6 Best Restaurants in New York City, New York

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.

Whether you're lucky enough to nab a table at 1 pm or 1 am, this bistro—Keith McNally's original solo foray into the restaurant world, before Balthazar and Pastis—always seems like the place to be. The French-influenced kitchen's offerings are straightforward: croque monsieur, steak frites, and salade niçoise are old standbys, with a turkey burger thrown in to accommodate the palate américain. Bedecked in classic bistro trappings—hammered-copper stools, mirrors with menu items scrawled on them—the restaurant would look just as perfect in the Bastille neighborhood of Paris as it does in this swanky part of the Big Apple.

If the Upper West Side and the French Riviera collided, it might look a little bit like Nice Matin. This longtime neighborhood favorite is particularly popular in warm-weather months, when regulars plant themselves at sidewalk tables and gawk at passersby while munching on Gallic fare like pan-roasted monkfish, garlicky mussels, and, of course, steak frites. The novel-size wine list has more than 2,000 bottles, so bring your reading glasses. 

A destination for those who know and love food and celebrate diversity, Yatenga serves traditional French bistro fare. This rustic-chic eatery is perfect for happy hour or dinner. For your main, the chef Gambas special (large shrimp in a creamy bechamel and garlic sauce with macaroni) or the steak au poivre are sure to delight. For something less fussy, go for the Harlem combo, consisting of wings, fries, onion rings, and honey mustard sauce, or the fried calamari with a red pepper sauce. Yatenga also offers a weekend brunch with unlimited mimosas, bloody Marys, or bellinis.