There are about 24,000 restaurants currently open in New York City on any given day. 24,000. That means if you ate breakfast, lunch and dinner at three different restaurants every single day, it would still take you over 20 years to visit them all (maybe don't check my math on that), and even then, you wouldn't be able to eat at them all because there are newer, cooler, better places opening every day!!!! Ok, I digress.

So there are really great New York dining guides available on pretty much every major website. This is a great one by Eater that I highly recommend. The New York Times has an awesome app called The Scoop which is perfect for those NYC moments when you are hungry in the moment—just open the Scoop and consult the map to see which NYT recommended restaurants, bars or activities are near you right then and there.

About my list:

My list is a curated list that consists of a combination of restaurants that I have personally been to and enjoyed and/or someone that I know and trust deeply* has recommended to me. If you're in NYC, these restaurants are either classic staples or stylish new spots you definitely want to hit. *When I say "know and trust deeply", I also mean someone whose style and taste buds I trust. Because that’s important here!

Organization:

I was going to include bars and clubs but I’ll make another list for those. For ease of use, I am putting these in alphabetical order followed by the type of food, location and price range. Oh and I am putting a little asterisk* next to the restaurants I’ve personally been to and recommend.

Let's Get to it!

Balthazar* | French | SoHo | $$$

This perennial favorite is always buzzing with locals and tourists. They're open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and after hours but my favorite seating is breakfast or brunch. Get the eggs Norwegian with frites.

Beauty & Essex* | Modern American | Lower East Side | $$$

From Chris Santos (of Stanton Social) this swanky restaurant and lounge is entered through a pawn shop. A pawn shop! It is definitely a place to see and be seen. Go for Brunch and watch the chaos ensue.

Beauty & Essex Brunch spread. photo via Beauty & Essex Instagram

BondSt | Japanese, Sushi | NoHo | $$$

Trendy upscale sushi bar with gorgeous food and a hip crowd. The lounge has small plates and appetizers if you want to go for pre-dinner. Pro Tip: When in NYC, always do something for "pre-dinner" appetizers if you want to make a dent on the 24,000! Oh and it's pronounced Bond Street. Like the street it's on.

I grabbed this pic from their website. How beautiful is the food?!

Chef’s Club by Food & Wine | Eclectic | NoLita | $$$

Super cool concept where top chefs from around the world can showcase a seasonal menu. Visit the website to see who is cooking up an incredible tasting menu. *Currently offering a NYC Restaurant week tasting menu: three courses for just $42!*

Eataly* | Italian | Flatiron | $$

Think: giant Italian market with fresh pasta, herbs, veggies, specialty foods, gelato, wine, espresso etc. The rooftop restaurant is fun for drinks and appetizers.

Empellón Cocina | East Village | $$$

Upscale Mexican cuisine and tapas style tacos. There is another location called Empellon Taqueria on the West Side. I'm looking at their website right now and they have something called Cochinita Pibil that "feeds 6-8 guests and includes a whole roasted pork shoulder served family style with corn tortillas, longaniza fried rice, chicharrones, black beans, pickled red onions, mixed salad and salsa habanera." So yeah, do that. Definitely do that.

Five Leaves | New American | Brooklyn- Greenpoint | $$

Brunch! Brunch! Brunch! Five Leaves is open all day, but the Five Leaves Burger with grass-fed beef, fried pineapple, house pickled beets, harissa mayo and a sunny side up egg with salad or fries (obvi fries.) is calling my basic bitch name.

Gemma | Italian | East Village | $$

Located in the stylish Bowery Hotel, perfect for people watching. Food looks delish but I'd go just for that chic interior and outdoor seating. Swoon!

Gramercy Tavern | American | Flatiron | $$$$

Hello Holy Grail! My husband's idol and favorite restauranteur is Danny Meyer, so it's no surprise I've heard a lot about this mega award winning, Michelin star, New York staple. There is a slightly less expensive front tavern or a prix fixe only dining room. If you can afford it. Go.

Ivan Ramen* | Noodles | Lower East Side | $$

Freaking amazing and inventive ramen dishes from Master chef Ivan Orkin. Go for bottomless brunch and get the Tokyo Shio Ramen. If the weather is nice, the patio is cute. Apparently it's always packed but we happened to go around 2 pm on a Sunday and it wasn't very crowded.

Jack’s Wife Freda* | Mediterranean | SoHo & West Village | $$

If there's a reason I'm not making a dent on my NYC restaurant list, it's because I go to Jack's Wife Freda every. single. time. It's the best. Prepare for a bit of a wait at brunch and to squeeze in next to a stylish stranger at one of their communal tables. Make sure your entire party is there so you can be seated asap. Get the green shakshuka with challah toast or the poached eggs with halumi--screw it. Get whatever you want, you can't go wrong.

