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$$$ | Greenpoint |
Co-owned by Homer Murray (actor Bill Murray's son), this restaurant gained notoriety when it relaunched with a legendary event featuring the older Murray tending bar. But it's worth a visit, with or without Bill, for chef Sean Telo's creative menus that aim to make tasty dishes while sourcing sustainably and reducing food waste; from tempura-coated shishito peppers to wood-fired pizzas, it's always fun to see what he'll come up with. The urban-rustic design (white subway tiles, wooden tables, hanging plants) is equally welcoming for weekend brunch or a romantic dinner by candlelight.
21 Greenpoint Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11222, USA
Known For
- Owned by Bill Murray's son
- Creative menu
- Dedication to sustainability
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$$ | Upper East Side |
The second generation operating this legendary, traditional kosher Jewish deli moved its enormous corned beef and pastrami sandwiches and buckets of pickles uptown from the original longtime location on 2nd Avenue in the East Village, keeping the name and the menu. That also includes hearty soups, wursts, blintzes, and potato pancakes. Upstairs is an upscale cocktail lounge that opens at 5 pm daily and has a limited bar menu. A deli-only location is in Midtown East.
1442 1st Ave., New York, New York, 10021, USA
Known For
- Matzah ball soup
- Bagel and lox (smoked salmon) platters
- Upstairs cocktail lounge
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$$$ | Flatiron District |
Much more than a shopping break, Jean-Georges Vongerichten's restaurant is a love letter to greenmarket cuisine. Underneath the exposed concrete beams, a chic crowd devours fresh, flavorful appetizers like the roast carrot and avocado salad or pretzel-dusted calamari, and winning entrées that include pizzas, pastas, and hearty mains. The restaurant is committed to all the right causes—environmentalism, sustainability, supporting local farmers—all of which are announced in a near manifesto-length list on the back of the menu; thankfully, ABC Kitchen pulls it off without seeming patronizing or preachy.
35 E. 18th St., New York, New York, 10003, USA
Known For
- Vegetable-forward dishes
- Organic ingredients
- Sophisticated setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$ | Long Island City |
With Indian dance music on the speakers and tabloid pages papering the walls, Adda broadcasts a hip, fun vibe, though the trendy decor almost belies what comes to the table: authentic Indian favorites packed with freshly-ground spices that draw inspiration from Grandma's cookbook and Mumbai street-style fare. The Chacha’s lamb chops, marinated with garam masala spices and grilled to perfection in the clay oven are a must-try, as well as the flavorful halka phulka (snacks) like dahi batata puri, a delicately fried puff pastry meant to be eaten in one bite and filled with yogurt, chutneys, and baby potatoes. The garlic naan and black dal are also noteworthy as sides (and also to cool the palate).
31--31 Thomson Ave., Queens, New York, 11101, USA
Known For
- Exquisitely spiced food
- Authentic dishes
- Shareable plates
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$ | |
Don't let the unassuming air at this intimate restaurant on a leafy, largely residential block fool you: there is some serious cooking going on here. Case in point: any of the house-made pastas (perhaps cavatelli topped with shaved Parmesan and black truffles); bright, seasonal salads (maybe peach, arugula, and goat cheese); or any of the fish or meat main dishes, like lamb chops milanese or roasted chicken.
132 Greene Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11238, USA
Known For
- Unpretentious neighborhood spot
- Laid-back brunch
- Excellent cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | Park Slope |
Roughly translated as "beyond," al di là has been consistently packed since it opened in 1998, and it's easy to understand why: it serves well-prepared Northern Italian dishes in a cozy atmosphere. The warm farro salad with seasonal ingredients and goat cheese is perfectly al dente; the hand-pinched ravioli are delicious; and meatier entrées like braised rabbit, Tuscan tripe stew, and pork loin scallopini with prosciutto are highlights.
248 5th Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11215, USA
Known For
- Knowledgeable servers
- Ragù
- Local favorite
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$ | Jackson Heights |
The Arepa Lady, originally known for slinging cheesy, golden arepas (stuffed corn cakes) from her famed street-cart on Roosevelt Avenue has since established three stand-alone restaurants across New York City. The Jackson Heights location is the original “mother restaurant” and keeps to the classics like arepa de queso (freshly ground corn flour mixed with cheese) and arepa de choclo, served with your choice of meat. Try the popular chichiron (smoked pork belly) or Colombian chorizo (which is sliced, rather than ground up). Expect to find Manhattanites, locals, and tourists alike sipping sangria and margs while getting their fill of savory cakes at this charming eatery.
