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Ready to take a bite out of New York? Hope you've come hungry. In a city where creativity is expressed in innumerable ways, the food scene takes center stage, with literally thousands of chances to taste what Gotham is all about. Whether lining up at street stands, gobbling down legendary deli and diner grub, or chasing a coveted reservation at the latest celebrity-chef venue, New Yorkers are a demanding yet appreciative audience.
Every neighborhood offers temptations high, low, and in between, meaning there's truly something for every taste, whim, and budget. No matter how you approach dining out here, it's hard to go wrong. Planning a day of shopping among the glittering flagship boutiques along 5th and Madison Avenues? Stop into one of the Upper East Side's storied restaurants for a repast among the "ladies who lunch." Clubbing in the Meatpacking District? Tuck into a meal at eateries as trendy as their patrons. Craving authentic ethnic? From food trucks to hidden joints, there are almost more choices than there are appetites. Recent years have also seen entire food categories, from ramen to meatballs to mac 'n' cheese, riffed upon and fetishized, and at many restaurants you find an almost religious reverence for seasonal, locally sourced cuisine.
And don't forget—New York is still home to more celebrity chefs than any other city. Your chances of running into your favorite cookbook author, Food Network celeb, or paparazzi-friendly chef are high, adding even more star wattage to a restaurant scene with an already through-the-roof glamour quotient. Newfound economic realities, however, have revived appreciation for value, meaning you can tap into wallet-friendly choices at every level of the food chain. Rest assured, this city does its part to satisfy your appetite. Ready, set, eat.
Open since 1837, elegant Delmonico's is NYC's third-oldest restaurant, and steeped in history. It was Manhattan's first fine-dining establishment, with an inventive 19th-century chef de cuisine whose most famous dishes, including eggs Benedict, lobster Newberg, and baked Alaska, are still served. The stately dining room is clad in Victorian decor that instantly transports diners to another era. The classic atmosphere complements menu highlights like the signature Delmonico's steak, a boneless rib eye topped with frizzled onions, and a selection of seafood and classic sides. In addition to the main dining room, the iconic, triangular building offers a separate bar and grill with a more contemporary lunch/dinner menu (entrance on Beaver Street); as well as private dining on multiple floors. Reservations are recommended.
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.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que's origins are in Upstate New York, but its massive Harlem location brings smoked, homemade barbecue to the Big Apple. Big appetites will be happy with the huge platters of St. Louis–style ribs, Memphis-style ribs, and pulled pork and brisket here, as well as sides like mac'n'cheese, Asian cucumber salad, corn bread, slaw, and barbecue baked beans. Smaller appetites can opt for chicken wings, sliders, sandwiches, fried green tomatoes, salads, or Creole deviled eggs.
The cronut, a delectable cross between a doughnut and a croissant, was invented by Dominique Ansel in 2013, and the flaky pastries continue to create a hubbub, with just one inventive flavor available each month. There are plenty of other delightful creations here as well, such as decadent hot chocolate, which you can eat in the café or take with you.
If you have a hankering for red-sauce Italian–American fare, steer clear of Little Italy, and book yourself into Don Angie, a restaurant that took a staid cuisine, updated it, and made it wholly edible again: quite a task. Sit in the retro front room—featuring checkerboard floors and arched doorways—and chow down on sopressini pasta paired with mussels, garganelli noodles with meatballs and guanciale (cured pork jowl), or the excellent (and hugely portioned) lasagna for two, a spiral-shape reimagining of the classic dish.
Meat lovers in particular will enjoy Korean barbecue, and Dons Bogam is a venerable, quality option with a variety of meats (including American Wagyu) and seafood, cooked for you on a grill embedded in your table. Dishes are served with assorted condiments, sauces, and embellishments. Don't ignore the appetizers; the dumplings and pajeons (scallion pancakes) are excellent, as are the noodle dishes and bulgogis (marinated beef slices) if you aren't into barbecue. Artisanal and infused sojus (a Korean spirit) are among a good selection of wines, sakes, and beers.
