An ever-evolving list of places I love in NYC. Restaurants open, close, and change menu items all the time, so please use this as inspiration rather than gospel. Want more objective NYC considerations? Try Eater (I’m particularly fond of their Heat Maps and seasonal Best Of maps) or Grub Street or The New York Times for restaurant reviews.
For even more recommendations, including newer favorites (like Win Son, Di An Di, Little Tong, The Fly), check the “NYC” (1, 2, 3…) saved Instagram Stories on @debperelman.
Related: In December 2017, I wrote down everything and everywhere I ate for a week for Grub Street. You can read it here.
And to answer a very frequently asked question, “What restaurants are kid-friendly?” All and none. Aside from the common sense of not taking your kids to heavily tweezer-ed 10-course tasting menus where they say “Chef prefers…” a lot, skipping the cocktail bars with small plates menus, and presuming your kids aren’t human tornadoes at restaurants, I think most restaurants have the potential to be kid-friendly. Go as soon as they start serving dinner and you won’t be the only person there with kids. If you’re unsure, just call them and ask how they feel about kids. If they’re unfriendly about it, well, you wouldn’t want to be there anyway. And ask if they have a kids’ menu; often they’re not published, but they have a few adapted dishes or portion sizes that could make your life easier.
A sporadically updated list of my favorite tasty things in New York City:
RESTAURANTS
Baar Baar | East Village | absolutely incredible cocktails and Indian food; I dream about the dahi puri and the lamb ribs; we mostly get small plates and go for date nights
Café Altro Paradiso | West Soho | from the chef behind Estela, an Italian restaurant; I can never resist the stracciatella (inside-out burrata), the octopus is the best I’ve ever had (don’t think you’re an octopus person? you haven’t had theirs yet), and if you ask nicely, they’ll make half-portions of the pastas (so you can order more, yess).
Cervo’s | Lower East Side | tied with Bar Baar as our current favorite for date nights, this is an oyster and seafood bar (but the piri piri chicken is fantastic, too) with wines and flavors from Portugal and coastal Spain; don’t even think about skipping the crispy shrimp heads or the butterflied prawns
M. Shanghai | Williamsburg | my favorite soup dumplings, vegetable wontons in spicy peanut sauce, beef in “awesome” sauce and string beans, anywhere
St. Anselm | Williamsburg | everything comes off a grill and is exquisite; we’ve never had a bad meal
Joe’s Pizza | Greenwich Village, East Village and Williamsburg | every New Yorker has a favorite slice; this is mine (however, see below: Scarr’s)
Lan Zhou | Manhattan’s Chinatown | a Chinatown staple for hand-pulled noodles and perfect-every-time fried dumplings
Maison Premiere | Williamsburg | great place for celebrations of the oysters and champagne variety and more; a little bit Paris, a little bit New Orleans
Mimi Cheng’s | East Village | just dumplings, which are all excellent and made with quality ingredients; my favorite are the chicken-zucchini
Motorino | Multiple locations | when ramps are in season, I always get the ramp pizza, recreated here but (shh) I think the starters (fennel and orange salad, grilled artichoke, roasted peppers, octopus) are the stars of the meal
Scarr’s Pizza | a newer pizza slice place that’s giving my decades-long favorite (Joe) a run for their status; it’s okay, I can love two
Sullivan Street Bakery | Chelsea | If you know Jim Lahey’s name from so many celebrated recipes here (no-knead bread, this astoundingly good zucchini pizza), you need to go to his cafe, where there are more good things (including all of his pizzas and breads) to eat than I can count.
Via Carota | West Village | from the chefs behind Buvette and I Sodi, this is a top 3 restaurant for us; we’re obsessed with every single dish on the changing verdure menu, chicken liver toasts, and cacio e pepe. we often skip the pasta and split an entree or two, which are all tiny; they make a mean Negroni
DRINKS
Dante | NoHo/West Village | circa-1915 cafe that’s Italian aperitif heaven, plus they have small plates too
June | Cobble Hill | natural European wines and locally-sourced small plates, I love the decor too
Ruffian | East Village | great wine selection, changing menu, and a really passionate stuff, many whom are Tabla (Deb’s longtime favorite NYC restaurant that closed in 2010) alums
BAKERIES, SWEET STUFF and ODDS-AND-ENDS
Breads Bakery | Union Square | insane hamantaschen selection, famed chocolate babka, almond croissants
Davey’s Ice Cream | Multiple locations | best pistachio I’ve had outside Italy, chocolate almost truffle-decadent and my husband’s favorite cookies and cream
Doughnut Plant | Lower East Side | my favorite: the crème brûlée; husband’s: valrhona chocolate
Ess-a-Bagel | Stuy Town/Peter Cooper | our favorite NYC because the seed application alone is legendary; they recently reopened after a very dark year where they’d lost their lease. My advice? Their lines are staggeringly long on the weekends. Order yours for pickup (they don’t deliver, anyway) and there will be a shorter (but not nonexistent) queue for it.
Fresco Gelateria | East Village | ludicrously good homemade croissants, ferrero chocolate/hazelnut gelato and the nicest service in town
Orwashers | Upper East Side | 99 year-old bakery with awesome black and white cookies, homemade bread, doughnuts filled to order with your choice wonders
GROCERIES and SPECIALTY STORES
All The Greenmarkets | Union Square + Grand Army Plaza especially | there’s a reason why NYC Greenmarkets are so special: every single thing, including the flour for bread, is grown within a 100-mile radius of NYC; you’d be crazy to come to NYC in the summer and not walk through Union Square piled high with everything fresh and delicious on earth at least once
Buon Italia | Chelsea Market | Italian specialties, but mostly I load up on my favorite pasta, Setaro, which is inexpensive to boot
Despaña Foods | Soho | imported Spanish specialties including amazing selection of sherry vinegars, jamon, tinned fish + great simple tapas and sandwiches
Kalustyan’s | Kip’s Bay | stock up on every spice on earth, the most enchanting baklava selection, the mujadarra and vegetable soup from the prepared food fridge are longtime favorites of mine
Murray’s Cheese | Greenwich Village and Grand Central | famous for a reason; not to be missed if you love cheese
New York Cake and Baking Co. | Madison Square/Chelsea | if you’re a baker, it’s not to be missed.
Pickle Guys | Lower East Side | have been there since before pickles were hip; old-school Jewish pickles and more; amazing fresh horseradish for Passover, really nice staff
Saxelby Cheese | Chelsea Market | 100% American farmstead cheese, mostly from the Northeast; a unique selection!
ETCETERAS
Bonnie Slotnick | East Village | possibly the greatest place on earth for a cooking lover, Bonnie sells used cookbooks and is an encyclopedia of cookbook knowledge; she is almost always there and one of the nicest people in New York; the shop recently relocated from its longtime home in the West Village
Kitchen Arts & Letters | Upper East Side | a cookbook store with passionate staff
Small type:
* I kind of hate having to say this at all, but just wanted to footnote that I still have a ‘no free stuff’ policy on Smitten Kitchen. Everything listed on this page is a reflection of something we sought out on our own, and paid for with our own pocket change. And the kids’. We shake them down for loose change all the time.
I think you are the new-age Julia Child of American cooking. I am a 67 year old cookbook obsessed woman and I have to tell you when I really want to learn how to make something or make something “perfect” I always use your recipe to do it! Thanks for being so obsessed! You are truly a joy, my dear Deb! and those kids are just absolutely adorable! 😘 May you live a long and healthy life! Love you❤️Hubby handsome too( so he doesn’t feel left out!)
Thank you. ❤️
Absolutely agree. Your spins on recipes are superb. And, you just made me nostalgic for the city. Up in northern Vermont for 30 years. Love it hear, and access to you makes life that much sweeter. Thanks, Deb!
I am so excited to visit these locations! I just recently found you and want to start cooking and baking for my family :) Thank you for everything you do, Deb ❤
Deb, made your Zabar’s pickled slaw and was thrilled to feel like I was at Zabar again. An easy and delicious dish. Brought it to a pool party where everyone raved. Thanks, I look forward to trying your other recipes. Jack
Love that you basically don’t go above 14th St.
