973 Best Restaurants in New York, USA

Flushing has plenty of casual sit-down spots and street-style hawker stands, but Guan Fu is on another level, presenting legitimately tongue-tingling, lip-burning Sichuan dishes in an elegant, upscale environment. The mapo tofu, a staple of any good Sichuan restaurant, is impeccable over rice, and the boiled fish is a soupy symphony of spicy and sour flavors. What’s more, this restaurant pays homage to the classic Chinese American restaurants of old with its bamboo screens, elaborate metal serving ware, and two lion statues outside.

Fabulous artwork and colorful murals set the tone at this upbeat fusion spot where the flavors of Bombay and the Big Apple come together in creative ways. Order for the table and share so you can sample as many dishes as possible, and make sure to try the fabulous cocktails.

One of Paul McCartney's favorites, this place is not much bigger than a shack, and is tucked away in the back of Amagansett Square off Main Street. It has just a few picnic tables on the lawn and a couple of hightop tables inside, but the flavors put out here are huge. Dosas range from the traditional masala potato variety to one with grilled chicken with goat cheese and spinach. A selection of homemade chutneys are available: cilantro, mango, tomato, curry, pumpkin, and peanut. Salads, sandwiches, and Indian specialties are offered. Try a cardomom coffee, soy chai latte, or orange-ginger iced tea.

Most Vietnamese food in the United States is inspired by the traditions of southern Vietnam because it was largely Vietnamese from the south who left the country after the war ended in 1975. Hanoi House brings a refreshing—and delicious—taste of the north; the pho here, as done in Hanoi, is meatier, darker, intensely flavorful, and so good.

This family-friendly burger joint on the bustling, brownstone-lined corner of 124th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard has a retro malt-shop interior adorned with headshots of Black entertainers, vintage Jet magazine covers, and even a Wall of Fro dedicated to customers with afros. The name is a clever take on the world-famous Harlem Shake dance made popular by Harlem resident Al B, and also gives a nod to its rich organic milk shakes—such as the signature Red Velvet, locally made with real cake and Blue Marble ice cream. Creative burgers include the award-winning Hot Mess, which is topped with pickled cherry pepper and bacon relish, American cheese, and smoky chipotle mayo. Tasty nonbeef alternatives, like the house-made veggie burger, the Hot Honey Chick sandwich (dark meat fried chicken drizzled with Mike's Hot Honey), or the simple, yet satisfying cheese fries are staples of the reasonably priced menu. There's happy hour on beer and wine, or go booze-free with a myriad of old-fashioned soda options.

Its noise-dampening acoustics and maze of underground nooks combine to make Harry's—the fine-dining half of the restaurant (Harry's Side Bar at 62 Stone Street is more casual, with similar small-bites menu)—one of the city's most intimate and exceptional steak houses. Settle into a leather booth and start with a jumbo shrimp cocktail, shellfish platter (serves up to four), or other classic appetizer. Then turn to choices of prime dry-aged beef or fresh fish dishes, and choices of Harry's special sides like its hash-brown potatoes or polenta fries. Weekend brunch is popular, too.

Roughly the size of a studio apartment, this homey bar and restaurant is the epitome of a neighborhood spot; just keep in mind that advance reservations aren't accepted. The short menu of comfort foods—hamburgers, a pasta of the day, macaroni and cheese—changes frequently. Specials like homemade gnocchi with duck ragout never fail to impress. Their salads, such as roasted artichoke with baby arugula and white truffle oil, and their date pudding for dessert, also stand out. Heidi's House is better suited to smaller parties, and takes same-day reservations, but at its charming little bar next door—Ed's Elbow Room—you can also order from Heidi's full menu or have a drink while waiting for a table.

Featured on numerous best barbecue lists of New York City (and beyond), this critically acclaimed, Texas-style smokehouse has been serving up brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and more since 2013, when it made Red Hook a destination for carnivores. Tender meats are served in trays by the half pound, or within sandwiches and tacos. Vegetarian options are also available.

Save room for the sticky toffee pudding cake or one of the other amazing desserts at this American restaurant in the former village hall. The wine is stored behind bars in the old jail, and other historic accents make for a charming dining room. Entrée favorites include shrimp and pappardelle puttanesca with anchovies, black olives, and capers, as well as Asian barbecue duck breast with whipped potato, baby bok choy, and apple-orange chutney. Brunch is a show-stopper.

This restaurant near Whiteface Mountain Ski Center earns high marks for its American fare, served in an attractive dining space with cloth-covered tables, candles, and a wall of windows. A section of the menu is devoted to the restaurant's namesake, trout. The delectable fish may be panfried or served in more- complex ways but it's not all about the fish here. Options include Long Island duck and New York strip steak. The cozy pub serves hamburgers and sandwiches.

This Japanese hype donut shop housed in an open-floor space offers heavenly-soft donuts in a variety of flavors, including several New York City-exclusive options like the pistachio white chocolate glazed donut. The original donut is airy and slightly chewy on the inside, with a delicately crisp outer layer---a must try that pairs perfectly with a hot cup of coffee. The store opens at 10 am, but there will probably be a line by then.

