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$$$$ | Upper West Side |
Set on the third floor of the Deutsche Bank center at Columbus Circle, and one floor down from the temple of haute cuisine, Per Se, this irreverent, playful, maximalist, authentic, inauthentic, and just plain fun Italian restaurant is not bad at all; in fact it's very, very good. Any illusions that this is a traditional and polite Italian dining experience are left at the door where you are met with a half-ton wild boar statue wearing a neon necklace and a dining room that is a feast of color and texture with red and white travertine, trompe l'oeil mosaics, and lush greenery suspended from wood coffered ceilings above orange banquettes. The bar is clad with marble and mirror, there's a working fountain by the bathroom, and floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of Central Park (not that you'll notice.) Yes, there's food, too, and it lives up to the stage set by the design with delicious riffs on classic Italian food. Highlights include a filet mignon meatball small plate, filet mignon topped with cacio e pepe raviolo, a broiled two-pound lobster with a mound of Calabrian pasta between the claws (to share), and tiramisu ice-cream cake. Cocktails are creative and the crowd is here to play.
10 Columbus Circle, New York, New York, 10019, USA
Known For
- Playful setting and crowds
- Two-pound lobster with a mound of pasta between the claws
- Great wine list and reasonably priced by-the-glass wines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$$ | Flatiron District |
Cote has blown up the staid New York steak-house formula by infusing the experience with Korean twists: that shrimp cocktail might look classic, for instance, but just wait 'til the hot gochujang hits your palate. The steak omakase "tasting menu" is unique, allowing you to compare several cuts of meat, but you can go old-school and just focus on your favorite; everything is cooked tableside—by you or your server—at a smokeless grill.
16 W. 22nd St., New York, New York, 10010, USA
Known For
- Chic but casual atmosphere
- Incredible dry-aged beef
- "Butcher's Feast" is a great value bit of everything, including Korean side dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$$ | Flatiron District |
At the flagship of Top Chef head judge Tom Colicchio's nationwide, mini empire of excellent restaurants, the top-notch seasonal fare is exceptionally prepared with little fuss and served in a cozy-yet-minimalist space with exposed brick details, wood floors, and bare light bulbs. Expect a menu that hits a variety of high notes, from exuberantly fresh hamachi or braised octopus to start, stylish salads, hearty but not overpowering pastas, and perfectly cooked mains.
43 E. 19th St., New York, New York, 10003-1304, USA
Known For
- Dazzling tasting menu
- Excellent service
- Sophisticated but welcoming
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Upper East Side |
Celebrity-chef Daniel Boulud offers one of the most iconic and elegant dining experiences in Manhattan in an equally elegant, and formal (jacket required), dining room with some serious artwork. The four-course prix-fixe menu (there are à la carte selections in the lounge and bar) is predominantly French, with such modern classics as turbot on Himalayan salt and a duo of dry-aged Black Angus beef featuring red wine–braised short ribs and seared rib eye with mushrooms and Gorgonzola cream. Vegetarian menus are also available. Equally impressive are the professional service, extensive wine list, and masterful cocktails. Don't forget the decadent desserts and overflowing cheese trolley.
60 E. 65th St., New York, New York, 10065-7056, USA
Known For
- Special-occasion haute fare
- Superb cheeses and desserts
- Reservations essential
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential, Jacket required
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$$$$ | Lower East Side |
One of the most inspired vegetarian restaurants in the country, Dirt Candy shines thanks to chef Amanda Cohen, who knows how to coax every bit of flavor out of vegetables—which she has described as "candy from the earth"—so that they dazzle on the plate and the palate. There's just one five-course tasting menu every night, which might include signature dishes like the build-your-own Brussels sprouts tacos, the "Tower of Terroir" deconstructed salad, or the addictive and spicy Korean fried broccoli.
86 Allen St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Creative and fun vegetarian and vegan food
- Interesting alcohol and nonalcohol cocktails
- Rather nondescript space
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$$ | Flatiron District |
Luxury, precision, and creativity are the driving forces at this internationally renowned prix-fixe restaurant in a refined high-ceilinged space. Swiss-born chef Daniel Humm oversees the kitchen, concocting unexpected, often whimsical, dishes that change often but have a solid grounding in locavore American tastes. This is one of the most fine-tuned dining experiences you can have in New York City.
11 Madison Ave., New York, New York, 10010, USA
Known For
- Ultimate special-occasion restaurant
- Shorter tasting menu at the bar
- Reserve ahead
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Thurs., Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Union Square |
Every bit as thrilling as when it opened in 1984, this culinary landmark continues to focus on a foundation of simple, clean flavors to create transcendent preparations: no rack of lamb is more tender, no seafood salad sweeter, and desserts are also memorable. Take a stroll through the Union Square Greenmarket before or after lunch to see the chef's inspirations.
