973 Best Restaurants in New York, USA

This British-leaning eatery began life as a pandemic-era pop-up mostly serving fish-and-chips. It didn't take long for the city's fooderati to figure out that oh-so-English snack was nearly revelatory here, maybe the best version outside of England. Today, Dame is a permanent fixture on MacDougal Street and serving more than just ultraflakey fish and crispy chips. The menu changes regularly but expect excellent dishes like pan-seared monkfish paired with lentils and bacon, smoked whitefish croquettes, and flakey fish pie. For a meatier take on British food, check out sibling restaurant Lord's, a few blocks away at 506 LaGuardia Place.

This quaint, plant-filled space is brighter and more stylish than your average dumpling-slinger in Queens. That makes sense when you look at the menu, which mixes creative takes on Himalayan classics like perfectly crimped momos (dumplings stuffed with meat or veggies) in a tomato and fenugreek sauce or thenthuk (pulled noodles), as well as American comfort food like buttermilk fried chicken, grass-fed beef burgers, and a kale salad with house-made ricotta. The cocktails are similar global standouts, employing ingredients like masala, tamarind, or tajin spice mix, and there are natural wines on the menu.

Utica's Italian community has gathered for years at Delmonico's, which bills itself as a steak house but really dishes up some of the region's most authentic Italian food. For an appetizer, try some Utica greens—sturdy greens cooked with olive oil, hot and sweet peppers, ham, and cheese. Rachel Ray did, and loved them so much she devoted a show to them. If you're not too full from the huge portions, sample the chicken Sinatra, which is simmered with hot peppers, mozzarella, and mushrooms. A waitress in pinstripes and a fedora will bring your food and offer you a selection from a long and tasty wine list.

At this unassuming storefront, you wouldn't be able to tell that this Nigerian restaurant has garnered high praise from many food critics, but owner-chef Ayo Balogun doesn't just prepare a meal for an intimate party of 16 guests sitting around a communal table, he takes diners on a nostalgic journey, through food and personal storytelling, to the north-central Nigeria of his childhood in the early 1980s. Classic dishes like pepper soup, asaro (yam porridge), and egusi (a creamy, nutty soup) are elevated through plating, while old Nigerian tunes play on vinyl, and art and old photos hang on the wall. There are two seatings at 6 pm and 8:30 pm each open evening, for the $97.20 prix-fixe experience.

Di ăn Di differentiates itself from the hordes of Southeast Asian–fusion restaurants in the city with a light- and plant-filled dining room and great recipes made using quality ingredients. Diners rave about the beef pho ha noi, served with an egg yolk, scallions, and Thai red chiles, and the papaya salad with house-made beef jerky, peanuts, and big sesame cracker.

The word \"diner\" might evoke a greasy spoon, but this trendsetting restaurant under the Williamsburg Bridge is nothing of the sort. It occupies a 1927 dining car, and foodies cram into the booths to partake in eclectic dishes from the regularly changing menu, based on seasonal ingredients from farms in the Greater New York area. They're also known for their grass-fed burger, available year-round. Andrew Tarlow—the godfather of Brooklyn's farm-to-table culinary renaissance—opened it in 1999 and launched an entire movement. 

One of the most inspired vegetarian restaurants in the country, Dirt Candy shines thanks to chef Amanda Cohen, who knows how to coax every bit of flavor out of vegetables—which she has described as \"candy from the earth\"—so that they dazzle on the plate and the palate. There's just one five-course tasting menu every night, which might include signature dishes like the build-your-own Brussels sprouts tacos, the \"Tower of Terroir\" deconstructed salad, or the addictive and spicy Korean fried broccoli.

The all-American junk-food staple is elevated to high art here, with fresh seasonal ingredients, real fruit, and imported chocolate mixed into the batter. Traditionalists croon over the vanilla-bean doughnut, but there are plenty of exotic flavors to tempt taste buds: the dense, fudgy Brooklyn Blackout is covered in crumb topping; carrot-cake doughnuts have a cream-cheese filling. Choosing is the difficult part: options include cake doughnuts and yeast doughnuts, as well as \"doughseeds.\" There are other locations around the five boroughs.

Uruguay is known throughout the world for serving up heaping mounds of high-quality meat and this Jackson Heights corner spot does it just right. With a wide variety of marinated meats to choose from (including beef tongue and blood sausage), all cooked right on the open grill, expect large portions and classic side options like tostones (fried green plantains) and yuca frita (fried yuca). Ask for the homemade chimichurri dipping sauce (a vinegary delight with basil and garlic) that pairs well with just about any dish, or try their empanadas (stuffed with juicy beef, chicken, or spinach) and the signature chivito al pan (a decadent steak sandwich topped with ham, bacon, and egg) for a quick hearty meal.

