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$$ | Lower East Side |
At this casual retro-diner restaurant, weekend brunch brings a line down the street for what many believe to be the best blueberry pancakes in the city, if not the whole country. Lunch and dinner options include a variety of burgers, sandwiches, and salads—and you can get those pancakes at dinner, too, without as long a wait.
4 Clinton St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- February specialty pancake month
- Excellent, and busy, brunch
- Diner-type menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.–Tues.
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$$$$ | Lower East Side |
One of the most inspired vegetarian restaurants in the country, Dirt Candy shines thanks to chef Amanda Cohen, who knows how to coax every bit of flavor out of vegetables—which she has described as "candy from the earth"—so that they dazzle on the plate and the palate. There's just one five-course tasting menu every night, which might include signature dishes like the build-your-own Brussels sprouts tacos, the "Tower of Terroir" deconstructed salad, or the addictive and spicy Korean fried broccoli.
86 Allen St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Creative and fun vegetarian and vegan food
- Interesting alcohol and nonalcohol cocktails
- Rather nondescript space
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential
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$ | Lower East Side |
The all-American junk-food staple is elevated to high art here, with fresh seasonal ingredients, real fruit, and imported chocolate mixed into the batter. Traditionalists croon over the vanilla-bean doughnut, but there are plenty of exotic flavors to tempt taste buds: the dense, fudgy Blackout is covered in crumb topping; carrot-cake doughnuts have a cream-cheese filling. Choosing is the difficult part: options include cake doughnuts and yeast doughnuts, as well as "doughseeds." There are other locations around the five boroughs.
379 Grand St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Creative, seasonal flavors in cake and yeast varieties
- Fudgy Blackout doughnuts
- Fun decor
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$$ | Lower East Side |
Ivan Orkin's improbable but true story is one of the many layers that make New York City's restaurant scene so exciting, authentic, and delicious: the self-described "Jewish kid from Long Island" moved to Tokyo and became a ramen-making master, achieving near legendary status in the Japanese capital. In 2014, he opened this Lower East Side temple to ramen, where highlights include the triple pork, triple garlic mazemen, a type of near-brothless ramen.
25 Clinton St., New York, New York, 10012, USA
Known For
- Japanese fried chicken appetizer
- Rye-based ramen noodles
- Fun Tokyo-style decor
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$$ | Lower East Side |
Everything and nothing has changed at Katz's since it first opened in 1888, when the neighborhood was dominated by Jewish immigrants: lines still form for the giant, hand-carved corned beef and pastrami sandwiches, soul-warming soups, juicy hot dogs, and crisp half-sour pickles. You get a ticket when you walk in and then get it punched at the various stations where you pick up your food; don't lose it, or you'll have to pay the lost-ticket fee.
205 E. Houston St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Pastrami sandwiches
- Formica tables and vintage deli decor
- Weeknights are more laid-back
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | Lower East Side |
Enter through the pawnshop (it's real) in front, and you’ll find what feels like a grand event, where the clientele is dressed to the nines, the drinks are flowing, and the food—from lemon blackberry pancakes and eggs Benedict at brunch to salmon tartare, pastas, and a thick-cut fillet at dinner—is way better than you’d expect at a party. Dinner is served until late, a good indication that the party's still happening.
146 Essex St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Fun atmosphere
- Excellent brunch
- Extensive menu but standout classics
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$$$ | Lower East Side |
Chef Ignacio Mattos put himself in the pantheon of living New York chefs with his restaurant Estela and now he's adding to the legend with this classic Gallic-inspired bistro on the border where the Lower East Side and Chinatown meet. Mattos is a master at layering flavors and his menu here is no exception with smoky coal-grilled steak au poivre and a boudin blanc sausage wading in a shallow pool of juniper-spiked sauerkraut.
60 Canal St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Deep, classic, French-inspired wine list
- Pricey dishes
- Friendly service
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$$$ | Lower East Side |
The menu at Dhamaka, one of the most exciting restaurants in Manhattan, focuses on regional specialties not usually seen on standard Indian restaurant menus so be prepared to ask questions and be wowed. There are many unusual—and delicious—meat dishes but vegetarians and fish eaters will also have several choices.
119 Delancey St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Extremely hard to score a reservation
- Let your server know if you want to avoid spicy food
- Colorful dining room on the edge of Essex Market
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch
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$$$ | Lower East Side |
Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone, the chefs who created a small empire of Italian-American restaurants (Parm, Carbone, ZZ's Clam Bar) go Gallic at this cool Lower East Side bistro in the Ludlow Hotel. The name says it all: although the fare is French, the team takes many of the dishes on a tour of places like North Africa and Louisiana before the food lands on your table. Porgy is dusted with Cajun spices, and duck à l'orange is spiked with Moroccan ras el hanout spice blend.
