The hip and trendy Meatpacking District is home to two brand new restaurants. Zagat editor James Mulcahy filed the following report.

This week, Zagat headed to the Meatpacking District to see how two new restaurants are changing the dining scene in that neighborhood.

One of the restaurants is called Toy, a new Asian eatery in the Gansevoort Hotel. Nightlife impresarios Derek and Daniel Koch are luring people in with the promise of shareable plates and a party vibe.

Daniel says that the concept hits on a lot of notes that should appeal to Meatpacking District diners.

"We wanted to invent a product that was unlike any other, providing an Asian cuisine together with an amazing designer and food," he says.

Toy keeps things playful with an elevated DJ booth, neon chopsticks and whimsical cocktails, all of which point back to the restaurant's name.

"Toy is something that everybody wants," Daniel says. "What we wanted to do is turn that into a lifestyle. Instead of Superman, we wanted to see Buzz Lightyear in for brunch. Those are some of the things we're excited to introduce."

Located down the block on Little West 12th Street, Bagatelle also appeals to the fashionable set, serving classic bistro fare in a sleek setting. Co-owner Aymeric Clemente aims for comfortable fare served in a more upscale environment.

"We wanted to have a bistro attitude in a nice setting," he says. "The chairs are very bistro-like but on top of that you have the white tablecloths, Egyptian cotton napkins, chinaware, glassware and everything else. What's great about a bistro, it's a restaurant where you can go back and never get tired of it. It's simple food based on great ingredients, with a very simple way of cooking it."

The original Bagatelle debuted in 2008 and became popular for its champagne brunches. Although the party will surely continue at the new location, these openings point to a renewed focus on the area's food.

"It used to be only clubs," Clemente says. "Now it's restaurants and clubs. All of those restaurants are basically bringing up the quality of entertainment in the neighborhood."

For more information about other new restaurants, visit blog.zagat.com.