Chef Hillary Sterling of Ci Siamo with her cast-iron focaccia
T
he best thing for the future of Big Apple restaurants is the city’s new mayor, Eric Adams, who actually likes the industry and delights in dining out. He’s the happy antithesis of his lazy, nasty, utterly inept, chip-on-the-shoulder predecessor, Bill de Blasio, who took grim joy in making life unnecessarily more miserable for eateries during the pandemic. Adams, who wants his city to thrive again, is also well aware of how critical this industry is to such a renaissance. Fine dining in places with traditional and excitingly creative offerings was a crucial attraction for tourists of all kinds, not to mention one of the things that made Gotham a magnet for the ambitious. Our stellar team of discerning tasters—Forbes’ chief content officer, Randall Lane; Forbes contributor Richard Nalley; preeminent media maven Monie Begley; and brothers Kip and Tim—herewith unveil their list of where you can enjoy the city’s most savory comestibles.
Aquavit
Owner(s): Hakan Swahn
Address: 65 East 55th Street
Michelin Stars: 2
Click here for more information
Bâtard
Owner(s): Drew Nieporent
Address: 239 West Broadway
Michelin Stars: 1
Click here for more information
Daniel
Owner(s): Daniel Boulud
Address: 60 East 65th Street
Michelin Stars: 2
Click here for more information
Gramercy Tavern
Owner(s): Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group
Address: 42 East 20th Street
Michelin Stars: 1
Click here for more information
The Grill
Owner(s): Rich Torrisi, Jeff Zalaznick, Mr. Mario Carbone
Address: 99 East 52nd Street
Click here for more information
Jean-Georges
Owner(s): Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Phil Suarez
Address: 1 Central Park West
Michelin Stars: 2
Click here for more information
La Grenouille
Owner(s): Philippe Masson
Address: 3 East 52nd Street
Click here for more information
Le Bernardin
Owner(s): Éric Ripert, Maguy Le Coze
Address: 155 West 51st Street
Michelin Stars: 3
Click here for more information
Le Pavillon
Owner(s): Daniel Boulud
Address: One Vanderbilt Avenue
Click here for more information
Marea
Owner(s): Ahmass Fakahany
Address: 240 Central Park South
Michelin Stars: 1
Click here for more information
The Modern
Owner(s): Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group
Address: 9 West 53rd Street
Michelin Stars: 2
Click here for more information
Momofuku Ko
Owner(s): David Chang
Address: 8 Extra Place
Michelin Stars: 2
Click here for more information
Per Se
Owner(s): Thomas Keller
Address: 10 Columbus Circle
Michelin Stars: 3
Click here for more information
Balthazar
Owner(s): Keith McNally
Address: 80 Spring Street
Click here for more information
Grand Central Oyster Bar
Owner(s): Sandy Ingber, Mohammed Lawal, Janet Poccia
Address: 89 East 42nd Street
Click here for more information
Katz’s Delicatessen
Owner(s): Jake Dell
Address: 205 East Houston Street
Click here for more information
Keens Steakhouse
General Manager: Bonnie Jenkins
Address: 72 West 36th Street
Click here for more information
Nippon
Owner(s): Yasuhiro Makoshi
Address: 155 East 52nd Street
Click here for more information
Nobu Downtown/Nobu 57
Owner(s): Nobu Matsuhisa, Drew Nieporent
Address: 195 Broadway and 40 West 57th Street
Click here for more information
Peter Luger Steak House
Owner(s): Marilyn Spiera, Amy Rubenstein, Jody Storch
Address: 185 Broadway, Brooklyn
Michelin Stars: 1
Click here for more information
The River Café
Owner(s): Michael O'Keeffe
Address: One Water Street, Brooklyn
Michelin Stars: 1
Click here for more information
ABC Kitchen
Owner(s): Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Phil Suarez
Address: 35 East 18th Street
Click here for more information
Ai Fiori
Owner(s): Ahmass Fakahany
Address: 400 Fifth Avenue
Michelin Stars: 1
Click here for more information
Antonucci Cafe
Owner(s): Francesco Antonucci
Address: 170 East 81st Street
Click here for more information
Aretsky's Patroon
