NYC List
One reporter's opinion about places in New York City
Overview
Total places
340
Elite
21
Recommended
121
Decent
154
Elite Recommended Decent Meh
Places
332 of 340 places
| Tier | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2A | 25 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009 | decent | East Village old school bar. They play porn on the TV for some reason. |
| 2nd Ave. Deli | 162 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016 | recommended | Old school Jewish deli with the classic sandwiches and sides |
| 5ive Spice | 363 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016 | recommended | You wouldn't know it from the name or the exterior, but this place has great vietnamese food, including pho, |
| Algonquin | 59 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036 | decent | Decent bar. Good service. Great history. |
| All-Antico Vinaio (Broadway) | 1450 Broadway, New York, NY 10018 | decent | Famous big Italian sandwich spot. Way too salty. |
| Angelika Film Center & Cafe | 18 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012 | decent | Art house theater in The Village. Great location. Reliably have the latest art house movies. Crappy theater. |
| Angelina Paris Bryant Park | 1050 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018 | decent | Fancy French pastry shop next to Bryant Park. Has all the baked goodies. There's hard-to-spot sitdown restaurant in the back that can be a good escape from the hustle and bustle. Good alternative to LPQ and Ole and Steen and all the zoo-like spots nearby. |
| Arturo's Coal Oven Pizza | 106 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012 | recommended | Down to earth pizza place on Houston. Great location. Decent pizza. Low drama. |
| Babbo | 110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011 | decent | Fancy Batali Italian spot by the Washington Square. Good but expensive. Stick to the pasta. |
| Bagel and Schmear | 116 E 28th St, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Has everything on its menu, including bagels. They work quick. People like it, so there are lines. |
| Bagel Boss Murray Hill | 544 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Standard bagel place with standard bagel stuff. Fast food, Dunkin kind of setup. |
| Bagel Express 3 | 340 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10010 | decent | Standard bagel breakfast counter. Nice location on the Baruch College patio. You won’t regret it. |
| Bagel Market | 875 10th Ave, New York, NY 10019 | decent | Tons of bagel sandwiches. More fast casual |
| Balzen | 202 Mott St, New York, NY 10012 | decent | Turkish stuff. Not bad |
| Banc Cafe | 431 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016 | meh | It's a bar with small plates. You can skip it. |
| Bao Bao Cafe (39th Street) | 214 W 39th St Retail 101, New York, NY 10018 | decent | Simple good bowls and buns and such |
| Bar Bastion | 610 Lexington Ave 2nd floor, New York, NY 10022 | recommended | Classy, small cocktail bar up off the street. Good martinis. But you should probably go to The Grill instead. |
| Bar Centrale | 324 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036 | recommended | The fancy cocktail bar you want. In a converted townhouse. Nice thing in a touristy zone. |
| Bar Jamon | 125 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003 | recommended | Tapas off Irving Place. Small. Counters not tables. Gourmet small plates. The kind of place people think of when they think of fancy, romantic New York stuff. |
| Bar Moga | 128 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012 | recommended | Japanesey cocktail bar on the Houston party strip. Not cheap but they only have good stuff. |
| Bar Veloce (East Village) | 175 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003 | decent | A good enough edition of a good enough wine bar chain. Decent enough place to stop before or after a movie at the Village East. |
| Bar/code | 43 W 32nd St, New York, NY 10001 | meh | Just a bar |
| Barclay Rex Pipe Shop | 126 Pearl St, New York, NY 10005 | recommended | Serious cigar shop, not too pricy, nice place to hang on the sidewalk |
| Barn Joo (Nomad) | 816 6th Ave, New York, NY 10001 | decent | Dressed up Korean. Good bowls |
