Guidebook for New York
Food Scene
Bubby's
120 Hudson StGreat Brunch spot
Farm-to-table king Bill Telepan opened this American restaurant. Serving shareable small plates.
Telepan Local
329 Greenwich StFarm-to-table king Bill Telepan opened this American restaurant. Serving shareable small plates.
Oriental Garden
14 Elizabeth StOriental Garden is unfussy Chinese restaurant serves awesome seafood dishes.
Michelin-starred Tribeca restaurant good for sampling dishes from all across India, in a comfortable, and elegant setting.
21 locals recommend
Tamarind Tribeca
99 Hudson StMichelin-starred Tribeca restaurant good for sampling dishes from all across India, in a comfortable, and elegant setting.
This sunny new Soho bistro serves food inspired by Monaco and the French Riviera. Great menu from chef Andres Grundy
Chicane
430 Broome StThis sunny new Soho bistro serves food inspired by Monaco and the French Riviera. Great menu from chef Andres Grundy
As the name implies, this venerable Mott Street restaurant serves excellent Cantonese-style seafood dishes, but the off-the-cart dim sum is really the star of the show here.
Royal Seafood
103 Mott StAs the name implies, this venerable Mott Street restaurant serves excellent Cantonese-style seafood dishes, but the off-the-cart dim sum is really the star of the show here.
Eben Freeman's cocktails are the stars of the show. Serving the classics, updated with a few innovative twists.
The Butterfly
225 W BroadwayEben Freeman's cocktails are the stars of the show. Serving the classics, updated with a few innovative twists.
The tasting menu restaurant under All Good Things earned this lovely restaurant one Michelin Star
Le Restaurant
102 Franklin StreetThe tasting menu restaurant under All Good Things earned this lovely restaurant one Michelin Star
Matthew Lightner's forward-thinking creativity gained him two Michelin stars.
6 locals recommend
atera
77 Worth StMatthew Lightner's forward-thinking creativity gained him two Michelin stars.
Kaiseki-style with 1 Michelin Star.
Kaiseki is an elegantly orchestrated course meal consisting of small dishes served at carefully timed intervals. A typical kaiseki menu consists of eight courses
Rosanjin
141 Duane StKaiseki-style with 1 Michelin Star.
Kaiseki is an elegantly orchestrated course meal consisting of small dishes served at carefully timed intervals. A typical kaiseki menu consists of eight courses
Brushstroke
David Bouley's ambitious Japanese restaurant with one Michelin Star.
This Korean fine dining restaurant was bumped up to two Michelin stars this year.
7 locals recommend
Jungsik
2 Harrison StThis Korean fine dining restaurant was bumped up to two Michelin stars this year.
The best Ramen you will ever have. Period!
Try the Green Curry and don't look back.
19 locals recommend
Bassanova Ramen
76 Mott StThe best Ramen you will ever have. Period!
Try the Green Curry and don't look back.
Intriguing mix of Chinese preparations and Muslim influences is best experienced in the plethora of cumin scented lamb dishes they have on offer. Amazing dumplings as well!
35 locals recommend
Xi’an Famous Foods
Intriguing mix of Chinese preparations and Muslim influences is best experienced in the plethora of cumin scented lamb dishes they have on offer. Amazing dumplings as well!
One of the best Mexican food in the city. Amazing Tacos, Corn on the Cob many other tasty dishes.
263 locals recommend
La Esquina - SoHo
114 Kenmare StOne of the best Mexican food in the city. Amazing Tacos, Corn on the Cob many other tasty dishes.
La Colombe Torrefaction
319 Church StOne of the very few good quality coffee places.
Everyman Espresso
301 W BroadwayOne of the very few good quality coffee places.
KAFFE 1668 SOUTH
275 Greenwich StOne of the very few good quality coffee places.
SoCal style cafe. The menus are expanded, to include things like a steak for dinner, plus a whole set of new small plates served in the hours between lunch and dinner.
212 locals recommend
Dimes
49 Canal StSoCal style cafe. The menus are expanded, to include things like a steak for dinner, plus a whole set of new small plates served in the hours between lunch and dinner.