Owner(s): Ken Aretsky
Address: 160 East 46th Street
Click here for more information
Atera
Owner(s): Jodi Richard
Address: 77 Worth Street
Michelin Stars: 2
Click here for more information
Avra Madison
Owner(s): Marc Packer, Nick Pashalis, Nick Tsoulos
Address: 14 East 60th Street
Click here for more information
Carbone
Owner(s): Rich Torrisi, Jeff Zalaznick, Mario Carbone
Address: 181 Thompson Street
Michelin Stars: 1
Click here for more information
The Clocktower
Owner(s): Jason Atherton, Stephen Starr
Address: 5 Madison Avenue
Michelin Stars: 1
Click here for more information
Cote
Owner(s): Simon Kim
Address: 16 West 22nd Street
Michelin Stars: 1
Click here for more information
Crown Shy
Owner(s): James Kent, Jeff Katz
Address: 70 Pine Street
Michelin Stars: 1
Click here for more information
Estela
Owner(s): Ignacio Mattos
Address: 47 East Houston Street
Michelin Stars: 1
Click here for more information
Frenchette
Owner(s): Lee Hanson, Riad Nasr
Address: 241 West Broadway
Click here for more information
Gage & Tollner
Owner(s): Sohui Kim, Ben Schneider, St. John Frizell
Address: 372 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
Click here for more information
Gotham
Owner(s): Bret Csencsitz
Address: 12 East 12th Street
Click here for more information
Hawksmoor
Owner(s): Will Beckett, Huw Gott
Address: 109 East 22nd Street
Click here for more information
JoJo
Owner(s): Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Address: 160 East 64th Street
Click here for more information
Junoon
Owner(s): Rajesh Bhardwaj
Address: 19 West 24th Street
Click here for more information
La Goulue
Owner(s): Jean Denoyer
Address: 29 East 61st Street
Click here for more information
L’Artusi
Owner(s): August Cardona, Kevin Garry
Address: 228 West 10th Street
Click here for more information
Majorelle
Owner(s): Charles Masson
Address: 28 East 63rd Street
Click here for more information
Marc Forgione
Owner(s): Marc Forgione, Christopher Blumlo
Address: 134 Reade Street
Click here for more information
The Mark Restaurant
Owner(s): Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Address: 25 East 77th Street
Click here for more information
Michael’s
Owner(s): Michael McCarty
Address: 24 West 55th Street
Click here for more information
Milos
Owner(s): Costas Spiliadis
Address: 20 Hudson Yards
Click here for more information
Misi
Owner(s): Missy Robbins
Address: 329 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn
Click here for more information
Nougatine
Owner(s): Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Address: One Central Park West
Click here for more information
Nur
Owner(s): Meir Adoni
Address: 34 East 20th Street
Click here for more information
Perry St
Owner(s): Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Phil Suarez
Address: 176 Perry Street
Click here for more information
Portale
Owner(s): Alfred Portale
Address: 126 West 18th Street
Click here for more information
The Simone
Owner(s): Chip Smith, Tina Vaughn, Robert Margolis
Address: 151 East 82nd Street
Click here for more information
Sixty Three Clinton
Owner(s): Sam Clonts, Raymond Trinh
Address: 63 Clinton
Click here for more information
Sushi Nakazawa
Owner(s): Alessandro Borgognone, Daisuke Nakazawa
Address: 23 Commerce Street
Michelin Stars: 1
Click here for more information
Union Square Cafe
Owner(s): Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group
Address: 101 East 19th Street
Click here for more information
Wayan
Owner(s): Cédric Vongerichten
Address: 20 Spring Street
Click here for more information
abcV with Jean-Georges
Owner(s): Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Address: 38 East 19th Street
It’s no surprise that vegans and vegetarians love the original offerings here, but meat eaters are wowed as well.
Click here for more information
Al Vaporetto
Owner(s): Francesco Antonucci
Address: 168 East 81st Street
Venice itself would be envious of the ways in which the variety of food is prepared.
