What would be your idea of a perfect day out in New York? It’s the simplest yet the most difficult question but I’m sure it begins with a refreshing breakfast and ends with a satisfying dinner served with a scrumptious dessert. And let us all agree, that it will be a ‘cherry on the cake’ if it comes with an amazing view, and the best weather.
But, how to pick the best restaurant from such a wide range? No need to worry as this guide is a shortlist of the top 10 best restaurants in New York to choose from based on the type of food, bestsellers, history, and occasion.
Don’t Miss: the best restaurants in New York!
1. Rizo’s Pizza
- Since: 1959
- Hours: 4 PM to 11 PM (Mon to Thu)
12 PM to 11 PM (Fri to Sat)
12 PM to 12 AM (Sun)
- Location: 17 Clinton St. New York, NY 10002 and 3013 Steinway St. Astoria, NY 11103
Imagine a combination of a doughy crust, melty cheese, savory sauce, and your favorite toppings. Sounds delicious, doesn’t it? Now imagine having the option to choose between a round-shaped or a square-shaped pizza with super crispy edges. Sounds a little unrealistic? Well, it’s not. Rizzo’s Pizza is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in New York for all the pizza lovers out there.
Moreover, it is also recognized as the city’s must-try by the Yelp ranking and the New York Times reviews.
Bestsellers:
- The Americana
- The Diavola
- The aumma aumma
2. The Gray’s Papaya
- Since: 1973
- Hours: Open 24 hours
- Location: 2090 Broadway, New York, NY 10023
“All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast” by John Gunther. Starting the day with energy is crucial to make it through the full day of sightseeing in New York without fainting. And what better than a stomach-filling, American-style breakfast, that too at the most affordable price? Hence, a visit to the Gray’s Papaya, also known as the temple of hot dogs in the Big Apple, is a must.
Bestsellers:
- Breakfast specials with coffee.
It is so popular that Barack Obama himself had a picture of himself clicked here at the time of his 2008 election campaign.
3. The Burger Joint
- Since: 2002
- Hours: 11 AM to 11:20 PM (Mon to Thu)
11 AM to Midnight (Fri to Sat)
- Location: 119 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019
The burgers at the Burger Joint are called secret burgers. Isn’t it weird? Even so, the reason behind it is that this joint is located inside a luxury hotel ‘Le Parker Meridien’. It is an underground-looking space that does not match the ambiance of the hotel. It turns out that during the construction of this hotel, several locals were occupying the site. However, all of them agreed with the hotel except for the Burger Joint. Consequently, the hotel had to be built around this grunge-style cafe, making it one of the most charming and best restaurants in New York.
Bestsellers:
- The cheeseburgers and fries.
4. Amy Ruth
- Since: 1998
- Hours: 11 AM to 10 PM (Mon to Sun)
- Location: 113 West 116th Street, New York, NY 10026
Given that you are craving something sweet yet healthy, how many waffles do you think you could eat? Don’t think twice because the answer is, as many as you want! Amy Ruth’s tastiest fried chicken and waffles dressed with maple syrup are quite hard to resist. Their corn muffin with butter that they serve as an appetizer till you wait for your order is delicious.
Bestsellers:
- The Gabrielle Union
- The Reggie Harris
So, if you are somebody who loves southern cuisine, this is the right place for you!
5. Tikka Indian Grill
- Since: 2015
- Hours: 12 PM to 11 PM (Mon to Thu)
12 PM to Midnight (Fri to Sat)
12 PM to 10 PM (Sundays)
- Location: 185 Grand Street Brooklyn, NY to 11211
When we say Indian food, it’s quite clear that we’re talking about a vast range of varieties. Tikka India Grill is famous for serving a lunch special, that includes naan, samosas, and a main course for only $10. Moreover, the ambiance here is very authentic, they have nicely decorated walls with large photographs of scenes in India and decent seating arrangements.
Bestsellers:
- A Lunch Special
As for the food, they directly buy the spices from Asia and combine them with fresh ingredients from local suppliers.
