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$$$$ | Upper West Side |
Set on the third floor of the Deutsche Bank center at Columbus Circle, and one floor down from the temple of haute cuisine, Per Se, this irreverent, playful, maximalist, authentic, inauthentic, and just plain fun Italian restaurant is not bad at all; in fact it's very, very good. Any illusions that this is a traditional and polite Italian dining experience are left at the door where you are met with a half-ton wild boar statue wearing a neon necklace and a dining room that is a feast of color and texture with red and white travertine, trompe l'oeil mosaics, and lush greenery suspended from wood coffered ceilings above orange banquettes. The bar is clad with marble and mirror, there's a working fountain by the bathroom, and floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of Central Park (not that you'll notice.) Yes, there's food, too, and it lives up to the stage set by the design with delicious riffs on classic Italian food. Highlights include a filet mignon meatball small plate, filet mignon topped with cacio e pepe raviolo, a broiled two-pound lobster with a mound of Calabrian pasta between the claws (to share), and tiramisu ice-cream cake. Cocktails are creative and the crowd is here to play.
10 Columbus Circle, New York, New York, 10019, USA
Known For
- Playful setting and crowds
- Two-pound lobster with a mound of pasta between the claws
- Great wine list and reasonably priced by-the-glass wines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$ | Upper West Side |
Since 1908, this local landmark has been known for brusque waiters serving stellar platters of smoked salmon, sturgeon, whitefish, and pickled herring to a happy crowd packed to the gills at small Formica tables. Split a fish platter with bagels, cream cheese, and other fixings, or get your velvety nova scrambled with eggs and buttery caramelized onions. If still hungry, go for a plate of cheese blintzes or the to-die-for chopped liver. Be warned that the weekend brunch wait can exceed an hour, so you may want to get food to go or come during the week.
541 Amsterdam Ave., New York, New York, 10024-2803, USA
Known For
- All kinds of smoked fish and chopped liver
- Cheese blintzes
- Classic New York deli charm
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner
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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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$$$$ | Upper West Side |
Chef célèbre Jean-Georges Vongerichten's prix-fixe–only culinary flagship in the Trump International Hotel and Tower focuses wholly on his spectacular dishes, which either approach the limits of the taste universe (perhaps foie-gras brûlée with fig jam and ice-wine reduction) or are models of simplicity (say, toasted egg yolk and caviar). The dining room is sleek but understated, with floor-to-ceiling windows adding sparkle to the white leather furnishings, white walls, and white linens; fresh-cut flowers adorn every table. Exceedingly personalized service and a well-selected wine list contribute to an unforgettable meal. Jean-Georges no longer serves lunch. For lunch and brunch, try the less formal and less expensive front room, Nougatine.
1 Central Park W, New York, New York, 10023-7703, USA
Known For
- Exquisite cuisine and service
- Award-winning dining
- Lunch in Nougatine, the less-pricey front room
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential, Jacket required, No lunch
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$ | Upper West Side |
One of the best pizza joints on the Upper West Side offers both traditional pie-shape slices and thicker square slices known as Sicilian style. There's often a long wait, whether you're there for takeout or for one of the few tables, so order online to save time.
2750 Broadway, New York, New York, 10025, USA
Known For
- Excellent pizza within walking distance of Central Park
- Cheese-stuffed garlic crescent rolls
- Pepperoni square pizza
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$$$$ | Upper West Side |
The New York interpretation of what many consider one of America's finest restaurants (the Napa Valley's French Laundry), Per Se is chef Thomas Keller's Broadway stage—set in a large, understated dining room with great views of Central Park. Keller embraces seasonality and a witty playfulness, and some dishes are world-renowned, such as the tiny cones of tuna tartare topped with crème fraîche or the "oysters and pearls"—tiny mollusks in a creamy custard with tapioca. The menu changes daily. Dessert service is a multicourse celebration of all things sweet, including a choice of 27 house-made chocolates. Service is sublime, as you'd expect. An à la carte "salon" menu is available in the front barroom, but let's face it: if you snag a reservation, there's nothing else to do but submit to the prix-fixe.
