35 Best Restaurants in New York City, New York

Expect to find Greek cuisine that celebrates the sea as deliciously as a seaside taverna at Avra’s Midtown West location, across from Radio City Music Hall (there are two more Avra outposts on the east side). The starters menu features wonderfully fresh salads, housemate hummus, grilled or lightly fried calamari, halloumi, and an excellent raw bar and entrées include both “from the sea” and “from the land” items. All dishes showcase Avra’s fine ingredients, though its sashimi and ceviche menu sparkle most thanks to delicate additions like cucumber chimichurri, micro cilantro, and perfect amounts of Mediterranean olive oil and sea salt. The lofty dining room is a welcome respite along this busy commercial corridor, with patio seating in warmer months. Avra’s three-course lunchtime prix-fixe, served 11:30 am to 4:30 pm, may be Midtown’s best dining secret.

Few might expect a restaurant this original, well priced, and tasty to be tucked between Bryant Park and Herald Square. But the truth is, Calle Dao is a find in this busy neighborhood. Its colorful decor and creative menus are inspired by Havana's once-thriving Chinatown, so expect a flavorful fusion of Cuban and Chinese dishes such as ropa vieja (shredded beef) noodles, crispy duck baos (steamed buns), and fantastic salads, authentic sides, and delicious stir-fries. Daily happy hours can't be beat (weekdays noon--7 pm; weekends 4--7 pm) for both libations and bar bites.

Entering the large, rustic-elegant dining room of Gabriel Kreuther invites a sense of calm as well as anticipation for a memorable meal—and it delivers. The renowned namesake chef celebrates his native Alsatian culinary influences with sublime tasting menus of three or four courses, or an inspired chef's tasting menu of at least seven courses (wine pairing optional, and worth the splurge). GK's haute cuisine, attentive service, and even its lovely handmade ceramic dishware are all part of an exceptional dining experience. Here's your chance to taste cuisine by a chef who's earned many of the world's most prestigious fine-dining accolades, including a James Beard award, Relais & Chateaux membership, and two Michelin stars. Note: if dinner is too pricey, enjoy a four-course prix-fixe lunch or à la carte menu, or opt for more casual dining in the inviting bar.

This Japanese hype donut shop housed in an open-floor space offers heavenly-soft donuts in a variety of flavors, including several New York City-exclusive options like the pistachio white chocolate glazed donut. The original donut is airy and slightly chewy on the inside, with a delicately crisp outer layer---a must try that pairs perfectly with a hot cup of coffee. The store opens at 10 am, but there will probably be a line by then.

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 and brunch menus. The understated dining room puts the emphasis where it should be: right on your plate.

Enter 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. Opt for the spectacular three-course lounge menu if time (or budget) is tight.

With excellent food and a convenient location near Broadway theaters, this brasserie is perpetually packed. Marseille's French standards are seriously impressive, including the bouillabaisse, the signature dish of the region for which the restaurant is named—a mélange of mussels, shrimp, and whitefish in a fragrant broth. Leave room for the fresh-baked desserts and farmhouse cheeses. Ambience is charming with a mix of locals and visitors, inviting all to feel welcome—just be wise and reserve a table or arrive early for a spot in the bar. Pre- and posttheater dining are great here, and weekends bring great brunch specials.

Fresh, flavorful dishes from around Southeast Asia are calling at this enticing and unexpected Midtown food hall. Tucked mid-block between 6th and 7th avenues, with entrances on both 50th and 51st streets, Urban Hawker is an ode to Singaporean food markets. Browse affordable meals, snacks, and desserts from 17 vendors representing Malay, Peranakan, Indian, Japanese, Chinese, and other cuisines, and sip drinks at gin-centric The Sling Bar.

This perennially packed Hell's Kitchen brasserie has been a magnet for burger lovers since day one. Though the menu offers a mix of flavors—including matzo ball soup, shrimp tempura, and salad bowls—the main attractions are the juicy patties, like the original 10-ounce patty melt with a tangle of onions, Gruyère cheese, and rosemary aioli. There's an option for everyone, including vegan options and a "Cali Reuben" turkey burger. For dessert, have an über-thick black-and-white malted milk shake.

This delightfully affordable "Italianesque" restaurant sparkles for its versatile menu. Tucked inside the LUMA Hotel Times Square just off Bryant Park, AperiBar is Charlie Palmer's fine expression of Italian standards, featuring an excellent antipasti assortment, shareable salads, rich pasta and pizza, and perfected entrées. Arrive early for tasty weekday happy-hour bites and drinks at the small bar or front-window lounge area. 

