Jetset Christina’s New York City Restaurant Master List: The Ultimate List of Places to Eat in New York City
When I travel to New York City, the first thing that I plan out is the list of restaurants that I am going to go to while I’m there. I have said it before, and I’ll say it again – the food in NYC is unmatched. Truly the most diverse restaurant scene with some of the most authentic cuisine in the U.S. Let’s be real: any trip to New York is more like a glorified food tour!!
For years, my friends and I have been collecting all of the best food spots in New York City, which I’ve kept on my notes app (until NOW!!) from Michelin-starred restaurants to hole-in-the-wall cheap eats.
This note led me to this New York City restaurant master list! No matter what your palette is like, I guarantee you that you will find at least one (if not MANY) incredible food experiences in the city from this list!! To make things as easy as possible for you, I have divided these spots up by neighborhood (so if you find yourself in the Village and feel overwhelmed by the number of restaurants, just check this list for my go-to’s).
The Best Places to Eat in New York City
UPPER EAST SIDE
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Serafina
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$
My Order: Any of their pizzas!
Sarabeth’s
Cuisine: American
Price: $$$
My Order: Avocado toast and mimosas
Luke’s Lobster
Cuisine: Seafood
Price: $$
My Order: Classic lobster roll
Polo Bar
Cuisine: American
Price: $$$$
My Order: Start with the caviar and potatoes, then get the filet or honeynut squash tortelli! I love this place just for apps and drinks, too.
Mission Ceviche
Cuisine: Peruvian
Price: $$$
My Order: Ceviche (of course) and pan-seared West Coast halibut
Uva
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$
My Order: Cavatelli al fior di pesto
UPPER WEST SIDE
Felice
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$
My Order: Gnocchi ai Funghi
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TIMES SQUARE/ROCKEFELLER CENTER
Carmine’s Italian Restaurant
Le Bernadin
Cuisine: French
Price: $$$$
My Order: Chef’s Tasting (sooooo good!!!)
Junior’s
Cuisine: American (desserts & deli)
Price: $$
My Order: They are famous for their cheesecake!
Carmine’s Italian Restaurant
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$
My Order: Penne a la vodka (share it with at least one other person because it is HUGE!!)
Little Italy Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
Price: $
My Order: Two slices of cheese pizza with red pepper flakes
Adel’s Famous Halal Food
Cuisine: Halal
Price: $
My Order: Literally any of their bowls – so freaking good!!!
The Mean Fiddler
Cuisine: Irish pub
Price: $$
My Order: Grilled chicken wrap and bottomless for brunch!
Casa Limone
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$
My Order: Pasta tartufata
Patsy’s
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$$
My Order: Rigatoni Cacciatore
MIDTOWN
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Sushi Lab Rooftop
Cuisine: Sushi
Price: $$
My Order: Omakase Chef’s Experience and yellowtail jalapeño!
Hunt & Fish Club
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Price: $$$
My Order: Seared scallops or king salmon
The Lambs Club
Cuisine: American
Price: $$$
My Order: Wagyu skirt steak
Culture Espresso
Cuisine: Coffee & cookies (voted best cookies in NYC!)
Price: $ – $$
My Order: Cappucino and a chocolate chip cookie
Liberty Bagels
Cuisine: Bagels
Price: $
My Order: Everything bagel with lox spread
MIDTOWN EAST
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Tán
Cuisine: Mexican
Price: $$$
My Order: Guacamole for the table, ceviche Tulum, and rep snapper tikin-xic style
The Lobster Club
Cuisine: Japanese
Price: $$$$
My Order: Dry-aged porterhouse
The Horny Ram
Cuisine: Farm-to-table comfort food
Price: $$
My Order: Breakfast burrito and bottomless mimosas (or bellinis!)
Empire Steak House
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Price: $$$
My Order: Grilled octopus and lobster bisque to start, then either the porterhouse for two or American wagyu tomahawk for two for dinner
FLATIRON DISTRICT
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Patisserie Chanson
Cuisine: Patisserie dessert bar
Price: $$
My Order: Six-course dessert menu (it’s not all super sweet, so you could totally do this for dinner!)
Temple Court on Ten
Cuisine: American fine dining
Price: $$$$
My Order: Four-course chef’s selection
Barbounia
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Price: $$$
My Order: Spicy feta and slow poached eggs benedict (I come here for brunch!)
