Willets Corner

Willet’s Corner is a new American bistro on the Upper West Side, on the corner of 420 Amsterdam Avenue and West 80th Street, in the former Black Lab Café space. It’s run by the team behind Harding’s in Flatiron and is designed as a polished but relaxed neighborhood spot with wrap-around windows, exposed brick, leather banquettes, and an 11-seat bar.

A few standouts that capture the style of the kitchen:

• Fig Toast with whipped ricotta and red-wine–simmered figs, a sweet-savory bite that makes a great opener with a cocktail.
• Roasted Za’atar Cauliflower with crispy capers, bringing Middle Eastern spice and texture to a familiar vegetable.
• Levantine Flatbread topped with hummus, roasted red peppers, and feta, which lands somewhere between a bar snack and a light main.

The beverage side gets as much attention as the food, with a cocktail program that includes signatures like a brown butter old fashioned and plenty of classics. The bar is meant to be lived in—somewhere you can stop by for a solo drink, then decide to stay for a burger or a couple of small plates.

Open for lunch on weekdays, dinner most nights, and weekend brunch, Willet’s Corner is set up to be a go-to local hangout rather than a once-in-a-while destination. Reservations are available via Resy, but the bar keeps things accessible for walk-ins from the neighborhood. Located at 420 Amsterdam Avenue (between W. 80th & 81st Streets) 917.881.0379 https://willetscorner.com/