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POPULAR NEW YORK RESTAURANTS

American Restaurants

Gotham Bar and Grill
12 E 12th Street (Greenwich Village), Manhattan, NY 10003 (212) 620-4020
The Gotham Bar and Grill is a classy New American restaurant that attracts hoards of famous (and non-famous) people. There are only a handful of New York restaurants that can rival the Gotham's entrees.

Gramercy Tavern
42 E 20th Street (Union Square), Manhattan, NY 10003 (212) 477-0777
A world-famous restaurant with stellar food, atmosphere, and service, the Gramercy Tavern is a once-in-a-lifetime place for many who come here. Yes, it is expensive, but if you can afford it, the Gramercy Tavern will not disappoint. top of page

Union Square Cafe
21 E 16th Street (Union Square), Manhattan, NY 10003 (212) 243-4020
Another outstanding restaurant near Union Square and the Flatiron District, the Union Square Cafe is a romantic, classy restaurant that is ideal for special occasions.

Delis and Diners

Carnegie Deli
854 Seventh Avenue (Midtown), Manhattan, NY 10019 (212) 757-2245
So popular and famous that some people actually overlook it, the Carnegie Deli is still considered the best deli in New York by many. From the huge sandwiches (try the pastrami) to the matzoh ball soup (great comfort food) the Carnegie truly satisfies.

Katz's Delicatessen
205 E Houston Street (Lower East Side), Manhattan, NY 10002 (212) 254-2246
One of several famous New York delis (and also famous for Meg Ryan's, er, outburst in "When Harry Met Sally"), Katz's Delicatessen is more than 100 years old and still one of the best restaurants in the Lower East Side.

Second Ave. Deli
156 Second Avenue (East Village), Manhattan, NY 10003 (212) 677-0606
The Second Ave. Deli is a popular place for good reason; some of the best kosher cuisine in New York is served at this East Village standout.

French Restaurants

Daniel
60 E 65th Street (East Side), Manhattan, NY 10021 (212) 288-0033
One of New York's best restaurants, Daniel serves French dishes that are head and shoulders above most of the competition. Daniel may be a very expensive restaurant to some, but the experience is worth every penny. top of page

Hamburgers

Big Nick's Burgers and Pizza
2175 Broadway (Upper West Side), Manhattan, NY 10023 (212) 362-9238
This wildly popular Upper West Side burger and pizza joint is a New York classic; loud, fast-paced, and full of character (and characters). The hamburgers at Big Nick's are among the best in New York.

Italian Restaurants

Da Nico
164 Mulberry Street (Little Italy), Manhattan, NY 10013 (212) 343-1212
A Little Italy favorite, politicians and entertainers can sometimes be seen dining at Da Nico. This Italian restaurant serves some of the best brick-oven pizza in New York, as well as tremendous veal and pasta dishes.

Japanese Restaurants

Nobu
105 Hudson Street (TriBeCa), Manhattan, NY 10013 (212) 219-0500
Part-owned by actor Robert De Niro, Nobu sets the standard by which other Japanese restaurants in New York are measured. Nobu is so popular that a second restaurant, Nobu Next Door, was opened in order to satisfy demand.

Pizza

Grimaldi's Pizzeria
19 Old Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 858-4300
All Grimaldi's does is make some of the best pizza in the United States. Robust tomato sauce, thin slices of fresh mozzerella cheese...simply incredible pizza. There is no place like it in Boston, or nearly any other city for that matter.

Lombardi's
32 Spring Street (Little Italy), Manhattan, NY 10002 (212) 941-7994
New York City is all about coal-fired pizza, with its thin, blackened crust and fresh tomato sauce and cheese. And Lombardi's does pizza better than just about anyone in the Big Apple. Good luck trying to get a seat, though!

Seafood

Oceana
55 E 54th Street (Midtown), Manhattan, NY 10022 (212) 759-5941
Oceana is a whole lot better (and more crowded) than most New York seafood restaurants. If you are looking for a restaurant to take a seafood lover, or want to impress those you are doing business with, Oceana may be your place.

