The best restaurants in New York City offer something for everyone—luxurious fine dining, casual eateries, and everything in between. While NYC isn’t known for being cheap, you’ll find a range of options from indulgent splurges to more affordable bites. The city’s culinary scene spans nearly every cuisine, blending traditional flavors with creative fusions that redefine dining. And when it comes to the best new restaurants in NYC, the innovative spots popping up deserve a list of their own, keeping food lovers and the industry on their toes.
Tlayuda Oaxaqueña Sr San Pablo
102-25 Roosevelt Ave New York, New York 11368
- Mexican
- Corona
Perfect For: Serious Takeout Operation, Cheap Eats
The stretch of Roosevelt Ave. between Jackson Heights and Corona is lined with street vendors selling tamales, chuzos, seco de chivo, and more. To stand out, you can’t just be good. You have to make dreams come true—for $20 or less. Tlayuda Oaxaqueña Sr San Pablo, with its mound of fresh masa and sizzling cecina that lingers on your tastebuds, sets the current benchmark. The manhole-sized tlayudas are the marquee items at this cart across from Corona Plaza, and two people can easily spend an hour pulling one apart, grabbing messy bites of shredded lettuce, crumbled chorizo, and strips of Oaxaca cheese. But the huaraches, quesadillas, and tacos gigantes deserve your attention as well. We’d tell you to run over now, but you have all night. This place stays open 24 hours.
Atomix
104 E 30th St New York, NY 10016
- Korean
- Nomad
Perfect For: Special Occasions
You could argue that Atomix saved NYC fine dining—or, at the very least, woke up the sleepy genre and sent it veering in new, more exciting directions. When it opened in 2018, the city’s high-end tastings were mostly French and white-tablecloth. This restaurant in the bottom of a Nomad townhouse, with its free-form Korean-ish food and 14 stools around U-shaped counter, was neither. Every so often, we check in on the place. And, even as fine dining as a whole continues to evolve, our conclusion is always the same: There’s nothing else like Atomix. Dinner here is still 10 courses of pristine, intricately layered dishes paired with mini essays that guide you through a loose narrative. A soft, yet crunchy, and barely-sweet zucchini tells a story about finding your passion. And a crisp piece of fried whiting references Korean holiday traditions. Also, every bite is purely delicious. If you’re going to spend $400 on a meal, this is where to do it.
Semma
Between Dhamaka, Adda, and the fast-casual fried chicken depot Rowdy Rooster, the team behind Semma has opened more great restaurants than most of us deserve. We’re fans of every single one, but this is the crown jewel. This restaurant serves South Indian regional specialties typically made in rural home settings, and they do so in a narrow space with quintessential West Village charm. Highlights include the crunchy Mangalorean cauliflower and a masala-potato-filled gunpowder dosa that tastes like cheese even though there’s none present. No meal at Semma would be quite right, however, without a few of the meaty dishes that are harder to find in NYC. Try the lamb topped with fried curry leaves, and don’t miss the Goanese oxtail. If you want to go big, pre-order the whole dungeness crab.
How to Get Into Semma?
Reservations are released online two weeks in advance. There aren’t any tables saved for walk-ins, but there are 12 seats at the bar, so you can always try your luck there.
Shu Jiao Fu Zhou Cuisine
295 Grand Street New York, NY 10002
- Chinese
- Chinatown
Perfect For: Cheap Eats, Dining SoloImpressing, Out of Towners, Lunch
The Fujianese, cash-only Shu Jiao Fu Zhou has a gravitational pull that attracts tourists, locals, and anyone looking for an experience so pure it feels like a pilgrimage. At the revered Chinatown spot, the floors are industrial sheet metal, the tables are communal, and the pork dumplings with chewy, vivid chives are smooth as silk and bursting with flavor. Get six for $3 or 10 for $4.50, and add some soup with wispy, delicate wontons or a plate of the elegantly plain and creamy peanut noodles for a few dollars more. Meals here rarely exceed $10, and yet, even if you’re a regular, they always exceed all expectations.
Tatiana
10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023
Pan-African – Upper West Side
Perfect For: Special Occasions, Date Nights, Impressing Out of Towners, Birthdays
Like a ’90s nightclub plopped into the middle of Lincoln Center, Tatiana glows blue and chain-link gold, blasts Lauryn Hill and Biggie, and serves the most exciting food we’ve tasted at a fancy restaurant, ever. You’ll have just as much fun clocking tracks on the throwback playlist as you will dissecting all the menu’s references to NYC classics, from Afro-Caribbean hot bars to Chinese take-out. You’ll even find a nod to the Cosmic brownies at corner bodegas. We’re especially fond of the absurdly tender short rib pastrami suya, served with caraway coco bread—an invitation to build your own slider. Tatiana is one of the hardest reservations in town, but for a restaurant that feels like a paradigm shift in New York fine dining, it’s well worth it. Ask about the jello shots.
