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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.
The New York outpost of the 154-year-old pizzeria in Naples that the travel memoir "Eat, Pray, Love" single-handedly turned into a must-visit stop on the tourist trail, this West Village pizzeria opened in late 2022 and has managed to quickly become one of the best Neapolitan-style pizzerias in the city. The menu here is much more expansive than the original, treading into all-encompassing trattoria fare, such as pastas and salads, but stick to the classic Margherita pie and you'll walk out of here a very happy eater.
One of Brooklyn's most celebrated slice joints made the leap over the East River in late 2023 and a line formed immediately. The owner of L'Industrie is originally from Tuscany and it shows in the crispy, ultrathin-crust pies. There are usually 10 varieties of pizza available daily, but first-timers should opt for the burrata slice: thin, crispy crust topped with sweet tomato sauce and gooey flavorful globs of burrata cheese. Limited seating is available, plus a small selection of natural wine and beer.
Brought to you by the pasta company Pastaficio di Martino from the renowned pasta-making town of Gragnano near Naples, Italy, La Devozione is: (1) a retail shop where you can purchase packages of the company's 126 different pasta shapes and (2) an exquisite restaurant, complete with an oval-shape table setting around the open kitchen, so diners can watch their four-course lunch or seven-course dinner get made. Diners who don't want to commit to a long tasting menu can sit at other tables and choose from classic à la carte options like cacio e pepe and carbonara.
A bright yellow facade makes this upscale French bistro easy to find, and inside it's warm and cozy amid its dark wood paneling. Sushi rolls and tuna tartare have been added to the French and Italian menu, which includes traditional onion soup, duck foie gras, steak au poivre, roasted cheese soufflé, and roasted heritage half chicken. The best bet for dessert though is profiteroles—in this case, scoops of vanilla ice cream covered in a thin crust of chocolate.
Staten Island has one of the largest Sri Lankan communities outside the South Asian nation, which means it's the perfect place to taste its cuisine. Along an unassuming strip of restaurants and groceries is this acclaimed, standout restaurant, tastefully adorned with Sri Lankan curios. During the week, different curries accompany à la carte dishes known as lamprais, kottus, and hoppers, however, on weekends there's an all-you-can-eat buffet of greatest hits for $22.
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.
Set in the heart of Midtown, and located on the second floor of One Vanderbilt, a glassy 93-story skyscraper that dwarfs the nearby Chrysler Building (views of which you can appreciate from the restaurant's massive windows), Le Pavillon is named for a French restaurant in 1940s Manhattan that first defined French cuisine in the United States and is itself redefining fine dining in Midtown Manhattan. Immediately hailed a culinary oasis, world-renowned chef Daniel Boulud’s restaurant is also a soothing oasis, with its understated, neutral interiors, 57-foot ceilings, grand views, and lush forestlike setting complete with 20-foot-tall olive trees. The menu is prix-fixe and focuses on locally sourced vegetables and seafood. The Oysters Vanderbilt is named for the railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who built Grand Central Terminal. À la carte menu items are available in the bar and lounge.
When Harlem resident Susannah Koteen opened Lido in 2011, she became one of the pioneers of Restaurant Row, which blossomed along Frederick Douglass Boulevard. A laid-back yet classy restaurant with boundless appeal, this authentic Italian eatery is a neighborhood go-to for a casual dinner and the perfect date spot. The restaurant's interior and its menu were designed by Serena Bass, a James Beard Award winner. Try the Tuscan crostini with burrata and poached pears drizzled with honey and topped with sage as a starter and wash it down with an Emerald City cocktail, made with pineapple-infused mezcal, jalapeño cilantro syrup, and fresh lime. For brunch, don’t skip the braised short rib hash or spaghetti with veal meatballs. And to top it off, add bottomless mimosas and sangria (white or red) for $20.
Even in the most diverse neighborhood of New York City, you are still in New York, after all, so great pizza is a must. This no-frills pizza joint is run by Louie himself. Hailed as a local hero after surviving a horrific stabbing from protecting an elderly woman from being mugged, Louie has become somewhat of a staple figure in the neighborhood. Heroism aside, the grandma slice here is one of the best in the borough, but you also don't want to miss their homemade agnolotti pasta.
Pastry chef Eunji Lee’s exquisite creations at Lysée are easily New York’s most stunning desserts. Infused with Korean flavors—like toasted brown rice—and crafted with French techniques, each confection is edible art—especially her signature corn cake covered with delicately piped kernels of corn mousse. Grab one to-go from the minimalist bakery upstairs or savor four decadent delights by reserving the prix-fixe in the downstairs dining room.
One of the best pizza joints on the Upper West Side offers both traditional pie-shape slices and thicker square slices known as Sicilian style. There's often a long wait, whether you're there for takeout or for one of the few tables, so order online to save time.
