This is your ultimate New York City restaurant list. It’s my personal list I keep in my notes and share with friends, but I thought why not share it with all of you!? I’ve been to all of these spots and love them.

Bookmark it. Copy it, paste it. Put it in your notes. Share it with your friend. And go… go to all of them.

Upper East/Midtown:

 

Empellón – delicious 12 salsas, “avocado” dessert

Agora Turkish – casual, BYOB

Pizza Beach – super casual beer with friends type place (also one downtown)

Xian famous foods – there’s a few locations. Find one, get the lamb meatballs.

Upper West Side:

 

Burke & Wills – great happy hour bites. Plus, the Manhattan Cricket Club is a speakeasy upstairs here.

Playa Betty’s – casual, good for tacos and margaritas

Great Burrito – super casual. The greatest

burrito.

Jin Ramen – some of the best ramen in the city.

 

West Village/Lower West:

 

Takashi – get the chocolate meatball

Don Angie – every dish is full of flavor. A little more upscale, delicious drinks and pastas.

Quality Eats – get the “pb&j bacon”

Nix – vegetarian, best dessert ever: chocolate mouse cake

Il Corallo Trattoria – underrated Italian food, super casual

Spotted Pig – haven’t been in a while, hope the burger and fries still live up to their rep.

East Village/Lower East:

 

Sel Rrose – drinks and small bites. Call ahead.

Uncle Boons – Thai, super eclectic

Le French Diner – tiny, cozy, sit at the bar

Freeman’s – in a little alley, secluded, inside is like a wooden cabin in the middle of NYC

Gaia – just read this

 

Somtum Der – spicy Thai food, super eclectic

Flatiron:

BlackBarn – splurge worthy! Read about my epic meal experience.

ABC kitchen – get small plates and share. Everything is legit amazing.

Sala One Nine or Boqueria – solid tapas & drink spots

Harlem:

 

Lido – fresh modern Italian, good for brunch

Amy Ruth’s – fried chicken and waffles, baby! Great for groups.

Saiguette – the Bahn Mi sandwiches will change your brain chemistry

Chinatown/Little Italy/Financial District:

 

Nom Wah Tea Parlour – classic dim sum all day

Milk & Cream Cereal Bar – cereal infused ice cream

 

Cha Cha Matcha – coffee/matcha shop

Gelso & Grand – modern Italian food, great cocktails

Pisillo – best sandwich of your life. I almost don’t want to tell you about it.

Rooftop bars:

 

Magic Hour – new and popular, might be a wait

La Birreria (at Eataly) – open and airy in summer, cozy in winter

Rooftop Reds – rooftop vineyard in Brooklyn

STK Meatpacking – fancy and fun

Brooklyn:

 

Claro – fresh Oaxacan dishes. Get a flight of tequila.

Miss Ada’s – Israeli food, super fresh

Briciola – modern Vietnamese food, great atmosphere

Freek’s Mill – eclectic forager food, get ready for interesting flavor combos. Sit at the chefs table.

Olmsted – farm to table at its finest

The Bedford – American gastropub, always something Instagrammable on the menu

Brooklyn Cider House – Basque style cider catching and coursed meal

Lilia – if you can get a seat…

Luzzo’s BK – the thin crust pizza you dream about

Emily – the burgers and pizza will blow your mind. Please go. Go. Go. Go.

Brunch:

 

Chalk Point Kitchen – fresh modern American food. Feels homemade.

The Grey Dog – counter service, but not quite fast food. Get avocado smoked salmon toast. Multiple locations.

The Butchers Daughter – classic brunch foods, airy and calm atmosphere. Multiple locations.

The Wild Son – hipster & cool, in Meatpacking District

Bubby’s – Southern flavors, always something new

Jacobs Pickles – Southern fried food, great biscuits

Maison Pickle – retro upscale French

✨This is my personal share list. Hope you can find some use for it! How many of the above have you been to?✨