New York is a city of change, and Exhibit A is our restaurant scene. At the turn of 2006, a crop of elaborate palaces—the likes of Buddakan, Morimoto, and Del Posto—arrived with multi-million dollar build outs and PR ink bought by the gallon. Two plus years later, splashy openings have given way to a backlash of low-key sleepers. Across the city, ambitious newcomers are serving up fare that often bests their bigger-budgeted rivals—although in decidedly humbler digs. Dovetail's barely marked door and ho-hum interior belie some of the city's most deftly innovative cooking. Elettaria sets a haute table that blends Filipino, Indian, and American influences amid cheap shoe shops. Taking their names from still gritty Lower East Side streets, Allen & Delancey and Broadway East successfully feint from their forward-reaching menus. Even a humble bowl of soup can attract a rabid following, if it's made with the expertise of Japanese export Ippudo. We've taken some time to let these scenes shake out. Our Top 10 Newcomers will show you who's ready to weather the inevitable reversal, when the next generation of outsized joints comes clamoring for the city's attention.