The Most Anticipated Spring Restaurant Openings of 2019

Ah, spring. New flowers, new allergens, and new restaurants. The season is a popular time for chefs to open concepts, in part, because diners are finally emotionally prepared to leave their homes and brave the slightly-less-frigid weather.

This spring, many of the country's best chefs, mixologists, and restaurateurs are debuting long-awaited projects, making this season especially packed with buzzy openings that you should keep on your radar. Below, find the forthcoming spring restaurants that have the most people talking.

Note: Projected restaurant openings are notoriously unreliable; it's always possible some of these will be pushed to later dates in 2019. - List last updated February 13.

Politan Row Chicago

The new food hall from founder Will Donaldson (St. Roch Market) will open in Chicago's West Loop in early May, featuring twelve "chef-driven" concepts, including Bar Politan, a craft cocktail bar.

111 N. Aberdeen Street, Chicago, IL

Hudson Yards

The highly-anticipated, 28-acre dining development will feature new concepts from José Andrés (Mercado Little Spain), David Chang (Kāwi and Peach Mart), and a dizzying amount more. The grand opening is slated for March 15, which we're rounding up to springtime.

10 Hudson Yards, New York, NY

Ember

Brad Kilgore continues to grow his culinary group, Kilgore Culinary, with his forthcoming Miami Design District spot, Ember. The contemporary American bistro will feature wood-fired dishes, pastas, and "smoke-laden meats," per a release.

151 NE 41st St Unit 117, Miami, FL

Galit

Located in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, Galit will showcase modern Israeli cuisine by James Beard Rising Star Chef Zach Engel and Palestinian-Cuban restaurateur Andrés Clavero of One Off Hospitality.

Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL

Cabra

Stephanie Izard's fourth Chicago restaurant will be a Peruvian-inspired affair, located on the roof of the soon-to-open Hoxton Hotel in the Fulton Market neighborhood. Izard will open the restaurant in partnership with Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz of Boka Restaurant Group

Fulton Market, Chicago, IL

Cira

Located on the ground floor of the Hoxton Hotel will be Cira, a modern Mediterranean restaurant from Chris Pandel and Boka Restaurant Group.

Fulton Market, Chicago, IL

K'Far

Philly legend Michael Solomonov and business partner Steve Cook are opening their new concept this spring, likely in June (per Eater's reporting). Zahav's pastry star Camille Cogswell will take the helm.

110 S. 19th Street, Philadelphia, PA

Peppervine

Chef Bill Greene and his wife, Anita, are following up their success at Artisanal with Peppervine, located in the SouthPark neighborhood and set to open in March.

4620 Piedmont Row Dr., Suite 170B, Charlotte, NC

Animae

Located in downtown San Diego's Marina District, the upscale restaurant from Top Chef alum Brian Malarkey will draw inspiration from Japanese to Southeast Asian cuisines, featuring "the finest raw seafoods from around the world," coal-roasted Kobe A5, and other "exotic proteins."

888 W E St, San Diego, CA

Birdie G’s

Heralded as the king of vegetables, chef Jeremy Fox has a different focus for 2019. This spring, the award-winning chef known for Rustic Canyon will open Birdie G's, a new-American project named for his daughter and grandmother that will play on cultural and regional influences from around the country, including the chef's Midwestern family upbringing. The 120-seat restaurant will be located in Santa Monica's Bergamot Station and serve light, updated versions of comforting dishes like grilled daikon radish piccata and whole roast chicken with dilly matzoh ball soup. - Morgan Goldberg

2421 Michigan Avenue, Santa Monica, CA

Davide

American food legends Marc and Larry Forgione will open an Italian-Mediterranean concept in the Meatpacking district, per a report from the New York Times. According to the Times, pizza with ancient grains will be a specialty.

403 West 13th Street, New York, NY

The Deer & the Dove

Atlanta chef Terry Koval will open the regionally-focused, New American restaurant in Decatur's historic square.

Pastis

The iconic NYC restaurant might be the buzziest (re-)opening of the year. Steps away from the old Pastis in Meatpacking, the classic bistro will be a star-studded collaboration between restaurant legends Keith McNally and Stephen Starr.

52 Gansevoort Street, New York, NY

Queen City Food Truck Court

The 60,000-square-foot, open-air food court is expected to open by spring, just outside of Cinncinnati in West Chester. Featuring about a dozen concepts, this will be the first food truck court in the region.

7782 Tylers Place Blvd. West Chester, OH

Rosie Cannonball

From Goodnight Hospitality, the casual Houston concept will have a wood-burning grill and will feature breads, pizzas, and Southern European specialties. Master somm David Keck told the Houston Press that the restaurant will be "an homage to the casual dining culture of Europe."

Kuester Street next to Goodnight Charlie's, Houston, TX

Antico

Chef Chad Colby, who is celebrated for his meat wizardry at Chi Spacca, will soon be enchanting Los Angeles with wood-fired Italian cuisine at Antico, his first solo venture. Slated to open its East Larchmont Village doors in February or March, the restaurant promises old-school-style plates of handmade pasta, simply prepared vegetables, and grilled meats. - M.G.

4653 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA.