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16 restaurants that scream “New York City”

A photo of Red logo
by Ameena Walker and Marion Brewer
Updated 07 April 2023

New York is undoubtedly a restaurant city. In a place where most people live in small apartments with even tinier kitchens, the best restaurants aren’t just a convenience—they stand in for New Yorkers’ living rooms and backyards, giving residents spaces to gather outside their homes.

While there are restaurants on every block, some make such an impact on the city’s culture that it’s hard to imagine New York without them. A storied oyster bar is synonymous with Grand Central Station. An inventive Nigerian spot expands the restaurant landscape in Bed-Stuy. An acclaimed soul food spot is a Harlem landmark.

These are the qualities that make up The Greats: 16 restaurants, ranging from laidback to dressed up, that define what it means to eat, live, and love in New York City.

A photo of Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare restaurant
4.7
4.7 (514)
$50 and over
French / Japanese
Midtown West
About the restaurant

This tasting menu restaurant launched in a space attached to the grocery store with which it still shares a name (Brooklyn Fare) on Schermerhorn Street in Brooklyn. Its unorthodox location, combined with chef César Ramirez’s luxurious, truffle-laden menu at a fittingly high price point, forced recognition that the borough could finally compete with Manhattan’s fine dining restaurants, earning it three MICHELIN stars. It has since relocated to Manhattan, but the experience is the same—an expensive ticket that pays off in plates of uni, lobster, and a front-row seat to watch the chef at work.


Top review
JessicaC
Dined on 25 Feb 2024
Such an incredible experience!!! The food was amazing, the ambiance and staff were so impressive. Would definitely recommend!
A photo of Grand Central Oyster Bar restaurant
4.2
4.2 (7876)
$31 to $50
Seafood
Midtown East
About the restaurant

There are few restaurants more iconic than Grand Central Oyster Bar in New York’s equally iconic Grand Central Station, sharing the building’s glorious scale and dramatic vaulted tile ceiling. With U-shaped lunch counters spanning end to end in part of the room and red-checked tablecloths covering wooden tables in the dining room, the place feels like it did when it opened in 1913. And while the clientele might dress differently now, all come for the reasons people have for a century: a quick bowl of chowder before exploring the city, or a dozen oysters and a cocktail before catching a train home.


Top review
Robinvip
Dined 4 days ago
Iconic NYC venue - Grand Central station - it was beautiful, dressed for the holidays and typically busy. Service is very slow, so be patient. All staff were kind. Menu is amazing if you love seafood. Order the lobster - you won’t be disappointed.
A photo of TAO Downtown - New York restaurant
4.6
4.6 (7071)
$31 to $50
Fusion / Eclectic
Chelsea
About the restaurant

TAO Downtown resembles a Vegas nightclub to many. But it might be more accurate to say that many Vegas nightclubs actually resemble TAO—the hybrid club and restaurant pioneered the genre and exported it all over the world. TAO is now the place to have an epic night, whether it’s for bachelorette and bachelor parties, birthdays, or other celebrations. The restaurant is equal parts show and service, with tables tiered into steps on one end of the dining room so diners can survey the scene below them while enjoying pork potstickers and Peking duck. Those who want to continue the night can head to the nightclub, hidden in the same building, where hopes of celebrity-spotting and high-priced bottle service have helped TAO become one of the highest grossing restaurants in New York.


Top review
Calvin
Dined 1 day ago
Always a great time. I came in early from my scheduled time and they accommodated me! I love Tao!
A photo of The Odeon restaurant
4.8
4.8 (3638)
$31 to $50
French
TriBeCa
About the restaurant

The Odeon has been an anchor for Lower Manhattan since it opened in 1980, long before Tribeca was trendy. The restaurant has weathered the ups and downs of several recessions, 9/11, Hurricane Sandy, and now a global pandemic, all while remaining a symbol of downtown cool that counts celebrities as regulars. Its French bistro-esque interiors influenced restaurant design for decades. The Odeon is still a go-to for the city’s most comforting classics such as frisée salad and roast chicken, best paired with some of Manhattan’s best people watching.


Top review
Ben
Dined 5 days ago
The food, service and vibes were absolutely amazing, and our server Grace was so kind and welcoming. Really can’t recommend enough, quintessential New York experience and the food was worth every penny
A photo of Casa Mono restaurant
4.7
4.7 (2826)
$50 and over
Spanish
Union Square
About the restaurant

Casa Mono has turned out consistently superb tapas since 2003, with rave New York Times reviews and a MICHELIN star to prove it. The kitchen is led by longtime chef-owner Andy Nusser and whips up classic small plates that will transport you to Spain—think pan con tomate, bacalao croquetas, razor clams a la plancha, and top-notch jamón iberíco. Larger plates are equally delightful, be it something more traditional such as fideos with chorizo and clams or unique combos like bone marrow served with smoked trout roe, horseradish, and everything bagel spice. End on a sweet note with the crème brulée-like crema Catalana con buñuelos, a rich caramelized vanilla custard trimmed with deep-fried bay leaves.


