43 Best Restaurants in New York City, New York

There are more than enough ice-cream shops in this kid-oriented section of Brooklyn, but none quite like Malai. The Indian founder has imbued her frozen concoctions with South Asian ingredients that hark back to her childhood, which means you'll be able to enjoy flavors you might not find anywhere else in the city. In addition to coconut tahini with date caramel, or a simple masala chai, the shop also offers a rotating list of seasonal flavors, often to commemorate special holidays like Diwali.

The upscale-hacienda appearance of this justifiably popular restaurant showcases some of the best Mexican food in the city, courtesy of Mexican chef Richard Sandoval. Begin with a fresh mango margarita, then tuck into lobster corn empanadas, or the unusual octopus chicharron appetizer. Next, indulge in adobo birria (stew) made with adobo braised, tender roasted pork short rib. The daily happy hour, only at the bar and lounge, gets busy with specials on house margaritas, wines, and Mexican beers, along with tacos, nachos and other small plates. The dessert menu features its own roster of drinks, including Mexican coffee and a 1942 tequila. The bottomless brunch on weekends can get loud, but with unlimited cocktails and dishes you can see why.

"Born, bred, and buttered in Harlem" is how founder Melba Wilson describes herself. After working at New York City mainstays like Rosa Mexicano and the legendary Sylvia's, she decided to venture out on her own, opening Melba's in 2005. Here, she doesn't serve appetizers, but rather "comfortizers," like spring rolls stuffed with rice, black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cheddar cheese. The portions tend to be large enough to almost spill over the edge of the plate, so feel free to go straight for entrées like the Jamaican oxtail, country-fried catfish, or the food-coma-inducing fried chicken and eggnog waffles with strawberry butter and maple syrup.

A hip, cozy place for pizza and small plates, this exposed brick eatery is filling the gap for wood-fired pizza in Astoria. Milkflower's origins hail from New Jersey, where owners Pete and Danny worked in their uncle's pizzeria for 10 years. They noticed there wasn't a pizza joint on their block in Astoria, and so they made the coolest one in town. Enjoy wood-fired, Neapolitan, 12-inch pies with charred crusts with playful names like “Marky Marc” and “Wu-Tang Clam." Pizza isn't the only thing wood-fired here; their wood-fired veggies, crab cake, and tiger prawns are ideal accompaniments.

By converting a moribund 80-year-old Italian restaurant into a cozy hot spot, restaurateur Keith McNally created yet another hit. Try early and often to score reservations, so that you can sample creations like truffle-spiked roasted chicken breast, bone marrow on toast, expertly aged steaks, and the celebrated Black Label burger, a gorgeous assembly of meat with caramelized onions and an added layer of cheese. The barroom, with its original details intact, is great for people-watching. Landing a table in the back room, with its original mural depicting West Village life and wall-to-wall photos of famous and infamous customers from eras gone by, makes sweet-talking the reservationist a worthy endeavor.

The multiyear winner of Jackson Heights's annual Momo Crawl, Nepali Bhanchha Ghar is an unassuming spot known for its jhol momo (juicy dumplings in a rich, tomato-y, chutney-esque broth) and other Nepalese fare. Also on hand are a spicy, crispy noodle dish that will remind you of packaged ramen (though in a good way), thali platters vibrant with fiery, colorful curries, and a special savory fried doughnut called sel roti, served with a spicy tomato chutney.

You may have noticed Red Hook Lobster Pound food trucks hawking lobster rolls around the city, but it all began here at this building that originally served as a lobster pound, selling fresh live lobsters driven down from Maine each week by its founders. Today, it has evolved into their flagship brick-and-mortar seafood restaurant, offering a wide selection of seafood platters, plus happy-hour oysters from 4 to 6 pm.

If you fancy a quality cocktail, freshly made pasta, and top-notch pizza, look no further than Rocco's of Roc Beach. The menu is extensive with no classic Italian-American dishes left behind. From veal marsala to chicken parm in vodka sauce with enough cheese to feed a small family, everything made at Rocco's is clearly made with love. Don't skip out on their pasta, which is made in house daily, and proven with that signature chew that only fresh pasta can provide. Pizza toppings range from buffalo chicken to classic tomato and cheese, and there are vegan and gluten-free options on a cauliflower crust.

Some of the most showstopping cocktails can unsuspectingly be found at a Japanese restaurant in Harlem. ROKC is serving up a modern take on ramen, with dishes like the Kyoto, a soy sauce--flavored chicken and fish broth with pork belly and spicy bamboo shoots. They also offer a selection of "soupless" varieties, like yokosuka curry with shrimp paste and cauliflower, and sea urchin and salmon caviar bowls. While their ramen is arguably the best in upper Manhattan, their cocktails take ROKC over the top. Try the clarified Cumin & Yogurt with Japanese vodka, or the Pineapple and Passion Fruit with rum and burnt cinnamon. Just plan accordingly, because it's rare that there's not a line here.

Time Out magazine has certainly made a splash with its gourmet food halls found in cities around the world—and its New York location is no exception. Found on the ground and fifth floors of the historic Empire Stores building, this collection of elevated food stalls will seduce any foodie with its diverse selections of sweet and savory offerings, including Venezuelan arepas from The Maiz Project, Japanese hand rolls from Mori Mori, and Dominican-meets-Texan fare at Bark Barbecue.

Is it an Italian grocery store; an Italian coffee shop; an Italian wine bar; an Italian restaurant? It's all of the above. The name might not giveaway its Bel Paese motif, but step inside and you'll experience a sensory explosion of all things Italian, right down to the employees gesturing wildly while speaking the language of their birth. If you visit in the morning, sidle up to the bar for a cappuccino and a croissant, at lunch indulge in some pizza, and in the evening, pasta and wine. They also sell good homemade pastas and various made-in-Italy food products to take home.

This straightforward local restaurant not only has one of the best restaurant names in the borough, but they're serving up some of the tastiest fried chicken in New York. UFC serves organic, humanely raised birds, fried crisp, spicy, and addictive with soy, garlic, or hot sauce. Other items on the menu include spicy pork bulgogi empanadas, beef bulgogi burgers, and good ol' cheese fries, but crispy chicken paired with one of the many craft beers on tap is a foolproof move here.

A wide, redbrick accent wall helps give this long-running neighborhood café its cozy Brooklyn feel, which serves quick lattes, muffins, and scones at the front counter. However, if you've got a little more time on your hands, head to the back room, beyond all the images of pineapples, where they serve brunch fare: breakfast sandwiches, paninis, soups, and salads. Wine and cocktails are also available, which continue after 4 pm, when heartier dinner fare is served.