What about Sahadi’s?
Love it; Kalustyan’s is just closer to me.
Thank you so much! I will try to visit every of your recommended spots when we fly over from Germany the next time!
I love your blog and truly appreciate all the time and love you put into it!
Next time you are at Murray’s, pop next store to Faicco’s. Artisan salumi, breakfast sausage, bacon, rice balls… trust me you’ll thank me later❤️
We love Faicco’s! Also a great Italian sub and their chicken spiral sausages are a summer weeknight staple for us.
Thanks about this travelling post! When I was 20 years old it was hard to be in New York because you always needed a lot of money just to eat healthy food and just to visit local museums. When I last visited it I realized that nothing has changed but I love this city, I always come back here and realise that I need more money. One day I just started looking for a service that can help me with that and I was disappointed but then I found an online one here https://paydaysay.com/ and then I borrowed some amount and started walking on a street like a millionaire.
Love, love your page and your cook book. This information is wonderful. Not sure if I will ever make it to NY, but it sure is fun to day dream as I read your list. Thank you.
you need to add bakeri in williamsburg. best brioche and bread ever!
I know foodies stick their nosies up at the UES, yet there are some wonderful spots to check out: Agata & Valentina, Il Vagabondo, The Carlyle, Papaya King, Four Seasons, Quatorze and Eli’s, just to name a few 😘
There is no anti-UES snobbery here; this is simply a list of my favorite haunts, and like most New Yorkers, I spend the most time in my own neighborhood, the Lower East Side. But I appreciate your recommendations and will check them out.
Was in NYC last week and had two divine dinners. One at Lupa and the other at Feast.
Any kosher restaurant recommendations? (Certified) thank you!
I just went to Izzy’s Smokehouse in Crown Heights. It’s a kosher certified bbq joint. The brisket and beans were delicious. Dining in was a little odd so maybe take out might be the way to go. The location you order and pay in is very small, so there is seating next door but the awning says Medical Supply Store lol.
If you haven’t tried it, I recommend getting lahmajoun at Kalustyans. Its a suoer simple supper. We have them in the freezer at all times for quick meals. Tasty and classic Armenian dish.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahmajoun
You rock! Thanks so much. I love your recipes
Love love your blog and appreciate all of this!
Thank you for the time and energy you put into your work
Love your cookbook too
Cheers❣️
I am really disappointed that you think there isn’t enough good Thai here…clearly you haven’t been to Woodside and Elmhurst? In fact, there is no Queens in the above list or Bronx or SI. I have followed you for years and find that a bit disappointing. Glad you listed Buon Italia over Eatily but also think you should check out the 100 year old DiPalo’s in LIttle Italy…Café Gita e was an excellent “old school NYC” nod! Back to Queens, John Brown (bbq), Dutch Kills (cocktails) and oh Chinatown in Flushing deserve some attention. And Afghan, Greek, Egyptian, etc. out here!
One of the caveats of a page like this, and what I try to express from the top, is that I am not a resource for Best Of recommendations in NYC. It’s not my specialty, or even a gap I aspire to fill, not by a long shot. I’m just someone who lives here and has my favorites — and I happen to live in Manhattan, so that’s where they’re centered. I created this page because despite this, I get a lot of requests for my go-tos, so I rounded them up. This is not intended to replace any of the more serious, well-researched resources for finding the best food in NYC.
That said, I’d love to hear about your favorite Thai restaurant. When Ngam opened in the East Village, it was like a breath of fresh air in what had been a unending chain of “Spice” restaurants.
I realize I am late to this party, but when I read that part I screamed “Little Basil!!!” which is on 26th and 3rd Ave. It’s changed owners in the last few years, but they are just as excellent, if not better, than the old ones. Bonus: it’s BYOB.
This is a brilliant list for those who are travelling to New York. We are hoping to come over early next year and we always try to jot down at least 5 recommended places of where to eat! Can’t wait to try some new yummy food!
Great list! How about a Brooklyn list?! As a life-long Brooklynite, I can help you out.
Andrew, would love to hear your Brooklyn go-tos!