\nThis innovative food hall opened in spring 2023 to great fanfare. Run by the James Beard Foundation and set on historic Pier 57, the market boasts a lineup of 15 food stalls from James Beard Award–winning chefs. Some standouts include Bessou, a modern take on Japanese home cooking; Mijo, a taqueria by chef Fany Gerson—the taco Arabe (spiced pork with a spicy chipotle sauce) is one of the best tacos in the city; Sahadi's, Middle Eastern fare from a legendary Brooklyn grocer; and Zaab Zaab, an outpost of the celebrated Thai spot in Queens.
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, the bar has daily happy hour food specials, and weekends bring great brunch specials.
David Chang's first restaurant, a riff on the Japanese ramen bar, opened back in 2004, and it's still a strong crowd favorite for the daily changing menu of ramen, steamed buns, and various other innovative options. The spare, bright space has plenty of counter seating and a few low tables that you might end up sharing communal-style.
David Chang opened Ssäm bar two years after his original Noodle Bar, and the stylish spot easily shows the multicultural bent of its creator. A selection of country hams is a surprising but delicious way to start a meal, perhaps followed by an Indian-inspired curry and potato appetizer, perfectly glazed barbecue ribs, and a whole-fish preparation. For a serious splurge, opt for the $135 rotisserie duck.
This deco-inspired brasserie is a pretty pastel setting for a business breakfast or postshopping lunch and a flirty and chic destination for dinner. The vibes are lavish and retro; think Miami, Mrs. Maisel, and an ever-so-elegant cruise ship, with curved banquettes, multilevel dining areas, a curved marble bar, globe lights, soft pinks and blues, and altogether lots of visual drama. Once seated, the theatrics continue with an expertly manned martini cart for customizing your cocktail or mocktail and table-side visits for carving prime rib and flambéing Bananas Foster (and subsequent oohing and aahing).
A quaint, whitewashed facade highlighted by a colorful vegetable mural hints what lies within this sustainability-minded and kosher café: a daytime menu of produce-forward dishes, including shakshuka (eggs in a spicy tomato sauce), salads, and a tasty tofu banh mi, plus an evening menu of salmon soba noodles and fish tacos. Indoor seating is limited, but outdoor seating is on a relatively quiet and picturesque side street.
Nathan Handwerker, a Polish immigrant with a $300 loan and his wife Ida's secret spice recipe, founded this Coney Island hot dog stand in 1916. Fast-forward over a century, and this New York City institution has endured with a cultlike following among celebrities and heads of state, paving the way for international franchises. While Nathan's may be synonymous with hot dogs and fries, they also offer burgers and other sandwiches. At this original location (not to be confused with the one a block away on the boardwalk), you can also get seafood—even fried frogs' legs. The biggest day of the year at Nathan's is always July 4, when competitive eaters and fans converge on Surf Avenue to crown that year's hot-dog-eating champion.
This standard Greek-named diner, next to the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, offers a full-service coffee bar, a wide range of omelets, and sandwiches. Try the "signature Nisi creation," comprised of your choice of pancake, waffle, or French toast topped with decadent and some cleverly named offerings, like the Elvis (peanut butter chips, sauce, and bananas); Oreo Cookie (cookie crumbles, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and, of course, whipped cream). There's also some vegan lunch and dinner dishes and a "build your own burger" menu with a wide array of choices of patties, cheeses, toppings and even dressings.
Tucked into the ground floor of a cozy, brick-walled town house, this West Chelsea favorite is just steps from the area's blue-chip galleries. The vibe is laid-back, with leather banquettes and a back garden perfect for summer. The menu offers comforting American-inspired dishes—spicy crab spaghetti and chicken Milanese are must-tries—along with creative, seasonal cocktails from behind the sleek, marble-topped bar.
Just north of the mediocre restaurants of Little Italy but miles away in terms of quality, Pasquale Jones serves crispy pizza, al dente pasta, and inventive takes on Italian dishes from the wood-fired oven. A meal in this cool, minimalist restaurant may be slightly more expensive than what you'll find a few blocks down on Mulberry Street, but if you're looking for a meal you'll remember in a chic-but-casual space, this is the real deal.
Pastis looks like it's been here for decades—it moved into this space in 2019—and has all the signature Keith McNally elements: smoky mirrors, a long curving bar, floor-to-ceiling windows, and white subway tiles. French favorites are front and center, including toothsome steak frites with béarnaise, mussels steamed in Pernod, and a tasty apple tartlet with phyllo crust. The people-watching is stellar, and there's still a good chance you'll see a celebrity or two. Tables outside in nice weather are prime real estate. Locals and visitors are still drawn to this neighborhood mainstay so it gets busy at mealtimes.