12 E. 12th St., New York, New York, 10003-4428, USA
Known For
- Invented the concept of "architectural cuisine"
- Classy space with high ceilings
- Pricey, special-occasion restaurant
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch Sat.
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$$$$ | Gramercy |
Danny Meyer's perennially popular restaurant tops many a New Yorker's list of favorite dining spots, as much for the exemplary food as for the clubby, art-filled space. In front, the first-come-first-served tavern has an à la carte menu (the burger is a standout) along with great craft beers and cocktails; the more formal dining room in back serves a show-stopping five-course tasting menu.
42 E. 20th St., New York, New York, 10003, USA
Known For
- Impeccable service
- Standout seasonal fare
- Good-value prix-fixe lunch in the tavern
Restaurant Details
No lunch in dining room
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Financial District |
Its noise-dampening acoustics and maze of underground nooks combine to make Harry's—the fine-dining half of the restaurant (Harry's Side Bar at 62 Stone Street is more casual, with similar small-bites menu)—one of the city's most intimate and exceptional steak houses. Settle into a leather booth and start with a jumbo shrimp cocktail, shellfish platter (serves up to four), or other classic appetizer. Then turn to choices of prime dry-aged beef or fresh fish dishes, and choices of Harry's special sides like its hash-brown potatoes or polenta fries. Weekend brunch is popular, too.
1 Hanover Sq., New York, New York, 10004-2713, USA
Known For
- Prime aged porterhouse for two
- Dark wood-meets-leather interior
- Weekend brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Midtown West |
Helmed by renowned chef Manish Mehrotra, this refined Midtown restaurant is arguably the Big Apple's best place for creative and classic Indian dishes. The menu, which has tantalizing vegetarian, meat, and seafood options, explores innovation by blending daring and seasonal flavors with traditional Indian cuisine. Dinner is a three- or four-course prix-fixe affair, with an excellent pretheater menu. The understated dining room puts the emphasis where it should be: right on your plate.
123 W. 56th St., New York, New York, 10019, USA
Known For
- Outstanding prix-fixe Indian dining
- Stuffed breads
- Flavorful vegetarian dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$$$ | Upper West Side |
Chef célèbre Jean-Georges Vongerichten's prix-fixe–only culinary flagship in the Trump International Hotel and Tower focuses wholly on his spectacular dishes, which either approach the limits of the taste universe (perhaps foie-gras brûlée with fig jam and ice-wine reduction) or are models of simplicity (say, toasted egg yolk and caviar). The dining room is sleek but understated, with floor-to-ceiling windows adding sparkle to the white leather furnishings, white walls, and white linens; fresh-cut flowers adorn every table. Exceedingly personalized service and a well-selected wine list contribute to an unforgettable meal. Jean-Georges no longer serves lunch. For lunch and brunch, try the less formal and less expensive front room, Nougatine.
1 Central Park W, New York, New York, 10023-7703, USA
Known For
- Exquisite cuisine and service
- Award-winning dining
- Lunch in Nougatine, the less-pricey front room
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential, Jacket required, No lunch
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$$$$ | Midtown West |
Head into the serene, teak-paneled dining room at this trendsetting French seafood restaurant, and let chef Eric Ripert work his magic with anything that swims—at times preferring not to cook it at all. Deceptively simple dishes are typical of his style, which has earned this restaurant many James Beard and other awards, including a rank among the world's top 20 restaurants and an incredible three Michelin stars. Expect to savor every bite of Le Bernardin's thrilling cuisine, along with exceptional cocktail and wine selections, and some of the finest desserts anywhere. The menu is expensive and prix-fixe only, but you can count on a truly unforgettable gastronomic experience. Along with a vegetarian prix-fixe option, there's also a marvelous chef's tasting menu of at least eight courses, and the option of an over-the-top wine pairing.
155 W. 51st St., New York, New York, 10019-6019, USA
Known For
- Splurge-worthy prix-fixe only
- Impeccable service
- Reservations essential well in advance
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations essential, Jacket required
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$$$$ | Midtown East |
Set in the heart of Midtown, and located on the second floor of One Vanderbilt, a glassy new 67-story skyscraper that dwarfs the nearby Chrysler Building (views of which you can appreciate from the restaurant's massive windows), Le Pavillon is named for a French restaurant in 1940s Manhattan that first defined French cuisine in the United States and is itself redefining fine dining in Midtown Manhattan. Immediately hailed a culinary oasis, world-renowned chef Daniel Boulud’s newest restaurant is also a soothing oasis, with its understated, neutral interiors, 57-foot ceilings, grand views, and lush greenery and forest-like setting complete with 20-foot-tall olive trees. The menu is prix-fixe and focuses on locally-sourced vegetables and seafood. The Oysters Vanderbilt is named for the railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who built Grand Central Terminal. À la carte menu items are available in the bar and lounge.
