Must-see restaurants in New York City

  • Taïm

    West Village, Chelsea & Meatpacking District

    This tiny joint whips up some of the best falafel in the city. You can order it Green (traditional style) or Harissa (with Tunisian spices) – whichever…

  • Five Napkin Burger

    Upper West Side & Central Park

    This inviting spot always draws a crowd. Juicy burgers are served in a vaguely upmarket brasserie setting with comfy leather booths, big glass windows and…

  • Szechuan House

    Queens

    Purported to be the oldest continuously operated Sichuan restaurant in Flushing, Szechuan House often finds itself at the top of NYC best-of lists for…

  • Dziupla

    Brooklyn: Williamsburg, Greenpoint & Bushwick

    Authentically Polish recipes like pierogi (dumplings), stuffed cabbage and kielbasa (smoked sausage) are whipped up at Dziupla, where cathedral windows…

  • Soy Bean Chen Flower Shop

    Queens

    To find this easy-to-miss place on busy Roosevelt Ave look for the flower displays – the main order of business here. For foodies, though, the tiny tofu…

  • Blossom on Columbus

    Upper West Side & Central Park

    The elegantly modern surrounds at this upscale vegan restaurant elevate the plant-based menu to a higher realm. Opt for something veggie-forward like the…

  • Rosario's

    Queens

    Rosario's is a fully stocked Italian deli, its meats and cheeses dazzling in their own right. But its brilliant secret is its flawless, crisp-crust pizza,…

  • Meatball Shop

    Brooklyn: Williamsburg, Greenpoint & Bushwick

    If the frat-boy humor doesn't deter you – 'naked balls' and 'family jewels,' har har – you can enjoy hot and tasty meatballs and sandwiches amid a steady…

  • Caracas Arepa Bar

    Brooklyn: Williamsburg, Greenpoint & Bushwick

    Within a simply furnished, color-splashed restaurant, fluffy arepas (cornmeal flatbread sandwiches) are turned out to perfection. 'Miss Piggy' is an arepa…

  • West 79th Street Boat Basin Café

    Upper West Side & Central Park

    New owners and an award-winning Culinary Institute of America chef revitalized this perennially popular waterside spot a few years back. The Robert Moses…

  • Totonno’s

    New York City

    This old-school pizza parlor has been in the same family since 1924, as the wall of photos attests. Toppings are basic and traditional (pepperoni,…

  • Govinda's Vegetarian Lunch

    Brooklyn: Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn & Dumbo

    A simple, wholesome all-vegetarian buffet is served in the basement of a Hare Krishna temple, nourishing devoted vegheads and downtown workers who seek an…

  • Kanoyama

    East Village & Lower East Side

    Providing no-fuss sushi with fresh daily specials in the heart of the East Village, Kanoyama is a local favorite that has so far been overlooked by the…

  • King Souvlaki

    Queens

    Follow the scent of chargrilled decadence (not to mention the plumes of smoke wafting along 31st St) to this celebrated food truck, one of the best in…

  • Schaller's Stube

    Upper East Side

    This pocket-sized 'sausage bar' operated by Schaller & Weber serves its German sausages hot-dog-style on a brioche bun, in 10 different varieties. You can…

  • Crif Dogs

    Brooklyn: Williamsburg, Greenpoint & Bushwick

    Many a late-night Billyburg excursion ends up at this laid-back hot-dog joint, with no-nonsense beef-and-pork and veggie weiners done how you like, with…

  • La Morada

    The Bronx

    This boldly painted but unpretentious eatery in the South Bronx whips up outstanding fare from Oaxaca – one of Mexico's great culinary destinations. It's…

  • Clementine Bakery

    New York City

    A joyous neighborhood bakery that brims with Danish pastries, brownies, pies, rosemary focaccia and more. This casual cafe serves breakfast favorites…

  • Bar Beau

    Brooklyn: Williamsburg, Greenpoint & Bushwick

    Cafe by day and restaurant and cocktail bar by night, this unobtrusive, friendly local place has a loyal clientele. Alongside the rotating menu of…