What about some good breakfast/brunch recommendations?
Most of the restaurants listed do fantastic brunches.
My friend Renata sent me this blog – I’m visiting NYC this weekend for 5 days and can’t wait to try out some of these places – what a great review x
Any other recommendations for restaurants in Brooklyn that are can miss places? M Shanghai looks great, probably going to check that out!
*can’t*
There are more great restaurants than I could list on 10 pages (but there are 6 Brooklyn ones on this list right now). Eater has great guides to neighborhoods if you’re looking for more. Let’s see, we love King’s County Imperial (the garlic chicken!), we had a great meal over the winter at Metta (sit at the counter), Chez Ma Tante. Roberta’s is now really a classic, so is L&B Spumoni Gardens. And if you’re looking for something vacation-y and retro, Randazzo’s Clam Bar in Sheepshead Bay. :)
Can you send a tip for two or three great burger places? Not $100 Waygu beef burgers but regular burgers! My son and his girlfriend just moved to NYC July 1 from here (Kansas City). Her birthday is next month, and he’s trying to think of some affordable special things to do. She eats super-healthy, but wants to indulge in a burger for her birthday. He’s been researching– I knew you might have some great opinions! I appreciate all you do, Deb – enjoy those littles. Time flies and 24 years later they do something brave and independent like move to New York. And you are so happy for them, but you miss them like crazy. :)
I’m a Shake Shack girl; it’s my favorite burger in NYC. There are fancier ones at fancier restaurants, but they’re not my thing.
But I asked a foodie friend for you, whose favorite is Minetta Tavern. She says that Peter Luger and Little Owl both have amazing burgers too, but only at lunchtime. Enjoy!
Thank you so much!
I just returned from a 5 day trip to NYC. I got loads of recommendations of places to go…and the only recommended place I went? Sullivan St. Bakery because Deb said to. It. was. AMAZING!!!!!! THANK YOU!
The prosciutto breakfast sandwich was heaven. I need more soft-scrambled eggs in my life. And I had this yummy broccoli rabe toast that reminded me a lot of you/your food. Of course, I also ordered a chocolate bomboloni and it was divine, as expected.
Just a note that I visited NYC for a conference (without kids or husband; I had no shame in eating at the bars, alone!) in Feb 2019. I have been a SK home cook/fan for years and was happy to use this post as my eating guide. I hit Sullivan Street Bakery (amazing zucchini pizza!), Barbuto (best restaurant vibe; I would eat there always if I lived close enough), and Via Carota (I ate at the bar and the place was packed by 6pm). Beautiful recommendations! Thank you.
Last day in NY (visiting from Australia) and I just had the most smitten kitchen day. Amazing chocolate babka from breads bakery, went through the green markets and saw ramps on sale, saw an ad that said “best advice: put an egg on it”, had dumplings from Mimi Cheng’s and Ferreo gelato from fresco. I’ve been to so many places on this list this holiday and every single one has been worth it. Thank you so much for your recommendations!
Love love love this list so much that I just linked to it from one of my articles! And I’m so glad you included The Pickle Guys – 1/2 sours for my kids, 3/4 for me, hot sour for hubby.
On the bagel front… have you tried BO’s on 116th? I swear it’s the best bagel I’ve ever had.
And of course, my favorite New York eatery of all time has to be Levain. I need to start experimenting to see how close I can get in my own kitchen…
-Melissa
We are eating the delicious cornmeal blueberry coffee cake right now!! I made it for a picnic brunch to celebrate our nephew’s first birthday– but he is sick– so we have to eat it all by ourselves, cutting pieces twice as large. No party? No problem!
We’ll manage… somehow= ; – )
Thanks so much for this list, we spent a weekend in New York at the end of November, and thanks to your recommendation, had a fantastic Indian dinner at Baar Baar. The cocktails were delicious, as were the lamb ribs, and the restaurant is just so beautiful. We also enjoyed slices from Joe’s – wishing that you could get New York slices in Canada….will just have to come back for a repeat visit!
