Whether you’re traveling to New York City and want to make every meal count, or just a local foodie like me, you’ve found yourself in the right place. There are many, many guides out there that proclaim to be the ultimate resource to all of the best restaurants in New York City. However, these restaurant compilation lists can be overwhelming (50 options is too many!) and many of the “best restaurants” listed are either too expensive, too touristy, or impossible to get into.
To solve this, I’ve curated my own, shorter list of 12 authentic, classic, and delicious NYC restaurants. If you’re visiting the city, any and all of these spots will offer you a memorable dining experience, based on both the cuisine and the atmosphere. If you currently live in New York, these are all essential restaurants that should be in your repertoire, if they are not already.
I’ve lived in New York City for the past 6 years and these are the go-to restaurants I always bring out-of-town visitors to. Keep reading to find out why.
1. Charlie Bird
Location & Cuisine: SoHo / Italian
Menu highlights: Italian classics, but with a twist. All of the pastas are excellent. The menu is small and focuses on local, fresh foods. I’d recommend ordering multiple dishes for the table to share.
Best for: Any size of party. Group dinners are fun, and date nights are easy.
Points to note: Charlie Bird is known for their eclectic wine list, and I usually let the waiter recommend something to me. This was the first spot that I ever saw serving orange wine when it started to become popular a few years back.
2. Balthazar
Location & Cuisine: SoHo / French
Menu highlights: The warm goat cheese and caramelized onion tart is delicious as a starter. On colder days, try the French onion soup. For my main, I always end up ordering the classic steak frites, but the burger is also fantastic. Finish it off with the warm chocolate cake a la mode. (It’s like they literally put all of my favorite things on one menu.)
Best for: Special occasions. Dining here can become very pricey, especially if you order a bottle of wine.
Points to note: This was my favorite restaurant in NYC for a long time, until Torrisi knocked it from the top spot. I’ve brought my parents, boyfriend, and friends here – and even spotted a celebrity or two at the bar.
3. DOMODOMO
Location & Cuisine: SoHo / Sushi
Menu highlights: You can do traditional omakase, or order individual rolls and entrées. I am an omakase girl all the way – I prefer to sit back and let someone else handle the menu choices.
Best for: Smaller groups of 2-4 who want to enjoy omakase that isn’t wildly overpriced.
Points to note: The drinks are pretty and floral. Very Instagrammable.
4. Little Ruby’s Cafe
Location & Cuisine: Multiple (West Village is the main spot) / Australian
Menu highlights: People rave about the spicy vodka pasta (pictured below). The Bronte burger was also delicious, as well as the eggplant dip for a starter.
Best for: Girl’s night out. The atmosphere is light and fun, and the cocktails are creative (even if I always end up with an espresso martini anyways).
Points to note: This spot is also very popular for drinks amongst the mid-twenty-something crowd. There is a bar downstairs that gets fairly busy later in the evenings.
5. Fraunces Tavern
Location & Cuisine: FiDi / American
Menu highlights: Elevated pub fare. They serve fish and chips and giant pretzels, but also charcuterie and lava stone filet mignon. I highly recommend the macaroni and cheese (childhood habits die hard).
Best for: NYC with a hint of history…it feels like the founding fathers are going to stroll in any minute and order a pint.
Points to note: There are multiple rooms within the tavern, all with slightly different ambiances and themes. The piano bar is upstairs, it’s worth reserving a spot in advance on their website or OpenTable.
6. Ilili
Location & Cuisine: Flatiron / Lebanese (Mediterranean)
Menu highlights: Lots of shared plates. Start off with a couple of spreads (hummus, labneh, babba ganoush) paired with the puffiest pita bread you’ve ever seen in your life. Move on to the mixed grill plate for two, with chicken, lamb, beef, and ribs. Finish with the baklava, if you have any room left.
Best for: Upscale, boujee NYC dinner (possibly before heading out for a night of drinks and dancing). The restaurant interior is completely mirrored and gives off a really cool vibe.
Points to note: If you’re into wine, the wine list here is extensive and superb. Ask one of their sommeliers to help you out.
7. Emmy Squared
Location & Cuisine: Multiple (West Village is the original) / Pizza
Menu highlights: All of the pizzas are delicious, but my favorite is the MVP (Marinara Vodka Pesto). Also, while this primarily a pizza restaurant, their burger (served on a pretzel bub) is one of the best in the city.
Best for: Casual dinners with delicious food.
Points to note: As the name implies – all of the pizzas are square-shaped, with a thicker crust. I wouldn’t count this as a traditional, NYC-style slice, but it’s delicious and absolutely worth a visit.
8. Hillstone
Location & Cuisine: Flatiron / Global
Menu highlights: There really isn’t anything the chefs at Hillstone can’t do. The menu boasts classic American dishes like the rack of ribs and the French dip sandwich, but they also serve sushi, and nachos. Somehow, although they are serving every cuisine under the sun, the food is all equally delicious.
Best for: When your parents are visiting you in NYC for the weekend and you want one solid dinner spot that covers all the bases.
Points to note: It’s harder to get a reservation here than you’d think, considering how large the interior space is. I’d recommend making a reservation in advance on their website (they aren’t listed on OpenTable or Resy).
9. Quality Italian
Location & Cuisine: Central Park South / Italian
Menu highlights: The chicken parm pizza. Wars have been fought over less.
Best for: When you don’t want to take the subway downtown, but still want to eat somewhere cool that isn’t corporate Midtown. Also, this is a great place to go with a large group, given how shareable the menu is.
Points to note: The menu is massive, most of the dishes are quite heavy, and you’re going to want to try it all. Come hungry.
10. Joseph Leonard
Location & Cuisine: West Village / American
Menu highlights: The JL English Muffin burger (shown below). The menu is no-nonsense, focusing on classic American dishes, premium ingredients, and keeping the list of options short.
Best for: Rubbing shoulders with the trendy West Village crowd, but benefitting from the comfort of a simple menu and a cozy atmosphere.
Points to note: This is a popular spot for drinks and dates in the West Village, and the interior space is not very large. In the summer, outdoor seating makes it easier to snag a table.
11. Momoya SoHo
Location & Cuisine: SoHo / Sushi
Menu highlights: Classic Japanese. There are omakase options for sushi, sashimi, rolls, and combos of all the above. You can also order any rolls or handrolls individually.
Best for: Date night, as the atmosphere is cozy and romantic. Also, eating with your eyes as well as with your tastebuds – aesthetics are top priority here.
Points to note: Save room for dessert, which is always incredibly unique and artistic at Momoya – I tried the Pink Swan parfait pictured below. Almost too pretty to eat, but I managed!
12. Pastis
Location & Cuisine: Meatpacking District / French
Menu highlights: Burger, burger, burger. Pictured below, its one of the best in NYC. Otherwise, Pastis serves classic and delicious French fare.
Best for: Brunch on the weekend.
Points to note: If Pastis looks familiar, it might be because the restaurant’s interior has been used in many popular television shows and films, including Sex in the City. As a result, the place is quite popular and it’s a good idea to make reservations in advance.
Whether you are local or visiting, I hope this has given you some ideas of NYC restaurants to your list. If you are looking for more dining inspo, check out my previous post on the best places to eat in NYC that aren’t basic.
