New York / Food & drink

25 New York restaurants worth planning around

A wide-ranging New York restaurant shortlist, from defining neighborhood institutions to dining rooms worth booking a trip around.

25 picks · By Extro editorial · Checked 2026-10-26

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This guide balances destination restaurants with casual places that reveal how New York actually eats. The order favors memorable food, a useful range of neighborhoods and different reasons to go, from an easy slice to a dinner worth planning around. Reservations, menus and hours can change quickly, so confirm directly with each restaurant.

01
Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi
Lincoln Square$$$$Best for a major dinner reservation
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A celebratory dining room at Lincoln Center where Caribbean, West African and New York influences meet in generous, high-energy dishes.
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02
Semma
West Village$$$Best for a destination dinner
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Regional South Indian cooking with deep spice, seafood and dishes that move well beyond the usual restaurant canon.
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03
Torrisi
Nolita$$$$Best for a lively special occasion
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An exuberant Italian American dining room with polished service and a menu shaped by downtown New York.
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04
Don Angie
West Village$$$Best for date night and sharing
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Inventive Italian American plates in an intimate room where the lasagna and shareable pastas reward planning ahead.
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05
Via Carota
West Village$$$Best for an unhurried meal
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A warm neighborhood trattoria known for vegetables, handmade pastas and an atmosphere that works from late lunch through dinner.
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06
Dhamaka
Lower East Side$$$Best for adventurous group dining
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Bold regional Indian cooking with offal, slow-cooked meats and dishes rarely represented on New York menus.
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07
COTE Korean Steakhouse
Flatiron$$$$Best for a group celebration
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Korean barbecue technique and steakhouse sourcing come together in a polished, social format built for a group.
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08
4 Charles Prime Rib
West Village$$$$Best for an intimate splurge
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A small, clubby steakhouse where prime rib, burgers and classic sides make the reservation part of the experience.
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09
Atomix
NoMad$$$$Best for a milestone meal
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A tasting-menu experience that presents modern Korean cooking through precise courses, ceramics and thoughtful storytelling.
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10
Fish Cheeks
NoHo$$$Best for sharing with friends
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Bright, family-style Thai seafood with curries, whole fish and enough contrast to make ordering widely the best approach.
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11
Thai Diner
Nolita$$Best for casual brunch or dinner
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Thai comfort food, playful diner references and a welcoming all-day room make this an easy downtown anchor.
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12
Shukette
Chelsea$$$Best for a lively group meal
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Open-fire cooking, breads and eastern Mediterranean small plates create a loud, communal dinner with plenty to pass around.
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13
Golden Diner
Two Bridges$$Best for brunch and comfort food
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A compact diner that filters New York classics through Korean American flavors without losing the comfort of the originals.
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14
Dame
Greenwich Village$$$Best for seafood and date night
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A small seafood restaurant with a focused menu, excellent fish and chips and the energy of a neighborhood favorite.
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15
Lilia
Williamsburg$$$Best for pasta with a group
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Wood-fired seafood, handmade pasta and a converted Williamsburg garage combine for a quintessential Brooklyn dinner.
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16
Misi
Williamsburg$$$Best for pasta and a long lunch
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A focused menu of vegetables and handmade pastas served in a spare waterfront room with a clear point of view.
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17
Lucali
Carroll Gardens$$Best for a classic pizza night
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Candlelit Brooklyn pizza with a concise menu and a famously patient wait; arrive with time and a flexible evening.
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18
L’Industrie Pizzeria
Williamsburg$Best for a standout slice
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Crisp, expressive slices finished with high-quality toppings make this a strong stop without committing to a full dinner.
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19
Scarr’s Pizza
Lower East Side$Best for late-night slices
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A downtown slice shop with house-milled flour, a retro room and pizza that balances nostalgia with real craft.
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20
Los Tacos No. 1
Chelsea Market$Best for a quick essential stop
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Fast-moving counters turn out adobada, carne asada and nopal tacos that fit easily into a day of exploring.
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21
Katz’s Delicatessen
Lower East Side$$Best for a New York institution
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The city’s best-known delicatessen remains worth understanding on its own terms: hand-carved pastrami, a ticket system and serious portions.
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22
Russ & Daughters Cafe
Lower East Side$$Best for breakfast or lunch
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A sit-down expression of the appetizing tradition, with smoked fish, bagels, eggs and classic Lower East Side flavors.
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23
Sylvia’s
Harlem$$Best for soul food and history
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A Harlem landmark for fried chicken, ribs, greens and the history of a family-run restaurant woven into its neighborhood.
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24
Sofreh
Prospect Heights$$$Best for a thoughtful group dinner
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Persian cooking centered on herbs, rice, bread and slow-building flavors in a calm Brooklyn dining room.
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25
Eyval
Bushwick$$$Best for creative shared plates
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Contemporary Iranian cooking uses smoke, charcoal and bright herbs in a menu designed for sharing across the table.
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