10 Columbus Circle, New York, New York, 10019, USA
Known For
- Reservations needed at least several months ahead
- Prix-fixe menus (service included in price)
- Nine-course tasting menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations essential, Jacket required
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$ | Upper West Side |
What started as a bright-yellow truck slinging out scoops and cones on NYC streets back in 2008 is now a Gotham ice-cream superpower, including two outposts on the Upper West Side (the other store is a few blocks away at 253 Columbus Ave.). Van Leeuwen produces all of its flavors just across the East River in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Favorites like vanilla, strawberry, honeycomb, and cookies and cream are made with fresh milk and cream, cane sugar, and egg yolks, but it's often the unique and downright weird flavors that keep ice-cream lovers coming back, like Hidden Valley Ranch and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese flavors. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that the vegan versions of chocolate, salted caramel, and mint chip, just to name a few, are made entirely dairy free using house-made cashew milk, organic coconut milk, and organic extra-virgin coconut oil. Of course, don’t forget to add hot fudge.
448 Amsterdam Ave., New York, New York, 10024, USA
Known For
- Flavors both classic and offbeat
- Over a dozen locations, plus more in other states
- Stellar vegan varieties available
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$$$ | Upper West Side |
Acclaimed French chef Daniel Boulud, known for upscale New York City eatery Daniel, shows diners his more casual side with this lively, contemporary bistro and wine bar. The menu emphasizes charcuterie, including terrines and pâtés designed by Parisian charcutier Gilles Verot, as well as traditional French bistro dishes like steak frites and coq au vin. The 500-bottle wine list is heavy on wines from Burgundy and the Rhône Valley. The three-course prix-fixe menu ($68) from the entire menu is a good value.
1900 Broadway, New York, New York, 10023-7004, USA
Known For
- Proximity to Lincoln Center
- Lengthy wine list
- Three-course prix-fixe menu
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$$ | Upper West Side |
Never mind that you're in the middle of a shopping mall—soups and sandwiches don't get much more luxurious than at acclaimed chef Thomas Keller's low-key lunch spot (one floor down from his extravagant flagship, Per Se). It draws long lines for good reason; fork-and-knife open-face tartines, like the tuna niçoise, are delicious. Share a mason jar of salmon rillettes—cooked and smoked salmon folded around crème fraîche and butter. For lunch fare with this much pedigree, the price is actually a bargain. Grab dessert, a fresh macaron or éclair, from the nearby bakery window.
10 Columbus Circle, New York, New York, 10019, USA
Known For
- Chicken soup
- Croque madame
- Desserts from bakery window
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner, Credit cards accepted
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$$$ | Upper West Side |
Set on a nondescript block of Broadway, the original branch of the small, now-national chain is a favorite for families celebrating special occasions, pre-prom groups of teens, and plain-old locals looking for reliable Italian food. They come for mountainous portions designed to share, family-style, of tried-and-true Italian favs like fried calamari, linguine with white clam sauce, chicken parmigiana, and veal saltimbocca, all loaded with garlic or red sauce—or both. Family photos line the walls, an antipasti table groans under the weight of savory meats, cheese, and salads, and there's a convivial feeling amid the organized chaos. If you want a quiet or romantic dinner, this is not the place.
2450 Broadway, New York, New York, 10024, USA
Known For
- Best red-sauce joint on UWS
- Boisterous groups celebrating something
- Large antipasti table
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$$ | Upper West Side |
New Yorkers in all neighborhoods will be delighted to welcome this second branch of the famed Friend of a Farmer, if only because a second outpost means a second chance at scoring a table for their legendary weekend brunch. The Gramercy location opened in the 1980s and is known for its cottage-core vibes, hearty servings, and as a pioneer in the farm-to-table movement offering seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. This new location offers the same wholesome appeal and experience. While the brunch gets most of the attention (a fallout of the original location appearing on best-of NYC brunch lists for the last decade), the supper menu is as comforting as the farmhouse decor suggests. Look for all your favorites, from Chicken Pot Pie to Shepherd's Pie (there's a vegan option, too), burgers, fish, grain bowls, and duck.
68 W. 71st St., New York, New York, 10023, USA
Known For
- Popular brunch with great Bloody Mary's
- Farmer's Market Omelet
- Old Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$ | Upper West Side |
It's a stand-up (no seats) or take-out dive, but yes, limos often stop here, too, for the legendary hot dogs—they are fresh grilled on a flattop and delicious, and quite the economical meal, even when they're washed down with the eponymous papaya drink. The ongoing recession special is two grilled hot dogs and a fresh fruit drink for just $6.95, and cheap breakfast offerings include the quintessential egg and cheese on a roll. Credit cards can be used for orders of $10 or more.
