10 Must-Visit Restaurants When You’re in New York
New York – the city of dreams, hard work, and most importantly, good food. Whether you’re a first-time tourist or a local, it’s undeniable that the New York experience would not be complete without tasting the dishes and delicacies that the city offers.
Now, the question is, where do you start? With a variety of available restaurants, making a choice might seem like a difficult feat. With that in mind, we’ve put together a food guide for you. Here are our ten picks for places you must eat at in New York City:
Peter Luger Steak House – 178 Broadway, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11211
If you’re looking for a classic American steakhouse, Peter Luger Steak House is one of the famous New York restaurants that you mustn’t miss. Acknowledged as one of the top steakhouses in New York since 1984, this restaurant offers a straightforward menu that made it the icon it is today.
Peter Luger Steak House is best known for its mouth-watering Porterhouse (one side tenderloin and one side strip steak, separated by a T-shaped bone). Served sizzling on its plate, the Porterhouse is sure to leave diners speechless with its fatty and smoky flavor. Other succulent dishes to try are the savory and tender lamb chops and refreshing shrimp cocktail coated in a tomato-based dressing. For dessert, customers can cap off their visit with a creamy and hunky slice of New York cheesecake.
Trattoria Tra Di Noi – 622 East 187th St. Bronx, NY
Known as the “Little Italy of Bronx”, Trattoria Tra Di Noi is surely another one of the must-visit New York restaurants. This restaurant features freshly prepared homemade Italian cuisine made from the finest handpicked ingredients.
An undeniable bestseller is their creamy and meaty Lasagna ala Bolognese. Their pan-fried fillet of sole Francese in a creamy lemon sauce with shrimp, parsley, and light gnocchi di patate in a rich lamb ragù would also leave diners wanting for more.
Red Rooster Harlem – 310 Lenox Ave., NY
If you want to celebrate the diverse cultural traditions of American cuisine, Red Rooster Harlem is one of the must-see New York restaurants you should go to. A restaurant that is tied to its history and community, Red Rooster Harlem doesn’t only provide good food but also tells a story of the neighborhood’s past and present.
A classic comfort food that the restaurant serves is their chicken and waffle combo – a perfectly cooked cornbread waffle is drizzled with homemade honey chili sauce before being topped with fried chicken breast. Diners would also enjoy crab cakes seasoned with a hint of fiery flair and fried yard bird served with a tinge of hot sauce and white mace gravy.
Minetta Tavern – 113 Macdougal St., NY
A mix of a New York City tavern and a Parisian steakhouse, Minetta Tavern proves to be another gem in the city. With a romantic and classic ambiance, the restaurant has attracted numerous writers and poets including Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Eugene O’Neill and E. E. Cummings.
Minetta Tavern is best known for their juicy and packed burgers that set the bar for all burgers in New York. One of which is the côte de boeuf for two made from finely aged prime beef. Other recommended dishes include pig’s trotter, lamb saddle, and potatoes Anna.
Taverna Kyclades – 33-07 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria, NY
A place owned by a family for families, Kyclades serves traditional Greek cuisines that diners would surely enjoy. Simple but definitely unforgettable, the lunch and dinner menu offered by the restaurant includes a variety of dishes.
For lunch, they serve fish entrees coupled with burgers, pasta and Greek spinach pie with feta cheese. For dinner, they offer seafood dishes like calamari and classic Greek desserts like baklava and galaktobouriko. Guests should also try fried squash eggplant, grilled octopus, and broiled scallops.
Hometown Bar-B-Que – 454 Brunt St., Brooklyn, NY
Though relatively young, being a restaurant that opened only last 2013, Hometown Bar-B-Que has already built a name for itself for their Brooklyn style barbecue. Cooked using the Southern technique of barbecuing, the variety of smoked meats they offer are very tender and flavorful. They ensure the quality of their dishes by using premium oak wood for the cooking process.
Other than their barbequed dishes, they also serve traditional sides and desserts along with drinks such as craft beer, seasonal cocktails, and variations of American whiskey.
L&B Spumoni Gardens – 2725 86th St., Brooklyn, NY.
Tap into your inner child by visiting a definite New York must do restaurant – L&B Spumoni Gardens. Offering only the best pizza and ice cream, diners are sure to feel as if they’re experiencing a childhood treat once again.
L&B is best known for their Sicilian slice, pizza that is definitely different from others offered in New York. Offered in square and round slices, their pizza has a doughy chewy base topped by a mystery red sauce and another layer of cheese. To complete the L& B experiences, guests must try their spumoni, a hybrid between ice cream and Italian ice that create a thick, creamy and sweet dessert.
Red Hook Lobster Pound – 1236, 284 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY
If you’re looking forward to seafood, this nautical-themed restaurant is just for you. The New England-style seafood dishes along with cocktails.
Red Hook Lobster Pound’s bestseller is their lobster roll made of the highest quality of lobster meat drizzled with homemade mayonnaise, paprika, butter, and scallions, stuffed into a split-top bun. Their Connecticut roll (“served warm with butter and lemon topped with paprika and scallions”) and Maine roll (“Maine Lobster tossed with a touch of homemade mayo piled on to a buttery split-top bun and topped with paprika and scallions”) are also must-try’s.
Ivan Ramen – 25 Clinton St, New York, NY
Recognized in television, magazines, and blogs, Ivan Ramen is famous as a stronghold of Japanese cuisine. Owner and chef, Ivan Orkin has achieved the perfect blending of American and Japanese cultures through his cooking.
Ivan Ramen is best known, as its name suggests, for their ramen. Some specialized ingredients the restaurant uses for their noodle dishes include whole-wheat noodles, tofu noodles, homemade cile mix and a special broth. The popular triple garlic, triple-pork mazeman (brothless) is also a definite customer go-to.
Jeepney – 201 1st Avenue, New York, NY
If you want to experience authentic Filipino cooking and dining, Jeepney is the restaurant for you. Aiming to share both the Filipino culture and cuisine to their customers, Jeepney serves staple Filipino dishes like Adobo and Bicol Express (slow roasted pork shoulder, cooked in coconut milk, shrimp paste bagging, and chilies).
Their special trademark is the Kamayan or the Filipino boodle fight where food is served on top of banana leaves and people share them by eating together with their hands. They offer various Kamayan packages where guests can choose which dishes they would like to be included. One of the premium items they include in their package is Lechon or a roasted whole suckling pig.
New York City is truly a city of various cultures and cuisines. The best way to really experience it is by going to places and discovering what it has to offer. What are you waiting for? Explore with an open mind and a stomach ready to be filled.