Famed Washington, D.C., restaurateur and chef Philippe Massoud brings his culinary talents—emphasizing cuisine from his native Lebanon—to New York City at this bi-level, 400-seat eatery. The menu of innovative Middle Eastern fare includes a mouthwatering variety of shareable hot and cold meze, as well as mains that run the gamut from lamb chops with za'atar to chicken livers with pomegranate molasses to duck shawarma with fig jam. Waiters never fail to refresh the basket of hot, fluffy, house-baked pita bread. A glass of Lebanese or French wine is a nice accompaniment to the cuisine.

Don't let its generic-sounding name mislead you into thinking they serve the usual Indian fare; this contemporary eatery specializes in dishes from the Indian state of Goa, whose long history of trade has led to a fusion cuisine of Indian and Portuguese flavors. In fact, a lot on their menu uses Portuguese words, including xacuti de galinha (a curry with chicken) and caldinha de bhendé (a curry with okra).

Often the best dining experience can be had when you let the chef chose your dishes, and Izumi's chef-owner, Evan, is passionate about his culinary art and sharing it with customers. Each morning he goes to the fish market and hand-selects the best cuts for his sushi creations, including the sweet and savory Salmon-Tuna Salsa and the fresh, bright Tuna Guacamole. The torched Panda Roll—a crunchy roll with a delicious smoky flavor, as if it had been roasted over a campfire—displays a real touch of genius.

All these "off-menu" selections are offered periodically on the specials board, but just ask and Evan will be happy to make them for you.

Although predominently Japanese, the menu also offers modern takes on Chinese, Thai, Malaysian, and Singaporian classics. Try the pad thai.

Just try sitting still at this lively outpost of a popular restaurant of the same name in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Set in the new Radio Hotel in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood, home to the largest Dominican community in the United States, the Latin rhythms are playing, the waiters are swaying, and the diners---mostly locals---are breaking into song with every chorus. Add delicious tropical cocktails like the signature Mamajuana Manhattan with sweet vermouth and house-made mamajuana (a spiced rum; it's the national drink of the Dominican Republic), sizzling bocaditos (snacks), and vibrant furnishings that include authentic carnival masks and D.R.-crafted cane-back chairs and stay-a-while banquettes, and you'll feel you have been transported to the Caribbean island. Menu musts include the croquetas de chivo (braised goat croquettes), sea bass ceviche served with crunchy plantain and cassava chips, chicharrón y casabe (hunks of crispy pork belly served with caramelized plantains), pecao frito (deep-fried red snapper), and seafood mofongo. It will be hard to leave room for dessert but you deserve the delicious cinco leches Dominicana soaked sponge cake. A spacious attached courtyard takes this party outdoors with live music in summer.

Chef célèbre Jean-Georges Vongerichten's prix-fixe–only culinary flagship focuses wholly on his spectacular dishes, which either approach the limits of the taste universe (perhaps foie-gras brûlée with fig jam and ice-wine reduction) or are models of simplicity (say, toasted egg yolk and caviar). The dining room is sleek but understated, with floor-to-ceiling windows adding sparkle to the white leather furnishings, white walls, and white linens; fresh-cut flowers adorn every table. Exceedingly personalized service and a well-selected wine list contribute to an unforgettable meal. For a less expensive lunch and brunch, try the less formal front room, Nougatine.

Easy to spot from its vintage sign outside, the self-described “saloon with food” has been serving its famous hefty burgers and cottage fries, along with thick sandwiches and drinks like Bloody Marys, since 1972. Its decor is warm and woody, the tablecloths are checkered, the tables are packed close together (so it’s noisy when crowded), and there’s an everybody-knows-your-name vibe. Save room for dessert, because the chocolate chip cake and pecan pie are worth the calories. This place also is known for its late hours—the kitchen is open until after midnight on most nights—and its old-time jukebox.

This British-style gastropub with exposed brick walls and wooden tables and floors is named for—and located in—the iron foundry that was located here in the late 1800s, when it created staircases, doors, and even manhole covers for a growing city. There’s an extensive list of beers, ales, and wines, and the Euro-style menu includes beef bourguignon alongside light and flaky fish-and-chips. Traditional favorites like bangers and mash, Scotch egg, and sticky toffee pudding are also available. The lovely garden dining area is open in season.

In Serbia, a kafana is a neighborhood tavern with a menu of hearty Serbian staples like ćevapi, finger-size minced beef sausages, or karadjordjeva, a tubular pork schnitzel stuffed with ham and rich, creamy kajmak cheese. This rustic cash-only Serbian eatery, located in the wilds of the East Village on Avenue C, has excellent artery-hardening fare and an impressive list of natural wines from Serbia. Top off your meal with a shot of rakia, the potent fruit brandy that is ubiquitous in the Balkans. 

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.

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. 

Despite the name—\"La Cabra\" means \"The Goat\" in Spanish—this diminutive coffee place is a caffeinated Danish powerhouse that really packs a flavor punch. The coffee supplier for many of the Michelin-starred restaurants in Denmark, La Cabra is anchored in the East Village for extraordinary cumin buns and dazzlingly delicious high-quality coffee in the form of espressos and pour-overs. 

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.