Chef Hillary Sterling of Ci Siamo with her cast-iron focaccia
T
he best thing for the future of Big Apple restaurants is the city’s new mayor, Eric Adams, who actually likes the industry and delights in dining out. He’s the happy antithesis of his lazy, nasty, utterly inept, chip-on-the-shoulder predecessor, Bill de Blasio, who took grim joy in making life unnecessarily more miserable for eateries during the pandemic. Adams, who wants his city to thrive again, is also well aware of how critical this industry is to such a renaissance. Fine dining in places with traditional and excitingly creative offerings was a crucial attraction for tourists of all kinds, not to mention one of the things that made Gotham a magnet for the ambitious. Our stellar team of discerning tasters—Forbes’ chief content officer, Randall Lane; Forbes contributor Richard Nalley; preeminent media maven Monie Begley; and brothers Kip and Tim—herewith unveil their list of where you can enjoy the city’s most savory comestibles.
Aquavit
Owner(s): Hakan Swahn
Address: 65 East 55th Street
Michelin Stars: 2
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Bâtard
Owner(s): Drew Nieporent
Address: 239 West Broadway
Michelin Stars: 1
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Daniel
Owner(s): Daniel Boulud
Address: 60 East 65th Street
Michelin Stars: 2
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Gramercy Tavern
Owner(s): Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group
Address: 42 East 20th Street
Michelin Stars: 1
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The Grill
Owner(s): Rich Torrisi, Jeff Zalaznick, Mr. Mario Carbone
Address: 99 East 52nd Street
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Jean-Georges
Owner(s): Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Phil Suarez
Address: 1 Central Park West
Michelin Stars: 2
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La Grenouille
Owner(s): Philippe Masson
Address: 3 East 52nd Street
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Le Bernardin
Owner(s): Éric Ripert, Maguy Le Coze
Address: 155 West 51st Street
Michelin Stars: 3
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Le Pavillon
Owner(s): Daniel Boulud
Address: One Vanderbilt Avenue
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Marea
Owner(s): Ahmass Fakahany
Address: 240 Central Park South
Michelin Stars: 1
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The Modern
Owner(s): Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group
Address: 9 West 53rd Street
Michelin Stars: 2
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Momofuku Ko
Owner(s): David Chang
Address: 8 Extra Place
Michelin Stars: 2
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Per Se
Owner(s): Thomas Keller
Address: 10 Columbus Circle
Michelin Stars: 3
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Balthazar
Owner(s): Keith McNally
Address: 80 Spring Street
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Grand Central Oyster Bar
Owner(s): Sandy Ingber, Mohammed Lawal, Janet Poccia
Address: 89 East 42nd Street
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Katz’s Delicatessen
Owner(s): Jake Dell
Address: 205 East Houston Street
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Keens Steakhouse
General Manager: Bonnie Jenkins
Address: 72 West 36th Street
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Nippon
Tim Pannell for Forbes
Tim Pannell for Forbes
Owner(s): Yasuhiro Makoshi
Address: 155 East 52nd Street
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Nobu Downtown/Nobu 57
Owner(s): Nobu Matsuhisa, Drew Nieporent
Address: 195 Broadway and 40 West 57th Street
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Peter Luger Steak House
Owner(s): Marilyn Spiera, Amy Rubenstein, Jody Storch
Address: 185 Broadway, Brooklyn
Michelin Stars: 1
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The River Café
Owner(s): Michael O’Keeffe
Address: One Water Street, Brooklyn
Michelin Stars: 1
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ABC Kitchen
Owner(s): Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Phil Suarez
Address: 35 East 18th Street
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Ai Fiori
Owner(s): Ahmass Fakahany
Address: 400 Fifth Avenue
Michelin Stars: 1
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Antonucci Cafe
Owner(s): Francesco Antonucci
Address: 170 East 81st Street
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Aretsky’s Patroon
Gaby Jones for Forbes
Gaby Jones for Forbes
Owner(s): Ken Aretsky
Address: 160 East 46th Street
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Atera
Owner(s): Jodi Richard
Address: 77 Worth Street
Michelin Stars: 2
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Avra Madison
Owner(s): Marc Packer, Nick Pashalis, Nick Tsoulos
Address: 14 East 60th Street
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Carbone
Owner(s): Rich Torrisi, Jeff Zalaznick, Mario Carbone
Address: 181 Thompson Street
Michelin Stars: 1
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The Clocktower
Owner(s): Jason Atherton, Stephen Starr
Address: 5 Madison Avenue
Michelin Stars: 1
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Cote
Tim Pannell for Forbes
Tim Pannell for Forbes
Owner(s): Simon Kim
Address: 16 West 22nd Street
Michelin Stars: 1
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Crown Shy
Owner(s): James Kent, Jeff Katz
Address: 70 Pine Street
Michelin Stars: 1
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Estela
Owner(s): Ignacio Mattos
Address: 47 East Houston Street
Michelin Stars: 1
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Frenchette
Tim Pannell for Forbes
Owner(s): Lee Hanson, Riad Nasr
Address: 241 West Broadway
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Gage & Tollner
Owner(s): Sohui Kim, Ben Schneider, St. John Frizell
Address: 372 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
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Gotham
Owner(s): Bret Csencsitz
Address: 12 East 12th Street
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Hawksmoor
Owner(s): Will Beckett, Huw Gott
Address: 109 East 22nd Street
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JoJo
Courtesy of Jojo
Courtesy of Jojo
Owner(s): Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Address: 160 East 64th Street
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Junoon
Owner(s): Rajesh Bhardwaj
Address: 19 West 24th Street
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La Goulue
Owner(s): Jean Denoyer
Address: 29 East 61st Street
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L’Artusi
Owner(s): August Cardona, Kevin Garry
Address: 228 West 10th Street
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Majorelle
Owner(s): Charles Masson
Address: 28 East 63rd Street
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Marc Forgione
Owner(s): Marc Forgione, Christopher Blumlo
Address: 134 Reade Street
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The Mark Restaurant
Owner(s): Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Address: 25 East 77th Street
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Michael’s
Owner(s): Michael McCarty
Address: 24 West 55th Street
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Milos
Owner(s): Costas Spiliadis
Address: 20 Hudson Yards
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Misi
Owner(s): Missy Robbins
Address: 329 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn
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Nougatine
Owner(s): Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Address: One Central Park West
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Nur
Owner(s): Meir Adoni
Address: 34 East 20th Street
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Perry St
Tim Pannell for Forbes
Tim Pannell for Forbes
Owner(s): Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Phil Suarez
Address: 176 Perry Street
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Portale
Gaby Jones for Forbes
Owner(s): Alfred Portale
Address: 126 West 18th Street
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The Simone
Owner(s): Chip Smith, Tina Vaughn, Robert Margolis
Address: 151 East 82nd Street
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Sixty Three Clinton
Owner(s): Sam Clonts, Raymond Trinh
Address: 63 Clinton
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Sushi Nakazawa
Owner(s): Alessandro Borgognone, Daisuke Nakazawa
Address: 23 Commerce Street
Michelin Stars: 1
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Union Square Cafe
Owner(s): Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group
Address: 101 East 19th Street
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Wayan
Owner(s): Cédric Vongerichten
Address: 20 Spring Street
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abcV with Jean-Georges
Owner(s): Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Address: 38 East 19th Street
It’s no surprise that vegans and vegetarians love the original offerings here, but meat eaters are wowed as well.