Top review
Caleb
Dined 7 days ago
Amazing food and an excellent wine selection. The service is outstanding and elevated. Everything was great—can’t wait to come back!
A photo of Kappo Masa restaurant
4.6
4.6 (634)
$50 and over
Japanese
Upper East Side
About the restaurant

Celebrated chef Masayoshi Takayama’s fifth fine-dining destination, opened in collaboration with art world kingpin Larry Gagosian, is suited for special occasions. Let the kitchen choose for you with the splurgy six-course chef’s tasting menu or sushi omakase, which comes with 15-18 pieces. Or choose your own adventure by going a la carte, starting with the menu’s chilled section, opting for toro wasabi ceviche or deep sea snapper ponzu, and warmer picks such as spicy dancing shrimp or roasted uni custard served on the half shell. For the main event, mix and match from the meat-focused hibachi grill section, various fried rice dishes, and sushi. For a taste of the Masa mini-empire on a (relative) budget, there’s the two-course bento box lunch.


Top review
KITKAT
Dined 6 days ago
The duck with froid gras tacos are remarkable. We also had a small salad, and of course dessert. The atmosphere is lovely, wait help attentive and we had a banquette seat located on the side of the restaurant that was quiet. Our traditional Christmas lunch.
A photo of The River Cafe restaurant
4.9
4.9 (9195)
$50 and over
American
DUMBO
About the restaurant

When owner Michael “Buzzy” O’Keeffe opened The River Café in 1977, DUMBO was a desolate neighborhood, full of underutilized waterfront warehouses. But O’Keeffe saw potential in the sweeping views of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. In many ways, the restaurant has always been ahead of its time, with chefs—among them Larry Forgione, Charlie Palmer, and David Burke—basing fine-dining menus off locally sourced and foraged ingredients. The MICHELIN-starred restaurant has kept up with the growing neighborhood around it and remains a special-occasion destination for elegant dishes such as pan-roasted venison served with chestnut spaetzle, braised red cabbage, and fall root vegetables.


Top review
Jamesvip
Dined 5 days ago
Magical setting under the Brooklyn bridge. Been going here since the days when Larry Forgione, David Burke and even Charlie Palmer were in the kitchen. They still carry on that tradition of creative, amazing dishes and of course a to die for wine list.
A photo of Fonda Chelsea restaurant
4.6
4.6 (1032)
$31 to $50
Mexican
Chelsea
About the restaurant

Chef and owner Roberto Santibañez, who hails from Mexico City and trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, dishes up the city’s finest regional Mexican comfort food at Fonda. The restaurant’s three locations serve up a crowd-pleasing mix of familiar and lesser-seen dishes alongside tasty margaritas. Crunchy, cheesy appetizers such as queso fundido, flautas, and taquitos are perfect for sharing (and kid-friendly, too). Pescatarians will appreciate picks including ceviche or crab croquettes served with a trio of sauces: avocado serrano, pickled jalapeño mayo, and habanero roasted tomato. For something lighter, there’s a strong salad selection starring ingredients such as jicama, mango, and green apple plus hearty sharable mains with a strong Oaxacan bent.


Top review
Robinvip
Dined on 24 Nov 2024
The food was delicious. The decor is nice. The music was good but not so loud that we couldn’t hear each other talk. Highly recommend.
A photo of Casa Ora restaurant
4.6
4.6 (655)
$31 to $50
Venezuelan
Williamsburg
About the restaurant

At this MICHELIN-recognized East Williamsburg spot, the creative Venezuelan menu comes courtesy of chef Isbelis Diaz, while the unique cocktails are devised by her son, Ivo Diaz, a former mixologist at The Nomad and Eleven Madison Park. Dishes include pork tamale with chickpea, potato, raisins, and olives (available in vegan form) and mains such as lobster, squid, and octopus paella. Don’t miss whimsical drinks such as the Purple Banana, made with tequila, dry vermouth, blue pea tea, sweet plantain, lemon, and egg white. In addition to celebrating their homeland’s cuisine, the mother-son duo supports Venezuela by donating a portion of Casa Ora’s revenue to families forced to seek asylum from the country due to insufficient access to food, clean water, and government protection.


