10 Great Restaurants in New York

Le Bernardin has been an elegant presence in New York City's dining scene since it opened in the Equitable Building, near Times Square in the mid-1980s. Today, it's managed by a celebrity chef known for his role as a guest judge on Top Chef. His flair in creating French seafood dishes with touches of Asian and international flavours have made the restaurant a long-running favourite for diners and critics alike.  

With only 32 tables, reservations are essential at Le Bernardin, which opens for lunch and dinner. You can opt for one of several tasting menus, though we recommend the 4-course menu to enjoy a variety of seafood dishes and an extensive wine list for pairing options.

The Modern is a Michelin-starred restaurant at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where diners enjoy contemporary French/American fare while taking in views of a gorgeous sculpture garden. Book a table by the kitchen to watch the chefs artfully prepare their dishes for their 4-course prix fixe and 8-course tasting menus or in the Bar Room and try the small-plate specialities.  

The Modern's staff are known for being knowledgeable and highly attentive, with excellent tableside service and expert wine pairing suggestions.

Gramercy Tavern is an excellent New York restaurant with a strong focus on farm-to-table fare and warm hospitality. You could go for a seafood platter, burger, or a selection of appetisers and desserts in the tavern room out front. For more of a splurge and to enjoy a bigger range of seasonal offerings, try the tasting menu in its elegant dining space. 

The menu features American delicacies and locally sourced ingredients. Standout dishes include lamb ravioli and roasted duck breast with apples, squash and mushroom.

Keens Steakhouse has been serving its signature porterhouse steaks and mutton chops since 1885. Diners can enjoy a classic setting of white tablecloths, dark-wood panelling, and subtle lighting. Thousands of churchwarden pipes lining the ceiling recall the days when gentlemen would come here and smoke their pipes over leisurely long lunches or while sipping Scotch or martinis.

Keens Steakhouse also serves fish, lobster, burgers, and a range of appetisers and desserts. This iconic New York restaurant is always busy, so reservations are recommended.

Contra is a New American restaurant in the Lower East Side of New York, offering an inventive set menu and a natural wine selection. The restaurant has a lively vibe in a stripped-down setting and offers one of the better-value tasting menus in the city.

Dishes such as pheasant leg, smoked eel and monkfish are must-tries from Contra's ever-changing seasonal menu. Those in search of a snack or a casual meal could head to Wildair, a few doors down – it's an offshoot of Contra by the same owners.

Time Out Market is a huge food hall that brings together the talents of some of New York's top chefs under one roof in the Dumbo district of Brooklyn. Conceived by the media company that publishes the namesake lifestyle magazine, it features 21 restaurants, 3 bars, and a demo cooking section in a space spanning 24,000 sq ft.

Sit down for a full meal at notable restaurants like Jacob's Pickles, Mr Taka Ramen, the Migrant Kitchen, and Clinton St. Baking Company. Time Out Market also hosts several live music shows and events throughout the year.

John's of Bleecker Street is a classic New York pizzeria, serving delicious brick oven-baked pizzas since 1929. This West Village favourite is a fine spot to stop for thin-crust pizzas, such as 'Jimmy Gambino' (sausage, basil and peppers) and 'The Fifty' (meatballs, pepperoni and sausage).

You can order pizza by the slice and pair it with your choice of appetisers, sandwiches, pasta and salads. John’s of Bleecker Street also serves craft brews by the pint and pitcher. 

Randazzo's Clam Bar is a popular family-owned restaurant on Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn. It's the place to enjoy generous servings of seafood prepared in Italian-American style. Many come for its clams, but dishes like fried calamari, oysters, lobster and crab cake sandwich are also worth a try. 

Make sure to try at least 1 seafood dish with Randazzo’s signature red sauce, served medium or spicy – people in the know like to travel here just for a taste of this famous sauce.  

Atoboy is a Korean restaurant in Gramercy, founded by a couple who wanted to offer adventurous takes on Korean cuisine to curious diners. Its 5-course set menu features artfully presented banchan (Korean side dishes), such as braised eggplant with snow crab and tomato, as well as duck with beet, black radish and pecan.

Atoboy is a great spot for groups, as it has many communal dining tables and sharing plates. If you bring enough people along, you should be able to have a try of every dish on the menu.

Raoul's is a French restaurant on Prince Street that was opened in the 1970s by brothers from Alsace. It has reigned as an iconic dining spot in SoHo ever since. It offers classic French dishes like steak au poivre and Magret duck breast.

The scene at Raoul's is a bit of a throwback to the 1970s and 1980s, with black-and-white leather booths and nude paintings covering the walls. Many of the chairs they acquired when taking over the space from another restaurant in 1975 are still in place, except for those that were “destroyed in the brawls that marked the early years”.