The Top 15 Best Places To Eat And Drink In New York City

In a city that never sleeps there are bound to be more restaurants and watering holes than any single human have time to sample personally. How to select the best places to visit for sating young hunger and thirst, while feasting your eyes on the only form of art you can consume can be a dilemma for many. However, there are several guides and guidebooks specifically designed to rate these establishments and provide information. Here are fifteen of the best and most recommended restaurants in a city renowned for its cosmopolitan palate

1. The Minetta Tavern

theminettatavern.com

This slice of cutting edge American cuisine is set in the most charming of places—a restored tavern, and the brainchild of owner Keith McNally. Here, you’ll dine on some of the most imaginative dishes available in the culinary Haut monde, but leave any pretensions at the door. This establishment is about the love of good food, beautifully prepared and presented, not fashions or fads. From their famous veal chops to calamari, and even savory, roasted marrow bones—no one will leave the table still peckish or looking for a light after-dinner snack.

2. Gotham Bar and Grill Here

Eater NY

In the ultimately masculine surroundings of this high-design establishment owned by Alfred Portale, the food is a solid player in the overall impression of this restaurant. With a menu that offers a satisfying table with excellent ingredients and impeccable presentation, guests won’t be disappointed. You may need a cocktail or two to allow the architecture of the place to fully sink in—the owner has a name for impressive structures and his establishment is no exception.

3. Tamarind Tribeca

New York Magazine

As a second establishment to its original Flatiron location, this sumptuous but incredibly affordable dining experience is perfect for those with a yen for Indian food. Both authentic and open to culinary artistry, the menu of this subcontinental gem is broad enough to suit every palate. The dishes are beautifully presented. The portions are satisfying. Best of all, the check won’t break the bank.

4. Balaboosta

Time Out

It’s a Hebrew word that calls to mind the homemaker who has the magic touch in everything. And that’s just what you’ll find in this enchanting Middle Eastern style eatery—magic, at an affordable price. Visit this restaurant if you’re craving that signature blend of fruit and spice, bitter herbs, and succulent or savory meats and vegetable dishes.

5. Boqueria

NYC Go

While it’s named for the ancient Spanish marketplace in Barcelona, this trendy spot blends spice and savory to offer you the perfect tapas experience. Its approach is modern and innovative, with a signature cocktail that blends beer, pear puree, lemon juice, and triple sec for a refreshing aperitif. If there was any cuisine more suited to hitting the clubs and dancing the night away, we haven’t found it yet.

6. Salinas

Salinas NYC

If you’re in the mood for a more extensive visit with Spanish cuisine, check out this fantastic—if impressively priced—restaurant headed by Chef Luis Bollo. Here, you’re guaranteed to be immersed in hearty Spanish flavors and satisfying meals prepared with love and served with panache.

7. Pure Food and Wine

EaterNY

Vegetarian diners will be delighted by this affordable and delicious restaurant’s offerings. But the most astounding feature of this menu is that it is completely raw and vegan—served from a kitchen with no stove. Each dish is prepared to an exacting standard and looks just as beautiful as it tastes.

8. Kajitsu

New York Magazine

Kajitsu is the only restaurant in the city to offer shojin, which is an ancient Zen Buddhist cuisine, this vegetarian sanctuary offers diners a brush with the divine. Designed to mirror the tranquility of the discipline from which the food takes it’s meaning, the dining room is clean-lined and hushed.

9. Black Seed

Yelp

Lox and bagels? If that’s your craving, visit this delightful bagel haven. Merging new concepts and time-honored methods, Noah Bernamoff and Matt Kliegman team up to meet all your bagel needs. But they’ve done so with style—offering the classics of scallion cream cheese or novel toppings such as caviar.

10. Katz’s Deli

New York Magazine

In need of something more substantial to sate your kosher cravings? Want a side of City history with your sandwich? Visit this hallowed deli and satisfy both needs. Order a brisket sandwich with horseradish and a crisp, hoppy house lager for a late lunch. You won’t go away hungry or unhappy. That’s a guarantee.

11. Osteria Morini

Osteriamorini.com

If you’re in New York, you can’t hide from the presence of Italian food—it’s everywhere and it’s some of the best Italian American cuisines on the East Coast. Give in, indulge, and don’t be afraid of the tortellini. Michael White, the successful owner of Alto and Marea, brings home yet another winner with this affordable, satisfying menu of Italian classics interpreted for a perfect experience at the table. Take our advice and take an aperitif to balance the creamy goodness you’ll be enjoying.

12. St. Anselm

The Infatuation

This affordable steak house is a place where all minds and appetites can meet. While they do explore all the possibilities to come off a grill, the expert chef offers Yvon de Tassigny offers a unique and unparalleled dining experience for all. Joe Carroll’s concept menu draws heavily from Mediterranean and Asian cuisines, as well as American fusion concepts, and relies on veggies as well as another more standard pantry fare for classic steak houses.

13. Robertas

The Infatuation

Robertas is taking New York’s love affair with pizza to the next level, this green-friendly pizzeria serves artisan pies and even grows its own local veggies in season. No complaints are heard here, just the contented and collective orchestra of satisfied munching. It’s pizza, it’s eco-friendly, it’s affordable. It’s in New York.

14. The Spotted Pig

CityTravelNYC

If you’re craving some serious pub cuisine and a pint with which to wash it down, visit April Bloomfield’s gastropub sensation in the West Village. But be prepared for a crowded wait. This affordable Anglophile oasis draws patrons in by the droves.

15. Buvette French cuisine

New York Magazine

Buvette French Cuisine gets its just rewards here under the scrupulous eye of owner Jody Williams. It’s delicious, hearty, balanced French fare as it was meant to be eaten, in the company of friends and family. Pleasing to the eye, the mouth, and the mind, make this one restaurant you absolutely visit every time you’re in the city.

Of course, this is far from an exhaustive list. You may find a gem all your own that becomes your new favorite. One thing’s for certain, though, culture and food are inextricably bound and New York City’s restaurants are an apt reflection of the cultural synthesis and constant influx that has made it great, past and present.