Top review
Francis
Dined 6 days ago
The food was surprisingly good and the service was absolutely amazing. I love the way the arepitas are resented so I don’t have to choose one. The monkfish and short rib were also a nice surprise.
A photo of Faun restaurant
4.6
4.6 (35)
$31 to $50
Italian
Prospect Heights
About the restaurant

Tuck into creative Italian-leaning fare in a charming setting at MICHELIN-recommended Faun. The seasonally driven spot is one of the best dinner destinations near popular area attractions such as the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Brooklyn Museum. Vinegar Hill House alum Brian Leth created its rotating menu, which showcases solid pastas such as pappardelle with braised ossobuco ragú and spaghetti neri with Jonah crab and shishito peppers. Rest assured there are lighter options, too, including seared scallops and roasted beets with feta, walnuts, and burrata. You can’t go wrong whether seated indoors or outdoors at Faun. At the former, there’s a handsome lengthy bar and cozy interiors. And when you’re craving an alfresco setting, Faun’s lush garden patio delivers one of the most magical backdrops in Brooklyn.


Top review
Alana
Dined on 2 Nov 2024
Wow! What an experience. Pasta dishes were out this wild. Excellent ambience and we were treated so well. Would highly recommend the Skate wing (fish).
A photo of Mario's Restaurant - Arthur Ave. restaurant
4.5
4.5 (1104)
$31 to $50
Italian
Belmont
About the restaurant

Owned by the Migliucci family for five generations, Mario’s is a deeply personal restaurant. The interior is decorated with Italian landscapes painted by a distant relative, and until his passing in April 2020, diners could expect to be greeted by patriarch Joseph Migliucci when they arrived. Which explains why for more than 100 years, neighbors and regulars from all over the tri-state area have flocked to the restaurant for hearty portions of Italian classics such as chicken parmigiana and homemade lasagna. Now in the care of Migliucci’s daughter, Regina, very little has changed except for one menu dish: the restaurant’s pizza, long a well-known, off menu-item, has finally found its place in print.


Top review
Ninavip
Dined 3 days ago
Appetizers were excellent. The pasta with clams and shrimp oreganata were pretty tasteless
A photo of Melba's restaurant
4.6
4.6 (1587)
$50 and over
American
Harlem
About the restaurant

Dig into one of Harlem’s best casual meals at this soul food institution. Chef Melba Wilson’s chicken and waffles shot to fame after winning an episode of Food Network’s Throwdown! With Bobby Flay in 2008. Melba’s adored version comes with strawberry butter, maple syrup, and can be topped with wings or catfish. Wilson began her career at her aunt’s Harlem staple, Sylvia’s, and can often be found greeting guests with warm hugs. The restaurant’s Southern comforts are so legendary that even Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stopped by on a 2021 visit.


Top review
Abrahamvip
Dined 3 days ago
Keith made us feel like regulars only our second time
A photo of Strip House restaurant
4.7
4.7 (3383)
$31 to $50
Steak
Greenwich Village
About the restaurant

In a town where so many residents claim a favorite steakhouse, Strip House stands out. The interiors are far from staid, livened up by bordello-inspired accents and burlesque photos on the walls. But Strip House doesn’t mess around in the beef department. The pitch-perfect steaks are accompanied by decadent European-style sides including truffled creamed spinach and goose-fat fried potatoes. Come extra hungry and order the beloved New York strip, along with several martinis to wash it down. Don’t skip the 24-layer chocolate cake (intended for 8-10 people) if you’re here with a group.


Top review
Kareyvip
Dined on 6 Dec 2024
Fantastic from start to finish. Service was impeccable, food was outstanding, atmosphere was warm and cozy. For sure going back!
A photo of Zou Zou's restaurant
4.6
4.6 (1454)
$31 to $50
Mediterranean
Hell's Kitchen
About the restaurant

Everything is over-the-top at Zou Zou’s, a dazzling new Eastern Mediterranean restaurant that opened in 2022 and has quickly embedded itself as a must-try in the city’s restaurant scene. Chef Madeline Sperling (of Gramercy Tavern fame) turns out dramatic plates such as duck borek, a hypnotizing pastry spiral glazed with tangy orange sauce and sprinkled with crushed pistachios. The dinner theater continues with dishes including Kasseri cheese, set aflame at the table. Though the intricate kataifi cheesecake, a phyllo-layered marvel that channels both the Middle East and New York City, may be the ultimate showstopper. Feast on it all in a blue-tiled expanse, decked with plants, velour banquettes, and mirrored walls.


Top review
kent
Dined 7 days ago
Loved the dips! They are a must! Everything else was fresh and creative
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