6. Kochi
- Since: 2019
- Hours: 5 PM to 9:30 PM (Mon to Thu)
- Location: 652 10th Ave, New York, NY 10036
From casual dinners to family outings, Kochi is one of the best restaurants in New York. It specializes in dishes such as Corn (with yuba crumble, lotus root tuile, corn soup, and caviar) and Duck (Duck leg confit with tomato marmalade, cherry ssamjang, and Minari salad). Alternatively, its claim to fame is also because of its intimate ambiance. The customers can most of the time watch the chefs work their magic while enjoying their food.
Bestsellers:
- Skirt Steak
- Trout Bibimbap
- Halibut
Therefore, to all Korean food lovers, this is your go-to place!
7. Rezdora
- Since: 2015
- Hours: 12 PM to 2:30 PM and 5 PM to 10:30 PM (Mon to Thu)
11:30 AM to 2:30 PM and 5 PM to 10:30 PM (Fri to Sun)
- Location: 27 East 20th Street, NYC, NY 10003
Did you know that Italians can drink their coffee right before bedtime without facing difficulties in sleeping? This is because Italian espresso contains much less caffeine, compared to the typical American espresso.
Is Italian your favorite cuisine? Do you wish to know more such facts about Italian food? If yes then, Rezdora is the perfect place for you to chill. It is quite famous for its $98 regional pasta-tasting tour along with the availability of individual plates. As for the ambiance, it has unique artwork and tableware and dim & subtle lighting. This makes the environment very warm and traditional.
Bestsellers:
- “Grandma Walking through forest in Emilia” green pasta
8. Sushi Nakazawa
- Since: 2013
- Hours: 11: 45 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 9:30 PM (Mon to Thu)
11: 45 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 10:30 PM (Fri to Sat)
11: 45 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 9:30 PM (Sundays)
If you are fond of dining at sophisticated and intimately designed restaurants, then Sushi Nakazawa is one of the best restaurants in New York for you. Closely designed in a decent atmosphere, with just a 10-seat counter, this restaurant allows its customers to observe the chef’s artistry closely.
Bestsellers:
- Tuna
- Sea Urchins
- Fatty tuna belly
Ultimately, they provide an exclusive Omakase experience, focusing on preparing and serving sushi.
9. Untable
- Since: 2023
- Hours: 12 PM to 3 PM and 5 PM to 9:30 PM (Mon to Tue)
12 PM to 3 PM and 5 PM to 9:30 PM (Thursdays)
12 PM to 3 PM and 5 PM to 10 PM (Fri to Sat)
12 PM to 3 PM and 5 PM to 9:30 PM (Sundays)
- Location: 529 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11231, USA
“When it comes to food, New York City has it all.” This recently opened Unconventional Thai food restaurant along with some Burmese, well-crafted cocktails, and some desserts has now become one of the best restaurants in New York.
Bestsellers:
- A fat slab of Chilean seabass surrounded by vegetables and novel noodles with grass-fed beef.
The dishes and drinks are named Unconventionally: “What the Hell”, “If You Know You Know”, etc., an entirely new and unique concept that intrigues the customers.
10. Clover Hill
- Since: 2015
- Hours: 5:30 PM to 10 PM (Tue to Saturday)
- Location: 20 Columbia Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
The best restaurants in New York commonly have a large space, vibrant environment, and lighting, setting up a jolly atmosphere. On the contrary, this tiny and cozy restaurant which recently opened up on a quiet, residential street has broken the stereotype.
Additionally, the prices are affordable and the service here is amazing.
Bestsellers:
- Onion rings
- Pork meat
- Grilled salmon
End Note for Foodies
This guide to some of the best restaurants in New York offers something for everybody’s ‘perfect day out in New York’. From authentic places such as Kochi, and classic comfort food like pizza to Michelin-ranked Omakase experiences, it covers all the parameters.
For instance, “In New York, you can find amazing food in every corner.” Similarly, you can find insightful information about the best restaurants in any and every part of this blog.
So, get your appetite ready and grab the opportunity to explore every part of the city that never sleeps! What will be your first bite of the Big Apple?
Also Read; 10 Most Visited Cities in United States for exciting vacations
