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$ | Woodside |
This quaint, plant-filled space is brighter and more stylish than your average dumpling-slinger in Queens. That makes sense when you look at the menu, which mixes creative takes on Himalayan classics like perfectly crimped momos (dumplings stuffed with meat or veggies) in a tomato and fenugreek sauce or thenthuk (pulled noodles), as well as American comfort food like buttermilk fried chicken, grass-fed beef burgers, and kale salad. The cocktails are similar global standouts, employing ingredients like masala, tamarind, or tajin spice mix, and there are natural wines on the menu.
51--18 Skillman Ave., Queens, New York, 11377, USA
Known For
- Creative Himalayan dishes
- American comfort food
- Cute interior
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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At this coffee shop with roots in Bogotá, the beauty of the space is matched by the quality of the coffee, which comes exclusively from small farms in Colombia. Fresh beans are brought directly to Brooklyn, where they're roasted on-site within a few days of arrival. Take a seat on one of the leather sofas under the skylight or at a table in front of the living wall, and enjoy a cappuccino with one of the homemade medialunas or croissants. The stylish space has books, magazines, and even dominoes—perfect for a relaxing Sunday afternoon.
69 Grand St., Brooklyn, New York, 11249, USA
Known For
- Third-wave Colombian coffee
- Bright, welcoming space
- Living plant wall
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$$ | |
Brooklyn legend Domenico De Marco has been handcrafting pizzas with top-quality ingredients in this Midwood storefront since 1965, and even the locals wait upward of an hour (and sometimes two) for pizza that's a contender for best in the greater New York area. You can order a slice ($5), but you're better off with a whole pie, because the pizza maker waits until there are enough slice orders to complete a pie. The "classic" is topped with sausage, peppers, mushrooms, and onions ($33), but the "regular" ($29) lets you appreciate the pure goodness. The small, worn space has a handful of tables (no table service), so don't expect anything fancy. For a shorter wait, arrive well before they open at noon.
1424 Ave. J, Brooklyn, New York, 11230, USA
Known For
- Legendary pizza
- Classic toppings and quality ingredients
- Long lines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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The Soviet-era childhoods of its two owners inspired the food and decor of this casual coffeehouse that has impressed the neighborhood with its Russian-inflected lunch and brunch fare. Popular dishes include the buckwheat-and-kale salad and the avocado toast, both topped with a fried egg if desired. Cheburashka sweetened coffee, named after a character from Russian children's literature, is the signature drink. It's tempting to linger here, either in the sunny front room or, in warm weather, on the large back patio.
146 Evergreen Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11206, USA
Known For
- Cheburashka sweetened coffee
- Health-forward brunch dishes with a Russian slant
- Large back patio
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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$$ | Williamsburg |
The word "diner" might evoke a greasy spoon, but this trendsetting restaurant under the Williamsburg Bridge is nothing of the sort. Andrew Tarlow—the godfather of Brooklyn's farm-to-table culinary renaissance—opened it in 1999 and launched an entire movement. The restaurant occupies a 1927 dining car, and foodies cram into the booths to partake in eclectic dishes from the regularly changing menu, based on seasonal ingredients from farms in the Greater New York area. They're also known for their grass-fed burger, available year-round.
85 Broadway, Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Rotating, eclectic menu
- Farm-to-table fare
- Intimate space in a vintage dining car
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$$ | Lower East Side |
One of the most inspired vegetarian restaurants in the country, Dirt Candy shines thanks to chef Amanda Cohen, who knows how to coax every bit of flavor out of vegetables—which she has described as "candy from the earth"—so that they dazzle on the plate and the palate. There's just one five-course tasting menu every night, which might include signature dishes like the build-your-own Brussels sprouts tacos, the "Tower of Terroir" deconstructed salad, or the addictive and spicy Korean fried broccoli.
