Our friends at Time Out Market New York, gave us the top 50 restaurants now. Here is the top ten.
We really like eating around the city, and we’re guessing you do, too. So lucky for all of us, we’ve packed all our favorite restaurants under one roof at the Time Out Market New York. The DUMBO location in Empire Stores has fried chicken from Jacob’s Pickles, pizza from Fornino, inventive ice cream flavors from Sugar Hill Creamery and more amazing eateries—all cherry-picked by us. Chow down over two floors with views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline.
Best restaurants in NYC
1. Kochi
What is it? Per se alum chef Sungchul Shim’s seven-course tasting of skewers inspired by Korean royal court cuisine. Kochi first opened in 2019 and was recently awarded a Michelin star. A ten-course menu, as well as supplements like caviar and sea urchin, are also available.
Why We Love it? Ordering everything on the menu is usually relegated to daydreams, but at Kochi, it’s possible. Here, every course is a joy, without an afterthought in the bunch. And Kochi’s $85 prix-fixe price tag is more attainable than that of many of its contemporaries.
2. Crown Shy
What is it? A collaboration between James Kent, longtime chef de cuisine at Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park and executive chef at NoMad, and Jeff Katz, managing partner of Del Posto. Crown Shy turns out excellent food and beautiful cocktails in an elegant environment that’s equal parts special occasion destination and nicer-than-normal evening whim.
Why we love it? Crown Shy feels important without being intimidating. It’s a this-must-be-the-place kind of spot that manages to remain warm and inviting.
3. Rezdôra
What is it? Having previously cooked at Osteria Francescana, the Modena, Italy restaurant that was ranked 2018’s best in the world, chef Stefano Secchi went on to open one of NYC’s best restaurants the following year. At Rezdôra, he offers up a stealthily breathtaking array of pastas, using the highest quality cheeses and seasonal ingredients from farmers’ markets.
Why we love it? Dinner at Rezdôra feels like a new culinary experience even for people who grew up on pasta night.
4. Atoboy
What is it? Chef Junghyun Park’s array of modern Korean small plates are presented in five courses for a set price of $75. Fried chicken with spicy peanut sauce and gochujang sauce is available as an add-on for $27.
Why we love it? Tasting menus are one of the best ways to sample as much as possible, but some are too rigid and prohibitively expensive. Park’s prix-fixe is more affordable than most, and you’ll get to choose from a few options for most courses.
5. Sushi Nakazawa
What is it? Incredible and slightly more accessible omakase from Jiro Dreams of Sushi’s chef Daisuke Nakazawa.
Why we love it? This city’s full of expensive omakase, and Sushi Nakazawa has all the exquisite quality and reverent ambiance of its tip-top price peers for a slightly less account-clearing sum. It is not unexpected to see $300+ chef’s selections at NYC’s best sushi restaurants, but reservations at Nakazawa’s counter are $150 for about 20 palate-changing courses like fatty tuna, sea urchin and yellowtail. It’s $120 in the peaceful dining room, and perfect sake pairings are $90.
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6. Gramercy Tavern
What is it? An NYC classic you can dress up or down(ish)
Why we love it? Big night out atmosphere crackles under a dizzyingly high ceiling with a bar that that feels like the place to be. The back dining room’s $148 five-course tasting, which presently includes poached lobster and roasted duck breast, is splendid for a splurge, and you can also order à la carte up front in the (also lovely) tavern section, where everything’s $35 or less.
7. Adda
What is it? The kitchen at Adda stays true to its roots without imparting gimmicky modern touches on Indian dishes. Whether you order butter chicken or a kale pakoda, the flavors sing. The heat of peppers and warmth of cumin are just two examples that keep you coming back for more
Why we love it? For a convivial dining experience where the food is as electric as the vibe. The menu feels exciting each time we’ve visited, with a nice balance between creativity and tradition.
8. Ugly Baby
What is it? Booming on Smith Street in Carroll Gardens since 2017, Ugly Baby is a Thai restaurant that will test the limits of your heat tolerance. Whether you’re ordering the “stay-away spicy Udon Thani’s duck salad” or the khao soi, do not shy away from the spice. Instead, tack on an order of soothing tue ka ko and let the coconut slake any palate fires.
Why we love it? Ugly Baby’s use of spice is a master class in heat that novices and aficionados alike will appreciate.
9. Oxomoco
What is it? From the team behind Speedy Romeo, Michelin-starred Oxomoco focuses on wood-fired dishes. Our favorites are the beet “chorizo” tacos, and a better bavette than you’ll find at a lot of famed NYC steakhouses.
Why we love it? The food is serious and the atmosphere is buoyant and the whole place is a lot of fun. Case in point: Oxomoco has frozen drinks on its cocktail list, which many restaurants of this caliber can’t even.
10. Rangoon
What is it? What began as a Burmese cuisine pop-up by chef Myo Moe in 2015 became a brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2020.
Why we love it? This southeast Asian cuisine is rare in the city, and Moe’s menu offers a tasty primer. The sleek, all-white space is an excellent foil for colorful dishes, including lemongrass fish noodle soup and tamarind pumpkin stew.