Steakhouses

Peter Luger Steak House
178 Broadway (Williamsburg), Brooklyn, NY 11212 (718) 387-7400
Peter Luger probably serves the best steaks in New York. It is very expensive, but if you are looking to splurge, you can go a lot worse then the Peter Luger Steak House.

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HIDDEN NEW YORK RESTAURANTS

Chinese/Cuban Restaurant

La Caridad 78 Restaurant
2199 Broadway (Upper West Side), Manhattan, NY 10024 (212) 874-2780
Like red beans and rice with your chow mein? If so, La Caridad 78 will satisfy your need for Cuban and Chinese cuisine. Don't expect friendly service at this homely little restaurant, but the food is tough to beat.

Delis and Diners

Manhattan Diner
2180 Broadway (Upper West Side), Manhattan, NY 10024 (212) 877-7252
The Manhattan Diner is a popular place with the Upper West Side locals, but no one else seems to know about it. This bustling little Greek diner is a great place for a quick, satisfying breakfast or lunch.

Old John's Luncheonette
148 W 67th Street (Lincoln Center), Manhattan, NY 10023 (212) 874-2700
"Lincoln Center's best-kept secret" is just that; Old John's Luncheonette is little-known, but serves outstanding meals all day long. It is worth coming to this friendly hole in the wall just for the Brooklyn-style french toast.

Red Flame Coffee Shop
67 W 44th Street (Times Square/Theater District), Manhattan, NY 10036 (212) 869-3965
Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, yet a stone's throw from Times Square, the Red Flame serves up some very reasonable breakfast dishes. It is tiny, and often packed with locals, but worth any short wait you might encounter.

Eastern European Restaurants

Veselka
144 Second Avenue (East Village), Manhattan, NY 10003 (212) 228-9682
Veselka is a friendly East Village restaurant that serves terrific Ukrainian comfort food, including borscht, pirogis, and potato pancakes.

Hamburgers

Burger Joint (in Le Parker Meridien)
118 W 57th Street (Midtown), Manhattan, NY 10019 (212) 245-5000
Literally a hidden dining spot, this hole in the wall is buried inside the upscale Parker Meridien hotel. Imagine getting a juicy burger, fries, and a milkshake in Midtown for about $10. That's what you get at Burger Joint.

Italian Restaurants

Focacceria
87 Macdougal Street (Greenwich Village), Manhattan, NY 10012 (212) 253-8049
A favorite of Boston's Hidden Restaurants, Focacceria is a tiny, romantic trattoria that serves some tremendous Italian food to the Greenwich Village locals.

Marinella Restaurant
49 Carmine Street (West Village), Manhattan, NY 10014 (212) 807-7472
Cozy, intimate, and low-key, Marinella is one Italian restaurant in New York that should not be overlooked. Marinella is a hidden gem that may not be hidden for long.

Japanese Restaurants

Sekku Restaurant
343 Lexington Avenue (East Side/Grand Central), Manhattan, NY 10016
(212) 697-9020 A calm, quiet, peaceful place, Sekku is a great restaurant for those who want a respite from the hustle and bustle of New York. The sushi is terrific, as are the dinners such as the steak and chicken entrees.

Pizza

Vinnie's Pizza
285 Amsterdam Avenue (Upper West Side), Manhattan, NY 10023 (212) 874-4382
Vinnie's makes thick, gooey New York pizzas for the Upper West side locals who live near this terrific pizzeria. Tourists haven't caught on to this place, so enjoy the true New York experience here.

Pub Food

Chumley's
86 Bedford Street (West Village), Manhattan, NY 10014 (212) 675-4449
Chumley's may be well-known to West Village residents, but this former speakeasy is literally a hidden gem. Between the fireplace, the old wooden decor, and the comfort food, Chumley's is a winner.

Vietnamese Restaurants

Doyers Vietnamese Restaurant
11 Doyers Street (Chinatown), Manhattan, NY 10013 (212) 693-0725
Formerly called Vietnam, Doyers Vietnamese Restaurant is located in the basement of an old building on a narrow street in Chinatown. If you can find it, the restaurant is well worth going to for its soups and other entrees.

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