An island of fine modern American dining just a stone's throw from bustling Times Square and Broadway theaters, Aureole is the second act of a New York classic from famed chef-restaurateur Charlie Palmer and Executive Chef Chris Engel. The airy dining room, inviting thanks partly to the seasoned staff, offers an elegant prix-fixe menu with elevated American and international choices and optional wine pairing. In the front Liberty Room, enjoy a shorter pre-theater prix-fixe menu or à-la-carte courses, all while watching the Midtown clientele evolve from expense-account patrons to discerning diners. In warmer months, the Patio opens in the covered outdoor breezeway beside the restaurant, serving drinks and bar bites in its trio of seating areas.

The two pricing scenarios at this Bastianich-owned Italian spot make bustling Becco a prime Restaurant Row choice for time-constrained theatergoers: one includes an affordable all-you-can-eat selection of salad, antipasti, and three pastas served hot out of pans that waiters circulate around the dining room; the other adds a generous entrée to the mix. The pasta selection changes daily but often includes gnocchi, ravioli, and fettuccine in cream sauce. The entrées may be braised veal shank, grilled double-cut pork chop, and rack of lamb, among other selections. Decor is somewhat basic here, and the exposed brick amplifies the volume during busy hours, but the convivial vibes prevail.

The world's most famous French chef, Alain Ducasse, brings to New York a Right Bank bistro—with cozy, red-velour banquettes and wall lamps illuminating each table—plucked straight from the City of Light, with a menu that celebrates beloved French dishes rather than reinvents. And that's okay, especially when onion soup, pate, filet mignon and other classics are so well executed. It's not exactly cheap for bistro fare, but it is a delicious reminder that beloved flavors of Paris also sparkle in Manhattan.

This one-of-a-kind, college-style burger bar, clad in wood paneling and looking like a rec room straight out of Happy Days, is tucked away in a lobby corner of the Thompson Central Park luxury hotel. With only a neon burger marking entry into this delicious hideaway, the joint's line sometimes snakes through the lobby. Inside you can find semi-surly, all-business cooks dispensing fresh shakes, crispy fries, and paper-wrapped cheeseburgers. These burgers are straightforward, cheap, and delicious—just be ready to order once you're at the counter, or they'll send you back to the start of the line. (There are two more locations, one inside Moynihan Train Hall, the other in Brooklyn's Industry City.)

Savvy New Yorkers reserve early for the affordable Italian meals at this large, busy Midtown eatery, where family photos lining the walls lend a sociable feel to the Times Square hubbub. Groups carbo-loading for a day of sightseeing or a night of Broadway theater are rewarded with mountains of such classic, toothsome viands as fried calamari, linguine with white clam sauce, chicken parmigiana, and veal saltimbocca.

On the far West Side, just past Moynihan Train Hall, discover this spacious, lively, second-floor restaurant in the middle of the Manhattan West megablock. Chef Hillary Sterling earned instant raves (and a James Beard nomination) for her excellent homemade pastas and her balance of hearty, familiar Italian dishes elevated with seasonal ingredients and live-fire cooking. The large dining room is lined with big half-moon booths perfect for taking in the busy open kitchen, as well as the city views from the airy window wall. As splendid as the food is at this new establishment from well-known restaurateur Danny Meyer, the wine and cocktail assortment is especially fantastic, and so are the irresistible desserts.

In two elegant dining rooms, star chef Daniel Boulud's modern French bistro serves classic, exquisitely prepared dishes like Atlantic salmon, hanger steak, and the pricey "db" hamburger— stuffed with braised short ribs, foie gras, and black truffles and credited with kick-starting the gourmet burger craze. Although the bistro might not be the trendy destination it once was, it's still a worthy experience, especially for its three-course prix-fixe menu. The service is friendly without being overbearing, and the restaurant welcomes pre- or post-theater guests for dinner, cocktails, and dessert.

Broadway lovers hungry for more music and dance will get a kick out of Ellen's, a 1950s-style, multilevel diner with a singing waitstaff and all-day breakfast. The menu focuses on all-American classics like meat loaf and chicken potpie, and the servers serenading you on roller skates dazzle with Broadway-caliber talent. It's the kind of over-the-top family fun that makes sense in Times Square, so expect a vivacious dining experience.

The name is Italian for "bait," and this restaurant lures you in with a long menu of delectable crudo preparations and then hooks you with bold entrées that might include whole salt-baked branzino, sea bass for two, or bucatini pasta with spicy baby octopus. The restaurant saw a few changes when longtime chef Dave Pasternack bought it in 2019, but its menu remains sharp, as does the adventurous Italian wine selection.

The star of this casual-dining show is the perfectly crisp fish (made with sustainable cod) and "natural" sea-salt chips, but you can swap in shrimp, lobster, or chicken for the combo if you prefer. Located right behind the Good Morning America studios, this is the perfect location for a bite (to go or dine in) before or after exploring Times Square. If you're feeling adventurous, the chips are also served in three “dirty” options: truffle, Parmesan, and chives; chipotle, jalapeño, and crisp chorizo; or bacon, cheddar cheese, green onions, and sour cream. 

