By: Amy Rosner By: Amy Rosner | December 6, 2021 | Food & Drink, Feature,
New York City is home to some of the most amazing food in the world.
From mouthwatering steak, to awe-inspiring Italian, the Big Apple boasts phenomenal cuisines sure to delight any palette.
Admittedly, the diverse food selection can be very overwhelming.
To make things easier for you, we’ve rounded up the best restaurants in New York City, from Michelin-Starred, to Omakase, and beyond.
4 Charles St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Atmosphere: Upscale supper club
Why You Need To Dine Here: Perfect for a special occasion
Pro Tip: Put your notifications on Resy. Super hard to get in, but usually, there are cancellations
35 E 18th St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Contemporary American
Atmosphere: Super chic
Why You Need To Dine Here: Everything is locally-sourced and farm-to-table
31-31 Thomson Ave, Queens/Website
Cuisine: Indian
Atmosphere: Lowkey
Why You Need To Dine Here: Argued to be the most authentic Indian food in New York
Multiple Locations/Website
Cuisine: Italian Deli
Atmosphere: Mom & Pop Shop
Why You Need To Dine Here: Tastes exactly like a sandwich from Italy
Pro Tip: Need to order the IL Sole or the Gothamist
14 E 60th St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Greek
Atmosphere: Grecian Villa
Why You Need To Dine Here: Perfect for a business or birthday dinner
Pro Tip: Get a few orders of the Fried Zucchini for the table
127 2nd Ave, Manhattan
Cuisine: Kosher Deli
Atmosphere: Vintage diner
Why You Need To Dine Here: One of NYC’s last Kosher dairy counters
Pro Tip: The Challah french toast is a must-order
42 Grove St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: French
Atmosphere: Lively but quaint
Why You Need To Dine Here: Brings an aura of Paris to New York
Pro Tip: Go at an off time. The lines are crazy for brunch
181 Thompson St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Italian
Atmosphere: Retro-glam
Why You Need To Dine Here: Purely to eat the Veal Parmesan cold in the morning
Pro Tip: Order the off-the-menu meatballs and eat them with your Spicy Rigatoni
5-48 49th Ave, Long Island City/Website
Cuisine: Mexican
Atmosphere: Casual
Why You Need To Dine Here: It has a Michelin Star, but is no-frills and cost-effective
16 W 22nd St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Korean Barbeque
Atmosphere: Clubby
Why You Need To Dine Here: It’s New York’s first Korean Steakhouse
Pro Tip: Dip your meat into the Savory Egg Soufflé
119 Delancey St, New York/Website
Cuisine: Indian
Atmosphere: Bright and cheery
Why You Need To Dine Here: Serves authentic Indian food, but also has a lot of innovative spins on the classics
103 Greenwich Ave, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Italian
Atmosphere: Trendy wine bar
Why You Need To Dine Here: It’s major clout if you can get in
Pro Tip: Order the Peperoni Fried Rice with Calamari on top
104 Bayard St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Hokkaido-Inspired
Atmosphere: Trendy lounge
Why You Need To Dine Here: The Uni Pasta is one of the best pasta dishes in NYC
Pro Tip: Order the Wasabi Margarita
155 Grand St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Seafood
Atmosphere: New England lobster shack
Why You Need To Dine Here: Perfect for a casual grab and go
Pro Tip: Get the Lobster Ramen
55 E Houston St, Manhattan
Cuisine: Italian
Atmosphere: Old-school
Why You Need To Dine Here: You’re guaranteed to run into a celebrity
260 Bleecker St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Italian deli
Atmosphere: Bustling market
Why You Need To Dine Here: Would make a great stop on an NYC sandwich tour
Pro Tip: Add Vodka Sauce to every sandwich
42 E 20th St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: New American
Atmosphere: Hip tavern
Why You Need To Dine Here: Has been consistently good for almost two decades
Multiple Locations/Website
Cuisine: Italian fast-casual
Atmosphere: Pizza joint
Why You Need To Dine Here: Barstool rated it an 8
Pro Tip: Eat your pizza folded
53 Great Jones St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Mediterranean-Italian
Atmosphere: Cozy wine bar
Why You Need To Dine Here: Amazing first date spot
Multiple Locations/Website
Cuisine: Italian
Atmosphere: Sleek and bustling
Why You Need To Dine Here: The pasta sampler
Pro Tip: Ask for Claudio
1 Central Park West, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: French
Atmosphere: White-table cloth
Why You Need To Dine Here: Incredibly romantic for a big anniversary or birthday
46 Bowery, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Shanghainese
Atmosphere: Authentic eatery
Why You Need To Dine Here: The cold Peanut Noodles
Pro Tip: Pay the maitre d' 10 dollars to cut the 2-hour line
278 Bleecker St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Italian fast-casual
Atmosphere: Pizza joint
Why You Need To Dine Here: It’s in a perfectly convenient location after a night out
205 E Houston St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Jewish Deli
Atmosphere: Unpretentious and fast-moving
Why You Need To Dine Here: Perfect for tourists and locals alike
Pro Tip: Make your own Reuben with Pastrami, Coleslaw, and Russian Dressing
15 W 28th St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Japanese
Atmosphere: Minimalist counter
Why You Need To Dine Here: They serve the handrolls one by one at a communal table
Pro Tip: Don’t dip anything in the sauce
72 W 36th St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Atmosphere: Clubby
Why You Need To Dine Here: The Mutton Chop is worth every penny