86 Allen St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Creative and fun vegetarian and vegan food
- Interesting alcohol and nonalcohol cocktails
- Rather nondescript space
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential
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$ | Lower East Side |
The all-American junk-food staple is elevated to high art here, with fresh seasonal ingredients, real fruit, and imported chocolate mixed into the batter. Traditionalists croon over the vanilla-bean doughnut, but there are plenty of exotic flavors to tempt taste buds: the dense, fudgy Blackout is covered in crumb topping; carrot-cake doughnuts have a cream-cheese filling. Choosing is the difficult part: options include cake doughnuts and yeast doughnuts, as well as "doughseeds." There are other locations around the five boroughs.
379 Grand St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Creative, seasonal flavors in cake and yeast varieties
- Fudgy Blackout doughnuts
- Fun decor
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$$$ | Jackson Heights |
Uruguay is known throughout the world for serving up heaping mounds of high-quality meat and this Jackson Heights corner spot does it just right. With a wide variety of marinated meats to choose from (including beef tongue and blood sausage), all cooked right on the open grill, expect large portions and classic side options like tostones (fried green plantains) and yuca frita (fried yuca). Ask for the homemade chimichurri dipping sauce (a vinegary delight with basil and garlic) that pairs well with just about any dish, or try their empanadas (stuffed with juicy beef or chicken) and the signature Chivito al pan (a decadent steak sandwich topped with ham, bacon, and egg) for a quick hearty meal.
84--02 37th Ave., Queens, New York, 11372, USA
Known For
- Sizzling mounds of meat
- Large portions
- Parrillada (mixed-grill dishes)
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$$$$ | Flatiron District |
Luxury, precision, and creativity are the driving forces at this internationally renowned prix-fixe restaurant in a refined high-ceilinged space. Swiss-born chef Daniel Humm oversees the kitchen, concocting unexpected, often whimsical, dishes that change often but have a solid grounding in locavore American tastes. This is one of the most fine-tuned dining experiences you can have in New York City.
11 Madison Ave., New York, New York, 10010, USA
Known For
- Ultimate special-occasion restaurant
- Shorter tasting menu at the bar
- Reserve ahead
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Thurs., Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$ | West Village |
The specialties at this beloved Brooklyn pizzeria and Italian-ish eatery, named for its proprietor and situated on a charming block, range from Detroit-style grandma pies (think square instead of round, thick instead of thin) to wood-fired pizzas with ingredients like clams, anchovies, and Calabrian chiles. One item that might convince you to forego pizza, though, is the signature burger, an American cheese and caramelized onion–topped beef patty on a pretzel bun.
35 Downing St., New York, New York, 10014, USA
Known For
- Different kinds of pizza
- Great signature burger
- Brooklyn favorite
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$ | Midtown East |
If you're feeling peckish in this hurried neighborhood, slip into a favorite Manhattan café and bagel bakery that has been serving authentic family-style comfort since 1976. There's a selection of jumbo, kosher bagels onto which toppings are piled high, or choose from a variety of salads, sandwiches, and fresh-baked treats available all day.
831 3rd Ave., New York, New York, 10022, USA
Known For
- Locals' favorite bagels of various kinds
- Wide range of cream-cheese flavors
- Made-to-order sandwiches and egg dishes
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$$$ | NoLIta |
Long before Mr. and Mrs. Obama ate dinner here in 2014, this second-floor spot with minimalist decor had been on the map for those who appreciate chef Ignacio Mattos's deceptively simple cuisine and it still receives consistent acclaim as being one of the best restaurants in Manhattan. The chef's creativity tends to sneak up on the diner in dishes where rye matzo bread might be used under mashed salt cod or sunchoke chips might be folded into sumptuous beef tartare.