Friendly, family-run Gregorys is a staple for hurried New Yorkers, who appreciate the quality coffee, tea, baked goods, sandwiches, and more from this and other Midtown locations. Gluten-free and vegan options also are on the menu. Expect some seating inside, but mostly aim to grab and go.

This little slice of Havana in the center of the Big Apple is a great place for reasonably priced group dining, a solid pretheater menu, as well as for sampling Cuban-Latino standards. Dig into dishes like pernil asado, Cubano sandwiches, authentic tostones (fried green plantains), pineapple-spiked chicken, and well-seasoned skirt steak with a cucumber-and-mango salad. There's a huge list of rums and a full menu of tropical-flavored mojitos, including coconut, blueberry, and passion fruit. At the Cuban brunch, don't miss the dulce de leche French toast.

Bringing the best flavors of Greece and Turkey to the Times Square north area, chef John Fraser made Iris an instant Midtown favorite with his creative menu of seafood- and vegetable-forward dishes. Sophisticated service is attentive in the soothingly neutral-hue dining room and at the long, comfortable bar and small lounge area, where a daily happy hour (5 pm–6:30 pm) offers tasty deals on smaller bites plus Mediterranean wine and cocktails. Oysters and other raw-bar favorites stand out, along with shareable mezze and Aegean imports including flatbreads, grilled octopus, and unforgettable hummus and tzatziki.

Amid the bustle of Rockefeller Center, head to the rink level (one floor down from the street) for some of this neighborhood's most creative house-made pasta dishes. The trio of owners from downtown's King restaurant make this all-Italian trattoria a welcome discovery of delicate sauces, refined antipasti, and short but reliable entrée menu showcasing seafood, meat, and vegetarian dishes. And Jupiter's "Tuscan lunch" prix-fixe menu is a bargain in this location. Jupiter adapts the art deco style of the complex with modern decor and soft lighting that feels soothing and sophisticated, especially when gazing across the concourse to the ice- and roller-skating rink.

Given its location just around the corner from Madison Square Garden, this long-standing steak house founded way back in 1885 sees its share of sports and music fans—but whatever your taste, take a gander at the ceilings, which are lined with thousands of clay pipes that once belonged to patrons. Expect all the standard, meaty choices of perfectly seared steak, mutton, and more, along with market-fresh seafood and daily specials. Single-malt scotch aficionados have a delicious dilemma trying to select from 200-plus varieties on the menu here. 

This elegant dining room across from Bryant Park has evolved from a coffee refueling spot to a full-fledged restaurant serving masterful modern American and traditional Mediterranean dishes—as well as a few Asian favorites—from seafood to a legendary truffle burger. Whether you visit for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, don't miss the award-winning, halva-infused coffee.

This sumptuous supper club on the ground floor of the Chatwal Hotel has superb art deco detailing, red leather banquettes, and a roaring fireplace. Led by Chef Jack Logue, the menu features contemporary American cuisine with luxe touches in everything from shellfish and classic salads, to a shortlist of chophouse steaks and excellent sides and sauces. There's also a robust three-course pretheater menu ($85 or $95). The lunch menu is balanced with a range of perfected dishes; but the sleeper meal here is breakfast, with generous sweet and/or savory fare that will fill you up for the rest of the day.

A nod to Midtown's famed, former Legacy Recording Studios, this chic eatery with a focus on the cuisine of northern Italy is well worth a far-west-side walk to the edge of Hudson Yards. The culinary dream team here also operates downtown's Charlie Bird and Pasquale Jones restaurants, focusing here on the north's coastal regions that's showcased with a crudo tasting menu, as well as more inventive dishes inspired by remote locales across Italy. The small bites and larger plates are sensational, elevated by the tantalizing cocktail program and enormous wine selection. The restaurant has a casual elegance thanks to its homey wood, leather, and brass details, with a compact dining room, lovely U-shape bar, and upstairs lounge (with limited hours).

Large picture windows look out to expansive views of Central Park South at this 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. Along with the homemade pastas that helped make Marea famous, whole fish, risotto, and antipasti are fresh and delightful. The international wine cellar here is spectacular, and service is flawless.

At the base of the Shops at Hudson Yards, this is a 35,000-square-foot, multifaceted love letter to Spanish food helmed by chef José Andrés and team. You can eat at self-serve tables; dine in full-service restaurants, Mar, Spanish Diner, or Leña; or pull up a stool at La Barra to sample delectable tapas (with vegetarian and seafood selections) and terrific wine and cocktails. The venue features fresh market (mercado) stands of produce, cheese, jamón (ham), pasteles (pastries), and more, as well as dedicated seafood and paella outposts.