The menu is casual, and includes plenty of seafood, but also a burger, and buffalo wings. To do it the right way, get a glass of wine, some oysters, and maybe a lobster boil in-front of the sunset
51 locals recommend
Pier A Harbor House
22 Battery PlThe menu is casual, and includes plenty of seafood, but also a burger, and buffalo wings. To do it the right way, get a glass of wine, some oysters, and maybe a lobster boil in-front of the sunset
Birds & Bubbles patio is more open now, but still line with plants and strung with hanging lights.
Birds & Bubbles
Birds & Bubbles patio is more open now, but still line with plants and strung with hanging lights.
Now it's possible to drink michelada's and dine on this ever-changing, sort-of-Mexican menu while soaking in the sun and the Lower East Side scene.
29 locals recommend
Mission Cantina
Now it's possible to drink michelada's and dine on this ever-changing, sort-of-Mexican menu while soaking in the sun and the Lower East Side scene.
Balthazar is one of New York's essential restaurants. Great for Breakfasts, Brunch, Business lunch and Bistro-style dinner. Great pastries and burgers.
274 locals recommend
Balthazar
80 Spring StBalthazar is one of New York's essential restaurants. Great for Breakfasts, Brunch, Business lunch and Bistro-style dinner. Great pastries and burgers.
Every day at 4:20 p.m. the restaurant announces how many off-the menu burgers are available on Twitter and it’s usually between 10 and 15. Do make the effort to snag one, though.
9 locals recommend
American Cut Steakhouse Tribeca
363 Greenwich StreetEvery day at 4:20 p.m. the restaurant announces how many off-the menu burgers are available on Twitter and it’s usually between 10 and 15. Do make the effort to snag one, though.
Cherche Midi
282 BoweryGreat bistro style restaurant serving great burgers
Chef Markus Glocker’s menu is fine dining without being stuffy or outrageously expensive, and three different prix fixe options. Don’t miss the cheese cart.
9 locals recommend
Bâtard
239 W BroadwayChef Markus Glocker’s menu is fine dining without being stuffy or outrageously expensive, and three different prix fixe options. Don’t miss the cheese cart.
Contra
138 Orchard StThis is one of the most exciting restaurants in New York right now.
This lively Little Italy restaurant is one of your best bets for classic red-sauce cuisine in New York City. Make sure to try one of the homemade pastas, and one of the ultra thin-crust pizzas.
133 locals recommend
RubiRosa Restaurant & Bar
235 Mulberry StThis lively Little Italy restaurant is one of your best bets for classic red-sauce cuisine in New York City. Make sure to try one of the homemade pastas, and one of the ultra thin-crust pizzas.
The second restaurant from Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi is a casual Italian-American bar and sandwich shop with food that goes the distance.
74 locals recommend
Parm
248 Mulberry StThe second restaurant from Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi is a casual Italian-American bar and sandwich shop with food that goes the distance.
Great Israeli food. Make sure to try the Jachnun and Shakshuka on the weekends
116 locals recommend
12 Chairs Cafe
342 Wythe AveGreat Israeli food. Make sure to try the Jachnun and Shakshuka on the weekends
Chef Luis Arce Mota and bartender Alex Valencia have teamed up on this new Mexican restaurant on the Lower East Side, which specializes in tequila and its less common agave-based spirits.
38 locals recommend
La Caverna
122 Rivington StChef Luis Arce Mota and bartender Alex Valencia have teamed up on this new Mexican restaurant on the Lower East Side, which specializes in tequila and its less common agave-based spirits.
Bright, bleached-wood outpost offering vegetarian (mostly vegan) fare & juices in a relaxed space.
198 locals recommend
The Butcher's Daughter
19 Kenmare StBright, bleached-wood outpost offering vegetarian (mostly vegan) fare & juices in a relaxed space.
Blue Ribbon Brasserie
97 Sullivan StOne of the best restaurants in the city. Period
Delmonico’s boldy bills itself as “America’s first restaurant.” The original opened on South Williams Street in 1837, t takes the credit for inventing baked Alaska and eggs benedict.