Le Bernardin
W 51st Street, New York, NY 10019
Seafood – Midtown
Perfect For: Birthdays, Special Occasions, Fine Dining, Corporate Cards, Classic Establishment
Make the argument that old-school fine dining is boring and antiquated. And that would be a pretty compelling argument, if it weren’t for Le Bernardin. This Midtown institution, which has been open for over 30 years now, is a well-oiled machine that’s been fine-tuned to perfection. The service here skews north of impeccable, and the sprawling dining room’s soft spotlights hit exactly where your plate goes. But the actual glamor of this restaurant—and the main reason why it’s still an amazing place to eat after some three decades—comes via the seafood. Geoduck chawanmushi with uni and soft-crunchy sea beans in pork dashi, langoustine and buttery leeks in uni sauce americaine that tastes like New Orleans, slightly smoked sea trout tartare—you book a reservation at Le Bernardin primarily to get your hands on these.
L’Industrie Pizzeria
254 S 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Pizza – Williamsburg
Perfect For: Casual Dinners, Cheap Eats, Impressing Out of Towners
The new quintessential New York slice is neither traditional nor made by someone who was born in New York. L’Industrie’s owner, a native of Tuscany, subjects his dough to a three-day cold fermentation, resulting in a crust that’s airy, crisp, thin as a saltine, and stiff enough to support dots of ricotta and strips of bacon. Whether you visit the original Williamsburg or newer West Village location—which has a bit more indoor seating—there’s going to be a line, but it’ll move fast. Place your order at the counter, then watch as they finish your hot slice with olive oil, parm, and torn basil leaves. Every single pizza they make is essential, but start your journey with the namesake one, topped with burrata and prosciutto. Always get the rotating gelato as well. Like its savory counterparts, it’s accessorized with olive oil.
Le Veau d’Or
129 E 60th St, New York, NY 10022
French – Upper East Side
Perfect For: Special Occasions, Date Nights, Drinking Great Wine
This East 60th Street bistro was founded in 1937, and is—after a five-year revamp from the Frenchette people—way more fun than that makes it sound. This place always had the trappings of a special, two-bottle night out: low ceilings, quirky paintings (a sleeping calf, the previous owner’s yacht), and a booth that was once frequented by Orson Welles. Now, it also has the food. You’ll have a lot of tough decisions to make between things like a rich tête de veau with sauce ravigote, flaky pâté en croûte, and perfectly seared duck magret with boozy cherries. You can’t really go wrong, though you’ll appreciate your server’s friendly assistance with the menu and the extensive wine list. Le Veau d’Or is the first place we’d recommend for an extra-special, extra splashy date night—or even better, a double-date, so you can try more things. Always end your night with the textbook île flottante.
How to get into Le Veau d’Or
Le Veau d’Or releases reservations online at 9am, two weeks in advance. According to the restaurant, walk-ins are only accepted on the “super rare occasion” of a no-show or last-minute cancellation. Up front, there’s a five-seat bar, where they’ve recently started offering a la carte dishes. The bar can usually only accommodate walk-ins on the earlier side, before it’s filled with parties waiting on their tables. It’s easier to get a reservation for more than two people, and we’ve had good luck using notifications.
Mắm
70 Forsyth St, New York, NY 10002
Vietnamese – Chinatown
Perfect For: Cheap Eats, Unique Dining Experiences, Lunch
Sitting on a low plastic stool, or perched on a bench at Mắm, it’s easy to form a close relationship with all the flavors and textures on your plate. Like the seating, the Vietnamese food here is uncompromising—from the tofu that’s made fresh every day to the perfectly springy blood sausage. Minty, citrusy herbs tangle with silky poached eggs, bouncy chicken feet, and snails stuffed with pork. Little bowls of different dipping sauces, like the stellar mắm tôm, tie individual ingredients together in bite after spectacular bite. Visit often—the menu changes with the seasons. In the summer, you can sit outside, wrapping and dipping your way through a platter of pork four ways, and another with three different mushrooms. In the winter, sit inside surrounded by mellow hip hop and the bubbling warmth of a hot pot of fatty catfish and green banana, or a soup that’s thick with shore clams and dill.
