Gato

Food Network megastar Bobby Flay—who made his bones with Mesa Grill (1991–2013) and Bolo (1993–2007)—makes his big return to the New York dining scene. With eight—count 'em!—TV shows on rotation, the flame-haired toque puts the chef’s whites back on for this 130-seat Noho canteen. From a fan-baiting open kitchen, Flay dispatches Mediterranean-influenced plates, like mushroom-kale-and-egg paella, lamb tenderloin with salsa verde, and oven-blistered chicken with goat cheese and dandelion. At the rectangular wood bar, find small plates like scallop tartare and toasted tomato bread, alongside cocktails like the Paco (vodka, blood-orange juice, cava). Furbished with tiled floors, steel-and-glass chandeliers and 22-foot-high ceilings, the digs are spacious, but with Flay at the helm, expect it to be more jam-packed than a paella pan.