Kevin Gray

🍴 Two seasoned hospitality veterans, Nur Khan and Chef Richard Farnabe, launched Maison Nur on New York’s Lower East Side in late June. Designed by Khan and Jason Volenec, the restaurant features upscale, French-American cuisine with standout dishes like Parmesan-wrapped spaghetti. The space, adorned with Damien Hirst artwork, offers an international wine list and cocktails by Charlotte Voisey. A downstairs lounge will soon open, providing a curated music experience and plush seating.

🍲 Major Food Group launched No. 1 Steak on August 14, 2025, in Dallas at Sadelle's, offering a $59 prix-fixe menu featuring a prime strip steak. Open Thursdays through Saturdays, the concept includes regional ingredients like beef from Rosewood Ranches. Diners can enhance meals with à la carte options and curated wines. Potential expansion into other cities is planned, with a focus on maintaining local flavors. Mario Carbone emphasizes the deep connection to Dallas and Texas' rich culinary tradition.

🍽 Chef Ji Hye Kim expanded her culinary footprint with Little Kim, a vegetarian fast-casual spot, opening on August 1, 2025, in Ann Arbor's Kerrytown. This 24-seater embraces Korean and other Asian influences and features build-your-own bowls, daily kimbap, and a fried tofu sandwich. Despite proximity to her full-service Miss Kim, Little Kim thrives with its distinct menu and lunch hours. Miss Kim has been open since 2016 and has received five James Beard Award semifinalist nominations.

🍴 JKS Restaurants, founded in 2008 by the Sethi siblings, operates 35 venues, including Gymkhana. In October and November 2025, new Ambassadors Clubhouse and Gymkhana locations will open in New York City and Las Vegas. Gymkhana, with signature Indian dishes, partners with Aria Resort & Casino, aiming to elevate Vegas's culinary scene. The expansion is part of a broader U.S. entry strategy, with plans for a retail line, Gymkhana Fine Foods, and further restaurant openings.

🍴 Laila Bazahm opened Siti, a 3,000 sq ft restaurant in Austin, on July 18, 2023, at Francis Modern Inn, replacing Poeta. It seats 60 guests indoors with an Asian Colonial design. The menu, inspired by Singaporean hawker stalls, includes dishes like sambal striped bass and char kway teow, cooked in a Mibrasa charcoal oven. General Manager Eddie Zeitler curates unique cocktails, using rare Indonesian and Malaysian liquors. Bazahm also owns El Raval in Austin and Hawker 45 in Barcelona.

🍴 Haymarket opened June 27 in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood, led by chef India Doris and managing partner Alex Pfaffenbach. The restaurant features a 60-seat dining room and a 15-seat bar with decor inspired by European aesthetics. The menu offers a mix of European and Caribbean dishes, including duck fat frites with caviar, salt cod fritters, and braised oxtail. Chris Figueroa crafts a cocktail menu focused on seasonal ingredients, with drinks like the Blue Jean Baby and Hay Barbie.

🍴 In late June 2025, Stephan Courseau and Daniele Garcia of Travis Street Hospitality opened Frenchie, a 150-seat, 4,000-square-foot brasserie in Preston Center Plaza, Dallas. This marks their first venture outside the Knox-Henderson area. The menu, directed by Bruno Davaillon, features French bistro classics, while the bar serves cocktails and French wines. Frenchie plans to extend its hours for breakfast. The founders aim to open more locations in similar neighborhoods, blending French and American dining styles.

🍗 Founded by Alberto Martínez and Victor Setién in 2006, the Costeño Group operates 11 concepts across Mexico and Spain. On June 19, Cuerno opened at Rockefeller Center in New York City, marking their U.S. debut. Cuerno spans 7,700 square feet with 220 seats, designed by A de Arquitectos. The menu features dishes cooked in a Josper charcoal oven, offering a rich taste of northern Mexican culture, with key dishes like rib eye steak and grilled Mayan octopus.

🍴 Mark Bolchoz opened Cane Pazzo in Hanahan, near Charleston, on June 14. The restaurant, at 2,100 sq. ft., seats 72 inside and 40 on the patio. The menu blends Southern and Italian influences, featuring local and seasonal ingredients. Unique features include handmade plates and an all-Italian wine list. The name, "Cane Pazzo," means "mad dog," a nickname from Bolchoz's grandfather, and honors their service in the U.S. Marine Corps.

🍳 Sirrah, a 120-seat restaurant, opened on July 15 in New York City’s Meatpacking District. Led by Ryan Harris and Phil Zelonky of September Hospitality, it offers a four-course menu for $75, focusing on steak-frites. With consulting chef Cody Pruitt, it features a maximalist design with two bars and a private dining room. Guests choose from entrées like hangar steak or branzino, complemented by sauces and sides. An extra 28-ounce steak is available for $25 per person.