American restaurants in New York City
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A
S’Mac
If you're only going to do one thing, you've got to do it well – and S'Mac hits the spot with mac 'n' cheese lovers. The all-American has cheddar and Vermont jack cheese, with bacon if you like. Or, try the Gruyère mac 'n' cheese and the Manchego cheese and Cajun macs.
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Fraunces Tavern
Can you really pass up a chance to eat where George Washington (it's been documented) supped in 1762? Expect heaping portions of tavern stew, clam chowder, beef Wellington and your choice of cobbler, butterscotch bread pudding, spiked fig and apple tart or strawberry shortcake for dessert. The bar, filled with friendly locals, is great for a snack and a drink.
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Eatery
Come and hang at the bar even if you don't feel like eating - you'll have a hard time not ordering something once the plates of edamame, ginger calamari, black mussels in curry broth and big juicy burgers start going by. Maybe if you fix your attention on the DJ spinning cool tunes in the corner, you can resist - but why try?
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D
Alias
The sole survivor of a trio of restaurants that opened up when Clinton St was considered culinary Siberia, Alias continues to deliver delicious, fresh food, heavy on seasonal ingredients with dishes like Wild Alaskan black cod, maple syrup drenched pears with ricotta and tomato braised brisket.
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E
Diner
It’s easy to roll your eyes over this hipster HQ, made from a well-preserved 1920s Kullman dining car, but why bother? Diner is surprisingly good. Menus for brunch and dinner are refreshingly brief, and added to by daily specials (such as braised duck or lamb shanks, plus at least one fish and veggie option), which staff hand-write on your paper ‘table cloth.’ It’s likely your waiter may be worn out at weekend brunch (which is great for its specials, like rhubarb pancakes) as drinks flow nightly till 2am.
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F
Blue Hill
A place for Slow Food junkies with deep pockets, Blue Hill was an early crusader in the local-is-better movement. Gifted chef Dan Barber, who hails from a farm family in the Berkshires, Massachusetts, uses harvests from that land, as well as from farms in upstate New York, to create his widely praised fare. Expect barely seasoned, perfectly ripe vegetables, which serve to highlight centerpieces of cod in almond broth, Berkshire pork stewed with four types of beans, and grass-fed lamb with white beans and new potatoes. The space itself, slightly below street level and housed in a landmark former speakeasy on a quaint Village block, is sophisticated and serene.
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Lips
It’s a drag-show dining experience here – which, yes, brings in hordes of straight tourists seeking thrills for bachelorette parties – but it can be truly enjoyable for any queer with a sense of humor, too. The food’s been named after local drag queens – Lady Bunny (oven-roasted chicken), Bianca Leigh (penne primavera), Kevin Aviance (spicy chicken wings) – but the best dish is the entertainment, which stars many of the characters whose names you’ll find on the menu.
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Northeast Kingdom
Under the hammered copper deer sign, lodge-style Northeast Kingdom is the pioneer of rough-at-the-edges Bushwick, a couple of L stops east of Williamsburg. With its basement lounge staying open to 2am, it’s a neighborhood changer for good eating and drinking. Brunch is super and cheap; particularly good is the Vermont syrup–soaked pieces of crisp French toast. Dinners are pretty hearty, with a host of lighter sandwiches joining chicken pot pie, pork loin and char fillets.
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Dumbo General Store
A ‘good anytime’ cafe with big wooden tables and a rustic but artful vibe, the Dumbo General Store has been around since 2001 when it dished up coffee and sold art supplies to budding painters in the neighborhood. In more recent years, it’s expanded its offerings to include breakfast faves like huevos rancheros as well as piping hot panini (try the goat cheese and grilled vegetable) and more eclectic dinner choices (veggie stew, short ribs).
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J
No. 7
Right above the steps to the subway, No. 7 has quickly become the foodie favorite of Fort Greene since opening in 2008. Sweep across wide plank floors past a marble-topped bar to the cozy (20-seat) dining area in back, where a small menu showcases the talents of rockstar chef Tyler Kord. Imaginative and successful dishes include cold roast pork with a crunchy and gooey soft-boiled then fried egg, pumpkin seed–crusted tofu and grilled Wagyu steak with fried pears.
