While trendy restaurants are all the rage right now, there’s nothing like the classic red sauce Italian joint.
Think red checkered tablecloths, Mahogany booths, and photo murals of A-listers and NFL players who frequent these eateries on the weekends.
Old school is the name of the game, and which dish is the most instagrammable is a mere afterthought.
Although everybody has their go-to order, one dish has prevailed as an Italian-American staple: the saucy, cheese-covered classic we know and love as the parm.
See Also: The Best Pasta Dishes In NYC That Aren't From Carbone
Typically massive in size, the parm is a feel-good dish that can be made in various ways: chicken, eggplant, veal, shrimp, meatball—you name it.
And, if you’re really in the know, you know the best parms are actually made with vodka sauce.
Shh, it will be our little secret.
Keep reading for the thirteen most perfect parms in NYC, from traditional to outrageous.
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55 E Houston St, Manhattan
If you’re a true foodie, you know Emilio’s is the mecca of the parm. Seriously, it would be criminal to not include this Upper East Side institution on this list. And while it’s nearly impossible to snag a table here, it’s totally worth shooting your shot and begging the maître d' for a seat. While the chicken parmesan is a classic, insiders know the true star of the show here is the off-the-menu Veal Antonio. This pounded, panko-crusted veal chop is smothered in creamy vodka sauce, peas, crisped prosciutto, and of course, tons of parmesan cheese. You’ll thank us later.
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181 Thompson St, Manhattan/Website
Step aside spicy rigatoni, the veal parmesan is our favorite dish at this Major Food Group haunt. We know that’s a very contentious statement *cue the haters* but it’s the truth. The breadcrumb fried crust is topped with Carbone’s special tomato sauce (we highly recommend buying a jar of this at home!), and a harmonious blend of parmesan and mozzarella cheese. It may not be as superfluous as other parms on this list, but it sure is just as delicious.
Pro Tip: save the meat on the bone and eat it cold the next morning. We see you judging us.
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32 E 10th St, Manhattan/Website
The perfect complement to your pasta sampler, the chicken parmesan at Carrie Bradshaw’s favorite restaurant (if you know, you know) is seriously heavenly. Paying homage to the traditional dish, the thick blanket of cheese spills over the meat and onto the plate. The sweet yet tangy red sauce is also laid on thick, resulting in a nearly godly cheese-to-sauce ratio. If you like messy, get-down-and-dirty Italian food, this dish is for you.
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Multiple Locations/Website
We lay awake at night dreaming of the chicken parm from, you guessed it, Parm. When it’s in the name, you know it must be good. Besides, Major Food Group never misses. Served with a side of spicy rotini pasta (yes, it’s practically the same recipe as Carbone’s), this dish is the definition of sheer perfection. But if you’re feeling adventurous, step out of your comfort zone and try the meatball parm. You won’t regret it!
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24 E 81st St, Manhattan/Website
Many come here for the truffle pasta, but we’re in it for the melt-in-your-mouth chicken parm. We know the term “ooey gooey” belongs in the same category as “moist,” but there is no better way to describe this culinary masterpiece. A dish meant to be shared amongst friends and family, Sistina’s marvelous chicken parm is sure to be a conversation starter. Or perhaps stopper, since you’ll be too busy shoving this earthly creation into your mouth.
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136 Mulberry St, Manhattan/Website
Located in Little Italy, Paesano of Mulberry Street serves some of our favorite Italian food in all of Manhattan. The chicken and eggplant parmesans are authentic and no-frills, which is exactly what we’re looking for when we venture to this side of town. The cheese-blanketed dish is served with a side of heaping spaghetti, but they’re very flexible when it comes to substitutions. We love to order this dish with a side of rigatoni vodka, so you really get the best of both worlds!
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302 E 12th St, Manhattan/Website
Serving red-sauce Italian since 1908, this East Village landmark is home to one of our favorite parms in the city. Diners can choose between chicken, eggplant, or veal parmesan, but we’re privy to the eggplant (which is a large statement since we tend to lean towards chicken or veal). It's the type of dish that's so good, that if you closed your eyes, you could probably convince yourself it's chicken. 10/10 would recommend.
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34 E 52nd St, Manhattan/Website
Did somebody say eggplant and zucchini parm? This popular family-run Tuscan restaurant serves our favorite vegetarian parm in the city. Made with ricotta, homemade mozzarella, and the most delicious tomato sauce, Fresco by Scotto takes the classic Italian-American dish and turns it on its head. We just can’t get enough!
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57 W 57th St, Manhattan/Website
If you’re just as addicted to Italian food as we are, then you’re probably familiar with Quality Italian’s chicken parm pizza. Yes, you heard us correctly. Chicken. Parm. Pizza. This hybrid dish is so famous, that many people come here just to try it (and yes, it is very photogenic). While the tomato sauce pizza is great, we’re clinically obsessed with the chicken parm pizza alla vodka. We said it once and we’ll say it again, vodka is the superior sauce.
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24 Minetta Ln, Manhattan/Website
If you’re head-over-heels for Carbone’s veal parm, but can’t get a res, then you should definitely head on over to da Toscano. Rest assured, the celeb-laden hotspot has some serious competition. We don’t know how they do it, but da Toscando’s parm is truly a work of art. If you’re looking to impress that special somebody, definitely take them here and order this A+ dish.
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39 Grove St, Manhattan/Website
We know everybody is infatuated with their Chicago-style pizzas, but have you ever tried their chicken parm? Served with a side of beautiful bucatini, this dish deserves to be in the chicken parm hall of fame. We know that’s a large statement, but we are known to be dramatic after all. Start with the caesar salad, and you have an unformidable trifecta.
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32 Withers St, Brooklyn
An oldie but a goodie (circa 1960), this old-school Brooklyn joint knows how to make a mean parm. Yes, the classics are delicious, but we would sell an arm and a leg for the shrimp parm. “Real” Italians might yell at us for this, but we don’t care. The combination of seafood and cheese is an unlikely one, but boy is it amazing. And nobody does it better than Bamonte’s.
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450 Hudson St, Manhattan/Website
From the owners of Lil’ Frankies, Daddies Pizza has mastered the art of the chicken parm. This new pizzeria is ranked amongst age-old institutions on this list, which is super impressive. And while the chicken parm is undoubtedly the star of the show, can we please take a moment of silence for the pasta limone? It’s no surprise that this dish is so outstanding, as its sister restaurant put this dish on the Manhattan map. Between the parm and the pasta, Daddies is definitely one of our favorite meals in NYC.
Photography by: Courtesy Getty
