New York City – Where to Eat?

I’m often asked where to go for dinner in New York City, so I thought I would put together a list with some of my favorite restaurants. You’ll find options across various price points, but for dinner it’s nice to be able to sit down and enjoy your meal, so I haven’t included grab-and-go spots like pizza slice joints without proper seating.

The list is continuously updated with places that tickle my fancy. Currently, there’s a strong presence of Korean restaurants, but expect to see more places with nice outdoor seating options as the summer rolls in, and you want to be outside. Most of the restaurants on the list are busy throughout the week, so make sure you book a table in advance.

I do my best to keep this list current, but if you spot anything outdated, please let me know. Also, if you try any of the places on the list, I’d love to hear about your experience.

P.J. Clarke’s

$$ American/burgers

Old school bar/restaurant known for burgers. The Cadillac has double smoked bacon and cheese, and might be one of the best burgers in New York City. Except for oysters, I haven’t tried anything else than burgers, because the burgers are the reason why you go to P.J. Clarke’s. It’s always busy, especially in the early evening, when people stop by for drinks after work in the bar section.

Read my blog post about P.J. Clarke’s >>

P.J. Clarke’s, 915 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10022, United States

Her Name is Han

$$ Korean

Korean restaurant serving up traditional Korean food in trendy surroundings. This is many of my Korean friends’ favorite K-town spot, as the food is consistently good and the service impeccable, even when it’s busy. If you haven’t tried Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew) this is the place to do it.

Read my blog post about Budae Jjigae at Her Name is Han >>

Read my blog post about Bibimbap lunch at Her Name is Han >>

Her Name is Han, 17 E 31st St, New York, NY 10016, United States

Nonna Dora’s

$$$ Pasta/Italian

Excellent handmade pasta in smart casual surroundings. The extensive Negroni menu would probably cause a great bit of FOMO for those of us predisposed. If in doubt, the Negroni Infinito and the Negroni Satsuma are both safe bets. A great spot for those night where you want drinks to turn into dinner.

Read my blog post about Nonna Dora’s >>

Nonna Dora’s, 606 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10016, United States

Lamia’s Fish Market

$$$ Seafood

Modern Mediterranean seafood restaurant/bar known for oyster happy hour on weekdays. Stick to oysters and the Simply Raw/Small Bites part of the menu, and order a bunch of different plates to share.

Read my blog post about Lamia’s Fish Market >>

Lamia’s Fish Market, 47 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009, United States

Nubiani

$$$ Korean BBQ

One of the best places for Korean BBQ in New York if you ask me. Trendy, industrial settings, and delicious meat, including some interesting cuts that I haven’t seen anywhere else. The marinated short ribs is what everybody’s getting, but I would also recommend the Pork Jowl which I had when I was there with April. It’s delicious. You get a generous amount of really good banchan (complimentary side dishes) so be careful not to over-order.

Read my blog post about Nubiani >>

Nubiani, 315 5th Ave #3FL, New York, NY 10016, United States

ROKC

$$ Ramen

Ramen and cocktails with a speakeasy vibe. Even though ROKC isn’t secret or hidden in any way, I wouldn’t have found the place if it wasn’t for Ana. Excellent ramen and craft cocktails that are so good that I happily skip my usual Sapporo beer. Yum, just writing about ROKC makes me want to visit again soon.

PS: ROKC stands for Ramen Oysters Kitchen Cocktails:)

Read my blog post about ROKC >>

ROKC, 3452 Broadway, New York, NY 10031, United States

La Grande Boucherie

$$$$ French

Elegant French brasserie with an authentic Paris feel. A bit pricey, especially compared to brasserie dining in France, but cheaper than a trip to Paris:) Particularly known for steak frites which they make to perfection.

Read my blog post about La Grande Boucherie >>

La Grande Boucherie, 145 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, United States

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

$$ American barbecue

Really cozy and casual spot for barbecue. There are 2 Dinosaurs in New York City, but I always go to the one in Brooklyn. The combos are really good value for money, but make sure you order an extra serving of beef brisket because that’s where the Dinosaur really excels.

Read my blog post on what to order at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que >>

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, 604 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215, United States

Smith & Wollensky

$$$$$ Steak restaurant

Classic New York steak restaurant with an old school vibe and amazing staff that aren’t afraid of providing their advice and opinion on the different items on the menu. The steaks are amazing, cooking to perfection, according to your preferences, and the sides are delicious, but huge, so make sure you bring a friend or two to share with.

Read my blog post about Smith & Wollensky >>

Smith & Wollensky, 49th Street &, 3rd Ave, New York, 10022, United States

Beauty & Essex

$$$$ Small plates, modern American

Speakeasy-style clubby restaurant with surprisingly good food. I think Beauty & Essex was among the first with this concept, and they’re still going strong. The grilled cheese/tomato soup dumplings have been around since the early days, and they’re still on the menu. They’re delicious, so make sure you order some.

Read my blog post about Beauty & Essex >>

Beauty & Essex, 146 Essex St, New York, NY 10002, United States

L’Artusi

$$$$ Italian

Trendy Italian restaurant in the heart of West Village with the vibe of a neighborhood gem in a very trendy neighborhood. Order small plates and pasta that you share with the rest of the table and enjoy with a glass of nice Italian wine. The food is good, but your main reason to come here would be the vibe. A nice place to start a night out.

Read my blog post about L’Artusi >>

L’Artusi, 228 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014, United States

Atoboy

$$$$ Modern Korean

Modern Korean restaurant with an affordable $75 tasting menu (gratuity included) which is more expensive than it used to be, but still a really good deal, unless you go too crazy with the add-ons. Though, talking about add-ons you might want to go for the fried chicken (+$28) as it has become one of Atoboy’s signature dishes. The food is delicious and the vibe is smart casual. A good place to start a night out.

Read my blog post about Atoboy >>

Atoboy, 43 E 28th St, New York, NY 10016, United States

Fish Cheeks

$$$$ Thai Seafood

Thai restaurant with authentic Thai flavors, so respect those little chilis used as heat indicators in the menu and think very carefully before you order anything 3 chilis or above. When I was there with Leah, we had the Pla Pao , which is a whole, saltcrused sea bream served with lettuce and condiments so you can do Korean-style wraps. It’s delicious, and the reason why Fish Cheeks ended up on this list.

Read my blog post about Fish Cheeks >>

Fish Cheeks, 55 Bond St, New York, NY 10012, United States

Pig & Khao

$$ Thai/Filipino

Casual Thai/Filipino restaurant that serves up affordable, spot-on versions of food from both cuisines. I really like their Khao Soi and Sizzling Sisig, but everything I’ve tried from the menu has been delicious.

Pig and Khao, 68 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002, United States

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