  • Randazzo’s Seafood

    The Bronx

    From May to mid-October, third-generation fishmonger Frank sets up a seafood stall outside his shop, allowing passersby to slurp on freshly shucked…

  • Wild

    West Village, Chelsea & Meatpacking District

    Impress your gluten- or lactose-intolerant travel companions with this pizza spot where dietary-sensitive cuisine is the norm. In addition to gluten-free…

  • Varenichnaya

    New York City

    This small, family-run hideaway serves up consistently fresh dumplings from a variety of former Soviet countries. There are pelmeni (Siberian meat…

  • Denino’s Pizzeria & Tavern

    Staten Island

    Gastronomes make the pilgrimage from across the city for Denino's thin-crust pizzas loaded with molten mozzarella. Perfect pies – try clam, meatball and…

  • Sisters

    New York City

    An all-day hangout with a sweeping bar and plant-filled interior, this photogenic joint occupies a former hardware store made glamorous. Crowd-pleasing…

  • Madame Poupon

    New York City

    Light, crispy crêpes bretonnes (made with a buckwheat flour blend) are stuffed with savory or sweet fillings and served up with French flair at this…

  • Le Pain Quotidien

    Upper West Side & Central Park

    This outpost of the gourmet European cafe chain dishes out fresh salads and tartines (open-faced sandwiches) in the middle of Central Park. Beautiful…

  • Grand Banks

    Financial District & Lower Manhattan

    Chef Kerry Heffernan's menu features sustainably harvested seafood at this restaurant on the Sherman Zwicker, a 1942 schooner moored on the Hudson, with…

  • William Greenberg Desserts

    Upper East Side

    Stop in at this Manhattan institution for its signature New York–style black-and-white cookies – soft, cakey discs dipped in vanilla and chocolate glazes …

  • Milk Bar

    Upper West Side & Central Park

    Conceived by a Momofuku dessert chef with a soft spot for junk food, the big draw at Milk Bar is the delicious, chewy cookies. A popular teeth-rotter is…

  • John Brown Smokehouse

    Queens

    Red-checked tablecloths, local craft beers on tap and the heavenly scent of beef brisket and burnt ends set the stage for a carnivorous feast at this…

  • Freemans

    East Village & Lower East Side

    Tucked at the end of Freeman Alley, this charmingly located and somewhat labyrinthine place draws a mostly hipster crowd who gather around the wooden…

  • Motorino

    Brooklyn: Williamsburg, Greenpoint & Bushwick

    A contender for one of Brooklyn's best pizza restaurants thanks to its puffy, chewy crusts and toppings with a twist, like salted beef and kale, or…

  • Cyclo

    Queens

    Set in a humdrum brick building just off Vernon Blvd, Cyclo has a cozy interior of wood-paneled walls and rustic tables – just right for noshing on warm,…

  • Madonia Brothers Bakery

    The Bronx

    In The Godfather, mobster Peter Clemenza wisely tells his accomplice to ‘Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.' We suggest you do the same, and from this third…

  • Bryant Park Grill

    Midtown

    At the southeast corner of beautiful Bryant Park, this lovely restaurant and bar is the site of many a wedding come springtime. The broad, crowd-pleasing…

  • Thelewala

    West Village, Chelsea & Meatpacking District

    This small, rockin' place serves Calcutta-style street food: delicious rolls filled with minced lamb, paneer cheese, crispy okra and other ingredients…

  • La Esquina Taquería

    Upper East Side

    This chain of hip new taquerías has acutely designed retro decor – its locations all look like 1950s diners that got stuck in time – but the Mexican menu…

  • Malaparte

    West Village, Chelsea & Meatpacking District

    Tucked away on a peaceful stretch of the West Village, Malaparte is a charming neighborhood trattoria serving simple, beautifully executed Italian dishes …

  • Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company

    Queens

    It may be in Queens, not Brooklyn, but there's little confusion about the caliber of the bagels here. With a good crust and a chewy interior, they come in…

  • Moustache

    West Village, Chelsea & Meatpacking District

    In its warm, earthy space, small and delightful Moustache serves up rich, flavorful sandwiches (leg of lamb, merguez sausage, falafel), thin-crust pizzas,…

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