Best Restaurants in NYC: Highlighting the Best Restaurants in NYC for You to Enjoy
New York City – one of the best cities in the world, has plenty to see and do, but perhaps the best part of NYC is the food. With everything from upscale, four-starred restaurants to fun and casual hangout spots, NYC delivers big-time on everything food-related, and this list of the best restaurants in NYC will put this on full display.
This list of the best restaurants in NYC will detail 25 of the top restaurants in NYC and will allow you to find the perfect restaurant for you. And whether you are planning a trip to NYC or are just curious about who made the cut, this list is for you.
While some of the restaurants on this list will set you back a pretty penny (it’s oh-so worth it!), others are affordable enough for a repeat visit. And thankfully, since NYC is such a multicultural city, the restaurants on this list provide top-notch cuisine that hails from across the globe.
For even more NYC fun, check out our list of the best museums in NYC. After all, you will need a little walking after your delicious restaurant outings!
Top 25 Restaurants in NYC:
1. Del Posto Restaurant
Restaurant Highlights: Exquisite Italian food, Classy dining environment.
About Restaurant: The creation of celebrity chef Mario Batali and Joseph and Linda Bastianich, Del Posto, consistently delivers exquisite Italian food night after night. Chef Mark Ladner’s pasta is to die for, and the restaurant’s marble and mahogany trimmings make you seem like you are in another world. While pricey, if you enjoy Italian food, Del Posto is worth the splurge.
2. Cosme Restaurant
Restaurant Highlights: Mexican cuisine, In-house tortillas.
About Restaurant: A fun, stylish Mexican restaurant, Cosme delivers quality Mexican food made with local ingredients. Bring friends to help you finish the shared plates, and be sure to get tortillas – Cosme makes them in-house from several corn varieties grown in Mexico. For a full-course meal, be prepared to fork out some cash, but know that every penny you spend will be worth it.
3. Le Bernadin Restaurant
Restaurant Highlights: Excellent seafood, Three Star Michelin restaurant.
About Restaurant: A mainstay of NYC, Le Bernadin, offers delicious fare in a three-star Michelin atmosphere. Seafood is king here, with almost every type of fish and crustacean available. Don’t worry, though; even if seafood is not for you, there is plenty of other excellent dishes to choose from as well. For a classy and classic dining experience, Le Bernadin should not be missed.
4. Mission Chinese Food Restaurant
Restaurant Highlights: Traditional and unique Asian cuisine, Top-notch service.
About Restaurant: Located on the Lower East Side, Mission Chinese Food is a refined bistro that offers a variety of traditional and unique Asian food offerings. The service is top-notch, and the restaurant’s house chicken is not to be missed. Just be warned, though, Mission Chinese Food may ruin all other Chinese restaurants for you as it sets the bar exceptionally high.
5. Katz’s Delicatessen Restaurant
Restaurant Highlights: Family-owned for over a hundred years, One-of-a-kind sandwiches.
About Restaurant: This famous, down-to-earth, cash-only deli will not cost you much, but it will definitely deliver one of the best sandwiches you’ve ever eaten. Katz’s has been family-owned for over a hundred years. The deli takes the best cuts of beef and slow cures them, producing out-of-this-world corned beef, pastrami, and brisket.
6. Eleven Madison Park
Restaurant Highlights: Was ranked as the top restaurant in the world, both dining and bar options.
About Restaurant: If you’re looking to dine in one of the highest-rated restaurants in NYC, Eleven Madison Park is the one to choose. It won the #1 spot in the “Top 50 Restaurants in the World” in 2017, the #4 spot in 2018, and is regularly one of the best restaurants in the world.
If you venture to Eleven Madison Park, you can enjoy an 8-10 course meal in the formal dining area. Otherwise, you can relax at the bar, enjoying cocktails and a delightful tasting menu. Either way, this restaurant is worth a visit the next time you’re looking for an exceptional dining experience in the heart of New York City.
7. Le Coucou
Restaurant Highlights: Traditional French cuisine, Serves all day.
About Restaurant: While some dream of roaming through the streets of Paris, Chef Daniel Rose serves traditional French cuisine day and night at the Le Coucou in New York City. Whereas many formal restaurants open only for the dinner crowd, this eatery serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert – all consistent with delicate meals you would find in France. So the next time you’re dreaming of the city of love, head to Le Coucou and enjoy the romance of a delicious meal.
8. Momofuku Ko
Restaurant Highlights: Japanese-inspired, Excellent tasting menu.
About Restaurant: Even though Momofuku Ko is a Japanese restaurant, this hasn’t prevented the chefs from being inspired by the myriad of flavors and food combinations that can be found across NYC. To enjoy an evening of dining at Momofuku Ko, you will need to call ahead to schedule a reservation.
Or, if you prefer, you can drop by on a whim to see if there is room at the bar for a drink and something off of the al la carte menu. As a bonus, if you fall in love with the food, you can purchase a 3-pack of their special spice blends to enjoy the flavors of Momofuku Ko in your own home as you cook up your own creations.
9. Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare
Restaurant Highlights: Delectable seafood, Amazing Variety of wines.
About Restaurant: Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare offers a dynamic medley of Japanese dishes made with French-inspired techniques. If deliciously prepared fish and seafood make your mouth water, their tasting menu is for you. As a result of their menu options, they cannot make accommodations for seafood allergies or for vegan or vegetarian diets.
In addition to their delectable seafood, they boast over 7,000 bottles of wine, for which they have won prestigious awards for. So if you want a new and fresh formal dining experience, check out Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare.
10. Xi’an Famous Foods
Restaurant Highlights: Chinese/Middle Eastern food, Meal kits for home cooking.
About Restaurant: Xi’an Famous Foods is named for the city in China from which the owners and cuisine originate. Their restaurant feature a menu that combines traditional Chinese and Middle Eastern flavors, often defined by its spicy bite.
Not only do they make world-class biang biang noodles, but they offer meal kits so that you can safely create their intoxicating dishes in your own home. Additionally, they have multiple locations across NYC and even sell a Xi’an Famous Foods Cookbook with all of their guests’ favorite recipes. So you can become a Xi’an Famous Food chef as well!
11. Via Carota
Restaurant Highlights: Italian-inspired, Affordable fine dining.
About Restaurant: Via Carota is one of the best restaurants in NYC, and it is open from breakfast through the evening. As a result of Chef Rita Sodi’s time in Florence, everything from the decor to the servers’ uniforms, and of course, the food, are Italian-inspired through and through.
Not only are they a more affordable option (with entrees costing under $30 per plate), but they also offer a massive variety of traditional Italian meals. For example, you can order dishes that include octopus, squid, rabbit, steak, wild boar, pork, and chicken livers. Additionally, they have an extensive Italian wine menu. Via Carota is definitely a restaurant worth visiting in NYC.
12. Superiority Burger
Restaurant Highlights: All food is 100% vegetarian, Fast-food 0ption.
About Restaurant: When you’re looking for a quick vegetarian or vegan meal option in NYC, Superiority Burger is the restaurant for you! Their menu is simple & offers very affordable options, with their most pricy vegetarian burger coming in at just $9. In spite of their low prices, they boast over 1,100 Google reviews and a 4.5 out of 5-star rating.
As a bonus, if you love their food, you can pick up their cookbook, “Superiority Burger Cookbook,” to serve up a taste of the fast-food joint in your own home. Overall, this vegan burger joint is a must-visit restaurant the next time you’re passing through the East Village in NYC.
13. Boucherie
Restaurant Highlights: Specializes in dry-aged steaks, Multiple locations.
About Restaurant: New York City’s Boucherie restaurant boasts traditional French cuisine and a delightful bistro menu. If you are looking for an out-of-this-world steak, Boucherie specializes in dry-aged steaks that are sure to make your mouth water. Additionally, they have three convenient locations across the city.
These include a restaurant in Union Square, West Village, and a petite bistro version on Christopher Street. Unlike other French restaurants that create delicate, seafood-based meals, Boucherie has a hearty meat-cut section of their menu, as well as the traditional seafood plates. For example, you can order a variety of fine-cut steaks, as well as a rack of lamb.
14. Club A Steakhouse
Restaurant Highlights: World-class hospitality, Variety of dining rooms.
About Restaurant: If you’re in search of a legendary New York City restaurant, Club A Steakhouse is the place to be. Restaurant chef Bruno Selimaj, a native-born Albanian, has brought the age-old American steakhouse into a stunningly modern and romantic dining experience.
In order to offer guests a variety of dining experiences, there are six different rooms available for dining in. Some of these are public dining rooms, and some can be reserved for elegant banquets and group dining. Lastly, as a part of his Albanian culture, Chef Selimaj has incorporated his love of familial hospitality into every part of the restaurant’s culture.
15. Jungsik
Restaurant Highlights: Modern Korean menu, Stunning aesthetic.
About Restaurant: Jungsik is a formal Korean restaurant that is located just two blocks east of the Hudson River in NYC. Jungsik Yim is the chef and owner of the establishment and has modernized traditional Korean cuisine for a delicious formal dining experience.
Altogether this restaurant can serve over 50 people at a time. In addition to this, it has a private dining room that can be reserved for parties of 13-20 people. And lastly, if you are into amazing aesthetics, both the decor and the food will exceed your expectations.
16. Indian Accent
Restaurant Highlights: Indian food with a modern twist, Award-winning founder.
About Restaurant: Indian Accent is an upscale Indian restaurant with locations in NYC, New Delhi, and London. Chef Manish Mehrotra is the restaurant’s founder and has received numerous awards on a global level. If you take a quick look at the many four and five-star reviews Indian Accent has, they quickly reveal that the food and presentation exceed that of any other Indian eateries.
It should be noted that the menu is a modern and formal take on traditional Indian dishes. Consequently, this may provide some variation from some traditional Indian dishes. With that in mind, Indian Accent is a great NYC restaurant to visit and enjoy.
