A New Yorker's Favorite Restaurants in NY
The best food in the country is in NY. This is the hill I am ready to die on - don't argue with me.
A not-for-profit tasting counter that's the kind of place where you notice the small details. This excerpt from a Conde Nast article: Ushered through an unremarkable below-ground door, we walked past a chef’s counter, and into a courtyard styled like a Japanese tearoom, complete with shoji screens and potted Japanese maple. Seated, we received a cold towel (one of the kindest acts on an NYC summer day) and a cup of rhododendron kombucha—followed by a course of pillowy milk bread. Ikigai isn’t afraid to do things a little differently. The owner Dan Soha is a first-time restaurant owner; the kaiseki tasting menu, courtesy of Rafal Maslankiewicz (ex-Masa and -Eleven Madison Park) carries Polish influences; and Ikigai will be run as a not-for-profit enterprise with any profits going to Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, an organization that redistributes food waste to food-insecure communities. On the night we visited, Maslankiewicz’s menu included an okra risotto with sea beans and a quail-egg-in-a-hole topped by uni. But nowhere was the hybridization more evident, and less expected, than during dessert—a delicious knedle-mochi dumpling with raspberry and sour cream. The plating (and service) here is unfussy, so don’t come expecting lavishness—the price tag at $165 a head occupies a more sensible middle ground, too. Do expect a tight wine pairing; although you can go off-piste and get your bevvies à la carte. I was thrilled to see Yamilé on the menu, a delightful non-alcoholic sparkling rosé made in Copenhagen. Ikigai is the kind of place where you notice the small details: the cool indie playlist, the under-the-table shelf for your purse, and most of all, the calm energy that sits around you.
Experience French cuisine with a modern twist at Le Bilboquet, a charming restaurant in the heart of New York City. There is a brunch party here on Saturdays from 2-5 that is tops. I love the elevated vibe in the middle of the day.
OK, this is the sweetest, coziest, and most romantic spot in New York City. The owner picks up fresh flowers every few days from the flower district nearby and fills the whole restaurant with seasonal flowers - making it extra romantic. The dining rooms are filled with candles and flowers, and the back room is like an indoor garden with a glass roof. The food is always delicious. I've eaten here on repeat and never had a bad experience or dish!
Marea is one of my favorite pre-theater restaurants if I am going to anything at Lincoln Center! My date and I sit at the bar, and we share a bunch of things. Truly, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but one of my favorite dishes is the Branzino Tartar. It has pistachio, calabrian chile, radish, and chives. I look forward to it every time.
Italian eatery highlighting handmade pasta, traditional meat & fish dishes plus local vegetables.
Carbone, located in NYC's Greenwich Village, is an Italian-American restaurant by Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi, and Jeff Zalaznick, offering a quintessential New York dining experience.
Bemelmans Bar in New York at The Carlyle is like stepping back in time and one of my absolute top places to go in NYC. With masterpiece murals by Ludwig Bemelmans, the creator of the classic Madeline children’s books, Bemelmans Bar draws a crowd! Getting in is no joke! If coming here is a top priority, I would book a room at the hotel so that you get priority access to the bar. Guests not staying at the hotel often wait for an hour or two to get in. TIP: Show up before 5:30 when they open, and you have a better chance of getting in. Also, dress the part! AND know that there is a $10 cover charge from 5:30 to 8:30 and up to a $35 cover charge per person once the Jazz starts. Kindly note that Bemelmans Bar has a smart dress code policy. From 5:30 p.m. nightly, collared shirts are required for men and no shorts or hats are allowed.
Experience high-end coastal Italian cuisine at Marea in New York. A sophisticated dining destination where elegance meets the familiar near Central Park South.
The Bazaar New York is a place for discovery, the jumping-off point for a journey around the world on the fantastical ship helmed by José Andrés and his team of culinary adventurers. From Spain to Japan and beyond, the menu navigates global ingredients and novel techniques that will bring surprise and wonder. Come aboard for a voyage through uncharted waters, where there’s always something new to taste around every turn.
Massara, meaning “matriarch” and “head of the household” in Campanian dialect, is dedicated to the regional cuisine of Campania. The menu is inspired by Chef Stefano Secchi’s childhood memories of visiting Southern Italy and the region’s rich abundance of farms and fisheries, all centered around cooking from both a wood-burning oven and grill.
Indulge in Italian cuisine at Scarpetta's flagship location in the heart of New York City, situated within The James Hotel on 88 Madison Avenue.
Dining there makes me feel like I am in Paris. 🇫🇷 Fleming is a hidden gem in the Upper East Side NYC. This is the neighborhood dining room of the UES that they kindly make availble to the public 😉. They are a little snobby (like the EAS). So... make a reservation, show up on time, dress well, and you won't have any issues. The restaurant tries to maintain the style of old Le Bilboquet. They have very limited seating, and you can only book your table online. Reservations are a must. Keep in mind they have a dress code of no athletic wear including sweats or tennis shoes.
There are two Boucherie's down in the village. This is the slightly larger of the two. Either one is a perfect place for a meal if you are down in the Village.
There are two Boucherie's down in the village. This is the smaller and cozier of the two. Either one is a perfect place for a meal if you are down in the Village.