One Vanderbilt Ave., New York, New York, 10017, USA
Known For
- Prix-fixe menu
- Lush setting
- Oysters Vanderbilt
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat., reservations essential
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$$$$ | Midtown West |
Large picture windows look out to expansive views of Central Park South at this upscale, elegant, seafood-focused Italian eatery. No expense is spared in importing the very best of the ocean's bounty, beginning with the crudo dishes—think scallops with orange, wild fennel, and arugula—that are the restaurant's signature. You'd be remiss, though, if you skipped the homemade pastas that helped make Marea famous. Whole fish, risotto, and antipasti are equally delightful. The international wine cellar here is spectacular, and service is flawless.
240 Central Park S, New York, New York, 10019, USA
Known For
- Baked branzino for two
- Memorable homemade pastas
- Reservations essential
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Upper West Side |
The New York interpretation of what many consider one of America's finest restaurants (the Napa Valley's French Laundry), Per Se is chef Thomas Keller's Broadway stage—set in a large, understated dining room with great views of Central Park. Keller embraces seasonality and a witty playfulness, and some dishes are world-renowned, such as the tiny cones of tuna tartare topped with crème fraîche or the "oysters and pearls"—tiny mollusks in a creamy custard with tapioca. The menu changes daily. Dessert service is a multicourse celebration of all things sweet, including a choice of 27 house-made chocolates. Service is sublime, as you'd expect. An à la carte "salon" menu is available in the front barroom, but let's face it: if you snag a reservation, there's nothing else to do but submit to the prix-fixe.
10 Columbus Circle, New York, New York, 10019, USA
Known For
- Reservations needed at least several months ahead
- Prix-fixe menus (service included in price)
- Nine-course tasting menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations essential, Jacket required
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$$$$ | Williamsburg |
Despite scathing food critic reviews in recent years, steak lovers (and food bloggers) continue to embrace to this steak institution that's endured since 1887. It's known for dry-aged cuts of meat and classic steak-house sides, as much as its old school, high-handed waiters. While burgers, lamb chops, and salmon are on the menu, the reason to make reservations is indisputably their prime aged steaks, served in cuts for one to four people. Book a table as far ahead as possible, as choice dining times fill up more than a month in advance.
178 Broadway, Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Being a steak institution for over 135 years
- Historic Brooklyn environs
- No credit cards
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$$$ | SoHo |
One of the first trendy spots in SoHo, this arty French restaurant with closely packed tables and booths has yet to lose its touch, either in the kitchen or with the atmosphere. Expect a chic bar scene and bistro-inspired dishes, with oysters and salads to start and pastas, fish, and meat options for mains.
180 Prince St., New York, New York, 10012, USA
Known For
- Legendary burgers
- Walls covered with paintings and photos
- Narrow stairs to the upper room are a bit treacherous in heels
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$$$$ | Upper East Side |
A hushed refuge at the corner of 3rd Avenue and 78th Street, this high-end sushi restaurant offers one of the city's best sushi experiences in a stylish Sukiya-style interior of bamboo and cedar woods. With a seasonal omakase menu curated nightly by Chef Nozomu Abe, known as "Noz" to his friends, including masterfully prepared Edomae sushi with fresh fish flown in from Tokyo, the two intimate nightly seatings at two counters (an eight-seat 200-year-old Hinoki wood counter and a six-seat rare Tamo Ash counter) are intimate, detail-perfect, memorable affairs with Japanese hospitality as authentic as the craft. Chef Noz presents at the Hinoki counter weekdays.
181 E. 78th St., New York, New York, 10075, USA
Known For
- Omakase only
- Elegant setting
- Prepaid reservations
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Brooklyn Heights |
A deservedly popular special-occasion destination, this waterfront institution complements its exquisite Brooklyn Bridge views with memorable top-shelf cuisine served by an unfailingly attentive staff. Lobster, lamb, duck, and strip steak are among the staples of the prix-fixe menu ($195). The chocolate Brooklyn Bridge mousse delivers the perfect ending to dinner.
1 Water St., Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA
Known For
- Unforgettable location
- Top-shelf cuisine
- Refined atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues., Jackets and collared shirts required for men
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$$$$ | Midtown East |
This Michelin-starred elegant and refined Scandinavian restaurant in the steady hands of Emma Bengtsson has prix-fixe options that include three- and five-course meals or an eight-course chef's tasting menu. The dishes may seem simple, but even familiar meats, seafood, and seasonal ingredients are gifted with fresh creativity here. Head to the sumptuous bar area to sample homemade aquavit. The elegant atmosphere features warm woods and modern Scandinavian design.
65 E. 55th St., New York, New York, 10022, USA
Known For
- Sleek bar area
- Homemade aquavit
- Seasonal Nordic cuisine
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat., Reservations essential
