973 Best Restaurants in New York, USA

A spectacular view of Keuka Lake awaits you at this breezy patio café, part of the Bully Hill Vineyards. The food is eclectic: Maryland crab cakes, buffalo burgers, or sage-and-prosciutto-stuffed chicken breast with three-cheese fettuccine. Lunch includes sandwiches and salads. Bully Hill wines are available, of course.

This one-of-a-kind, college-style burger bar, clad in wood paneling and looking like a rec room straight out of Happy Days, is tucked away in the lobby of the Thompson Central Park luxury hotel. Look for a neon burger marking entry into this delicious hideaway, up some stairs and behind a curtain. Inside you can find semi-surly, all-business cooks dispensing fresh shakes, crispy fries, and paper-wrapped cheeseburgers. These burgers are straightforward, cheap, and delicious—just be ready to order once you're at the counter, or they'll send you back to the start of the line. (There are two more locations, one inside Moynihan Train Hall, the other in Brooklyn's Industry City.)

Warmth exudes from both the interior design and the staff at this branch of a small local chain known for homestyle Italian food in big portions (half portions are available as well) and copious bread baskets. Everything is served family-style, making it an ideal meeting spot for large groups of friends and families. Expect entrees like spaghetti with chicken meatballs and warm grilled scallop salad or grilled rustica pizza.

Many say the Buffalo-style wings at Buzzy's are better than those at Buffalo's Anchor Bar. An institution since 1953, this no-frills place with bland decor and windows facing Route 62 serves build-your-own pizzas, eight specialty pies, calzones, and a dozen or so subs and hoagies. The wings and chicken fingers—fresh, not frozen—come with blue-cheese dip and a choice of 10 sauces, including one called Suicide, which the menu warns is "very hot—no refunds or exchanges."

Di Palo's has been an integral part of Little Italy since Savino Di Palo opened a small shop making fresh mozzarella and ricotta in 1910. That store grew into Di Palo's Fine Foods on Grand Street, which sells all manner of gourmet Italian products, and now Savino's great grandchildren have opened this spacious, though rather nondescript wine bar, serving those excellent products paired with lovingly selected Italian wines.

This clean and classic restaurant serves northern Italian fare. A mahogany ceiling and cherrywood floor in the dining room give way to a lighter, more elegant, birch-maple motif in the main dining room. The homemade pastas and raviolis are local favorites; the ravioli with beef or veal ragout is sublime. During warm weather, enjoy a romantic candlelight dinner in the tiered garden. The owners also run an inn housed in three impeccably restored houses close by.

Chef Ignacio Mattos's sequel to his much-lauded Estela, nearby, is an airy, high-ceiling spot that's called a café but is more of a paradise of satisfying Italian fare. Pasta lovers melt over the perfectly prepared cacio e pepe, but the kitchen also turns out expert fish and meat dishes: perhaps a perfectly roasted half chicken, pork Milanese, or hake with cauliflower and capers.

Manhattan's "who's who" in business, politics, and the art world come to hobnob at Daniel Boulud's café-in-name-only, where the food and service are top-notch. The menu is divided into four parts: La Tradition features classic French dishes such as roasted duck breast Montmorency with cherry chutney; Le Potager tempts with creations inspired by local farmers' markets; La Saison follows the rhythms of the season; and Le Voyage reinterprets cuisines of the world. Start with a drink at the chic Bar Pleiades.

A favorite of local politicos, this intimate, wood-paneled eatery serves northern Italian and Mediterranean food. The breads and pastas are made on-site, and you can't miss with the risotto of the day.

Don’t be fooled by its name—Café Carmellini, the first namesake restaurant by Andrew Carmellini (of Locanda Verde, Dutch, and Lafayette fame), is anything but casual. The grand, two-story space stuns with plush blue-velvet banquettes, rich brown woods, and soaring ceilings. The discreet, polished service pairs perfectly with a compact, globe-trotting menu that nods to Italian flavors without staying confined to them. Standouts include the rabbit cacciatore, scallops Cardoz, and duck tortellini. And don’t skip the outstanding table bread.