47 E. Houston St., New York, New York, 10012, USA
Known For
- Hard-to-get tables
- Top-notch cocktails
- Exciting food using a mix of cuisines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays, Reservations essential
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$ | Meatpacking District |
Despite the Gallic-sounding name, this bakery is all Swedish. There's nearly always a line out the door, and it's worth queuing up. The bread produced here is some of the best this side of the Atlantic. Baguettes, whole loaves, pastries—everything that comes out of the oven here is edible gold: the cardamom bun has become legendary. There's a small seating area in the back or get some goodies for take away and eat them at the tables scattered around the Meatpacking District.
348 W. 14th St., New York, New York, 10014, USA
Known For
- Freshly baked bread
- Cardamom bun
- Cappuccinos
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$$ | West Village |
Not all the grappa in this charming, diminutive Italian restaurant will help you pronounce its name, but you won't care once you tuck into the fabulous pasta dishes made in the open kitchen. The menu's focus is on Tuscany with a few nods south to Rome. The pappardelle al ragù is rich and satisfying. Same for the tagliolini laced with sea urchin. But for first timers and twenty-first timers, it's impossible to pass up the cacio e pepe, a simple, gooey, cheesy Roman pasta dish that tastes like it just magically materialized from the Eternal City.
114 Christopher St., New York, New York, 10014, USA
Known For
- Long wait times
- Cacio e pepe
- Affordable carafes of house wine
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations not accepted
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$$$ | East Village |
Seafood, spicy, and sharing plates are the key concepts at this convivial and colorful Thai restaurant, where the dishes aren't what you find on typical Thai restaurant menus. Order for the table and if you like spice, make sure to include the Zabb wings to start and move on to the coconut crab curry, among other things.
55 Bond St., New York, New York, 10012, USA
Known For
- The prawn karee is a luscious curry
- Delicious cocktails
- Things can get a little spicy
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$$ | |
The chefs here consider pizza-making both art and science, and their wood-fired creations prove just how deftly they balance the equation. The funghi misti—a white pie with mozzarella, wild mushrooms, and truffle oil—is downright irresistible. It’s no wonder locations in Brooklyn Bridge Park and Greenpoint have joined the original, which is casual in style but gourmet in quality. Check for seasonal specials, like the fig, Gorgonzola, and arugula pizza offered in summer.
291 Kent Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11249, USA
Known For
- Wood-fired pizza
- Casual vibe
- Great for families
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$ | |
Pie, ordered whole or by the slice, is why you come to this rustic flagship of the Elsen sisters' enterprise. The bakers are experts on the topic, having written a definitive book and appeared in basically every food magazine around. The café usually has five or six pies, plus a variety of baked goods.
439 3rd Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11215, USA
Known For
- Salted caramel apple pie
- Whole pie orders
- Seasonal speciality pies
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$$ | Greenpoint |
Its past as a glass factory inspired Glasserie's warm, romantic atmosphere, and details like rare light fixtures and prints of original electric bulbs abound. Owner Sara Conklin spent her childhood in the Middle East, and her experiences there influence the farm-to-table cuisine. Pair the Persian Gold cocktail (a gin and tonic with saffron) with the phyllo pastries, then order a few more small plates to share.
95 Commercial St., Brooklyn, New York, 11222, USA
Known For
- Warm, intimate atmosphere
- Middle Eastern small plates
- Great cocktails and wine list
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$ | Park Slope |
This popular Brooklyn-based brand has fueled Park Slope since 2002 with its specially blended roasts and beans from direct-trade and family farms. There's a pour-over menu with the concise descriptions you'd expect on a fine-wine menu. Business is just as brisk as at the now closed original location, but the sleek interior is a 180-degree upgrade. Muffins from nearby Blue Sky Bakery and baked goods from Colson's Patisserie are in good supply. The window seats are prime spots to watch the steady stream of foot traffic. There's free Wi-Fi, but no outlet use.
472 Bergen St., Brooklyn, New York, 11217, USA
Known For
- Espresso-a-go-go blend
- Signature Sunrise drink of cold brew, plus OJ and dash of vanilla syrup
- Great location outside the Bergen Street subway station
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$$$$ | 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.
