The Story: This high-end eatery is located in a tiny TriBeCa space that only has room for 17 diners at a time, a concept that didn't impress discriminating New York diners when the owners tried to launch a restaurant dubbed Compose in the space. Once that eatery shuttered it was back to the drawing board, and the team behind the miniscule eatery enlisted Portland chef Matthew Lightner to develop a new concept and menu. By all accounts, he's delivered, using modernist cooking techniques and foraged ingredients to come up with inventive and earthy offerings on a nightly tasting menu. Why To Go: Pete Wells still hasn't dropped his review of Atera yet, but it should be coming out any day, and there have been whispers within the industry of three stars. If that hits, this place will become the next Brooklyn Fare, aka a tiny chef's counter where it's impossible to get a reservation. Also - the price for the tasting menu is $150 right now, and we wouldn't be surprised if that went up a few months after a boffo NY Times review.
The Details: 77 Worth St.; 212-226-1444