Favorite NYC Spots: A through Z

NYC has so many different cuisines to offer. It can be hard to choose just one. Here are my top 26 NYC eateries that I believe deserve recognition for their fantastic food. There is one for every letter of the alphabet!

A: ABC Kitchen

• Location: 35 East 18th Street, NYC 
• Cuisine: Organic American 
• Favorite Dish: Akaushi Cheeseburger with Herbed Mayo 
• Price Point: $$$

Photo Courtesy of @EBBBMTL

B: Barrio Chino

• Location: 253 Broome Street, NYC 
• Cuisine: Mexican 
• Favorite Dish: Ceviche Verde paired with a Watermelon Margarita 
• Price Point: $$

Photo Courtesy of @BarrioChinoNY

C: 'Cesca

• Location: 164 West 75th Street, NYC 
• Cuisine: Italian 
• Favorite Dish: Buratta with apple sage puree and crushed pistachios 
• Price Point: $$$

Photo Courtesy of @Louie.The.Foodie

D: Delmonico's

• Location: 56 Beaver Street, NYC 
• Cuisine: Steak House 
• Favorite Dish: King Crab Macaroni and Cheese 
• Price Point: $$$

Photo Courtesy of @WineNDineApp

E: Essex

• Location: 119 Rivington Street, NYC 
• Cuisine: American 
• Favorite Dish: Avocado Toast with Poached Eggs and Bacon 
• Price Point: $$

Photo Courtesy of @KJFoodies

F: Fig and Olive

• Locations: 
• 808 Lexington Avenue, NYC
• 10 East 52nd Street, NYC
• 420 West 13th Street, NYC
• Cuisine: Mediterranean
• Favorite Dish: Six Pieces of Signature Crostini
• Price Point: $$$

Photo Courtesy of @FigAndOlive

G: Gemma

• Location: The Bowery Hotel, 335 Bowery Street, NYC 
• Cuisine: Italian 
• Favorite Dish: Risotto alle Ortiche 
• Price Point: $$

Photo Courtesy of @CarloBigi

H: Hillstone 

• Locations: 
• 153 East 53rd Street, NYC 
• 378 Park Avenue South, NYC 
• Cuisine: American 
• Favorite Dish: Spinach Artichoke Dip 
• Price Point: $$$

Photo Courtesy of @CactusChew

I: Il Mulino

• Locations:
• 37 East 60th Street, NYC
• 86 West 3rd Street, NYC
• 331 West Broadway, NYC
• Cuisine: Italian
• Favorite Dish: Truffle Ravioli
• Price Point: $$$$

Photo Courtesy of @IlMulinoNewYork

J: Jack's Wife Freda

• Locations:
• 50 Carmine Street, NYC
• 224 Lafayette Street, NYC
• Cuisine: Mediterranean
• Favorite Dish: Green Shakshuka
• Price Point: $$

Photo Courtesy of @MGinnett

K: Katz's Deli

• Location: 205 East Houston Street 
• Cuisine: American 
• Favorite Dish: 
• Price Point: $$

Photo Courtesy of @JZTheFoodie

L: Little Park

• Location: Smyth Hotel, 85 West Broadway, NYC
• Cuisine: Organic American
• Favorite Dish: Sopresini
• Price Point: $$$

Photo Courtesy of @LittleParkNYC

M: Miss Lily's

• Locations: 
• 132 West Houston Street, NYC 
• 109 Avenue A, NYC 
• Cuisine: Jamaican 
• Favorite Dish: Jerk Chicken with a Side of Mac and Cheese Pie 
• Price Point: $$

Photo Courtesy of @MissLilys

N: Nerai

• Location: 55 East 54th Street, NYC 
• Cuisine: Greek 
• Favorite Dish: Pastitsada 
• Price Point: $$$

Photo Courtesy of @CChristou

O: Ocean Prime

• Location: 123 West 52nd Street, NYC 
• Cuisine: Seafood 
• Favorite Dish: Teriyaki Salmon 
• Price Point: $$$$

Photo Courtesy of @AnnieEatsTheWorld_

P: Philippe

• Location: 33 East 60th Street, NYC 
• Cuisine: Chinese 
• Favorite Dish: Kung Pao Chicken 
• Price Point: $$$

Photo Courtesy of Philippe Chow

Q: Quality Italian

• Location: 57 West 57th Street, NYC 
• Cuisine: Steak House 
• Favorite Dish: Chicken Parm Pizza 
• Price Point: $$$

Photo Courtesy of @QualityItalian

R: Rider

• Location: 80 North 6th Street, Brooklyn 
• Cuisine: American 
• Favorite Dish: Dr.Funkenstein Pizzette
• Price Point: $$

Photo Courtesy of @RiderBKLYN

S: Sushi Seki

• Locations: 
• 208 West 23rd Street, NYC 
• 365 West 46th Street, NYC 
• 1143 1st Avenue, NYC 
• Cuisine: Japanese 
• Favorite Dish: Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice 
• Price Point: $$$$