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Vinegar Hill House
This newish, inviting 40-seat restaurant blazes a new trail into the sleepy streets of Vinegar Hill, just east of Dumbo. Vintage wallpaper, rustic furniture and the warm glow cast by the wood-fired oven set the scene for dining on seasonal, market-fresh fare. The menu is small, with recent standouts including fennel salad, oven-roasted octopus and pork-rib cannelloni. A beautifully prepared brunch adds to the appeal.
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L
Saul
The king of Smith St, Saul has brought out fine-dining fans from Manhattan for over a decade. Compact and simple, the menu goes with fresh ingredients for its tweaks on masterly prepared game meats and seafood, such as sautéed striped bass with Manila clams and bacon lardons, or roasted breast and leg of squab with medjool dates and pomegranate. Reserve ahead or you’ll be trolling Smith St for back-up.
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M
Burger Joint
Like the name says, this joint serves one thing, and one thing only. Well, you can get fries and a shake with your order, but burgers are the specialty of the house. They're juicy, tender and just the right size. It's hard to find Burger Joint - you have to enter the Parker Meridien hotel and ask around. Moving from the stylized lobby to this greasy spoonish place adds another dimension to its charm.
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N
River Room Of Harlem
Get a load of that view - the George Washington Bridge to the north, and a sweeping panorama of the Hudson River to the south. Add to that some delectable dishes - paprika grilled skirt steak, jumbo shrimp and gravy, corn mean and okra over market fish - let-down-your hair dancing (salsa in the bar), groovy music (fusion, acid and all types of jazz), and general bonhomie, and you have a real winner.
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River Cafe
It takes a beating from purists who sniff the words 'tourist trap,' but they've probably never actually been to this floating wonder with beautiful views from under the Brooklyn Bridge. The seared mahimahi with almond crust and scallop seviche are just two of many innovative dishes the kitchen produces, and River Cafe's brunches are legendary for their Bloody Marys and perfect eggs.
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BLT Market
It's in the Ritz-Carlton on Central Park, but aside from that, you might as well be back on the farm. All the food at BLT Market mimics the decor: clean, fresh and changing with the seasons. On a recent visit, chef Laurent Tourondel's organic menu featured seasonal squash and black cod, smoked trout with a cilantro and avocado puree and roasted Hudson Valley duck.
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Q
24 Prince St
It's not dishing up anything all that unusual, but 24 Prince has found a recipe for success: serve delectable mac-n-cheese, burnished chicken, creamed spinach, cornbread and other American favorites in a convivial and casually elegant atmosphere, and everybody leaves happy.
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R
The Soda Shop
Lunch and dinner are great - full of American classics like hearty mac-n-cheese, spaghetti with rich, flavorful meatballs - but locals love the breakfasts. Soda Shop's homey interior is the perfect place to grab a short stack or fluffy omelette on the way to work.
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S
Freemans
Freeman Alley is a mysterious little crook in the Lower East Side that’ll make you feel like you’ve entered a spy movie. It’s home to hipster restaurant Freemans, so if you come at night, expect a crowd.
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T
Applewood
Cozy and sweet, like a close friend's dinner party, especially in winter when there's always a roaring fire, this country house in Park Slope is part of the locavore movement. The frequently changing menu is meat-heavy; slim pickings for vegetarians.
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Dumont
Eating beet salads, big burgers, crab cakes, 'Dumac 'n' cheese,' and more serious entrees like skate and roasted olives, grilled half-chicken, and steak bordelaise in the garden bar or treehouse is great summer fun.
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Chelsea Grill of Hell’s Kitchen
Handsome boys pack into this festive, clubby dining room for hearty pre- and post-party meals such as burgers, meatloaf, grilled fish platters and pastas, plus salads for hardcore gym queens and a slew of potent cocktails.
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