24 locals recommend
Delmonico's
56 Beaver StDelmonico’s boldy bills itself as “America’s first restaurant.” The original opened on South Williams Street in 1837, t takes the credit for inventing baked Alaska and eggs benedict.
A real-deal red sauce classic just outside the kitschy array of Little Italy. Forlini’s has been open since 1943, and caters to the judge and jury crowd from the nearby courthouse.
9 locals recommend
Forlini's
93 Baxter StA real-deal red sauce classic just outside the kitschy array of Little Italy. Forlini’s has been open since 1943, and caters to the judge and jury crowd from the nearby courthouse.
The first pizzeria in New York City and, supposedly, the country, but it’s still one of the city’s few coal oven pizzerias. Go early or late, to avoid the onslaught of tourists.
149 locals recommend
Lombardi's
32 Spring StThe first pizzeria in New York City and, supposedly, the country, but it’s still one of the city’s few coal oven pizzerias. Go early or late, to avoid the onslaught of tourists.
Here the focus is on all things seasonal and local, and the menu includes a lengthy section devoted to vegetables.
6 locals recommend
Little Park
85 W BroadwayHere the focus is on all things seasonal and local, and the menu includes a lengthy section devoted to vegetables.
restaurant with French, Italian, and Asian leanings. Francis Gabarrus, who once ran France's Michelin-starred La Ville Stings, is the chef in charge.
37 locals recommend
Happy Ending
restaurant with French, Italian, and Asian leanings. Francis Gabarrus, who once ran France's Michelin-starred La Ville Stings, is the chef in charge.
Asian-inflect Mexican restaurant serving tacos with fillings like tuna belly and galangal-marinated chicken in the a 1970’s inspired cabin-y space.
21 locals recommend
Tijuana Picnic
151 Essex StAsian-inflect Mexican restaurant serving tacos with fillings like tuna belly and galangal-marinated chicken in the a 1970’s inspired cabin-y space.
Food & Wine magazine just opened this guest chef-centric restaurant in the Puck building. Every season, four top notch guest chefs from across the country contribute a few dishes to the menu.
10 locals recommend
Chefs Club NY
275 Mulberry StFood & Wine magazine just opened this guest chef-centric restaurant in the Puck building. Every season, four top notch guest chefs from across the country contribute a few dishes to the menu.
Ramen Lab
70 Kenmare StGood Ramen, but not as good as Bassa Nova Ramen (listed as well)
Chef Soulayphet Schwader serves spare ribs in the Ping-Sien-Moo style. He uses Berkshire hogs and serves the ribs with smashed long beans and cherry tomatoes.
11 locals recommend
Khe-Yo
157 Duane StChef Soulayphet Schwader serves spare ribs in the Ping-Sien-Moo style. He uses Berkshire hogs and serves the ribs with smashed long beans and cherry tomatoes.
Hop Kee
21 Mott StA fine example of St Louis style Chinese pork ribs.
You can find reliable, old-school St. Louis cut Chinese ribs at this Chinatown staple.
38 locals recommend
Great NY Noodletown
28 BoweryYou can find reliable, old-school St. Louis cut Chinese ribs at this Chinatown staple.
The St. Louis style Chinese ribs are cut into riblets at this Chinatown mainstay.
15 locals recommend
Big Wong
67 Mott StThe St. Louis style Chinese ribs are cut into riblets at this Chinatown mainstay.
Nam serves grilled baby back ribs marinated in five spices, with a garnish of crushed peanuts.
Nam Cafe
75 Baxter StNam serves grilled baby back ribs marinated in five spices, with a garnish of crushed peanuts.
Nyonya
199 Grand StNeon serves up Malaysian style deep fried spare ribs, cut into riblets.
These baby back ribs are not smoked, but rather roasted with beer and then finished on the grill.
11 locals recommend
Georgia's Eastside BBQ
These baby back ribs are not smoked, but rather roasted with beer and then finished on the grill.
Drinks & Nightlife
Racines is a wine bar with a serious menu of market-driven French-inspired cuisine. Chef Frédéric Duca is serving amazing dishes, and offers many organic and biodynamic wines from French producers
Racines NY
94 Chambers StRacines is a wine bar with a serious menu of market-driven French-inspired cuisine. Chef Frédéric Duca is serving amazing dishes, and offers many organic and biodynamic wines from French producers
Distilled serves fancypants modern cocktails in a relaxed setting. Former Ward III bartender Benjamin Wood is in charge of the bar program here.
