18 NYC Restaurants for Your Next Visit

Restaurant photos courtesy of Maison Passerelle

In a sun-splashed dining room inside the French department store Printemps, Top Chef alum Gregory Gourdet breathes new life into classics. Drawing on flavors from former French colonies, Maison Passerelle delights with lemongrass-scented sole meunière, peppery steak au poivre, and featherlight profiteroles.

Restaurant photo courtesy of Dirt Candy

At trailblazing chef Amanda Cohen’s Lower East Side restaurant Dirt Candy, you can dig into a five-course tasting menu of elevated vegetarian cuisine, each course inspired by a single headlining vegetable.

Restaurant photos courtesy of Sushi Oku

Located in a former pizza parlor, Sushi Oku offers a decadent 17-course omakase with bragging rights: there are only eight seats at the counter, and three seatings nightly. The soundtrack of hip-hop beats is in tune with the party vibe of its Lower East Side location.

Restaurant photos courtesy of Corima

Opened in early 2024, Corima serves elevated Northern Mexican cuisine in a sleek, minimalist space in the heart of Chinatown. The bar is just as noteworthy – mixing up cocktails with Sotol and other agave-based spirits and pouring natural wines from the Guadalupe Valley.

Restaurant photos courtesy of Lei

From acclaimed King and Jupiter co-founder Annie Shi, this intimate wine bar pours Chinese varietals alongside standout plates like sticky short ribs glazed with strawberry jam and lamb braised in cumin and tomato. Getting lost in Lei happens to the best of us: one drink can easily turn into three.

Must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly.

Restaurant photo courtesy of Ops East Village

The reigning champ of naturally leavened dough, Ops serves chewy, perfectly charred sourdough pizzas alongside a short list of market-driven salads and small plates. This new East Village outpost brings the Bushwick favorite experience to another new neighborhood of noshers.

Restaurant photo courtesy of Semma

Helmed by Chef Vijay Kumar, formerly of San Francisco’s noted Rasa, Semma delivers authentic, spicy South Indian cuisine in a whimsically decorated space in the West Village.

Restaurant photos courtesy of The Noortwyck

Amid the crowded West Village dining scene, The Noortwyck has been making a name for itself since its 2022 debut for a seasonally driven menu marked by surprising twists.

The brainchild of celebrity chef Kwame Onwuachi, Tatiana pays tribute to his New York childhood, fusing local and Afro Caribbean flavors to sensational, original results. To improve your odds of experiencing Tatiana for yourself, follow this advice for how to get the toughest reservations at NYC restaurants.

Restaurant photo courtesy of Monkey Bar

An iconic Midtown destination since the 1930s, Monkey Bar closed its doors during the pandemic, but now it’s back under new ownership and, many would say, better than ever. Slip into one of the red booths and settle in for an evening fueled by steaks, pastas, and good old-fashioned cocktails.

Restaurant photos courtesy of Marea

Overlooking Central Park South, Marea delivers on swanky décor and high-end coastal Italian cuisine (house-made pastas, raw seafood platters).

Restaurant photos courtesy of La Compagnie Wine Bar

Mediterranean small plates and a selection of fine French wines from hundreds of small producers meet at the cozy La Compagnie Wine Bar, which opened in spring 2024 in the Flatiron District. It's the second NYC outpost of the original Paris-based bar.

Restaurant photos courtesy of Txikito

Txikito channels the Basque region of Spain with shareable pintxos, hearty mains, and Iberian wines. The cozy dining room and rotating blackboard specials make it a go-to for date night or catch-ups with friends.

Restaurant photos courtesy of Atoboy

Award winning Korean kitchen Atoboy offers a seasonal tasting menu of small plates with big personalities, from crispy fried chicken glazed in tangy gochujang to steamed eggs crowned with sea urchin and shaved truffle.

Restaurant photo courtesy of Fish Cheeks Williamsburg

The team behind Noho’s lively Thai favorite has expanded to Brooklyn. At Fish Cheeks Williamsburg, expect the same zesty curries, whole fried fish, and crowd-favorite coconut-crab dish that made the original a hit, served up in a colorful space near the waterfront.

Restaurant photos courtesy of I Cavallini

This neighborhood spot turns out handmade pastas and seasonal Italian plates in a warm setting even your Nonna could love. The menu at I Cavallini mixes tried-and-true classics like tagliatelle Bolognese with creative specials, paired with a well-edited wine list.

Restaurant photos courtesy of Eyval

Ali Saboor’s Persian joint celebrates the flavors of Iran with wood-grilled kabobs, saffron-infused mains, and silken desserts like rose and peach custard. The bright and airy interior feels like a little oasis, inviting you to linger longer, even after the last plates are cleared.

Restaurant photos courtesy of Bong

A short walk from Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Bong ladles out Cambodian delicacies with a modern twist. Expect fragrant noodle soups, amok curry, and gently spiced seasonal comfort food, delivered in a casual Central Brooklyn space.