Deb, thanks for sharing this post! We have a plan to visit NY if pandemics allows us to fly in the next month. I will try to visit your recommendation spots and will do the things you mentioned. I am a professional freelance writer and I mainly write health-related topics at this https://assignmentbro.com/us/nursing-assignment-help website and help students with assignment ready on different academic topics. But this time, I am having a wish to write something related to travel! You inspired me on my way!
HI Deb:
Thanks so much for the NYC guide to restaurants. How often do you get a chance to update? I know you are juggling a lot.
Thanks so much,
jane Howard
Hi Jane — On some of these, I’m waiting to see if they reopen. Barbuto did, for example. I still love everything on this list!
Thanks about this travelling post! When I was 20 years old it was hard to be in New York because you always needed a lot of money just to eat healthy food and just to visit local museums. When I last visited it I realized that nothing has changed but I love this city, I always come back here and realise that I need more money. One day I just started looking for a service that can help me with that and I was disappointed but then I found an online one here https://paydaysay.com/ and then I borrowed some amount and started walking on a street like a millionaire.
Thanks about this travelling post! When I was 20 years old it was hard to be in New York because you always needed a lot of money just to eat healthy food and just to visit local museums. When I last visited it I realized that nothing has changed but I love this city, I always come back here and realise that I need more money. One day I just started looking for a service that can help me with that and I was disappointed but then I found an online one and then I borrowed some amount and started walking on a street like a millionaire.
Thanks about this travelling post! When I was 20 years old it was hard to be in New York because you always needed a lot of money just to eat healthy food and just to visit local museums. When I last visited it I realized that nothing has changed but I love this city, I always come back here and realise that I need more money. One day I just started looking for a service that can help me with that and I was disappointed but then I found an online one and then I borrowed some amount and started walking on a street like a millionaire.
Thanks about this travelling post! When I was 20 years old it was hard to be in New York because you always needed a lot of money just to eat healthy food and just to visit local museums. When I last visited it I realized that nothing has changed but I love this city, I always come back here and realise that I need more money.
We’re leaving for the city at the end of this week! Thanks for the suggestions, definitely going to check some out.
Thank you for this very detailed list. I’ll be checking out the bakeries and sweet stuff that you mentioned above!
While this is counterintuitive to some of the best celebration cakes you have, I was wondering if there were any favorite bakeries near Manhattan, western side of Brooklyn, even the Bronx for celebration birthday cakes? Something decedent and special for a 70th birthday!
This is a great list! so very helpful. But, we will be visiting NYC soon with young adult kids. We’re going to a performance at the Beacon so need to be on that side of town(we’re having drinks at Bemelmans first) any suggestions for maybe upper west side or even upper east near the Carlyle? Not too fancy or long tasting menu meal.
And thank you for all your recipes……I tell everyone your recipes turn out GREAT every time. My go to Birthday cakes, lasagna , pasta sauces, blueberry muffins….everything!! They are all keepers:)
We first visited NY as young parents on a kid-free vacation in 2013. Back then, thanks to you, we had some fantastic restaurant and bakery experiences, incl. Motorino and Donut Plant!! Now ten years later we are planning a return with our two, boys age 15 and 13. When choosing a hotel I thought, hmmm…let’s stay in Deb’s neighborhood (lol – not in a creepy way, promise!). I’ve been around since you were a contributor to an early website…name escapes me now! Booked for LES for our six night adventure. I will be combing through all the recent recipes for the little nuggets you drop about your fave spots. Thank you for everything!
Such amazing recommendations!! Used this as our guide to food for our weekend in NYC and couldn’t have asked for better – PB&J donuts at Doughnut Plant, Ess-A-Bagel sandwiches for lunch (best bagels I’ve ever had!), strecci and pain au chocolat (both amazing!) at Sullivan St Bakery, babka at Breads Bakery, mozza slices at Joe’s Pizza, dumplings and cucumber salad at Mimi Cheng’s (great local spot), and fantastic vegetable dishes and cacio e pepe at Via Carota…couldn’t have asked for a better food guide to use as our inspiration – especially as a vegetarian – thank you Deb!! Took us all over the city to discover great places and delicious food; we’re going home with happy stomachs :)
Do you plan to update?