228 W 10th St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Italian
Atmosphere: Trendy and packed
Why You Need To Dine Here: The roasted mushrooms
Pro Tip: Reservations release on a rolling two-week basis, each day at 9 am on Resy
239 W 14th St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Spanish
Atmosphere: Laid-back
Why You Need To Dine Here: The most authentic Spanish tapas in NYC
155 W 51st St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: French
Atmosphere: Luxurious
Why You Need To Dine Here: Perfect for an engagement
138 Lafayette St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: French
Atmosphere: Refined
Why You Should Eat Here: Chef Daniel Rose is one of the masterful chefs in NYC
80 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn/Website
Cuisine: French
Atmosphere: Casual
Why You Should Eat Here: You get the quality of amazing French food in a more laidback setting
3 E 52nd St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: French
Atmosphere: Grandiose
Why You Should Eat Here: The entire space is filled with flowers which makes for a beautiful dining experience
567 Union Ave, Brooklyn/Website
Cuisine: Italian
Atmosphere: Trendy but approachable
Why You Should Eat Here: Missy Robbins is a culinary genius
Pro Tip: Order the Italian Job Soft Serve and Apple Cobbler for dessert
98 E 53rd St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Japanese
Atmosphere: Loungey
Why You Should Eat Here: It’s owned by Major Food Group, so naturally, it’s amazing
Pro Tip: Order the Truffle Wagyu Sando
41 Madison Avenue, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Italian/Jewish Deli hybrid
Atmosphere: Upscale
Why You Should Dine Here: Most addicting french fries in NYC
113 MacDougal St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: French
Atmosphere: Lavish vintage
Why You Should Eat Here: The Black Label Burger
Pro Tip: An extra dirty Gin Martini, the Black Label Burger, and fries are the perfect trifecta
8 Extra Pl, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Asian-American
Atmosphere: Intimate
Why You Should Eat Here: The tasting menu will actually keep you full
13 Doyers St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Dim Sum
Atmosphere: Vintage parlor
Why You Should Eat Here: The colorful streets surrounding the restaurant transport you to another world
Pro Tip: Order the Pork Bao Buns
52 Gansevoort St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: French
Atmosphere: Chic bistro
Why You Should Eat Here: It’s fun to compare if the Pastis or Minetta Burger is better
Pro Tip: Split the Steak Sandwich and Burger
10 Columbus Circle, Manahttan/Website
Cuisine: French
Atmosphere: Ultra-lux
Why You Should Eat Here: Perfect for an anniversary
178 Broadway, Brooklyn/Website
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Atmosphere: Rustic
Why You Should Eat Here: The steak is some of the best in New York
Pro Tip: Bring cash! It’s cash-only
1 E 55th St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: American
Atmosphere: Red-booth classic
Why You Should Eat Here: The Burger
27 Prince St A, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Italian Fast-Casual
Atmosphere: Old-school pizzeria
Why You Should Dine Here: The Sicilian Vodka Slice is out of this world
60 E 65th St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: French
Atmosphere: Elegant
Why You Need To Dine Here: Award-winning French cuisine that is worth the hype
27 E 20th St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Northern Italian
Atmosphere: Rustic but refined
Why You Need To Dine Here: The most unique pasta dishes in all of NYC
Pro Tip: Order the Gnocco Frito
463 W Broadway, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Brunch
Atmosphere: Buzzy
Why You Need To Dine Here: Only restaurant where the salad is better than the bagels
Pro Tip: Order the Challah French Toast and Mini Hot Dogs
Cuisine: Italian
Atmosphere: Upscale
Why You Need To Dine Here: The famous Spaghetti with tomato and basil is not at all boring
151 Loisaida Ave, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Japanese
Atmosphere: Vinyl lounge
Why You Need To Dine Here: You can dance, listen to amazing music, and eat spectacular sushi all at the same time
Pro Tip: Go to the club downstairs after!
23 Commerce St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Japanese
Atmosphere: Minimalistic
Why You Need To Dine Here: The Omakase is 20 courses!
204 E 43rd St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Japanese
Atmosphere: Traditional
Why You Need To Dine Here: Freshest fish in NYC
127 MacDougal St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Japanese
Atmosphere: Izakaya style
Why You Need To Dine Here: They serve pizza at the end of the Prix Fixe menu
Pro Tip: Make sure to ring the doorbell to get in
407 Smith St, Brooklyn/Website
Cuisine: Thai
Atmosphere: Laidback
Why You Need To Dine Here: The food will push you out of your comfort zone
237 Kent Ave, Brooklyn/Website
Cuisine: Japanese
Atmosphere: Zen
Why You Need To Dine Here: You sit on the floor and it really feels like you’re in Japan
Pro Tip: Order the Everything Don Bowl
246 Spring St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Seafood
Atmosphere: Sophisticated fine dining
Why You Need To Dine Here: Chef Shaun Hergatt is a master of his craft
51 Grove St, Manhattan/Website
Cuisine: Italian
Atmosphere: Rustic and cozy
Why You Need To Dine Here: The best Cacio e Pepe in NYC
Pro Tip: Put your name down at 4:00 PM for dinner
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