Verōnika
Cuisine: European
Price: $$$
My Order: Tuna & uni tartare to start, then the salt-crusted porterhouse to share
COTE Korean Steakhouse
Cuisine: Korean BBQ
Price: $$$$
My Order: Be sure to get the different cuts of beef – SO amazing! This place is the only Michelin-starred Korean BBQ restaurant in the world.
UNION SQUARE/GRAMERCY PARK
Khuyramen – Photo courtesy of Khuyramen
Khuyramen
Cuisine: Ramen
Price: $
My Order: Kyushu spicy tonkotsu ramen
ATOMIX
Cuisine: Korean
Price: $$$$
My Order: Chef’s tasting menu (this is an incredible experience! Atomix was rated the #1 restaurant in the U.S. and #33 in the world)
Caffe Panna
Cuisine: Coffee and gelato
Price: $$
My Order: Literally anyyyy of their gelatos with an espresso shot in the bottom! So good!!
Rosa Mexicano
Cuisine: Mexican
Price: $$
My Order: Bottomless brunch if you’re there in the morning, or pork carnitas de cazuela for dinner
CHELSEA/HUDSON YARDS
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Gallow Green
Cuisine: American/Seafood
Price: $$$
My Order: Start with a cocktail like the Sleep No More or Summer Breeze, then get the octopus for dinner.
Los Tacos No. 1
Cuisine: Street tacos
Price: $
My Order: Carnitas tacos
Milos
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Price: $$$$
My Order: Smoked eel or octopus
RH Rooftop
Cuisine: American
Price: $$
My Order: RH Burger (for both brunch and dinner!)
WEST VILLAGE
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Boucherie
Cuisine: French
Price: $$$
My Order: Roasted sea bass or beef bourguignon
Carbone
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$$
My Order: Spicy rigatoni vodka (they are famous for it!)
Lupa
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$$
My Order: Braised oxtail with gnocco alla romana
Bleecker Street Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
Price: $
My Order: Grandma pizza (but seriously everything is good!! This place was rated the top pizza in NYC by Dave Portnoy from Barstool Sports!!)
Alice
Cuisine: Italian, seafood & lobster bar
Price: $$$
My Order: Agnolotti cacio e pepe
Bar Pitti
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$
My Order: Penne all arrabiatta
Little Owl
Cuisine: American
Price: $$$
My Order: I come here for the happy hour drinks/apps! Get the lil’ rita to drink and fries to share.
American Bar
Cuisine: American
Price: $$
My Order: Braised short ribs
Don Angie
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$$
My Order: Gnocchi or lasagna (they are famous for this!)
4 Charles Prime Rib
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Price: $$$
My Order: Prime rib 100%!
SOHO
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Lombardi’s Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
Price: $$
My Order: Buddy’s “Cake Boss” special pizza
Maman
Cuisine: French/American
Price: $$
My Order: Breakfast sandwich or any of their bowls (I go here for breakfast/lunch!)
La Sirené
Cuisine: French
Price: $$$
My Order: Linguini aux fruirs de mer pescatarian (seafood linguini)
Au Chevalt
Cuisine: American
Price: $$
My Order: Double cheeseburger (said to be the best burger in NYC)
Roey’s
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$
My Order: Soppressata pizza (come here for happy hour for some great deals!)
Grey Dog
Cuisine: American
Price: $$
My Order: Mediterranean bowl
Jack’s Wife Freda
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Price: $$
My Order: Mediterranean breakfast or Madame Freda (this is best as a breakfast spot IMO)
12 Chairs
Cuisine: Israeli
Price: $$
My Order: 12 Chairs lamburger or arayes
NOHO
Ribalta
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$
My Order: Ciliegino pizza (rated #11 in the world for its pizzas, so you really can’t go wrong here)
NOLITA
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Shoo Shoo Nolita
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Price: $$
My Order: Moroccan lamb rague, shoo shoo schnitzel
Torrisi Bar & Restaurant
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$$
My Order: Linguini in pink Manhattan clam sauce or rotisserie porchetta
LITTLE ITALY
Da Gennaro
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$
My Order: Parpadelle Bolognese
Benito One
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$
My Order: Cavetelli with sundried tomatoes, eggplant, and artichoke hearts
Caffé Palermo
Cuisine: Italian Cafe
Price: $$
My Order: Espresso and a cannoli
Puglia
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$
My Order: Lobster ravioli alla vodka or pre-fixed menu with a group (unlimited pasta, pizza, and wine – such a fun party vibe!)