77--17 37th Ave., Queens, New York, 11372, USA
Known For
- Fresh arepas
- Chichiron
- Patacones (fried green plantains)
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$$ | |
Handmade pastas, exceptional antipasti, and wonderful brunch have earned homey Aurora a loyal following. Most ingredients are locally sourced, though the mozzarella and burrata hail from Italy. Ricotta, black truffles, and prosciutto di Parma elevate the eggs Benedict at brunch, when the French toast comes stuffed with apple compote and topped with Amarena cherries. The trattoria's main dining room is inviting enough, but angle for a seat in the enclosed garden (heated in winter), where lush ivy covers the brick walls.
70 Grand St., Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Rustic space with an enclosed garden
- Authentic Italian food
- Superlative brunch
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$$ | Elmhurst |
There are plenty of great Thai restaurants in Elmhurst, but this oft-packed spot tops them all (in fact, it's opened a branch in Manhattan's Chelsea Market). Operating out of two side-by-side storefronts (you go wherever there's a table), Ayada serves fiery, flavorful Thai favorites, as well as some dishes you've probably never heard of before. A favorite appetizer is raw shrimp served with a slice of garlic, bitter melon, and chili paste that will knock your socks off. The e-sarn sausage (made with fermented meat) is served with sliced ginger and peanuts, and, for a table of four, the succulent whole fried fish is a bargain.
77--08 Woodside Ave., Queens, New York, 11373, USA
Known For
- Spicy options for whole fish
- Raw shrimp salad
- Foodie and local favorite means longish wait times for a table
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$$$$ | Upper West Side |
Set on the third floor of the Deutsche Bank center at Columbus Circle, and one floor down from the temple of haute cuisine, Per Se, this irreverent, playful, maximalist, authentic, inauthentic, and just plain fun Italian restaurant is not bad at all; in fact it's very, very good. Any illusions that this is a traditional and polite Italian dining experience are left at the door where you are met with a half-ton wild boar statue wearing a neon necklace and a dining room that is a feast of color and texture with red and white travertine, trompe l'oeil mosaics, and lush greenery suspended from wood coffered ceilings above orange banquettes. The bar is clad with marble and mirror, there's a working fountain by the bathroom, and floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of Central Park (not that you'll notice.) Yes, there's food, too, and it lives up to the stage set by the design with delicious riffs on classic Italian food. Highlights include a filet mignon meatball small plate, filet mignon topped with cacio e pepe raviolo, a broiled two-pound lobster with a mound of Calabrian pasta between the claws (to share), and tiramisu ice-cream cake. Cocktails are creative and the crowd is here to play.
10 Columbus Circle, New York, New York, 10019, USA
Known For
- Playful setting and crowds
- Two-pound lobster with a mound of pasta between the claws
- Great wine list and reasonably priced by-the-glass wines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$ | SoHo |
Even with long waits and loud noise levels, most people agree that it's worth the effort (make reservations) to experience restaurateur Keith McNally's flagship, a perfectly New York reproduction of a Parisian brasserie. Like the decor, entrées recreate French classics: Gruyère-topped onion soup, steak frites, and icy tiers of crab, oysters, and other pristine shellfish.
80 Spring St., New York, New York, 10012-3907, USA
Known For
- Lively scene
- A New York institution
- Outstanding brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$ | Bushwick |
The best way to sample the diverse flavors of Ethiopian cuisine is by dining at this stellar restaurant that transports you to Addis Ababa through its decor, music, and above all, it's selection of traditional dishes. All dishes are plant-based and full of flavor, which aligns with most authentic fare, including chickpea-based shiro, lentil wot, and a mushroom version of tibs (a stir-fry with meat and vegetables). It's all served with injera, a sourdough flatbread used to scoop up the various stews, with your hands. The drink menu includes traditional t'ej (honey wine), cocktails, and wine and beer from Ethiopia. The namesake bunna—Ethiopian coffee brewed with cardamom and cloves—is worth a try, too.
1084 Flushing Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11237, USA
Known For
- Shareable plates
- Traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony and teas
- Live music events featuring Ethiopian artists
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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$$$ | Upper West Side |
With a colorful, modern interior and an oasis of a patio out back, this Upper West Side gem is the pan-Mediterranean restaurant vision of owner Tuvia Feldman and executive chef Eli Buli. Bustan, which means "garden" or "orchard" in Hebrew and Arabic, churns out dishes that draw inspiration from three continents. Make sure to start with the mezes "for the table" and lather your house-made taboon bread (a flatbread) with warm hummus and spicy feta spreads. Main courses range from lamb kebabs to branzino a la plancha (grilled on a metal plate) served with za'atar-seasoned labneh (Greek yogurt) to Moroccan-style vegetable couscous. Save room for the "nemesis" dessert, a baked chocolate mousse with salted caramel pearls and vanilla ice cream.
