative mix of mezcal, pistachio liqueur, goat cheese, honey, and rose.

The space itself is designed to impress, spread across three ornate dining rooms and a bar, with carved tables, archways, and rich velvet curtains creating an opulent atmosphere.

Adding to its allure, Ayah will stay open until 2 a.m., making it a rare late-night dining option in the neighborhood.

This opening cements SoHo as one of NYC’s most exciting dining destinations.

Fresco by Scotto Secures a New Decade in Midtown

Fresco by Scotto, the iconic Italian restaurant co-owned by NY anchor Rosanna Scotto, has officially renewed its lease at 485 Madison Avenue for another ten years.

The deal was arranged with building owner Jack Resnick & Sons, with Savills representing the Scotto family during negotiations.

Founded in 1993, the restaurant has become a Midtown favorite, blending classic Italian dishes with warm hospitality.

To mark this milestone, Fresco by Scotto is introducing a new Saturday brunch featuring a live DJ starting in October.

The lease renewal comes as the neighborhood prepares for major change, including a planned 1,600-foot skyscraper at 350 Park Avenue.

While construction may bring scaffolding to the building’s facade, developers have assured the Scottos that efforts will be made to minimize disruptions.

Rosanna Scotto expressed confidence that the beloved restaurant will continue to thrive through the transition.

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