After a fire shut down this popular 24/7 doughnut shop, it reopened in late 2023 to great fanfare among the city's fried dough fanatics. The doughnuts here are always excellent, but if you can magically time your visit for when the morsels are fresh out of the oven, you'll be in heaven. There is now a second location on Broadway and Astor Place that is also open 24 hours.
Housed in a triangular building smack in the center of Meatpacking District action, this bi-level Mexican restaurant with ample outdoor seating does consistently solid fare. The menu boasts classic south-of-the-border staples like chicken enchiladas, variations on the theme of tacos, and nachos, but the kitchen is at its best when churning out less-likely fare, such as yuca-stuffed croquetas, butternut squash and pumpkin soup, and mole-brushed short ribs. And, of course, you can wash it all down with one (or two) of several types of margaritas.
There’s a reason why these doughnuts in multilicious flavors have become a signature at so many cafés throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, and at this Manhattan outpost of the Bed-Stuy original, you can get them fresh out of the oven. The ever-popular (though odd-sounding) hibiscus doughnut looks gorgeous and has just the right amount of tart fruitiness to balance the sweetness of the dough; other favorites include passion fruit, salted chocolate, and cinnamon and sugar. Some are made vegan, too.
This cocktail-forward Anglo-Indian restaurant and bar, a warm, low-lit space with wooden tables, pays homage to the flavors and beverages found in the bistros, cafés, and supper clubs of "Old Bombay" in the early 20th century. In addition to biryanis, samosas, and kebabs, well-liked menu choices extend to butter chicken tikka masala, Goan pork vindaloo, and saag paneer (spicy greens cooked with Indian cheese), while the extensive beverage menu features reinvented cocktails such as Indian Spiced Old-Fashioned and the Bombay Gin Fizz---but think about ordering the house paanch, a five-ingredient drink whose name is a Hindi word commonly associated with punch. The Munkey prix-fixe dinner includes a cocktail, main course, and dessert.
Both a bustling food hall and a marketplace where you can shop for produce, baked goods, prepared foods, and kitchen staples, Eataly is a temple to all things gourmet Italian. You can graze at individual stands, sit down for a meal at one of several restaurants that each specialize in different aspects of Italian cuisine, or head upstairs to Serra by Birreria, a covered rooftop space that's open year-round and serves Italian specialties and microbrews that change with the seasons.
The Edge Harlem is housed in what was once a meeting place for key figures of the Harlem Renaissance like Zora Neal Hurston and Langston Hughes. Known for its cozy, rustic decor and creative food, this quaint but upbeat eatery is brought to you by a family unit, including two sisters, Juliet and Justine. With their British and Jamaican heritage driving the menu items, the shrimp and Parmesan grits are a standout, along with the codfish fritters and jerk chicken. On the weekends, don't miss out on the national dish of Jamaica, ackee and saltfish, best served with festival, a fried, crunchy bread.
The sleek, wood-paneled interior, complete with pink and blue ceiling lights, is an inviting venue in which to indulge in a fusion of Basque and southern French fare. Eel Bar has a tavern or gastropub vibe—a place you'd come to sip on a "gin tonic" or a glass of Rioja Alavesa as much as to snack on inspired dishes like the shrimp-and-egg gilda, a 'roided up version of the classic Basque pintxo, or squid-ink-laced grilled black rice patties.
This snug Lebanese café caters to locals with its popular vegan platters, mixed kebabs for two (with kofta, chicken, and lamb), shawarmas, and more. Seating is limited, but if you can snag a seat at lunch or dinnertime, you’re in for a treat. Try the mint lemonade and falafel sandwich, a house blend of chickpeas and fava beans, topped with turnip and pickles. For a carnivorous option, go for the El Toum sandwich, made with ground beef and pine nuts.
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.
Even though Duke Ellington made it famous to take the A train, it’s more convenient to take the 1 train to this friendly, casual neighborhood hangout that combines good food and live music with contemporary decor. Brunch features the Southern staple chicken and waffles, there are some inventive fish and seafood dishes, and the bar is open until 1 am.
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 chilies. 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.