487 Amsterdam Ave., New York, New York, 10024, USA
Known For
- Meze platter for the table
- Smoked trout and house-made taboon bread
- Good value
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$$$ | Upper West Side |
The old soul of the Lincoln Center neighborhood seems to inhabit the tiled and mirrored walls of this lively, cramped French bistro, where West End Avenue regulars are greeted with kisses, and musicians and audience members pack the room after a concert. The bar's always hopping, and the menu includes classics like steak tartare, moules frites (mussels and fries), and lobster roll. There's also a popular weekend brunch.
200 W. 71st St., New York, New York, 10023-4323, USA
Known For
- Quintessential UWS bistro
- After-concert scene
- Excellent service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$ | East Village |
This East Village dining institution, which has been serving standout Moroccan cuisine in a date-friendly, candlelit atmosphere since 1983, still draws crowds for dinner, lunch, and brunch. Start with an order of creamy hummus to share, then dig into one of the classic couscous dishes, tajine stews, or tasty kebabs.
101 St. Marks Pl., New York, New York, 10003, USA
Known For
- Yummy mezes
- Popular brunch can mean long waits
- Neighborhood institution
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$$ | Upper East Side |
In the Neue Galerie, this stately coffeehouse—open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—offers a Viennese café experience, with art deco furnishings; a selection of daily newspapers; and cases with cakes and strudels. The menu of heartier sandwiches and goulash or sausage dishes is under the direction of German-born executive chef Christopher Engel, who worked at Wallsé and Aureole, earning Michelin stars. Prix-fixe dinners are occasionally followed by a cabaret performance. Museumgoers and locals love to linger over coffee—it's sometimes a challenge to find a seat (a less aesthetically pleasing outpost of the café is in the basement).
1048 5th Ave., New York, New York, 10028, USA
Known For
- A slice of Vienna on the UES
- Delicious Sacher torte
- Goulash soup and Bavarian sausage
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed. No dinner Mon.
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$$ | Gramercy |
Most of the delectable items on the menu at this Iberian, small-plates, corner restaurant are made for sharing, but of particular note are all things seared à la plancha (on a metal plate), including blistered peppers and garlic-kissed mushrooms. The atmosphere is always bustling but the best seats are those at the Casa Mono counter overlooking the chef's open kitchen. The perennially cramped and crowded space sends patrons to Bar Jamón, the wine-and-ham-bar annex next door, where you can pick at plates of jamón serrano while awaiting the main feature.
52 Irving Pl., New York, New York, 10003-3447, USA
Known For
- High-quality, authentic Spanish tapas
- Hard to get a table so reserve in advance
- Small Bar Jamón annex around the corner
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$$ | Chelsea |
The food of the Republic of Georgia is one of the best and under-represented cuisines of the world. Most of the excellent Georgian restaurants in New York are lodged deep into Brooklyn, but Chama Mama is a superb Manhattan option if you want to avoid a long subway ride. Start with khachapuri, the ubiquitous baked cheese bread (the boat-shape version from the region of Adjara has become the international face of Georgian cuisine) and then move to shkmeruli, a tender Cornish game hen cooked in a garlicky cream sauce. The khinkhali, broth-filled dumplings, are also excellent. There's now a second location on the Upper West Side (Amsterdam Avenue and West 78th Street).
149 W. 14th St., New York, New York, 10011, USA
Known For
- Excellent Georgian wine list
- View of a huge tone, a traditional Georgian bread oven
- Khachapuri
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$$$ | Greenwich Village |
Perpetually packed, Italian-leaning Charlie Bird is the brainchild of sommelier Robert Bohr, who was in charge of wine at vino-mad Cru, and chef Ryan Hardy, who made a name for himself at Little Nell in Aspen and has been the private chef for Jay-Z and Beyoncé (not surprisingly, the restaurant has a hip-hop theme). The menu is divided into small and large plates, vegetables, a "raw" section, and pasta. The uni-loaded duck-egg spaghetti marries surf 'n' turf in a deeply satisfying way, while the Roman pasta dish cacio e pepe is one of the best versions this side of the Atlantic.
5 King St., New York, New York, 10012, USA
Known For
- The preferred spot of "cool kids" everywhere
- Hip-hop on the Hi-Fi
- Varied menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Tues.--Thurs., Reservations essential
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$$$ | SoHo |
Perpetually packed, Italian-leaning Charlie Bird is the brainchild of sommelier Robert Bohr, who was in charge of wine at vino-mad Cru, and chef Ryan Hardy, who made a name for himself at Little Nell in Aspen and has been the private chef for Jay-Z and Beyoncé (not surprisingly, the restaurant has a hip-hop theme). The menu is divided into small and large plates, vegetables, a "raw" section, and pasta. The Roman cacio e pepe pasta is one of the best versions this side of the Atlantic. The wine list is an exceptional tour of old world vintages.
5 King St., New York, New York, 10012, USA
Known For
- Sublime cacio e pepe
- Hip-hop on the Hi-Fi
- Top-shelf wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.--Thurs.
