Eater NY just published its list of “The 15 Hottest New Restaurants in Manhattan” for July, and the first two spots were given to new Upper West Side establishments. But are they worth the hype?

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In April, The New York Times named Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi the best new restaurant in NYC, leading its list of one-hundred. The Lincoln Center restaurant, which serves an “exotic array of flavors from around the world, lovingly blended in a melting pot of culinary tradition, heritage and culture,” has now been given a number-one position by Eater, which highlighted its “crudo-style escovitch and curried goat patties.”

Onwuachi, a Bronx native, opened the restaurant back in November at the newly renovated David Geffen Hall. Overall, reviews from the general public are favorable to the food, with a particularly positive emphasis on the menu’s oxtail, curried goat patties and crab dumplings. There have been some negative food reviews, but most of the complaints have been centered on high prices, slow service and difficulty in getting reservations. Some have also said the music is too loud. www.tatiananyc.com

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Eater gave its second position to Bad Roman, Quality Branded’s “playful, maximalist Italian restaurant” at the Shops at Columbus Circle. Another place that’s been hard to reserve a table at – making it “hot” by definition – Bad Roman opened in February at the space previously occupied by Landmarc (which closed in 2019).

“Look out for inauthentic twists on authentic dishes, built for fun: pepperoni cups with ranch meant to be eaten by hand, ravioli steak, shots in toy car glasses, and trompe l’oeil lemon cheesecake desserts,” wrote Eater.

Patrons have expressed very mixed feelings. As of writing, Bad Roman has scores of 3.9 on Google and 4 on Yelp. “My lord this was bad,” wrote one unhappy diner. “My wife and I couldn’t eat more than two bites of our entrees. Everything we tried here was a gimmick.” Like with Tatiana, many have also complained about slow service and overpriced food. Regarding the ambiance, some have complimented the colorful, over-the-top interior, while others have been turned off, calling it “overhyped” and an “influencer trap.” www.badromannyc.com

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