| Barney Brown | 822 6th Ave, New York, NY 10001 | decent | Standard quick mix sandwich and salad place for office lunchers |
| Beekman Ale House | 92 Beekman Ave, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591 | recommended | If there's a better normie pub in Tarrytown, I'd like to see it. |
| Beer Culture | 328 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036 | recommended | Good microbrew selection near Times Square |
| Bellevue South Park | Mt. Carmel Pl. & E 27th St, New York, NY 10016 | recommended | Peaceful pocket park near Bellevue, good for smoking a cigar under a canopy of trees. |
| Best Bagel and Coffee | 225 W 35th St A, New York, NY 10001 | recommended | Old-style breakfast spot near Penn Station that makes its bagels on site. Crispy shells. Fresh. Ungentrified presentation. Worth it. |
| Bhatti | 100 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016 | recommended | Fancy kabobs. Smokey, spicey vegetable dishes. Good for sitdown or takeout. |
| Birdland | 315 W 44th St #5402, New York, NY 10036 | recommended | Jazz dinner theater with jazz dinner theater type stuff. Can book great performers. |
| Bites of Xian 32 | 884 6th Ave, New York, NY 10001 | recommended | Cheaper, easier to access version of Xian Famous Foods. |
| Bites of Xian 38 | 555 8th Ave, New York, NY 10018 | recommended | Cheaper, easier to access version of Xian Famous Foods. |
| Bites of Xian 56 | 60 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019 | decent | A little dirty and small compared to the other locations |
| Bites of Xian 84 | 84 East 10th Street, New York, NY 10003 | decent | Downstairs edition of the Chinese noodles chain on 10th Street. A little messy and not as tight and tasty as the other branches. |
| Black Seed Bagels (Battery Park) | 225 Liberty St, New York, NY 10080 | decent | Good local bagels chain. Food courtin' here |
| Black Seed Bagels (Flatiron) | 1188 Broadway, New York, NY 10001 | meh | Service here isn't as good as the other chain locations. Get ready to wait. |
| Black Seed Bagels (Nolita) | 170 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012 | decent | Good bagels. Doesn't have the full menu of stuff you find other places. |
| Blue Note | 131 W 3rd St, New York, NY 10012 | recommended | Headliners |
| Bocado | 1293 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10128 | meh | Forgettable UES wine bar. Forget it. |
| Boqueria (Flatiron) | 53 W 19th St, New York, NY 10011 | decent | Good pintxos |
| Boqueria (Hells Kitchen) | 260 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018 | decent | Standard tapas thing. Loud. |
| Borgo | 124 E 27th St, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Another fancy restaurant. But this one is drawing people in my neighborhood so I'm all for it. The focaccia with mortadella is a great appetizer. |
| Botanica | 47 E Houston St, New York, NY 10012 | decent | A total dump, but it's good for cheap beer during happy hour |
| Boucherie West Village | 99 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014 | meh | Terrible service. Overpriced |
| Bravo Pizza (Bryant Park) | 6 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017 | decent | Simple good slice |
| Bravo Pizza (Hell's Kitchen) | 877 8th Ave, New York, NY 10019 | meh | Forgettable pizza chain output |
| Breads Bakery Kiosk | 1080 - 1090 6th Ave, New York, NY 10036 | decent | Good spot to hit at Bryant Park for baked goods and sandwiches. Love the vegan sandwich. |
| Bronze Owl | 52 W 33rd St, New York, NY 10001 | decent | Dark, brassy cocktail bar off Herald Square. |
| Buenos Aires | 513 E 6th St, New York, NY 10009 | decent | Unpretentious but a bit corny. You get a big steak! |
| Buona Notte | 120 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013 | decent | Standard touristy Little Italy place |
| Buvette Gastrotheque | 42 Grove St, New York, NY 10014 | recommended | Crowded Villagey, Frenchy place where the food is actually good. |
| BXL Cafe | 125 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036 | decent | Belgian beers near Times Square. Not horrible, not cheap. |
| C as in Charlie | 5 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012 | recommended | Korean cooked southern |