6 locals recommend
Distilled
211 W BroadwayDistilled serves fancypants modern cocktails in a relaxed setting. Former Ward III bartender Benjamin Wood is in charge of the bar program here.
Nobu Matsuhisa serves masterpiece dishes of Japanese cuisine that became legendary and copied all over New York.
17 locals recommend
Nobu New York
Nobu Matsuhisa serves masterpiece dishes of Japanese cuisine that became legendary and copied all over New York.
Mother's Ruin is a favorite hangout for bartenders, and does a great job striking that balance between highbrow and lowbrow.
113 locals recommend
Mother's Ruin
18 Spring StMother's Ruin is a favorite hangout for bartenders, and does a great job striking that balance between highbrow and lowbrow.
Uncle Boons makes a frozen beer slushy or “Bia Wun” that's beats the coldest beer you can find anywhere else, and is a perfect counterpoint to the restaurant's fiery food.
68 locals recommend
Uncle Boons
186 Mott StUncle Boons makes a frozen beer slushy or “Bia Wun” that's beats the coldest beer you can find anywhere else, and is a perfect counterpoint to the restaurant's fiery food.
Stylish in a way that might signal cocktail bar just as much as coffee shop, this is the place to go for friendly service that is also precise about what’s in the cup.
82 locals recommend
El Rey
Stylish in a way that might signal cocktail bar just as much as coffee shop, this is the place to go for friendly service that is also precise about what’s in the cup.
While loosely based on an In-N-Out Burger the Lure burger is a classic in its own right. Chef Josh Capon has won numerous Burger Bashes
82 locals recommend
Lure Fishbar
142 Mercer StWhile loosely based on an In-N-Out Burger the Lure burger is a classic in its own right. Chef Josh Capon has won numerous Burger Bashes
While Andrew Carmellini and crew are turning out excellent vegetable-heavy food, let's not forget about the bar that the restaurateur also operates in the Smyth.
Evening Bar
85 W BroadwayWhile Andrew Carmellini and crew are turning out excellent vegetable-heavy food, let's not forget about the bar that the restaurateur also operates in the Smyth.
Jeremy Strawn, an alum of the Mulberry Project, brings years of bar expertise to cocktails at the recently opened Lazy Point, a new seaside-inspired bar in Tribeca.
Lazy Point
310 Spring StJeremy Strawn, an alum of the Mulberry Project, brings years of bar expertise to cocktails at the recently opened Lazy Point, a new seaside-inspired bar in Tribeca.
In 1890 it became a beer brewery with a saloon attached, and has housed a tavern of some sorts ever since (surviving Prohibition as a speakeasy).
47 locals recommend
Ear Inn
326 Spring StIn 1890 it became a beer brewery with a saloon attached, and has housed a tavern of some sorts ever since (surviving Prohibition as a speakeasy).
Full House Cafe
97 BoweryFind Wu Xi–style spare ribs here, made in the red cooking style.
[Robert Sietsema]
Essentials
Largest groceries store with expansive selections of local and organic food.
800 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
214 3rd StLargest groceries store with expansive selections of local and organic food.
Dean & DeLuca
560 BroadwayGreat gourmet food and groceries
Everything Else
The takeout burrito shop next to Stephen Starr's Philly import El Vez recently started offering Mexican-inspired ice cream.
8 locals recommend
El Vez and Burrito Bar
259 Vesey StThe takeout burrito shop next to Stephen Starr's Philly import El Vez recently started offering Mexican-inspired ice cream.
Ice cream magician Nick Morgenstern is the brains behind this popular LES parlor. His ice cream is known for its unique production method that ups the taste by decreasing butterfat and sugar content.
79 locals recommend
Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream
2 Rivington StIce cream magician Nick Morgenstern is the brains behind this popular LES parlor. His ice cream is known for its unique production method that ups the taste by decreasing butterfat and sugar content.