Photo Courtesy of @AshleyParadiso

T: The Dutch

• Location: 131 Sullivan Street, NYC 
• Cuisine: American 
• Favorite Dish: Poached Eggs with the chipotle hollandaise on the side 
• Price Point: $$$

Photo Courtesy of @TheDutchNYC

U: Union Bar & Kitchen

• Location: 300 Spring Street, NYC 
• Cuisine: American 
• Favorite Dish: Chicken and Waffles with a side of tater tots 
• Price Point: $$

Photo Courtesy of @Work.Eat.Repeat.NYC

V: Vapiano NYC

• Location: 113 University Place, NYC 
• Cuisine: Italian 
• Favorite Dish: Chicken Alfredo 
• Price Point: $$

Photo Courtesy of @EvolutionOfAMan

W: Wollensky Grill

• Location: 201 East 49th Street 
• Cuisine: Steak House 
• Favorite Dish: Rib eye Steak with a side of loaded baked potato gratin 
• Price Point: $$$

Photo Courtesy of @SmithWollenskyNYC

X: Xi'an Famous Foods

• Location: There are 13 locations in NYC so turn on your maps and find the one closest to you! 
• Cuisine: Chinese 
• Favorite Dish: Spinach Dumplings 
• Price Point: $

Photo Courtesy of @DumplingGang

Y: Yves

• Location: 385 Greenwich Street, NYC 
• Cuisine: French 
• Favorite Dish: Braised Chicken Meatballs 
• Price Point: $$

Photo Courtesy of @GrubStreet

Z: Zuma

• Location: 261 Madison Avenue, NYC 
• Cuisine: Japanese 
• Favorite Dish: Tuna and Salmon Tartar 
• Price Point: $$$

Photo Courtesy of @YosefDadon

Although I only covered 26 eateries, I tried to encompass a variety of different cuisines and dishes. I truly enjoy being able to share awesome food with you all! Please mention any restaurants that I should check out in the comments section.

How to Snag a Reservation at These Trending NYC Restaurants

How annoying is it when you want to dine at a specific restaurant but you can't get a reservation because they're all booked up? Well here are some tips and tricks that I have learned to get reservations at the following restaurants.

           1.     Le Coucou

•       This upscale and elegant French restaurant is located on Lafayette Street. Le Coucou is constantly booked up and requires advanced reservations. The trick to getting a reservation is to check OpenTable every morning at 10:00 am. At 10:00 am each day, Le Coucou releases upcoming reservations for 24 days in advance. For example, if you would like to dine on August 24, you would need to book that reservation on August 1.

           2.    Carbone

•       This old school Italian restaurant takes classic dishes and refines them by adding a little bit of a twist. If you are looking to try out their infamous spicy rigatoni, you must know how to make a reservation. Carbone is part of Major Food group, a company that owns various restaurants in NYC. The key to making a reservation here is to avoid OpenTable as there is hardly ever any availability. To make a reservation, email reservations@majorfoodgroup.com. They will be able to give you reservation dates and times that are not listed on OpenTable. 

           3.    The Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare

•       This sought-after spot combines French and Japanese cuisine for its 25 course dinners served at a price point of $395 per person, plus tax. The Chef’s Table is one of the hardest restaurants to get a reservation at because of its limited seating. The first seating is at 6:30 pm and the second is at 7:45 pm. In order to get a reservation at this exclusive spot, you must call on Monday’s at 10:30 am as you cannot make reservations online. Be sure to have your phone in close proximity when the time hits so that you can call immediately as spots book up at the speed of light.

There are many NYC restaurants that require reservations months in advance. Follow my tips to score reservations at the restaurants I’ve mentioned, as well as others. If you are interested in a particular restaurant that always seems to be booked, give them a call and ask when they release upcoming reservations. With a little bit of persistence and conversation, you can get a reservation where ever you’d like. Enjoy!

Not Your Average Bar

During a recent exploration, I discovered a new kind of bar, Sola Pasta Bar, located in the heart of SoHo. Sola serves authentic Italian cuisine at a reasonable price point. Sola’s focus is its open-air kitchen. Guests can indulge in fresh homemade pastas and other classic Italian dishes while seated around the bar that borders the open-air kitchen. The open-air kitchen allows guests watch their meals come to life. For the gluten-free folks, do not fret! Sola provides a wide variety of gluten free-pastas that can be accompanied with a fresh sauce of your choosing. Like all bars, Sola does serve alcohol and offers an extensive wine list as well as a cocktail menu.

There are a few different seating options at Sola. If you make a reservation via OpenTable, you will be prompted to select either bar seating or standard seating. The bar seating allows you to sit side-by-side with your guest. The standard seating is a traditional arrangement of guests seated on opposite sides from one another, facing each other. For large parties, there is a communal table located near the front of the restaurant that can accommodate up to 12 guests.

Sola encourages sharing! If you order a dish to share, the chefs will automatically split the dish on to two plates. Why stick to one entrée when you can have two and share?! Next time you are in the SoHo area, give Sola Pasta Bar a try!