| Cafe China | 59 W 37th St, New York, NY 10018 | decent | Gentrified take on a Chinese lunch spot. Decent but you can do better in the neighborhood. |
| Cafe Gitane | 242 Mott St, New York, NY 10012 | decent | Place to sit outside and eat in Soho. Good enough |
| Cafe Habana | 17 Prince St, New York, NY 10012 | recommended | Cuban cafe |
| Cafe Mogador | 101 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009 | decent | Brunchy middleeastern in the East Village |
| Caledonia | 424 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024 | decent | Real Scotch selection. Nice and quiet |
| Campbell Apartment | 15 Vanderbilt Ave, New York, NY 10017 | recommended | Oldest school. Small |
| Carnegie Club | 156 W 56th St, New York City, NY 10019-3800 | elite | Cigars and scotch. Essential |
| Carnegie Pizza | 200 W 41st St, New York City, NY 10036 | meh | eh |
| Casa de Montecristo Cigar Lounge | 1016 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10022 | recommended | A welcome pitstop when walking in Turtle Bay. A good spot to hang when it's empty on a quiet Saturday afternoon. Not so great when it's packed and full of odd characters. |
| CAVA — Bryant Park | 11 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036 | meh | Way too small and overcrowded; felt like a fire hazard. Food is fine, but go to the Sweetgreen next door or NAYA instead to avoid the hassle. |
| Chambers | 94 Chambers St #1, New York, NY 10007 | recommended | Good neighborhood but fancy place. Great booze |
| Charlie Bird | 5 King St, New York, NY 10012 | decent | Standard trendy fancy restaurant. Right around the corner from Film Forum. Good for a pre-movie meal. |
| Chelsea Bagel (Midtown) | 62 E 34th St, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Decent deli counter for bagels |
| Chelsea Square Restaurant | 368 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011 | decent | One of the old school NYC diners. Decent but not great. |
| Chi | 492 9th Ave, New York, NY 10018 | decent | Standard Americanized Chinese sitdown place. All the generic dishes. Decent place to take a large group and get a bunch of stuff. |
| Chick Inn | 415 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Lots and lots of chicken. Pretty good. |
| Cho Dang Gol | 55 W 35th St, New York, NY 10001 | recommended | Excellent Korean diner spot with all the classic dishes. Wait can be long for a table. |
| Chopt | Wherever | meh | Skip it |
| Chote Nawab | 115 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016 | recommended | Nice Indian sitdown |
| Churchill Tavern | 45 E 28th St, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Generic British pub. Full of bank dudes |
| Citizens of Gramercy | 362 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10010 | decent | Decent brunchy place of the Austrailian brekkie style. Not too expensive. Casual. |
| Codex | 1 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012 | recommended | A little precious in selection but a well stocked, nice bookstore where you will find something you want to read. |
| Comodo | 23 Lexington Ave, Freehand Hotel, New York City, NY 10010-3727 | decent | Freehand hotel bar. Lots ferns and fancy light fixtures. Good booze and a nice place but not exciting. |
| Cosenza’s Fish Market | 2354 Arthur Ave, Bronx, NY 10458 | recommended | Order and eat fresh-shucked clams and oysters right on the street. Who could skip it? |
| Cowgirl SeaHorse | 259 Front St, New York, NY 10038 | decent | Neighborhood bar in Seaport. Lively trivia night. |
| Croton Reservoir Tavern | 108 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018 | meh | Generic Midtown bar food for lunch. Not terrible but you don't need to be there. |
| Curry in a Hurry | 119 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Easy cafeteria style lunch. Not great but it's there. And a cool upstair dining room. |
| Dag Hammarskjold Plaza | 833 1st Ave, New York, NY 10017 | recommended | Long quiet promenade between 2nd and 1st Avenues with ample trees and benches. Great spot to stop on a cigar walk. |
| Daily Provisions (Union Square) | 103 E 19th St, New York, NY 10003 | recommended | Great breakfast sandwich. Fancy baked things |
| Daily Provisions (Upper West Side) | 375 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024 | recommended | Got that crowded UWS cafe vibe. Same good food in that location. |