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Al Vaporetto
Owner(s): Francesco Antonucci
Address: 168 East 81st Street
Venice itself would be envious of the ways in which the variety of food is prepared.
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Amaranth
Owner(s): Paola Pedrignani
Address: 21 East 62nd Street
Reopened and as popular as ever with the Midtown lunch crowd—and the crowd is correct when it comes to the food served.
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Bistrot Leo
Owner(s): John McDonald
Address: 60 Thompson Street
Its outdoor dining area is one of the most attractive in the city, and the desserts are beyond sublime.
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Brasserie Cognac East
Owner(s): Vittorio Assaf, Fabio Granato
Address: 963 Lexington Avenue
Cognac is king, but the mix of French classic dishes and bistro fare makes for a royal experience.
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Café D’Alsace
Owner(s): Philippe Roussel
Address: 1695 Second Avenue
A visit to this spot is like being transported to Strasbourg. The food is as good as any you’ll find in eastern France.
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Donohue’s Steak House
Owner(s): Maureen Donohue-Peters
Address: 845 Lexington Avenue
No one has a beef with these unmistakably stunning steaks.
Ernesto’s
Owner(s): Ryan Bartlow
Address: 259 East Broadway
Basque in the beauty of this particular cuisine.
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The Fulton
Owner(s): Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Address: 89 South Street
A fabulous waterfront view, including the Brooklyn Bridge, that’s matched by fabulous fish fare.
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Gem
Owner(s): Flynn McGarry
Address: 116 Forsyth Street
Creation of wunderkind chef Flynn McGarry, whose terrific tasting menus are internationally inspired. The menu is a colorful pamphlet with a history of each dish.
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Hudson Yards Grill
Owner(s): Michael Lomonaco
Address: 20 Hudson Yards
The place to go to get the epitome of American fare.
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Lamalo
Suzana Halilli for Forbes
Suzana Halilli for Forbes
Owner(s): Gadi Peleg
Address: 11 East 31st Street
A mouthwatering modern Middle Eastern menu that has patrons returning again and again.
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L’Amico
Owner(s): Laurent Tourondel
Address: 849 Avenue of the Americas
Incredibly creative Italian renderings.
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Les Trois Chevaux
Owner(s): Angie Mar
Address: 283 West 12th Street
An over-the-top-fantastic “food vacation.” Setting is Paris formal, with mirrors and carts galore. What’s French for “delicious indulgence”?
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Llama San
Owner(s): Erik Ramirez
Address: 359 Sixth Avenue
Scrumptiously creative cuisine that impressively combines influences of Peruvian and Japanese cooking.
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Mercado Little Spain
Owner(s): José Andrés
Address: 10 Hudson Yards
Sensational Spanish-inspired fare.
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Milk Bar
Owner(s): Christina Tosi
Address: 1196 Broadway
Here you can personalize your perfect dessert with an array of cookies, cakes, ice creams and pies that will send you on a sweet, heavenly high.
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Sabor Argentino
Owner(s): Alessandro Uva
Address: 57 Seventh Avenue South
Great steaks, and the flan really has its fans.
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Sistina
Owner(s): Giuseppe Bruno
Address: 24 East 81st Street
Outstanding Italian offerings, especially the special pastas, at this longtime Upper East Side gem.
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Tomokase
Owner(s): Mier Wang
A complete, fully catered omakase dinner delivered to your home. A maître d’ and chef arrive with a suitcase or two and serve up a mouthwatering 15-course tasting menu of sushi and sashimi, concluding with a delectable dessert.
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UVA Next Door
Owner(s): Massimo Lusardi
Address: 1484 Second Avenue
Designed as an authentic Italian trattoria, this place feels like it’s been here forever but courageously opened last April. Fare is authentically excellent and is accompanied by hip music.
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Wayla
Owner(s): Erika Chou, Tom Naumsuwan
Address: 100 Forsyth Street
Thai food for a culinary adventure.
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Wild ink
Owner(s): Peter Jin
Address: 20 Hudson Yards
Unique dining menu creatively blends flavors from around the world. That goes for the cocktails, too.