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Ready to take a bite out of New York? Hope you've come hungry. In a city where creativity is expressed in innumerable ways, the food scene takes center stage, with literally thousands of chances to taste what Gotham is all about. Whether lining up at street stands, gobbling down legendary deli and diner grub, or chasing a coveted reservation at the latest celebrity-chef venue, New Yorkers are a demanding yet appreciative audience.
Every neighborhood offers temptations high, low, and in between, meaning there's truly something for every taste, whim, and budget. No matter how you approach dining out here, it's hard to go wrong. Planning a day of shopping among the glittering flagship boutiques along 5th and Madison Avenues? Stop into one of the Upper East Side's storied restaurants for a repast among the "ladies who lunch." Clubbing in the Meatpacking District? Tuck into a meal at eateries as trendy as their patrons. Craving authentic ethnic? From food trucks to hidden joints, there are almost more choices than there are appetites. Recent years have also seen entire food categories, from ramen to meatballs to mac 'n' cheese, riffed upon and fetishized, and at many restaurants you find an almost religious reverence for seasonal, locally sourced cuisine.
And don't forget—New York is still home to more celebrity chefs than any other city. Your chances of running into your favorite cookbook author, Food Network celeb, or paparazzi-friendly chef are high, adding even more star wattage to a restaurant scene with an already through-the-roof glamour quotient. Newfound economic realities, however, have revived appreciation for value, meaning you can tap into wallet-friendly choices at every level of the food chain. Rest assured, this city does its part to satisfy your appetite. Ready, set, eat.
Since the 1990s, this popular neighborhood outpost has been serving homemade Greek and Italian specialties in a simple, casual setting. The menu is large, and it’s always a tough choice between the moussaka and spanakopita (spinach pie), lamb kebabs, and chicken Marsala. There's live music several evenings a week by local musicians.
Here, thin-crust pies are topped with fresh mozzarella and an ample amount of tangy, homemade tomato sauce, then baked in a coal oven. At Totonno's, you're not just eating pizza, you're biting into a slice of New York history. Anthony (Totonno) Pero first opened the pizzeria a century ago in 1924, right after the subways started running to Coney Island—and the restaurant is at the same location and run by the same family, using ingredients and techniques handed down through four generations. While many people may reminisce of its old-school casual dining room that's endured over the decades, Totonno's has recently switched to take-out and delivery service only, but that doesn't stop die hard fans from parking nearby to hang out and eat from pizza boxes on the top of their cars.
Burgers, beers, and fries: that's what you'll get at this low-key joint. Among stroller-toting parents and neighborhood regulars, sidle up to the bar (or grab a table in back) and sink your teeth into a patty that was ground that morning by local butcher Los Paisanos. The headliner is the two8two burger, topped with roasted poblano chilies, cheddar cheese, and two8two sauce (mayo, ketchup, and spices), but there's also a lettuce wrap burger for the gluten-free or merely carb-phobic. The bar features craft beers on tap, including a couple of local selections, as well as the chipotle-habanero Bloody Mary—it's as hot as it sounds.
Potato pierogi and other Eastern European staples like borscht and stuffed cabbage are available from early to late at this East Village stalwart, which opened in 1954; the name means "rainbow" in Ukrainian. The authentic Ukrainian-diner food is the perfect stick-to-your-ribs ending to a night on the town—or beginning to a new day, since there's also a full array of breakfast staples. It's a neighborhood experience, with tables of families sharing space with the hipsters. The spacious, sunny interior, with giant wall paintings to please the eye, is great for people-watching.
With painted murals and bricked archways, Zero Otto Nove's original location channels motifs from a Tuscan grotto, even though their cuisine leans toward central and southern Italy, in addition to Italian American classics. Try a wood-oven-fired pizza or pasta dishes, including mafalde noodles with broccoli rabe, and rigatoni with butternut squash puree and porcini mushrooms.
