From new openings and pop-ups finding their footing with menus that already feel fully formed to cozy neighborhood dining rooms, crispy Detroit-style pizza and dumpling stops worth the drive, these spots are giving us plenty of reasons to eat out this month (as if we needed an excuse).
Scout’s
Scout’s has breathed new life into the former Nexus space in Midtown, transforming it into a cozy, lived-in dining room perfect for your next night out. The restaurant is helmed by a team of experienced chefs from Dinner at the Loft and The Biscuit Joint, bringing a thoughtful, homey approach to fine dining that emphasizes communal sharing and seasonality. On our visit, the team was still in soft-opening mode with a limited menu, but the kitchen’s point of view was already clear. The carbonara arancini landed first: rich, salty and loaded with gooey cheese. The grilled carrots followed, dressed in harissa vinaigrette with pickled pepper-pine nut salsa, feta and herbs; they were complex and aromatic, the kind of dish that rewards slow, thoughtful bites. But the standout of the night was the grilled cabbage with ’nduja cream, a spicy, deeply flavored plate layered with sunflower seeds and sprigs of fresh dill. It was the dish we kept talking about long after the table was cleared. A special that evening, the house-made butternut squash ravioli was the best pasta dish we’ve had in a long while.
We were told the chicken dish is a must-try and look forward to ordering it next time; unfortunately, by the time that recommendation reached us, we were far too full to add one more thing. On the drinks side, the Strawberry Milk Punch stood out with its mix of vodka, lemon, vanilla, strawberry and that milk-punch smoothness we love. Dessert closed the night beautifully with a silky panna cotta, topped with plenty of crisp texture and a bright apple element for fruity freshness…