Black Seed Bagel
Cuisine: Bagels
Price: $$
My Order: The Boca (everything bagel with eggs, white cheddar cheese, avocado, and tomato)
CHINATOWN
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Wo Hop
Cuisine: Chinese
Price: $$
My Order: Steamed dumplings and crispy noodles to start, then pineapple duck for an entree
Nom Wah Tea Parlor
Cuisine: Dim sum
Price: $
My Order: House special roasted pork bun, rice roll with spare ribs, and spring rolls
Kong Sihk Tong
Cuisine: Chinese
Price: $
My Order: Spaghetti with bacon and mushroom in truffle sauce
Bodhi
Cuisine: Kosher Chinese
Price: $
My Order: Shiitake mushroom with broccoli or BBQ meat handmade noodle soup
Ping’s
Cuisine: Seafood dim sum
Price: $$
My Order: Steamed crab and seafood dumplings, crispy egg roll, and sweet and sour boneless pork
Uncle Lou
Cuisine: Chinese
Price: $$
My Order: Braised pork belly or friend red snapper
EAST VILLAGE
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Tompkins Square Bagels
Cuisine: Bagels
Price: $ (cash only!)
My Order: Murray the Cop (pesto, eggs, roasted peppers, and fresh mozzarella)
MUD SPOT aka MUD
Cuisine: Cafe
Price: $
My Order: Huevos rancheros and a chai latte (come here for brunch)
Kanoyama
Cuisine: Japanese
Price: $$$
My Order: Omakase tasting menu
MONO+MONO
Cuisine: Korean
Price: $$
My Order: Korean spicy soup or mono mono chicken
LOWER EAST SIDE
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Jajaja Mexicana
Cuisine: Mexican
Price: $$
My Order: Pineapple y Mezcal to drink, street tacos to eat!
Clinton Street Baking Co.
Cuisine: American
Price: $$
My Order: Pancakes (they are famous for them!!)
Russ & Daughters
Cuisine: Bagels
Price: $$
My Order: Bagel with cream cheese with scallion and smoked salmon
Katz Deli
Cuisine: Deli
Price: $$
My Order: Pastrami or Reuben sandwich
The Burgary
Cuisine: American
Price: $$
My Order: Literally any of their burgers – they are seriously so good!!!
TRIBECA
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Max
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$
My Order: Ravioli ai porcini
Buddha-Bar
Cuisine: Asian fusion
Price: $$$ – $$$$
My Order: Toro tartare, wok-seared scallops
FINANCIAL DISTRICT
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Fraunces Tavern
Cuisine: American
Price: $$
My Order: Short rib or chicken pot pie (and don’t forget to check out their whiskey bar!)
Watermark
Cuisine: American
Price: $$
My Order: Pier 15 burger and lots of cocktails
SAGA
Cuisine: European fine dining
Price: $$$$
My Order: $245 pp tasting menu (trust me, it’s worth it!!)
Buvette
Cuisine: French
Price: $$
My Order: Coq au vin (chicken stewed in red wine, lardons, and mushrooms)
BROOKLYN
The River Cafe – Photo courtesy of The River Cafe
The River Café
Cuisine: New American
Price: $$$$
My Order: Caviar service or oysters to start, then black sea bass as your main course.
Time Out Market
Cuisine: Food market
Price: $ – $$
My Order: 21 best eateries in the city – try a small bite from a few different places while you’re there!
Jacques Torres Chocolate
Cuisine: Chocolate
Price: $$
My Order: Any of it. All of it. And don’t forget to grab a hot chocolate, too!
Misi
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$$$
My Order: Gnocchi or buccatini
QUEENS
Photo courtesy of Sal Kris & Charlie’s Deli
Birria Landia
Cuisine: Street tacos
Price: $
My Order: Birria tacos
Sal Kris & Charlie’s Deli
Cuisine: Deli
Price: $
My Order: “The Bomb” sandwich
Phayul
Cuisine: Tibetan
Price: $
My Order: Beef thenthuk
THE BRONX
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Enzo’s of Arthur Avenue
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $$
My Order: Calamari, carbonara
Gino’s Pastry Shop
Cuisine: Cafe
Price: $
My Order: Cannolis and espresso
