7 Best Restaurants in New York City, New York

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.

Brancaccio's Food Shop

$ Fodor's choice

In need of picnic supplies, lunch, or a take-home meal? Owner Joe Brancaccio has been feeding the neighborhood with his daily-changing menu of sandwiches, rotisserie chicken, and prepared pastas and vegetables since 2010, and the shop just keeps getting busier. There are also house-baked croissants (plain, chocolate, or cheese), imported Italian sodas, and hard-to-find Mexican Coca-Cola (made with cane sugar, not high-fructose corn syrup).

Katz's Delicatessen

$$ | Lower East Side Fodor's choice

Everything and nothing has changed at Katz's since it first opened in 1888, when the neighborhood was dominated by Jewish immigrants: lines still form for the giant, hand-carved corned beef and pastrami sandwiches, soul-warming soups, juicy hot dogs, and crisp half-sour pickles. You get a ticket when you walk in and then get it punched at the various stations where you pick up your food; don't lose it, or you'll have to pay the lost-ticket fee.

Peck's

$ Fodor's choice

Theo Peck's eponymous gourmet shop descends from New York culinary royalty: Peck cut his teeth as a chef at Michelin-starred restaurant Blue Hill at Stone Barns, and his great-grandfather co-owned Ratner's kosher dairy, once a Lower East Side institution. The narrow store sells deli meats and cheeses, an impressive selection of beer, and goods from Brooklyn purveyors. The takeout counter serves La Colombe coffee, sandwiches, and prepared foods like house-made hummus, rotisserie chickens, and pastries. In warm weather, take yours to the picnic tables on the sunny back patio.

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David's Brisket House Deli

This storefront deli doesn't look like much, but several things make it a standout. One is the pastrami, available as a sandwich or with eggs for breakfast; another is the fact that you can order a "small" sandwich—definitely enough for average appetites—rather than the typical oversize versions that you get at places like Katz's. And then there's the fact that this local institution really represents the neighborhood's diversity: it was originally owned by Jewish immigrants from Yemen and Russia but was then passed on to a Muslim partner, whose family now runs it. (Note that the shop is closed Friday from noon to 2 for prayer service.)

Defonte's

$ | Red Hook

The outrageously good heroes at Defonte's Sandwich Shop, overstuffed with cured meats, mozzarella, chicken parm, or fried eggplant, have made this storefront a Brooklyn institution. And after almost a century in business, they've certainly had time to perfect their recipes. The shop is delightfully old-school, with framed newspaper clippings and head shots of Sinatra and other celebrities on the walls. Seating is limited.

Mile End

$$ | Boerum Hill

Smoked meat in the form of brisket, turkey, chicken, and duck plays a starring role at this Montréal-style Jewish deli-restaurant that's nearly always full. The brisket finds its way into the signature smoked meat sandwich, the breakfast hash, and even poutine—french fries blanketed with gravy and cheese curds. The sizable menu also includes matzo ball soup, chicken livers, a Reuben, and other deli delights. The bagels are made the Montréal way, boiled before being baked in a wood-fired oven. The butcher-block tables at which diners sit are as sturdy as the cuisine.

Shelsky's of Brooklyn

$ | Cobble Hill

Owner Peter Shelsky pays homage to the traditional Lower East Side deli by stocking the classics—bagels, babka, and the like—but often with a nouveau-Brooklyn twist. Gravlax, Nova, and smoked salmon, for example, share space in the refrigerator with house-cured Jamaican jerk salmon, Mexican achiote salmon, and other deli delectables like pickled herring, whitefish salad, knishes, and prepared salads. You can purchase by the pound or opt for one of the excellent made-to-order sandwiches. For an amusing 1990s fashion flashback, check out Shelsky's bar mitzvah photo album on the ordering counter.

New York City

New York City

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