Thai Diner
186 Mott St, New York, NY 10012
Thai – Nolita
Perfect For: Birthdays, Brunch, Date Nights, Impressing Out of Towners, Lunch
The inside of Thai Diner sparkles like a disco ball, with golden Nolita light hitting its bamboo-woven walls and bakery case of cakes and pastries. Big booths come equipped with coat hangers, bar stools are fastened to the floor, and servers bust through swinging doors holding diner concoctions we thought were only possible with the help of psychedelics at a sleepover in Bushwick. Most importantly, every section on Thai Diner’s menu has undeniable “f*ck yeah″ energy, from brunch through dinner. Order the disco fries smothered with massaman curry, the cabbage rolls stuffed with turkey and jasmine rice, and the sai oua breakfast roti whose blend of textures would win Project Runway. We loved our meals at Uncle Boons over the years, but we can’t help but think of Thai Diner (from the same owners) as the restaurant Uncle Boons always aspired to be.
Torrisi Bar & Restaurant
275 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012
Italian – Nolita
Perfect For: Impressing Out of Towners, Date Nights, Birthdays, Special Occasions
Sometimes, you want to go somewhere big and flashy, where you can wear something that oversells the strength of your closet and see someone who recently did a guest appearance on SNL. It’s a natural instinct. Don’t fight it. When it’s that kind of night, your best option is Torrisi. From the people behind Carbone and The Grill, this Nolita restaurant is a big-budget production with precariously high ceilings, crushed velvet booths, and servers dressed for a wedding in Southampton. It’s the sort of place where you’d expect food to be an afterthought, but every section of the Italian-ish menu is filled with highlights. Start with the fennel salad that’s infinitely more exciting than it sounds, and follow that up with the prawn raviolini and rotisserie lamb.
How to get into Torrisi Bar & Restaurant
Reservations are released online 30 days in advance at 10am. There’s also a large bar area up front that’s saved for walk-ins. We came on a weeknight around 6pm to see if we could snag a few of those seats, and they quoted us a four-hour wait. So maybe bring a crossword—or come for lunch.
FAQs
What are the best restaurants in NYC for fine dining?
Top fine dining options in NYC include Le Bernardin for seafood lovers, Per Se for contemporary American cuisine, and Daniel for French fine dining.
Which NYC restaurants offer the best views?
Manhatta and Peak offer breathtaking skyline views, while The River Café provides a stunning view of the Brooklyn Bridge.
What are some budget-friendly restaurants in NYC?
Affordable and delicious options include Shu Jiao Fu Zhou Cuisine for dumplings, Joe’s Pizza for classic New York slices, and Mam for authentic Vietnamese dishes.
Where can I find the best pizza in NYC?
L’Industrie Pizzeria, Di Fara Pizza, and Lucali are renowned for serving some of the best pizzas in New York City.
What are the best restaurants in NYC for a date night?
Tatiana, Le Veau d’Or, and Thai Diner offer romantic ambiances perfect for a special evening out.
Which NYC restaurants are best for celebrating special occasions?
Le Bernardin, Tatiana, and Torrisi Bar & Restaurant are top picks for birthdays, anniversaries, and other celebrations.
What are the top brunch spots in NYC?
Thai Diner, Jack’s Wife Freda, and Balthazar are popular choices for a delicious and lively brunch experience.
Where can I get the best desserts in NYC restaurants?
Levain Bakery for cookies, Dominique Ansel Bakery for creative pastries, and Lady M Cake Boutique for signature mille crêpes cakes.
Which NYC restaurants are best for solo dining?
Shu Jiao Fu Zhou Cuisine, Thai Diner, and Mam provide friendly environments and bar seating perfect for solo diners.
Are there any restaurants in NYC with Michelin stars?
Yes, NYC is home to many Michelin-starred restaurants like Le Bernardin, Eleven Madison Park, and Atomix.
What’s the best place in NYC for seafood lovers?
Le Bernardin is famous for its exquisite seafood, while Grand Banks offers fresh seafood on a boat with Hudson River views.
Which NYC restaurants are kid-friendly?
Family-friendly spots include Ellen’s Stardust Diner with singing servers, Serendipity 3 for fun desserts, and Shake Shack for casual meals.
What are the best late-night dining options in NYC?
Katz’s Delicatessen, Artichoke Basille’s Pizza, and Veselka are open late and serve hearty meals.
Where can I find the best international cuisines in NYC?
Visit Chinatown for authentic Chinese at Shu Jiao Fu Zhou Cuisine, Little Italy for Italian at L’Industrie Pizzeria, and Koreatown for Korean BBQ.
Do NYC restaurants require reservations?
Many popular spots like Tatiana and Le Bernardin recommend reservations, especially for dinner or weekend visits. Casual and budget-friendly spots usually accept walk-ins.
