The Upper East Side rarely gets treated like one of New York's great dinner neighborhoods. It does not chase trends or attention like downtown NYC. It does not need every new restaurant to arrive with a publicist, a velvet rope, and a month of social media hype. To those who live here, that is a relief. The great places hide in plain sight, and it’s usually pretty easy to get a table on a weeknight.
The best Upper East Side restaurants tend to succeed because they are consistent, comfortable with what they are, and they know their customers. Local restaurants deliver wonderful food and great ambience, whether your mood favors tapas with friends, sushi, Georgian dumplings, Chinese delivery, or an Italian meal that feels like an occasion.
These are some of my favorite Upper East Side places: ones that offer wonderful food and create great memories.
Pil Pil
For drinks and a lively night out, few places beat Pil Pil. Delicious tapas pair wonderfully with it’s intimate, dark wood environment and funky tree branch covered ceiling.
This is where I go for an informal gathering with friends. The room has energy without tipping into chaos (usually), and on a warm afternoon or evening the outdoor tables are a fantastic option.
Two dishes in particular keep me coming back: the gambas al ajillo and the croquetas. The shrimp arrive sizzling in garlic and olive oil, while the croquetas are a delicious, crispy Spanish comfort food. From there, serrano ham, pan con tomate, patatas bravas and others are probably soon to follow!
Pil Pil evenings often start with a couple of small plates and a drink and turn into a whole evening. The place may be Spanish tapas done right, but the ambience feels like a neighborhood staple.
Boqueria
When the occasion calls for a more substantial Spanish dinner, Boqueria is a great choice.
Inspired by Barcelona's market culture, Boqueria offers a broader menu, a larger dining room, and a more polished experience than Pil Pil. It still captures the pleasure of Spanish dining, but in a setting better suited for a full sit-down meal.
The tables are close together and the atmosphere is lively. For even more energy, grab seats at the bar. Perhaps start with some cheeses and charcuterie? The seafood is excellent here, in particular the octopus and the seafood paella. Not surprisingly, the pork dishes are also excellent, standouts being the Iberian ham and the roast pork with white romesco sauce. Churros are a great finishing touch if you have any room left! Do not skip the dulce de leche sauce
Oda House
Oda House offers one of the most distinctive meals on the Upper East Side. Behind an unassuming storefront lives a beautiful space complete with a decorative tin ceiling, chandeliers, artwork and dark paneling that could be a French bistro in the Marais. The staff is welcoming and great at introducing people to the world of Georgian food.
Start with a khachapuri, the famous cheese-filled bread that arrives hot, rich and delicious. My favorite kachapuri is the adjaruli, with an egg on top, but they are all great, and each could be a meal unto itself. I usually pair the bread with one of Oda House’s great appetizers, perhaps a salad, some pickled veggies, or the soup dumplings. Khinkali may require a little technique, but reward you with a burst of flavor.
For the main course, I usually get one of their slow cooked stews: chakapuli, chanakhi, or chakhokhbili. They all offer a chance to put some more of the wonderful bread to work! Hard to choose, but I think my favorite is the chakapuli, lamb stew with herbs and white wine sauce.
If you’re curious, talk to your waiter about their Georgian wines. They offer many grape varietals not often seen in the US, offering another unique glimpse into Georgian food and wine culture.
Tanoshi Sushi
Tanoshi Sushi is my place for omakase. Some places invest heavily in atmosphere, location, and other trappings of fine dining. Tanoshi invests in the fish.
The room is intimate, the focus is clear, and the omakase experience feels refreshingly serious without being stiff. The fish is excellent. The staff is well trained, efficient and on point. What the restaurant lacks in finery, it more than makes up for in quality food and excellent service.
Marwin Thai
Marwin Thai is a hidden gem. From the outside, it's easy to walk past. Inside, you'll find a cozy dining room with warm wood finishes, soft lighting, and a handful of tables.
The menu covers the Thai classics, but the kitchen really shines with dishes that are harder to find elsewhere in Manhattan. The khao soi is one of the standouts. The rich coconut curry broth, soft egg noodles, crispy fried noodles, pickled mustard greens, shallots, and fresh lime come together in one of northern Thailand's great comfort dishes. Sanne and I spent time in Chiang Mai recently, and I think the khao soi at Marwin holds its own.
When we visit, the one dish that never changes is the pad see ew with duck. My younger son orders it every single time, without ever looking at the menu. The wide rice noodles are chewy, the duck is tender, and the slightly sweet soy sauce is balanced by just enough heat. It has become part of our routine – if we can get him to share!
Pig Heaven
Every neighborhood needs a reliable standby, whether it’s for a quick sit-down meal or delivery after a long day. Pig Heaven is one of those comfort places.
The menu is extensive, but the pork ribs and the Pecking duck deserve to be called signature items. The ribs are deeply flavorful and satisfying, and the duck is wonderful. Moo shu pork is also a great choice!
Pig Heaven also carries a different kind of meaning for me because of COVID. During those initial anxious months in 2020, neighborhood restaurants took on a role that went far beyond convenience. They helped create small moments of normal life when everything was very abnormal. Pig Heaven's delivery team helped get us through that period, and I have remained grateful ever since.
Scalinatella
Scalinatella is a different kind of Upper East Side experience altogether. Imagine an elegant Italian wine cellar with a party going on inside.
Tucked away in a basement on East 61st Street, it feels like a throwback to another era of Manhattan dining. This is not the place for a rushed meal, a casual bite, or a night when you are hoping to control every detail.
Dress nicely. Settle in. Expect to have a conversation with the waiter rather than simply being handed a menu. Honestly, I’ve been many times and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a menu.
The daily specials are often the stars of the evening, and part of the pleasure is surrendering a bit to the rhythm of the restaurant. The service has confidence. The food earns it. The whole experience feels old school in the best possible way.
It’s a good idea to ask the prices of the various specials. Again, I don’t think I ever have. My approach is simpler: when the check arrives, accept it with grace. Chances are you have just had one of the best meals in the area.
Canaletto
There is one final restaurant I am almost reluctant to mention because it feels like giving away a neighborhood secret.
Canaletto, on East 60th Street, is completely unassuming from the outside. So unassuming, in fact, that I walked past it for nearly a year before trying it, even though I lived next door. Once I finally went in, it quickly earned a place in our family's rotation for special occasions and memorable meals.
My sons would often sheepishly ask, “Can we go to the Italian place next door?” Given that Canaletto sits beside the much more famous Patsy's, that question might create some confusion for most people. In our family, there is never any doubt which Italian place they mean.
A dinner at Canaletto always feels like an occasion. We do not eat there all the time, which is part of what makes it special. The manager always takes exceptional care of us, and the staff seem genuinely happy to accommodate whatever we are craving, whether it appears on the menu or not.
Over time, Canaletto became more than a restaurant recommendation. It became part of our family's Upper East Side story. Years after my first visit, it remains one of our favorite places to eat anywhere in the city.
