Alex Staniloff
Summer has arrived—and with it, a slate of restaurants that has us positively buzzing. Out in California, the James Beard Award finalist Tara Monsod debuted the French steakhouse Le Coq and Ben Shenassafar, a co-founder of the streetwear label the Hundreds, launched the Benjamin Hollywood. Texas, meanwhile, saw a couple of notable openings: the London-inspired Marigold Club in Houston and the dessert bar Nicosi in San Antonio. Plus, Rezdôra’s Michelin-starred chef has given us a follow-up spot in New York—Massara, which celebrates the flavors of Campania.
Below are the five most exciting new restaurant openings of June.
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The Benjamin Hollywood
Image Credit: Nick Johnson Ben Shenassafar has already made waves in the fashion world as a co-founder of the Hundreds. Now he’s bringing his entrepreneurial spirit to the culinary realm. The Benjamin Hollywood is serving a menu of American classics with a luxe bent, as dreamt up by the executive chef Johnny Cirelle. Think shrimp cocktail to start, followed by a burger or an Australian Wagyu New York strip steak with Cognac cream sauce, and a twice-baked potato on the side. The drink menu includes whole sections devoted to both Martinis and sparkling cocktails. And yes, the staff is decked out in custom chore coats designed by Shenassafar’s brand.
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Massara
Image Credit: Alex Staniloff The chef Stefano Secchi has a hit on his hands with the Michelin-starred Rezdôra, and now he’s expanding his reach with Massara. Instead of focusing on the cuisine of Emilia-Romagna, though, he’s trained his eye on Campanian food. A pizza oven from Naples churns out small “pizzettes” and a two-hour pizza-tasting menu, along with steak, branzino, and other wood-fired dishes. Pastas include a Cheesemakers Raviolini filled with smoked buffalo mozzarella and a cold pasta with red shrimp. And the over-the-top “goat dinner” sees the animal prepared four different ways.
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Le Coq
Image Credit: Kimberly Motos At Le Coq, Tara Monsod has debuted what she’s calling a “new wave French steakhouse” where Gallic classics meet, new school bistronomy techniques and outstanding California produce. To that end, the San Diego restaurant is serving up standby plates like chicken-liver mousse, steak au poivre, and roast chicken. But there are more inventive dishes as well, like mussels in a blue-cheese sauce and duck breast with tamarind puree, kumquat, and chicory. (The latter draws on Asian flavors as well, which Monsod is lauded for at her other restaurant, Animae.) The menu is rounded out with classic French desserts and a cocktail list divided into Refreshing, Direct, and Spirit-Free sections. Expect vibes of Parisian chic mixed with California cool.
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The Marigold Club
Image Credit: Arturo Olmos If you want to go big, the Marigold Club has got you covered. The latest restaurant from the Goodnight Hospitality team (led by the master sommelier June Rodil) has taken its French and British inspirations to the extreme. There’s seafood towers, caviar sandwiches, bespoke sundae carts, and oyster-and-Champagne combos. (Lighter options abound just as well—take the scallop crudo with Meyer lemon chutney, or a lightly fried shellfish and green beans that plays on the classic fish and chips.) The décor is just as sumptuous, with green-velvet upholstered ceilings and hand-painted murals that nod to the iconic Bemelmans drawings at the Carlyle. It’s a complete delight for the senses.
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Nicosi
Image Credit: Robert Lerma For those with a sweet tooth, there may be nothing better than the San Antonio dessert bar Nicosi. Tavel Bristol-Joseph, one of the best pastry chefs in the country, is serving up a tasting menu featuring four bites and four dishes—all desserts. While sweet flavors will of course be highlighted, he’s also looking to play with acidic, bitter, and umami notes. The menu will change regularly, and few details are being shared on the specific plates ahead of time. But if Bristol-Joseph’s cooking at his other Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group spots is anything to go by, Nicosi is sure to be a treat.
