Museums are great, but lunch waits for no one. Food is everywhere in New York, but what if you're tired of fast food and craving something delicious? It's time to discover new eateries! Sometimes, culinary miracles happen in the most unexpected places.
Read the article to learn about the top 10 restaurants in New York for every taste and budget.
What and where to eat in New York
Before we delve into the best restaurants, here are some general tips for finding places with tasty and quality food.
- If you need it cheap and filling
Fast food is fine occasionally. Constantly eating burgers is not just unhealthy, but it will also become boring. The cheapness is deceptive — the hunger after such snacks will only intensify. Therefore, relying heavily on them is not advisable. The most reliable option for budget meals are local ethnic eateries. A prime example is Chinatown, with its countless Chinese cafes. You can also find Italian, Mexican, and Middle Eastern cuisines on the streets. - If you want something exquisite and interesting
Four of the top 50 best restaurants in the world are in New York. Finding high-end cuisine is not a problem. Often, such restaurants are located in hotel buildings, so it's a good idea to scout the location on a map in advance. Most of them are in the center of Manhattan, as well as along the shores of the Hudson and East River.
10 Popular Restaurants in New York City
We've compiled a top-10 list of the best restaurants in New York from different price and taste categories to make it easier for you to navigate locally.
Le Bernardin
A high-end French restaurant that not only ranks among the top fifty in the world but also boasts three Michelin stars. The prices are quite high, with an average meal costing between $100-150. However, many renowned chefs consider this restaurant a must-visit, and guest reviews only confirm this.
Le Bernardin is located on the west side of 51st Street. There's no strict dress code, but it's advised not to show up in jeans and a backpack; the experience here is about aesthetic enjoyment.
The Little Owl
A contender for the title of the coziest and most atmospheric restaurant in New York! The building features two glass panoramic walls with wooden frames, a charming and warm interior, and eye-pleasing lighting. It fits perfectly into the formerly industrial, now creative SoHo district.
The restaurant is small, so it's best to book a table in advance. Besides a full menu, there is also an excellent wine list available.
Fiore Deli
The most budget-friendly and delicious option is this Italian deli with its own kitchen. Here you can stock up on tasty Italian products at low prices, and the owners can prepare snacks for you.
Delicious fresh mozzarella, homemade sausages, roast beef sandwiches with greens, crispy ciabatta… It's the best place for breakfasts and brunches.
Club A Steakhouse
Widely regarded by tourists and locals alike as the best steakhouse in all of Midtown. If you're particular about your meat, this place will definitely satisfy. Expect standard American sides like fried potatoes, corn, and salads with rich sauces to accompany your meat.
On average, a hearty lunch or dinner will cost about $50-70 per person, plus tips. The restaurant is located on East 58th Street.
Russ & Daughters
Fish lovers will find plenty to enjoy here. This establishment also operates as a shop where you can buy high-quality fish and caviar. They also offer bagels and fish sandwiches, smoked and salted fish with appetizers, hot fish dishes, freshly baked bread, and homemade cheeses.
Chef Cesar Ramirez and his colleagues have created a restaurant that impresses with its design alone. The interior is minimalist, dominated by polished surfaces, steel, glass, and bright lamps. At the center of the room is a giant 'D'-shaped table seating a maximum of 18 people, with a stove at the far end where the chef himself cooks.
The menu features French and Japanese cuisine, with a predominance of fish and vegetarian dishes. Bring your own alcohol, as none is served here, though a sommelier is available. The average price is $200 per person. Given the limited seating, reservations need to be made well in advance — people book several months ahead.
Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare
The most exclusive, expensive, and arguably the best restaurant on our list.
Chef Cesar Ramirez and his colleagues have again created a restaurant that astonishes with its design. The minimalist interior features polished surfaces, steel, glass, and bright lights. The centerpiece is a giant 'D'-shaped table that seats a maximum of 18 people, with the chef cooking at a stove at the far end of the table.
