973 Best Restaurants in New York, USA

A bright yellow facade makes this upscale French bistro easy to find, and inside it's warm and cozy amid its dark wood paneling. Sushi rolls and tuna tartare have been added to the French and Italian menu, which includes traditional onion soup, duck foie gras, steak au poivre, roasted cheese soufflé, and roasted heritage half chicken. The best bet for dessert though is profiteroles—in this case, scoops of vanilla ice cream covered in a thin crust of chocolate.

Staten Island has one of the largest Sri Lankan communities outside the South Asian nation, which means it's the perfect place to taste its cuisine. Along an unassuming strip of restaurants and groceries is this acclaimed, standout restaurant, tastefully adorned with Sri Lankan curios. During the week, different curries accompany à la carte dishes known as lamprais, kottus, and hoppers, however, on weekends there's an all-you-can-eat buffet of greatest hits for $22.

Most of the antiques are gone, but the classic foods for sale—from lollipops to jams and jellies to every kind of cheese imaginable—make this place feel like a blast from the past. You can hang out on the front porch, choose from a selection of more than 300 beers, and dig into a hearty "knish-wich" of potato knish, coleslaw, melted cheddar, pastrami, and turkey. You also can't go wrong ordering one of several cheese plates to share with the table. Drop by in the evening, as there's often live music.

Enter the serene, teak-paneled dining room at this trendsetting French seafood restaurant, and let chef Eric Ripert work his magic with anything that swims—at times preferring not to cook it at all. Deceptively simple dishes are typical of his style, which has earned this restaurant many James Beard and other awards, including a rank among the world's top 20 restaurants and an incredible three Michelin stars. Expect to savor every bite of Le Bernardin's thrilling cuisine, along with exceptional cocktail and wine selections, and some of the finest desserts anywhere. The menu is expensive and prix-fixe only, but you can count on a truly unforgettable gastronomic experience. Along with a vegetarian prix-fixe option, there's also a marvelous chef's tasting menu of at least eight courses, and the option of an over-the-top wine pairing. Opt for the spectacular three-course lounge menu if time (or budget) is tight.

Set in the heart of Midtown, and located on the second floor of One Vanderbilt, a glassy 93-story skyscraper that dwarfs the nearby Chrysler Building (views of which you can appreciate from the restaurant's massive windows), Le Pavillon is named for a French restaurant in 1940s Manhattan that first defined French cuisine in the United States and is itself redefining fine dining in Midtown Manhattan. Immediately hailed a culinary oasis, world-renowned chef Daniel Boulud’s restaurant is also a soothing oasis, with its understated, neutral interiors, 57-foot ceilings, grand views, and lush forestlike setting complete with 20-foot-tall olive trees. The menu is prix-fixe and focuses on locally sourced vegetables and seafood. The Oysters Vanderbilt is named for the railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who built Grand Central Terminal. À la carte menu items are available in the bar and lounge.

On the morning of Bastille Day (July 14), 2012, a fire gutted the charming Tudor-style building housing this French restaurant 1¾ miles east of Sayville. To the delight of its loyal fans, Le Soir has made a triumphant return. The fare is still French and oh so rich, including escargots bourguignon (snails in red-wine sauce), sauteed lobster in citrus butter sauce, and farm-raised roasted duck a l'orange. A romantic feel envelops the place, so it's favorite for special occasions like Valentine's Day and anniversaries.

Completely unpretentious and utterly delicious, Levain Bakery's cookies are rich and hefty (they clock in at 6 ounces each) and one of those NYC musts that even New Yorkers admit is worth standing in line for. Choose from the chocolate-chip walnut, dark-chocolate chocolate chip, dark-chocolate peanut-butter chip, or oatmeal raisin: batches are baked fresh daily and taste best when they're warm and melty right out of the oven. Levain also bakes artisanal breads, including banana chocolate chip and pumpkin-ginger spice, sour-cream coffee cake, chocolate-chip and cinnamon brioche, sourdough rolls stuffed with Valrhona chocolate, blueberry muffins, a variety of scones, and the unique bomboloncini (jelly doughnuts).