17. Gramercy Tavern
Restaurant Highlights: Locally farmed and sourced ingredients.
About Restaurant: If you’re looking for a fresh, American-grown meal, take a trip to one of New York City’s best restaurants – the Gramercy Tavern. Besides being passionate about creating delicious meals, the tavern buys seasonal produce from local farmers.
Not only does this stimulate the local economy, but it provides an income for members of the community. Additionally, it means that when you eat at Gramercy Tavern, you are enjoying fresh, in-season ingredients and helping to support both the establishment and the farmers behind them.
18. Bouley Restaurant
Restaurant Highlights: Great dining, Cooking classes, and Test kitchen available.
About Restaurant: Without a doubt, Bouley Restaurant is one of the most interesting eateries in NYC. This is partly because of Chef David Bouley’s ever-changing inspiration and his newest culinary creations. Not only is Bouley a restaurant; however, it also possesses a test kitchen, private dining experiences, and event catering. Plus, if you’re in the mood for an in-person masterclass, check out their small-group cooking classes or wine education classes. With something interesting for everyone, a stop by Bouley’s Restaurant is a must.
19. Manhatta
Restaurant Highlights: Upscale, Soulful food, Fantastic views of NYC.
About Restaurant: Manhatta is a lunch and dinner eatery with a fantastic view of New York City. While they offer a great 3-course dinner menu, they also provide excellent formal lunch options. Also, if you are looking for something great to drink, they have a good selection of cocktails and wine to choose from.
This establishment is located on the 60th floor of the 28 Liberty building and serves a menu full of seasonal, soulful food. Plus, a quick look at some of their Google reviews shows the awe and gratitude of their guests.
20. Balthazar Restaurant
Restaurant Highlights: French cuisine, Amazing types of bread and pastries.
About Restaurant: If you want French food done right, Balthazar Restaurant is the place to go. Located between Broadway and Crosby, the restaurant serves bistro-style food from breakfast through late dinner. Balthazar’s bakery also pumps out delicious bread and pastries, ensuring that you get the full French experience.
21. Estela Restaurant
Restaurant Highlights: Mediterranean cuisine, Intimate dining space.
About Restaurant: Offering Mediterranean with a twist, Estela delivers perfectly flavored, bold food. The burrata with salsa verde is second to none, and the restaurant’s extensive wine list and intimate dining space ensure that dinners are a wonderfully delicious and enjoyable time. All of this comes together to make Estela Restaurant a must-visit the next time you plan a trip to NYC.
22. Daniel Restaurant
Restaurant Highlights: French cuisine, Elegant dining atmosphere.
About Restaurant: Daniel Boulud’s flagship restaurant, Daniel, is an opulent and elegant French restaurant. Just like the food, the service is impeccable and precise, ensuring that you feel like a one-percenter with every visit. Before you know it, you will be lost in the elegance and fine dining of the evening, and it will be an experience that you will not soon forget.
23. Rubirosa Restaurant
Restaurant Highlights: Casual Italian cuisine, Some of the best pizza in NYC.
About Restaurant: This cozy Nolita pizzeria delivers top-notch thin-crust pizza. With a rustic-chic style and a fun atmosphere, Rubirosa is the place to be for casual Italian fare. Try some oh-so-delicious meatballs with your thin crust pizza for an exceptional night out. Before you know it, Rubirosa will be a must-visit every time you are in the Big Apple.
24. Per Se Restaurant
Restaurant Highlights: Classic French Cuisine, Three Michelin Stars.
About Restaurant: Home to three Michelin stars, Per Se is the East Coast sister of The French Laundry (one of the best restaurants in the US). Classic French cuisine is mixed with seasonal American ingredients, making the end product delicious and creative. Try the oysters and pearls (pearl tapioca, that is) for a genuinely sensational meal.
25. The Spotted Pig Restaurant
Restaurant Highlights: British and Italian Cuisine, Uses local ingredients.
About Restaurant: A fun and casual eatery, The Spotted Pig serves up seasonal British and Italian specialties. Most dishes use local ingredients, and the restaurant’s brunch menu delivers fun and tasty dishes. So whether you are looking for a night out or a Sunday morning brunch, The Spotted Pig will have your dining needs covered.
Best Restaurants in NYC Conclusion
If you live in NYC, there is no reason why all of these restaurants shouldn’t be on your bucket list, but if you are located somewhere outside the Big Apple, you can still plan to eat at one or two of these great restaurants on your next trip to the big city. Before you know it, you will be planning your trips to NYC based on what restaurants you want to eat at.
If you are looking to save some money and time when planning and booking your trip, make sure to visit our list of the best travel sites. With all of the money you will save, you can add even more great restaurants to your itinerary.
Also, if this list of restaurants has left you inspired to create something yourself, make sure you visit our list of the best cooking blogs and best kitchen tools.
Have you already eaten at one of these restaurants? We would love to hear your personal experience in the comments below.