The cuisine is predominantly French and Japanese, focusing on fish and vegetarian dishes. Alcohol is not served, though a sommelier is available. The average price is $200 per person. Due to the limited seating, it is necessary to sweat over reservations well in advance, as spots fill up months ahead.
Burger & Lobster
Founded by a Russian expat, Mikhail Zelman, the concept of this restaurant is deceptively simple — they serve only burgers and lobsters. This focused approach aims to perfect each recipe rather than doing everything just average. Initially, the concept was indeed very straightforward — you had two dishes, each costing $20, sparing diners the agony of choice. Today, the principle remains, but with more variations:
- Two types of burgers: The Original and London
- Four types of lobsters: The Original, The Pounder, The Big Boys, and the Lobster Roll
The cooking approach is of Michelin-star quality — lobsters are wild-caught from the ocean and then acclimatized in giant aquariums within the restaurant.
Don’t go there too hungry, or you might starve in the queue. Towards the weekend, especially in the evenings, you might have to wait an hour and a half to place an order. However, once ordered, the food is prepared quickly—about 5 minutes. The waiting time is made more pleasant by the staff, hailing from various nations — Zelman loves cosmopolitanism.
Pro tip: There’s a secret burger on the menu. Just say to the waiter, “The Original Burger, but California Style,” and they’ll know what you mean.
Sweetgreen
This is a fast-food restaurant, but it’s not your typical Burger King or Subway; here, they care about health — the menu consists only of salads. Sweetgreen was founded in 2007 by three Georgetown University graduates. In just ten years, this small establishment has grown into a chain of 77 restaurants.
They are known not only for their salads but also for music festivals. Surprisingly, in 2015 they even collaborated with rapper Kendrick Lamar, naming a salad after one of his songs. The result was hundreds of articles about it, a sharp increase in sales, and 10% of the revenue went to the healthy food fund FoodCorps.
The price per serving is around $10. For this money, you get a substantial portion that can replace a full meal. You can choose dishes from the menu or improvise — create something unique with the available components. There are both vegetarian ingredients and regular meat and fish. They also offer unusual lemonades — from jasmine to chamomile. Order once, and then you can refill indefinitely.
Gramercy Tavern
Founded in 1994 by Danny Meyer, this establishment became famous for Meyer's chain of diverse restaurants and his firm stance against tipping, which he believes undermines teamwork among cooks, loaders, and hostesses, and unnecessarily burdens the customers.
Gramercy Tavern follows this no-tipping policy. The menu is divided into two sections: the Seasonal Tasting Menu and the Vegetable Menu, each further broken down into three parts:
- First Course — dishes ranging from $19 to $28;
- Second Course — dishes at $36-38;
- Dessert — $18 per dessert.
The menu changes with the seasons, personally curated by the head chef. A full dinner takes about an hour and a half to prepare, so patience is required. For an additional $49, a wine specifically paired with your meal by the chef will be served. Portions are small, and the average bill is around $100.
An interesting feature: there is no music playing in the restaurant, which you may find to be a plus or a minus.
Peter Luger Steak House
The history of steaks dates back to Ancient Rome, where priests grilled large beef cuts as offerings to the gods. The steak's role has evolved over time, but it was only in medieval Britain that it became recognized as a full-fledged dish. In the 15th century, Columbus brought cows to the New World, setting the stage for America's steak culture.
Today, America is a leading beef exporter, with strict government controls over production. Cattle are well-fed, veterinarians ensure their health, and only professionals handle slaughtering. It's within these conditions that the founding of Peter Luger Steak House in 1887 made perfect sense, and it has since received numerous accolades, including Michelin stars.
Steaks are pricey, so expect to pay upwards of $50 per portion in cash, as cards are not accepted. There's a wine list (wine starts at $60 per bottle), and steaks are served with sauce, spinach, and fried potatoes. Other menu items are available, but steaks are the main draw.
While we could continue listing restaurants, at American Butler, we prefer a personalized approach. Contact us in any way that suits you, and we'll recommend the best culinary spots in New York for you.
The specialists at American Butler are happy to assist with other queries too — we organize the best leisure activities in the USA!
Share