When Harlem resident Susannah Koteen opened Lido in 2011, she became one of the pioneers of Restaurant Row, which blossomed along Frederick Douglass Boulevard. A laid-back yet classy restaurant with boundless appeal, this authentic Italian eatery is a neighborhood go-to for a casual dinner and the perfect date spot. The restaurant's interior and its menu were designed by Serena Bass, a James Beard Award winner. Try the Tuscan crostini with burrata and poached pears drizzled with honey and topped with sage as a starter and wash it down with an Emerald City cocktail, made with pineapple-infused mezcal, jalapeño cilantro syrup, and fresh lime. For brunch, don’t skip the braised short rib hash or spaghetti with veal meatballs. And to top it off, add bottomless mimosas and sangria (white or red) for $20.

Even in the most diverse neighborhood of New York City, you are still in New York, after all, so great pizza is a must. This no-frills pizza joint is run by Louie himself. Hailed as a local hero after surviving a horrific stabbing from protecting an elderly woman from being mugged, Louie has become somewhat of a staple figure in the neighborhood. Heroism aside, the grandma slice here is one of the best in the borough, but you also don't want to miss their homemade agnolotti pasta.

If you worship at the altar of Neapolitan pizza---thin-crust pies baked quickly in blistering brick ovens---Lucali is a worthy pilgrimage. Ordering is simple: there's one large pie and a choice of toppings from beef pepperoni to vegetables like grilled artichokes; and calzones in two sizes, which come with a side of marinara sauce. Pizzaiolo Mark Iacono opened his cozy restaurant in a former candy shop to insure his beloved neighborhood haunt wouldn’t turn over to a chain. Lucali quickly established itself as a top-ranked pizzeria. Arrive early and plan to explore Carroll Gardens. They'll call your phone when a spot is ready, which could be hours later.

Arguably the best restaurant in Manhattan without a Michelin star, Luthun has 29 seats—including nine at the bar overlooking the kitchen—and offers a 10-course tasting menu that reflects the chefs' heritage and work experience. The two toques in charge have collectively worked at august eateries The Fat Duck in England, El Bulli in Spain, and The French Laundry in Napa and it shows in the refined but eclectic flavor-popping fare they produce here. The wine list focuses on small producers in places like La Rioja in Spain, Slovenia, and Virginia. 

Pastry chef Eunji Lee’s exquisite creations at Lysée are easily New York’s most stunning desserts. Infused with Korean flavors—like toasted brown rice—and crafted with French techniques, each confection is edible art—especially her signature corn cake covered with delicately piped kernels of corn mousse. Grab one to-go from the minimalist bakery upstairs or savor four decadent delights by reserving the prix-fixe in the downstairs dining room.

The unofficial Mayor of University Place, Marco Vacchi, runs this beloved neighborhood coffee shop, the original outpost of his expanding Madman empire. You’ll often see the mustachio’d owner playing barista, pulling espressos, and frothing cappuccinos—all powered by high-quality Caffé Vita beans—behind the postage-stamp-size counter. In warmer weather, there’s outdoor seating, too.

Yakitori—tasty morsels on skewers—has long been a staple of Japanese cuisine. As the name would suggest, this restaurant takes the age-old concept and runs with it in a faintly Gallic direction, its open kitchen churning out grilled bites on skewers, artfully arranged on plates, or, in the case of the pommes dauphines (crispy spheres of potato), wrapped in paper cones with a delectable dipping sauce. Don't miss the cocktails on tap and delicate desserts, both of which also have a creative East-West slant.

Mam is not your typical stateside Vietnamese eatery. This diminutive spot, where guests sit on tiny plastic stools just like at restaurants in Vietnam, serves the large-format Hanoi dish bun dau mam tom: cold vermicelli noodles, fried tofu, herb leaves, pork belly, and sometimes blood sausage that all play a supporting role for the star of the show, the mam tom, or funky fermented shrimp sauce. A tray arrives at your table and you go to work, grabbing bunches of the supporting cast and dipping it in the mam tom. 

One of the best pizza joints on the Upper West Side offers both traditional pie-shape slices and thicker square slices known as Sicilian style. There's often a long wait, whether you're there for takeout or for one of the few tables, so order online to save time.