Luxury, precision, and creativity are the driving forces at this internationally renowned prix-fixe restaurant in a refined high-ceilinged space. Swiss-born chef Daniel Humm oversees the kitchen, concocting unexpected, often whimsical, dishes that change often but have a solid grounding in locavore American tastes. This is one of the most fine-tuned dining experiences you can have in New York City.

If you're feeling peckish in this hurried neighborhood, join your fellow customers waiting their turn at this favorite Manhattan café and bagel bakery that has been serving authentic family-style comfort since 1976. There's a good selection of jumbo, kosher bagels onto which toppings are piled high and cream cheeses are generously spread upon, or choose from a variety of salads, sandwiches, and fresh-baked treats available all day. The line moves fairly quickly so be ready to know how you want your bagel or other order.

Long before Mr. and Mrs. Obama ate dinner here in 2014, this second-floor spot with minimalist decor had been on the map for those who appreciate chef Ignacio Mattos's deceptively simple cuisine, and it still receives consistent acclaim as being one of the best restaurants in Manhattan. The chef's creativity tends to sneak up on the diner in dishes where rye matzo bread might be used under mashed salt cod or sunchoke chips might be folded into sumptuous beef tartare.

Despite the Gallic-sounding name, this bakery is all Swedish. There's nearly always a line out the door, and it's worth queuing up. The bread produced here is some of the best this side of the Atlantic. Baguettes, whole loaves, pastries—everything that comes out of the oven here is edible gold: the cardamom bun has become legendary. There's a small seating area in the back or get some goodies for take away and eat them at the tables scattered around the Meatpacking District. 

Seafood, spicy, and sharing plates are the key concepts at this convivial and colorful Thai restaurant, where the dishes aren't what you find on typical Thai restaurant menus. Order for the table and if you like spice, make sure to include the zabb (a Thai spice blend) wings to start and move on to the coconut crab curry, among other things.

Named for the Manhattan neighborhood where the owners (chef Craig Stafford and his wife Jessica Stingo) met, this sophisticated steak house wouldn't be out of place in its namesake neighborhood. Three cuts of steak (hanger steak, filet mignon, and a 16-ounce rib eye) are served with your choice of sauces including chimichurri, housemade steak sauce, and au poivre. There are plenty of options for non-carnivores, including oysters, littleneck clams, fish, pastas, and a terrific veggie burger made with roasted eggplant and brown rice. The shoestring fries alone are worth the drive.

Entering the large, rustic-elegant dining room of Gabriel Kreuther invites a sense of calm as well as anticipation for a memorable meal—and it delivers. The renowned namesake chef celebrates his native Alsatian culinary influences with sublime tasting menus of three or four courses, or an inspired chef's tasting menu of at least seven courses (wine pairing optional, and worth the splurge). GK's haute cuisine, attentive service, and even its lovely handmade ceramic dishware are all part of an exceptional dining experience. Here's your chance to taste cuisine by a chef who's earned many of the world's most prestigious fine-dining accolades, including a James Beard award, Relais & Chateaux membership, and two Michelin stars. Note: if dinner is too pricey, enjoy a four-course prix-fixe lunch or à la carte menu, or opt for more casual dining in the inviting bar.

Every bit as thrilling as when it opened in 1984, this culinary landmark continues to focus on a foundation of simple, clean flavors to create transcendent preparations: no rack of lamb is more tender, no seafood salad sweeter, and desserts are also memorable. Take a stroll through the Union Square Greenmarket before or after lunch to see the chef's inspirations.

Danny Meyer's perennially popular restaurant tops many a New Yorker's list of favorite dining spots, as much for the exemplary food as for the clubby, art-filled space. In front, the cozy, first-come, first-served Tavern has an à la carte menu (the $35 burger with duck-fat potato chips is a standout) along with great craft beers and cocktails; the more formal dining room in back serves a four-course Greenmarket Lunch and a showstopping five-course tasting menu for dinner. 

Not only are the wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta dishes here delicious, they are also made with organic stone-ground flour using local, seasonal produce, handmade mozzarella, and artisanal meats. Try the fig, caramelized onion, and Gorgonzola pizza or the mushroom pasta with locally sourced porcinis. For a splurge, go for the $65 2-lb wood-fired T-bone, medium rare.

This gastropub offers Irish and American selections including a delicious and comforting shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, cheeseburger sliders, flatbreads, wings, salads, and sandwiches. Seat yourself, and grab a plate from the dishware pile on the tables for a meal. The bar is outfitted with flatscreen TVs showing soccer matches and other sports. Come during weekend brunch for a proper Irish breakfast.