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$$ | Gramercy |
Most of the delectable items on the menu at this Iberian, small-plates, corner restaurant are made for sharing, but of particular note are all things seared à la plancha (on a metal plate), including blistered peppers and garlic-kissed mushrooms. The atmosphere is always bustling but the best seats are those at the Casa Mono counter overlooking the chef's open kitchen. The perennially cramped and crowded space sends patrons to Bar Jamón, the wine-and-ham-bar annex next door, where you can pick at plates of jamón serrano while awaiting the main feature.
52 Irving Pl., New York, New York, 10003-3447, USA
Known For
- High-quality, authentic Spanish tapas
- Hard to get a table so reserve in advance
- Small Bar Jamón annex around the corner
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$$ | Chelsea |
The food of the Republic of Georgia is one of the best and under-represented cuisines of the world. Most of the excellent Georgian restaurants in New York are lodged deep into Brooklyn, but Chama Mama is a superb Manhattan option if you want to avoid a long subway ride. Start with khachapuri, the ubiquitous baked cheese bread (the boat-shape version from the region of Adjara has become the international face of Georgian cuisine) and then move to shkmeruli, a tender Cornish game hen cooked in a garlicky cream sauce. The khinkhali, broth-filled dumplings, are also excellent. There's now a second location on the Upper West Side (Amsterdam Avenue and West 78th Street).
149 W. 14th St., New York, New York, 10011, USA
Known For
- Excellent Georgian wine list
- View of a huge tone, a traditional Georgian bread oven
- Khachapuri
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$$$ | Greenwich Village |
Perpetually packed, Italian-leaning Charlie Bird is the brainchild of sommelier Robert Bohr, who was in charge of wine at vino-mad Cru, and chef Ryan Hardy, who made a name for himself at Little Nell in Aspen and has been the private chef for Jay-Z and Beyoncé (not surprisingly, the restaurant has a hip-hop theme). The menu is divided into small and large plates, vegetables, a "raw" section, and pasta. The uni-loaded duck-egg spaghetti marries surf 'n' turf in a deeply satisfying way, while the Roman pasta dish cacio e pepe is one of the best versions this side of the Atlantic.
5 King St., New York, New York, 10012, USA
Known For
- The preferred spot of "cool kids" everywhere
- Hip-hop on the Hi-Fi
- Varied menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Tues.--Thurs., Reservations essential
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$$$ | SoHo |
Perpetually packed, Italian-leaning Charlie Bird is the brainchild of sommelier Robert Bohr, who was in charge of wine at vino-mad Cru, and chef Ryan Hardy, who made a name for himself at Little Nell in Aspen and has been the private chef for Jay-Z and Beyoncé (not surprisingly, the restaurant has a hip-hop theme). The menu is divided into small and large plates, vegetables, a "raw" section, and pasta. The Roman cacio e pepe pasta is one of the best versions this side of the Atlantic. The wine list is an exceptional tour of old world vintages.
5 King St., New York, New York, 10012, USA
Known For
- Sublime cacio e pepe
- Hip-hop on the Hi-Fi
- Top-shelf wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.--Thurs.
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$$ | Lower East Side |
At this casual retro-diner restaurant, weekend brunch brings a line down the street for what many believe to be the best blueberry pancakes in the city, if not the whole country. Lunch and dinner options include a variety of burgers, sandwiches, and salads—and you can get those pancakes at dinner, too, without as long a wait.
4 Clinton St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- February specialty pancake month
- Excellent, and busy, brunch
- Diner-type menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.–Tues.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$ | Flatiron District |
When Enrique Olvera, the chef at Pujol, which many agree is Mexico's best restaurant, announced he was coming north of the border, New York foodies went loco. Olvera's haute touch to his native cuisine is magic, and, coupled with the sleek design (soft lighting, minimalist decor), Cosme makes for a fine dining experience of sophisticated food, focused on small plates.
35 E. 21st St., New York, New York, 10010, USA
Known For
- Creative Mexican fare
- Duck carnitas
- Corn tempura soft-shell crab
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$$$$ | Flatiron District |
At the flagship of Top Chef head judge Tom Colicchio's nationwide, mini empire of excellent restaurants, the top-notch seasonal fare is exceptionally prepared with little fuss and served in a cozy-yet-minimalist space with exposed brick details, wood floors, and bare light bulbs. Expect a menu that hits a variety of high notes, from exuberantly fresh hamachi or braised octopus to start, stylish salads, hearty but not overpowering pastas, and perfectly cooked mains.
43 E. 19th St., New York, New York, 10003-1304, USA
Known For
- Dazzling tasting menu
- Excellent service
- Sophisticated but welcoming
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations essential
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$ | Woodside |
This quaint, plant-filled space is brighter and more stylish than your average dumpling-slinger in Queens. That makes sense when you look at the menu, which mixes creative takes on Himalayan classics like perfectly crimped momos (dumplings stuffed with meat or veggies) in a tomato and fenugreek sauce or thenthuk (pulled noodles), as well as American comfort food like buttermilk fried chicken, grass-fed beef burgers, and kale salad. The cocktails are similar global standouts, employing ingredients like masala, tamarind, or tajin spice mix, and there are natural wines on the menu.
51--18 Skillman Ave., Queens, New York, 11377, USA
Known For
- Creative Himalayan dishes
- American comfort food
- Cute interior
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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$$ | |
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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$$ | Williamsburg |
The word "diner" might evoke a greasy spoon, but this trendsetting restaurant under the Williamsburg Bridge is nothing of the sort. Andrew Tarlow—the godfather of Brooklyn's farm-to-table culinary renaissance—opened it in 1999 and launched an entire movement. The restaurant occupies a 1927 dining car, and foodies cram into the booths to partake in eclectic dishes from the regularly changing menu, based on seasonal ingredients from farms in the Greater New York area. They're also known for their grass-fed burger, available year-round.
85 Broadway, Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Rotating, eclectic menu
- Farm-to-table fare
- Intimate space in a vintage dining car
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$$$ | 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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$$$ | NoLIta |
Long before Mr. and Mrs. Obama ate dinner here in 2014, this second-floor spot with minimalist decor had been on the map for those who appreciate chef Ignacio Mattos's deceptively simple cuisine and it still receives consistent acclaim as being one of the best restaurants in Manhattan. The chef's creativity tends to sneak up on the diner in dishes where rye matzo bread might be used under mashed salt cod or sunchoke chips might be folded into sumptuous beef tartare.
47 E. Houston St., New York, New York, 10012, USA
Known For
- Hard-to-get tables
- Top-notch cocktails
- Exciting food using a mix of cuisines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays, Reservations essential
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$$$ | 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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$$ | |
The chefs here consider pizza-making both art and science, and their wood-fired creations prove just how deftly they balance the equation. The funghi misti—a white pie with mozzarella, wild mushrooms, and truffle oil—is downright irresistible. It’s no wonder locations in Brooklyn Bridge Park and Greenpoint have joined the original, which is casual in style but gourmet in quality. Check for seasonal specials, like the fig, Gorgonzola, and arugula pizza offered in summer.
291 Kent Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11249, USA
Known For
- Wood-fired pizza
- Casual vibe
- Great for families
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | 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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$$$$ | 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.