This innovative food hall opened in spring 2023 to great fanfare. Run by the James Beard Foundation and set on historic Pier 57, the market boasts a lineup of 15 food stalls from James Beard Award–winning chefs. Some standouts include Bessou, a modern take on Japanese home cooking; Mijo, a taqueria by chef Fany Gerson—the taco Arabe (spiced pork with a spicy chipotle sauce) is one of the best tacos in the city; Sahadi's, Middle Eastern fare from a legendary Brooklyn grocer; and Zaab Zaab, an outpost of the celebrated Thai spot in Queens. 

With excellent food and a convenient location near Broadway theaters, this brasserie is perpetually packed. Marseille's French standards are seriously impressive, including the bouillabaisse, the signature dish of the region for which the restaurant is named—a mélange of mussels, shrimp, and whitefish in a fragrant broth. Leave room for the fresh-baked desserts and farmhouse cheeses. Ambience is charming with a mix of locals and visitors, inviting all to feel welcome—just be wise and reserve a table or arrive early for a spot in the bar. Pre- and posttheater dining are great here, the bar has daily happy hour food specials, and weekends bring great brunch specials.

At this Brooklyn import, one can’t go wrong choosing between a “heavenly brownie,” the beautiful cakes and pies on display by the slice, or the approximately 18 differently flavored macarons, each in a more eye-catching color than the last. Several coffee varieties and other drinks, including milkshakes, are available, too. Treats can be taken to go or there’s a sitting area. A small breakfast menu is on tap.

David Chang's first restaurant, a riff on the Japanese ramen bar, opened back in 2004, and it's still a strong crowd favorite for the daily changing menu of ramen, steamed buns, and various other innovative options. The spare, bright space has plenty of counter seating and a few low tables that you might end up sharing communal-style.

David Chang opened Ssäm bar two years after his original Noodle Bar, and the stylish spot easily shows the multicultural bent of its creator. A selection of country hams is a surprising but delicious way to start a meal, perhaps followed by an Indian-inspired curry and potato appetizer, perfectly glazed barbecue ribs, and a whole-fish preparation. For a serious splurge, opt for the $135 rotisserie duck.

This deco-inspired brasserie is a pretty pastel setting for a business breakfast or postshopping lunch and a flirty and chic destination for dinner. The vibes are lavish and retro; think Miami, Mrs. Maisel, and an ever-so-elegant cruise ship, with curved banquettes, multilevel dining areas, a curved marble bar, globe lights, soft pinks and blues, and altogether lots of visual drama. Once seated, the theatrics continue with an expertly manned martini cart for customizing your cocktail or mocktail and table-side visits for carving prime rib and flambéing Bananas Foster (and subsequent oohing and aahing). 

A quaint, whitewashed facade highlighted by a colorful vegetable mural hints what lies within this sustainability-minded and kosher café: a daytime menu of produce-forward dishes, including shakshuka (eggs in a spicy tomato sauce), salads, and a tasty tofu banh mi, plus an evening menu of salmon soba noodles and fish tacos. Indoor seating is limited, but outdoor seating is on a relatively quiet and picturesque side street.

Nathan Handwerker, a Polish immigrant with a $300 loan and his wife Ida's secret spice recipe, founded this Coney Island hot dog stand in 1916. Fast-forward over a century, and this New York City institution has endured with a cultlike following among celebrities and heads of state, paving the way for international franchises. While Nathan's may be synonymous with hot dogs and fries, they also offer burgers and other sandwiches. At this original location (not to be confused with the one a block away on the boardwalk), you can also get seafood—even fried frogs' legs.  The biggest day of the year at Nathan's is always July 4, when competitive eaters and fans converge on Surf Avenue to crown that year's hot-dog-eating champion.

This New York--style bistro, opened in late 2024, is already a hit. Warm hospitality exudes from the staff, including waiters and even busboys, while the checkered wood floor and the wood-backed bar add to the cozy ambience. The bustling scene is lively, but it's worth enduring the crowds to try the black tie burger and the unusual take on spinach and artichoke dip. The \"marry me chicken\" is popular. There's a robust wine list and various cocktails, including one infused with truffles. The raw bar towers are attention grabbers, and, for dessert, the sticky toffee pudding is out-of-this-world delicious. Reservations are strongly recommended.