With daily almuerzo (lunch) specials on the menu, as well as an assortment of fresh pastries, cakes, and savory baked goods, this classic panaderia has a homey vibe with festive, brightly lit decor on the ceilings and Spanish guitar playing in the background. Try the buñuelos (cheese fritters), freshly squeezed juices, or the decadent flan with a cup of Colombian coffee.

The Mexican-style grilled corn, liberally sprinkled with chili powder, lime, and cotija cheese, is undoubtedly worth getting your hands dirty at this hip luncheonette that's become something of an institution on this well-traveled corner of NoLIta. Follow up with a classic Cuban sandwich (roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and chipotle mayo), fish tacos, or one of the innovative salads.

At this intimate storefront bistro, a favorite among locals, the ceiling fans, wood floors, and a series of small, pendant lights add homey touches. Chef-owner Steve Sands, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, oversees the kitchen, while co-owner Jules Buitron ensures that every guest gets the V.I.P. treatment. The ecelctic European menu lists dinner salads and burgers as well as more substantial dishes such as maple-dijon encrusted rack of lamb and a variety of pasta dishes. Schnitzels and brats round out a selection of German dishes. Weekend brunches are also a hit.

This elegant and rustic boulangerie/bistro features handmade artisanal breads and sophisticated pastries and fruit tarts. The dining room serves classic French dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Standouts include housemade sausages and pâtés, crostini topped with artichoke and feta or roasted garlic rosemary hummus, and moules frites. The brick patio is a welcome oasis in warm weather while the zinc bar is an intimate spot for a rendevous with wine, craft beer, or cocktails.

The jolly sunburst graphic on the café sign and the banks of colorful flowers on the front steps are très French. Warm terra-cotta–tone walls and vine-motif sconces continue the theme inside. The food is authentic French bistro fare, well prepared and presented. What a delight to find a really good croque- monsieur and moules (mussels) or steak frites. Tarte tatin, baked by the chef and served with a scoop of crème fraîche, is not to be missed.

Riverfront tables under a mandarin-orange canopy make for a relaxed meal at this small eatery, perfect for lunch, dinner, or just dessert in warm weather. When the air is nippy, head inside to the slightly cramped but warm space. The chairs are rickety and the service can be slow, but all is forgiven upon the arrival of the authentic Italian fare. Try a warm panini with Brie, arugula, and truffle oil, or a thin-crusted, prosciutto-topped pizzetta from the wood-burning oven. Tiramisu and cappuccino cake pair well with a selection of dessert wines and ports.

This café-bakery has light fare like soups, hot and cold sandwiches, and baked goods. Bag lunches are available, too, for skiers, hikers, or anyone who just likes to brown bag it. Outdoor seating is available.

It's hard to miss this charming little café when strolling down Vanderbilt Avenue with its big, faux floral design adorning its doorway. Inside, the decor is just as inspired by flowers and plants, as intended by its Colombian co-founder Camila Soto, who designed it. Her Colombian-influence is evident on the menu (i.e., arepas) of what's otherwise Italian-inspired, thanks to co-founder and namesake Stefano De Martini. Stop in for a quick cornetto or a cortado.

An updated ice-cream parlor that combines the best of American and Italian coffee and ice cream seems like a revelation: what took so long to come up with this idea? This is dessert adultified, but the kids will be happy, too.

New York’s oldest Italian caffè, open since 1891, pulls espresso and serves homemade gelato, cannoli, and Sicilian pignoli cookies, in a quaint space with pressed-tin ceilings, tiled floors, and heart-shape chairs.

Named for a border town between Mexico and California, this casual, easygoing Cal-Mex restaurant originated as a street cart in SoHo before opening a number of storefronts, three of which are in Brooklyn. At the Upper East Side outpost, you'll find Calexico's usual staples of burritos, quesadillas, tacos, and enchiladas. Items to try include frozen margaritas, chipotle-marinated pork tacos, and esquites, a grilled corn salad mixed with cotija (aged cow's milk) cheese, lime mayo, chili powder, sour cream, and cilantro. There's also a kids' menu, weekday happy hour and a weekend brunch.

This bistro-grill serves everything from horseradish–honey mustard salmon and Japanese ahi tuna to Parmesan-and-herb-crusted chicken and wild game. To wash down your meal you have a choice of 99 beers from around the world. A children's menu is available.