In New York City, we’re lucky enough to have tens of thousands of restaurants at our doorsteps, many of which turn out stunning dishes that range from rustic to ultra-refined. A few, though, rise to the very top when it comes to the food they serve. Presenting the very best 5 restaurants in New York City for food.
1. LE BERNARDIN
Prepare to dine on “a higher plane” at this “dazzling” Midtown “star” where Eric Ripert’s “world-class” tasting menus highlight “transcendent” French seafood, earning it No. 1 Food honors in NYC for the eighth year in a row; a “deep” wine list, “exemplary” staff and “soigné” surrounds further justify the “sky-high” tabs, so for a “dream-come-true” meal, this is “as good as it gets.
2. BOULEY
“Maestro” David Bouley delivers a “truly refined experience” at his “blissful” TriBeCa flagship, where French “culinary wonders” are served with “true professionalism” in an “opulent”, jackets-required setting; it’s a “special-occasion sure thing” at a “hefty” cost that’s “well worth the indulgence”, though the lunch tasting menu is “such a deal.”
What to order: Hot Valrhona chocolate frivolous; Porcini flan with Dungeness crab and black-truffle dashi; farm egg with polenta and Comté.
3. JEAN-GEORGES
“Time after time”, Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s CPW flagship “lives up to its billing” with “exquisite” New French cuisine that “dazzles your palate” served “with balletlike precision” in “a serene, luxurious” setting that requires a jacket; it’ll cost a “king’s ransom” to settle the tab, but those “willing to splurge” can count on an “unforgettable” meal.
4. DANIEL
A “wow every time”, Daniel Boulud’s “luxurious” UES “icon” “sweeps you into another world” with “masterly” New French fare and a “rarefied atmosphere” defined by “magnificent” decor, “VIP” service and a “dressed-up” clientele (jackets are required); granted, the prix fixe–only tabs are “Himalayan”, but “you’ll understand why” – and the bar provides the “same stellar” quality à la carte.
5. GOTHAM BAR AND GRILL
“Longevity tells it all” at this circa-1984 Village “treasure” where Alfred Portale’s “picture-perfect” New American plates plus “savvy service” and a “gothamy” setting add up to “superior dining with no corners cut”; longtime fans are “glad to pay the tariff” for an experience that “refuses to disappoint”, and the $38 greenmarket lunch “truly is a steal.”
