🚕 Chinatown Restaurant Week

Good Morning NY!

La Esquina’s Second Act: Santo Taco

Santo Taco opens on Thursday, May 22, at 114 Kenmare Street in Nolita.
The 400-square-foot corner stall once belonging to La Esquina now holds only seven stools.

Orders will be taken through the street-facing window, with sidewalk seating coming soon after launch.

Founder Santiago Perez, best known for Cosme and the Casamata group, is making his first solo move here.

Perez has stepped away from Casamata’s CEO role but remains a partner in its restaurants.

The stripped-down menu features just five tacos, including steak trompo, carnitas, and a seasonal mushroom mix.

Every taco arrives fully dressed, yet a hot-sauce station waits for extra fire.

Drinks are limited to agua santa scented with palo santo and classic Mexican sodas for now.

Papa d’Amour: Dominique Ansel’s Sweet Love Letter

Dominique Ansel debuts Papa d’Amour on May 22 at 64 University Place between 10th and 11th Streets.

The 2,000-square-foot bakery is named after the nickname Ansel’s children give him.

Ansel calls the concept “Asian bread culture with a French point of view.”
Shokupan loaves, sandwiches on Japanese milk bread, and pretzel-salt custard tarts headline the opening menu.

A scallion-basil “blossom” riffs on Taiwanese scallion pancakes using twin styles of brioche dough.

Another signature is the Hot Dog Sticky Rice Spiral, marrying Kurobuta pork sausage with laminated brioche.

Ansel has worked on the project for nearly a decade, delayed by the pandemic but now just one day away from open.

Chinatown Restaurant Week: Dumplings, Deals, Repeat

Chinatown Restaurant Week runs May 19–24 with eighteen participating restaurants in Manhattan’s Chinatown.

Welcome to Chinatown coordinates the week to showcase local kitchens and boost foot traffic.

Guests scan in-store QR codes to collect points while they eat.
Every three points earns a raffle ticket for free meals announced the week of May 26.

Reservations are required for prix-fixe dinners at sit-downs like Hop Kee and Phoenix Palace.

Fast-casual spots including Taiwan Bear House and Maxi Noodle serve limited-time set menus.

The promotion mixes discovery with deals, drawing diners during a traditionally slow period.

Ceres Pizza’s Viral Whiplash

Dave Portnoy’s One Bite review on May 16 handed Ceres Pizza a stunning 9.2 score.

The Little Italy shop is run solely by former Eleven Madison Park chefs Jake Serebnick and Julian Geldmacher.

Viral buzz pushed lines down Mott Street and sold out $6 slices and $40 pies.

Production is limited to 140 pies daily, and there is no online ordering.
Overwhelmed, the team announced an Instagram shutdown from May 16 to May 20.

Doors reopen on Wednesday, May 21, under the same strict limits.
Portnoy called the cheese slice “just about the best” he has ever tasted in Manhattan.

Locals may grumble about crowds, but the 9.2 already ranks among his highest ever.

Buddies Coffee: Last Sip on Grand Street

Williamsburg’s Buddies Coffee Roasters poured its last coquito latte on Saturday, May 17.

Owner Rachel Nieves revealed the closure after a viral TikTok about a steep rent hike.

The Grand Street café opened in 2020 with only a few thousand dollars and became a community hub.

For the farewell festivities they had music, photos, and signature drinks for loyal customers.

Nieves says a new location is planned, though the address and timeline remain undecided.

Followers should watch Buddies’ Instagram for relocation updates once a lease is secured.

For now, we have to wave goodbye to the coquito latte on Grand Street.

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