New York is truly a multi-ethnic city, attracting people from all over the world. With different people, come different cultures and their cuisines. That is why this city has more than 24,000 places to eat, and you can find any dish you can possibly dream of.
With such a wide offer, a struggle arises: how to find the best restaurants, the one you absolutely must try, whether you live in the Big Apple, or you are just spending a holiday there?
This is our list of the best restaurants in New York City, based on the quality of the food, the atmosphere of the place, and the history they carry.
Il Gattopardo
New York City has more Italian restaurants than anywhere else – well, except for Italy. “Il Gattopardo”, or "The Leopard" in English, is a 3 stories high beautiful restaurant where a mix of the most refined Cucina all Italiana is offered.
Here you can eat the most delicious Italian dishes like a timbale of wild mushrooms and potatoes, or a branzino crudo. They also offer a delicious range of pasta, from lasagna di Carnevale with ricotta, mini meatballs, and smoked mozzarella to macaroni with Genovese sauce. You can also find more than 250 kinds of wine on this restaurant's menu.
Porter House Bar & Grill
New York City has more than its fair share of high-quality indigenous steakhouses. All of these steakhouses compete and serve the best-quality ingredients. But no one can compete with Porter House with its spectacular view over Columbus Circle and Central Park.
Porter House is located in Times Warner Centre. You can get their namesake Porterhouse, New York strips, or great prime ribs. Michael Lomonaco, a chef-managing partner, is always there to make sure that every dish you get is perfect and up to their standards.
If you live in New York City or are planning to visit, make sure to visit this restaurant to enjoy its famous dishes and watch the spectacular view it offers.
Le Bernardin
Originally Le Barnaedin was a hotel in Paris. However, when its owner, Gilbert Le Coze, and his sister Maguy Le Coze, opened a new restaurant in New York City, they decided to close the former restaurant to give their full attention to the new one. The dining room of Le Bernardin is one of the most well-decorated restaurants in the city, so definitely worth the visit for that as well.
The hotel is devoted to seafood, and it is known for serving high-quality seafood at a reasonable price. You can choose any dish from the a la carte menu, such as langoustines with morels, foie gras, or carpaccio. The food is always of great quality and of refined taste.
21 Club
Club 21 has quite a peculiar history. This restaurant was a speakeasy during the Prohibition period, then it became a watering hole during the postwar era and served everyone, including important figures, like several presidents of the United States of America.
They have the most delicious American food, including the famous burger named "21 Burger". Their wine menu contains wines from the Nixon era, and to store these precious wines, they have special heavy-duty vaults. Definitely a must-visit in NYC.
Katz's Delicatessen
Katz's Delicatessen is one of the oldest still-operating restaurants in New York City. Established in 1888, it still serves the best dishes, following the traditions that kept them in business in a span of time that touched three centuries. The place is so old that it still has World War 2 posters on its walls.
The menu is exquisite, and people come from all over the world to enjoy the restaurant’s pastrami and hand-sliced corned beef.
It is also a place full of history and culture, with many movies having been shot at its premises.