Click here for more information
Amaranth
Owner(s): Paola Pedrignani
Address: 21 East 62nd Street
Reopened and as popular as ever with the Midtown lunch crowd—and the crowd is correct when it comes to the food served.
Click here for more information
Bistrot Leo
Owner(s): John McDonald
Address: 60 Thompson Street
Its outdoor dining area is one of the most attractive in the city, and the desserts are beyond sublime.
Click here for more information
Brasserie Cognac East
Owner(s): Vittorio Assaf, Fabio Granato
Address: 963 Lexington Avenue
Cognac is king, but the mix of French classic dishes and bistro fare makes for a royal experience.
Click here for more information
Café D’Alsace
Owner(s): Philippe Roussel
Address: 1695 Second Avenue
A visit to this spot is like being transported to Strasbourg. The food is as good as any you’ll find in eastern France.
Click here for more information
Donohue’s Steak House
Owner(s): Maureen Donohue-Peters
Address: 845 Lexington Avenue
No one has a beef with these unmistakably stunning steaks.
Ernesto’s
Owner(s): Ryan Bartlow
Address: 259 East Broadway
Basque in the beauty of this particular cuisine.
Click here for more information
The Fulton
Owner(s): Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Address: 89 South Street
A fabulous waterfront view, including the Brooklyn Bridge, that’s matched by fabulous fish fare.
Click here for more information
Gem
Owner(s): Flynn McGarry
Address: 116 Forsyth Street
Creation of wunderkind chef Flynn McGarry, whose terrific tasting menus are internationally inspired. The menu is a colorful pamphlet with a history of each dish.
Click here for more information
Hudson Yards Grill
Owner(s): Michael Lomonaco
Address: 20 Hudson Yards
The place to go to get the epitome of American fare.
Click here for more information
Lamalo
Owner(s): Gadi Peleg
Address: 11 East 31st Street
A mouthwatering modern Middle Eastern menu that has patrons returning again and again.
Click here for more information
L’Amico
Owner(s): Laurent Tourondel
Address: 849 Avenue of the Americas
Incredibly creative Italian renderings.
Click here for more information
Les Trois Chevaux
Owner(s): Angie Mar
Address: 283 West 12th Street
An over-the-top-fantastic “food vacation.” Setting is Paris formal, with mirrors and carts galore. What’s French for “delicious indulgence”?
Click here for more information
Llama San
Owner(s): Erik Ramirez
Address: 359 Sixth Avenue
Scrumptiously creative cuisine that impressively combines influences of Peruvian and Japanese cooking.
Click here for more information
Mercado Little Spain
Owner(s): José Andrés
Address: 10 Hudson Yards
Sensational Spanish-inspired fare.
Click here for more information
Milk Bar
Owner(s): Christina Tosi
Address: 1196 Broadway
Here you can personalize your perfect dessert with an array of cookies, cakes, ice creams and pies that will send you on a sweet, heavenly high.
Click here for more information
Sabor Argentino
Owner(s): Alessandro Uva
Address: 57 Seventh Avenue South
Great steaks, and the flan really has its fans.
Click here for more information
Sistina
Owner(s): Giuseppe Bruno
Address: 24 East 81st Street
Outstanding Italian offerings, especially the special pastas, at this longtime Upper East Side gem.
Click here for more information
Tomokase
Owner(s): Mier Wang
A complete, fully catered omakase dinner delivered to your home. A maître d’ and chef arrive with a suitcase or two and serve up a mouthwatering 15-course tasting menu of sushi and sashimi, concluding with a delectable dessert.
Click here for more information
UVA Next Door
Owner(s): Massimo Lusardi
Address: 1484 Second Avenue
Designed as an authentic Italian trattoria, this place feels like it’s been here forever but courageously opened last April. Fare is authentically excellent and is accompanied by hip music.
Click here for more information
Wayla
Owner(s): Erika Chou, Tom Naumsuwan
Address: 100 Forsyth Street
Thai food for a culinary adventure.
Click here for more information
Wild ink
Owner(s): Peter Jin
Address: 20 Hudson Yards
Unique dining menu creatively blends flavors from around the world. That goes for the cocktails, too.