180 Ludlow St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Interesting spices, like Cajun or Moroccan blends
- Rotisserie meats
- All-French wine list
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$$$ | Lower East Side |
On an out-of-the-way stretch of the Lower East Side, Ernesto's refined atmosphere and creative, daily-changing menu of satisfying Spanish and Basque delights transports diners to coastal Spain. This isn't the small plates, tapas-style Spanish restaurant that New Yorkers are familiar with, though sharing dishes like a tortilla española (egg and potato omelet) or creamy croquetas (ham-filled deep-fried fritters) and heartier fare like seared duck breast slathered in a port and foie gras sauce or baked salt cod in a garlicky green sauce is not frowned upon.
259 E. Broadway, New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Café open for coffee, breakfast pastries, and other daytime snacks
- Instagrammable mountain of potato chips and ibérico ham
- Interesting Spanish and French wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.
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$ | Lower East Side |
Stop by this tiny counter-serve for impressive Asian-inspired vegan snacks like a take on the sloppy joe sandwich, made with mushrooms served on a sesame pancake, and perfectly chewy sticky rice dumplings that get a zing from chili oil. Although there's no actual seating, they do serve canned wine, beer, and sake.
250 Broome St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Fried cauliflower bites
- No actual seating but a few makeshift street tables
- One of the most talked about vegan restaurants in the city
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$ | Lower East Side |
Decor-wise it’s what you might expect from a diner: a few simple tables plus some counter seating looking over the grill, and the menu seems familiar but most items have a global twist that reflects the neighborhood, like a club sandwich made with chicken katsu (Japanese-style fried chicken), a Cobb salad with a Thai twist, and lemongrass-accented avocado toast.
123 Madison St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Updated classics
- Old-school decor
- Great for breakfast (served all day!)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$ | Lower East Side |
When it comes to baked goods, the party is definitely happening at this delightful, tiny café where breakfast sandwiches are served all day (well, 'til 4 pm when they close), and the lunch options include sandwiches and individual pizzas. The display case tempts with all sorts of delicious goodies, including brownies, cookies, and croissants---though if carbs are your thing, you can't go wrong snacking on a hunk of freshly baked baguette.
31 Essex St., New York, New York, 10022, USA
Known For
- Adorable, colorful decor
- The baguettes
- Counter-serve with a few seats
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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$$ | Lower East Side |
The sit-down location of the long-established (since 1914), family-owned Russ & Daughters “appetizing” shop on Houston Street offers the same smoked fish, caviar, bagels, and potato latkes as the original, along with egg dishes, salads, and cocktails in a bright, updated-deli atmosphere. The “boards” are individual (but shareable) platters of smoked fish, accompanied by your bagel, bialy, or bread of choice, so that you can assemble your own sandwich.
127 Orchard St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Classic Jewish deli food
- Expect lines for weekend brunch
- Original takeout location still at 179 East Houston Street
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner, Reservations not accepted
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$$$ | Lower East Side |
Instead of walking straight into the Moxy hotel, go to the large door to your right and head down the curved stairs to one of the most beautiful new restaurants in the city. Perfect for a fancier date night, Sake No Hana serves traditional and fusion Japanese food with a wide array of menu options. The wafu (a Japanese-style vinaigrette) carbonara is to die (they whip the poached egg yolk into the noodle dish right at your table), and the spicy tuna tartare with fresh crunch radishes is so stunning-looking that you might not want to eat it—just make sure you take a photo before you do.
145 Bowery, New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Impressive decor
- Maine lobster
- Temaki and sushi
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations recommended
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$$ | Lower East Side |
From the outside—and even on the inside—Scarr's looks like an old-fashioned slice joint, with fresh pies cooling in the display cases, a few counter stools, and booths with that uncomfortable, pre-formed formica seating. What sets this place firmly in the present is the high-end quality of the pizza, which incorporates locally sourced tomatoes and dough made with flour milled on-site, as well as the all-natural wine list, the upscale slushy cocktails, and the trendy patrons.
22 Orchard St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Serious retro look
- Pretty much always a crowd
- Beer and upscale slushy cocktails, along with the natural wines
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$ | Lower East Side |
The cupcake craze isn't dead yet, and this old-school, cozy bakeshop—the brainchild of two former Magnolia Bakery employees—turns out delectable options. Try the chocolate-almond Gooey Gooey or the cream cheese frosting–topped pumpkin; flavors are intense but not too-too sweet. Some believe that the real showstopper is the swoon-inducing banana pudding, with crumbled Nilla wafers suspended in vanilla pudding.
126 Rivington St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Tiny space with a few seats
- Banana pudding cupcake
- Friendly service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations not accepted
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$$ | Lower East Side |
New York's first full-service meatball restaurant has a pedigreed chef, a professional waitstaff, a wine list, and a hip crowd. And the meatballs, oh, the meatballs: choose beef, pork, chicken, veggie, or "special" ball options that range from chili cheese to Greek lamb to Buffalo chicken; then decide if you want them served in sliders or a hero, as a salad, or as a platter.
84 Stanton St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Top-quality ingredients
- Ice-cream sandwiches for dessert
- Multiple locations
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations not accepted