Poached eggs and haloumi at Jack's Wife Freda

Momofuku Ssam Bar* | Asian | East Village | $$$

I only picked one of David Chang's many restaurants for my list, but Noodle Bar is also a favorite. Go with a group and get as many items from the raw bar, small dishes, summer, fish and meat menus as you possibly can.

Parm* | Italian | NoLita, Upper West Side, Battery Park | $$

Pretty straightforward Italian cuisine. Chicken, meatball and eggplant parm sandwiches for the win.

Rai Rai Ken* | Ramen | East Village | $

Tokyo-style ramen noodle bar with only fourteen stools and cash-only payment. Get the shio ramen and pork stuffed gyoza.

Roberta’s Pizza* | Italian | Brooklyn- Bushwick | $$

Hailed as Brooklyn's best pizza (and if Brooklyn has the world's best pizza, then maybe it's the world's best pizza??) This super hipster restaurant is definitely high on my list. Get the Family Jewels and the Cheesus Christ. Yes those are the actual pizza names.

Sadelle’s | Jewish | SoHo | $$

Stylish exposed brick walls, bagels and smoked salmon. What more could you need? From the NYT: "Rising in the center is a glassed-in bagel bakery that looks like a subway elevator, where Melissa Weller, formerly a baker at Per Se and Roberta’s, will indulge her pursuit of the ideal bagel." I'm in.

Santina | Italian | Meatpacking District | $$$

Hip coastal Italian under the High Line. Think summer in Capri. Lots of seafood and fresh veggie dishes in a "sexy" venue with a "lively" crowd.

Interior of Santina. Photo via the New York Times

Sarabeth’s* | Brunch | Central Park South | $$

Just realizing I have a disproportionate amount of brunch locations on the list. Oh well. Located right next to The Plaza, be prepared for lots of tourists and an international crowd. Go with the girls and get the Avocado and Burrata toast to be extra basic.

Seamore’s | Seafood | Little Italy | $$

Sleek and modern environment from the owners of the Meatball Shop (the interior was actually the inspiration of our restaurant, Meribo). Go for lunch and get your seafood fix with fish tacos and poke.

How gorgeous is this interior, and those windows? Photo from Seamore's

Shake Shack* | American | Everywhere | $

Another home run from Danny Meyer, you've probably heard of Shake Shack's simple but f*cking delicious burgers by now? It started with a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park and now their locations are everywhere. Stand in line (it's part of the experience!) and get a Shackburger and one of their frozen custard shakes, then start a debate about In-N-Out vs Shake Shack.

Smorgasburg | Brooklyn- Williamsburg | $-$$

Seasonal open air markets Saturdays in Williamsburg, Sundays in Prospect Park, and daily at the Seaport. NYT called it "the Woodstock of eating" if that gives you some perspective. 50 vendors with all kinds of food, eat standing up and browsing the selection.

Tertulia | Spanish | West Village | $$

Chef Seamus Mullen "offers a menu that honors Spain through his distinct approach. From a variety of tostas to sartenes (small, grilled sharing dishes), to tapas and larger platos familiares, it’s the ingredients which are the real stars." Go and get the chef's daily menu for $55-$65 per person.

The Meatball Shop* | Italian | Multiple Locations | $$

Pick and choose your own ball and sauce options in this fun environment on the Lower East Side, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, West Village, Chelsea or Williamsburg.

The Modern* | Contemporary American | Midtown | $$$$

This Michelin-starred restaurant is located inside the Museum of Modern Art and looks over the sculpture garden. Another restaurant founded by Danny Meyer, the fine dining service is both impeccable and approachable. Go to the less-formal bar room for a posh lunch and cocktails before heading to the museum or go all out for a three, four or eight course tasting menu for dinner.

Umami Burger | Burgers | Greenwich Village | $$

This West Coast gourmet burger joint moved to New York and became an instant hit with new locations now in Williamsburg and Brookfield Place. Get the truffle burger or the Umami burger with Parmesan frico, shiitake mushroom, roasted tomato, caramelized onions and Umami ketchup and some Maple Bacon Fries. yum.

Union Square Café* | American | Union Square | $$$

Winner of five James Beard awards, Union Square is Danny Meyer's first restaurant, which is why it makes the list. We ate at the 16th street location the last week before they moved, and they are reopening on 19th street soon.

Upland | American | Murray Hill | $$

Hip and beautiful crowds in an airy, West Coast inspired space. Lots of Italian inspired dishes and an awesome wine list.

I know there are literally hundreds more that should be on the list! Where are your favorite spots to dine in New York City?

The Stylish Guide to Dining in NYC

About my list:

Organization:

Let's Get to it!

Our Pilgrimage to Osteria Fancescana

Beer + Brunch: A Match Made in Heaven