2090 Broadway, New York, New York, 10023-2802, USA
Known For
- Fast, cheap, and open late
- Cash only for orders under $10
- Sugary papaya drinks
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$ | Upper West Side | Fast Food
It's a stand-up, take-out, 24-hour dive: but yes, limos do sometimes stop here for these legendary hot dogs—they are delicious, and quite the economical meal. The recession special is two grilled hot dogs and a drink, and there are cheap breakfast offerings, too, like the quintessential egg and cheese on a roll. Skip the other location in Midtown; it just doesn't compare.
2090 Broadway, at 72nd St., New York, New York, 10023-2802, USA
Known For
- Fast, affordable Big Apple bites
- $10 minimum for credit cards
- Sugary papaya drinks
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$ | Upper West Side |
Linger over a danish or a slice of Sacher torte and bottomless cups of coffee at this old world–style bakery-café in Morningside Heights, where you'll rub elbows with students and professors from nearby Columbia University and locals who often line up before opening time to get pastries fresh from the oven. It's also near the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine.
1030 Amsterdam Ave., New York, New York, 10025, USA
Known For
- Slices of cakes from carrot to chocolate
- Apple strudel
- Popular with writers and students
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$ | Upper West Side |
Completely unpretentious and utterly delicious, Levain Bakery's cookies are rich and hefty (they clock in at 6 ounces each). Choose from the chocolate-chip walnut, dark-chocolate chocolate chip, dark-chocolate peanut-butter chip, or oatmeal raisin: batches are baked fresh daily and taste best when they're warm and melty right out of the oven. Levain also bakes artisanal breads, including banana chocolate chip and pumpkin-ginger spice, sour-cream coffee cake, chocolate-chip and cinnamon brioche, sourdough rolls stuffed with Valrhona chocolate, blueberry muffins, a variety of scones, and the unique bomboloncini jelly doughnuts.
167 W. 74th St., New York, New York, 10023, USA
Known For
- Big cookies baked fresh daily
- Muffins and scones
- Cult following
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$$$ | Upper West Side |
If the Upper West Side and the French Riviera collided, it might look a little bit like Nice Matin. This longtime neighborhood favorite is particularly popular in warm-weather months, when regulars plant themselves at sidewalk tables and gawk at passersby while munching on Gallic fare like pan-roasted monkfish, garlicky mussels, and, of course, steak frites. The novel-size wine list has more than 2,000 bottles, so bring your reading glasses.
201 W. 79th St., New York, New York, 10024, USA
Known For
- Weekend brunch
- Nice burger
- Lengthy wine list
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$ | Upper West Side |
Thai restaurants come and go, but this one has stayed, in large part due to its authentic tastes and no-frills prices, including a two-course prix-fixe lunch (appetizer and shrimp, chicken, or beef main) for under $12. The decor is no-frills contemporary, allowing the food to shine. Adventure beyond pad Thai to explore curries and lemongrass-scented meat, fish, and noodle dishes. Save room for green tea ice cream or paper-thin crepes slathered with green tea custard.
722 Amsterdam Ave., New York, New York, 10025, USA
Known For
- Green-tea custard crepes for dessert
- Good noodle dishes
- Delicious curries
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$$$$ | Upper West Side |
With clubby interiors by Jeffrey Beers and an adjoining lounge area, Porter House is helmed by veteran chef Michael Lomonaco. Filling the meat-and-potatoes slot in Deutsche Bank Center's upscale "Restaurant Collection" in The Shops at Columbus Circle, this masculine throwback highlights American wines and pedigreed, supersize meat; the expertly seasoned fare comes with the usual battery of à la carte sides—creamed spinach, roasted mushrooms, truffle mashed potatoes, and buttermilk onion rings. Begin with the chilled seafood plateau or rich roasted marrow bones.
10 Columbus Circle, New York, New York, 10019-1158, USA
Known For
- Porterhouse steak
- Roasted marrow bone
- Regularly shows up on Top NYC steak-house lists
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun. No lunch Mon.
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$$$ | Upper West Side |
Originating in Manhattan in 1984, this warm Mexican restaurant now has outlets in eight states. The two-story Lincoln Center location features a small, yet lively bar where the house specialty, the frozen pomegranate margarita, and freshly made guacamole are musts; dishes to try include the enchiladas Suizas in a creamy tomatillo sauce. If you're staying for more than drinks and appetizers, head for a table upstairs past the giant blue tile waterfall lined with figures of divers.
61 Columbus Ave., New York, New York, 10023, USA
Known For
- Three kinds of ceviche
- Jumbo shrimp in garlic vinaigrette
- Busy pre-theater crowd
