647 Best Restaurants in New York City, New York

Enter the airy dining room and feel instantly calmed by Zou Zou's natural light, soft woods, hanging plants, and brass fixtures. Then turn to the tantalizing menu of small dishes, crudos, shareable dips, and filling mains, each enhanced by exotic spices and herbs from all around the Mediterranean Sea. Vegetables are celebrated here, whether as ingredients or starring attractions. The open kitchen's grills keeps the aromas flowing, while the long marble bar inspires zingy cocktail explorations. Pop into upstairs lounge Chez Zou's for drinks after 5 pm.

Set on the corner of Bleecker and Carmine Streets across from Father Demo Square, this American restaurant is as simple as its name. Try to nab a seat at the bar/chef's counter to get a front-row seat of the large hearth where chefs put fire to a vegetable-forward menu, plus one of the best roast chickens in the city. The wood-fired whole fish, doused with green curry, is also excellent, as is pretty much anything that comes from the hearth. The short but nicely curated wine list complements the food menu well. 

This perennially packed Hell's Kitchen brasserie has been a magnet for burger lovers since day one. Though the menu offers a mix of flavors—including matzo ball soup, shrimp tempura, and salad bowls—the main attractions are the juicy patties, like the original 10-ounce patty melt with a tangle of onions, Gruyère cheese, and rosemary aioli. There's an option for everyone, including vegan options and a "Cali Reuben" turkey burger. For dessert, have an über-thick black-and-white malted milk shake.

It's hip to be square at this downtown pizzeria that occupies a long, narrow space with modern decor. At this local-favorite, family-run establishment, square (aka old-fashioned or grandma) pies are worth the trek and are a convenient Stone Street stop en route to the Statue of Liberty. They also do a mean traditional round pizza, and first-timers should opt for the signature Old Fashioned: thin, crispy crust loaded with tangy tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. Salads, pasta, and familiar Italian American dishes are on the menu, too.

Named after the chef’s Hungarian grandmother, this welcoming, shabby-chic café offers elevated takes on Austro-Hungarian cuisine. Think goulash, chicken liver mousse, and fancy open-faced melt sandwiches. A popular brunch spot, favorite items include pogacsa (old world cheese biscuits with egg, dill, and speck), palacsinta (brown butter-smothered crepes with sweet cheese and fruit compote), and impressive hash browns with horseradish sour cream and scallions. Baked goods are a must; get them before they sell out for the day.

Roughly translated as "beyond," al di là has been a neighborhood favorite since it opened in 1998, and it's easy to understand why: it serves well-prepared Northern Italian dishes in a cozy atmosphere. The warm farro salad with seasonal ingredients and goat cheese is perfectly al dente; the hand-pinched ravioli are delicious; and meatier entrées like braised rabbit, Tuscan tripe stew, and pork loin scaloppine with prosciutto are highlights.

Arguably the best French bakery outside Montmartre is on DUMBO's Water Street. Chef Herve Poussot helms this neighborhood favorite, baking chocolate raspberry croissants, mille-feuille, macarons, and pear tarts, as well as baguettes, quiche, and sandwiches. Pick up a snack and a coffee to take to the park.

A throwback to old New York with European accents, Anton's kitchen churns out excellent, old-school dishes like whitefish salad and chopped chicken liver, but also some great takes on pasta: the simple spaghetti anchoiade (pasta with anchovies) is superb. So is the bucatini Baczysnky, named for a long-time (and still existing) Ukrainian butcher shop in East Village where the chef sources his guanciale (cured pig jowels or cheeks) for the dish. It's really just a classic riff on Amatriciana. The casual atmosphere has an air of sophistication, perhaps thanks to the many spotlit paintings by Vitali Dvali, an artist from the Republic of Georgia.

There are several old-school Italian American restaurants in the Real Little Italy in the Bronx, and Antonio's Trattoria is one of the solid choices when looking for a place for good, honest fare. Start with award-winning fried calamari from the antipasti menu, then move on to a variety of classic dishes: baked clams, zuppe di pasta fagioli, linguine with clam sauce, or excellent pizzas, prepared either Sicilian style or baked in a brick oven with a thin Neapolitan crust.

This delightfully affordable "Italianesque" restaurant sparkles for its reliable fare, including excellent prix-fixe lunch and pretheater dinner menus. Tucked inside the LUMA Hotel Times Square just off Bryant Park, AperiBar is Charlie Palmer's fine expression of Italian standards, featuring an excellent antipasti assortment, shareable salads, rich pasta and pizza, and perfected entrées. Arrive early for tasty weekday happy-hour bites and drinks at the small bar or front-window lounge area. 

This Michelin-starred elegant and refined Scandinavian restaurant in the steady hands of Emma Bengtsson has prix-fixe options, including lunch, with a two-, three-, or four-course tasting menu, and a five-course or eight-course chef's tasting dinner menu. An à la carte option is offered within the sumptuous barroom area, best for sampling homemade aquavit, perhaps in a flight or mixed with tonic water. The dishes may seem simple, but even familiar meats, seafood, and seasonal ingredients are gifted with fresh creativity here. The elegant atmosphere features warm woods and modern Scandinavian design.

Popular with the hip dinner and brunch crowds, this bustling, family-run restaurant and bar puts a modern spin on classic American dishes with Ecuadorian, Puerto Rican, and Bangladeshi influences. Try the grilled cauliflower with marinated olives and shishito peppers or the bold chicken vindaloo arepas (crispy cornmeal cakes) topped with cotija (an aged cow's milk Mexican cheese) and fresh cucumber raita (Indian yogurt sauce). Each multicultural dish is packed with flavor and spice, and the fancy cocktails (like their Goat cocktail made with tequila, turmeric, and orange) are also standouts.

Few guidebooks list this classic New York pizzeria, yet the jam-packed room and pleasantly smoky scent foreshadow a satisfying meal. There's a full menu of Italian classics, but pizza is the main event, and the thin-crust beauties are cooked in a coal-fired oven, to emerge sizzling with simple toppings like pepperoni, sausage, and eggplant. Monday through Thursday, you can call ahead to reserve a table; weekends, be prepared to wait and salivate. If you like the whimsical paintings that plaster the walls, ask the waiter the price: they're for sale.

Step inside this neighborhood mainstay near Arthur Avenue for a delectable selection of on-the-go snacks that include cakes, black-and-white cookies, and Italian pastries. Artuso's has been run by the same Italian American family since 1946, and the impassioned proprietors and community vibe truly add flavor to the shop's outstanding selection of sweets.