| Dear Irving | 55 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003 | recommended | Gussied up cocktail bar with seating nooks for couples and a brassy bar. Good late night stop in Gramercy. |
| Delmonico’s | 56 Beaver Street, New York, NY 10004 | elite | The original New York thing. The steak has still got it. |
| Desi Galli | 101 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016 | recommended | Tremendous rolls and Indian lunch bits |
| Din Tai Fung | 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10022 | recommended | The lux Taiwanese dumpling house streamlined and scaled up into a cavernous Midtown manufacturing center |
| Diner 24 | 283 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10010 | decent | 24/7 kitschy diner. Large portions. Clean. What people expect. |
| Dizzy's Club | 10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10019 | recommended | Pork cracklins over the mains, which aren't great |
| Dominique Ansel Workshop | 17 E 27th St, New York, NY 10016 | elite | A lower-profile outpost of the famous Cronut creator's bakery near Madison Square. Great place to pick something up to eat in the park. |
| Don't Tell Mama | 343 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036 | meh | Piano bar on restaurant row |
| Double Down Saloon | 14 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009 | decent | Gnarly East Village dive. The kind you're looking for. |
| Drink 33 | 154 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Basement cave that is a combination cocktail bar and tattoo parlor. Colorful staff. |
| East Village Books | 99 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009 | decent | Grungy basement used book store that delivers what you want: Good books at a good price |
| Eataly (Flatiron) | 200 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010 | decent | Too crowded. Not that great. |
| Eggstravaganza | Park Ave & E 52nd St, New York, NY 10022 | decent | Good egg wraps. |
| Eli's at Grand Central Market | 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017 | decent | Convenient outpost of the Eli Zabar archipelago in Grand Central Market, and a great place to pick up a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. |
| Epistrophy | 200 Mott St, New York, NY 10012 | decent | Affordable compared to the rest of the neighborhood |
| Ess-a-Bagel (Hearld Square) | 108 W 32nd St New York, NY 10001 | recommended | Standard bagel place very well done. NYers love it. This location is way too crowded. Order ahead on door dash. |
| Ess-a-Bagel (Stuytown) | 324 1st Ave., New York, NY 10009 | decent | Crammed into a crappy space. Go to Tal's Bagels nearby instead. |
| Evil Twin Brewing | 1616 George St, Queens, NY 11385 | recommended | Pinic table style brewery hangout spot. Good brews, but mainly high ABV odd brews like barleywine. Dogs on leashes. Yuppies with their kids. |
| Film Forum | 209 W Houston St, New York, NY 10014 | elite | The classic dumpy indie movie theater. Great selection. Not too pricey. The good stuff. |
| Fish Cheeks | 55 Bond St, New York, NY 10012 | recommended | Sit outside on Bond Street, which alone is worth it |
| Fish Market | 111 South St, New York, NY 10038 | recommended | Legitimate dive bar with shockingly good food hidden in the Seaport. |
| Frances Tavern | 54 Pearl St, New York, NY 10004 | decent | Old school pub near Wall Street. Very put together. |
| Friedman's (Herald Square) | 132 W 31st St, New York, NY 10001 | decent | Gentrified Jewish deli food. You do get a real table and real waiter. Decent for a lunch for two. |
| Friend of a Farmer | 77 Irving Pl, New York, NY 10003 | recommended | Gramercy restaurant with good drinks and the stereotypical farm to table food. Easy table to get and good. |
| Fumo (Kip's Bay) | 415 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Italian spot that reliable and a decent delivery option |
| Future Village Farm Smoke | 425 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Otherwise generic bodega that boasts a high-quality humidor of cigars. The best place to buy a cigar in my neighborhood. |
| Galanga | 149 West 4th Street # 2, New York, NY 10012 | decent | Generic Village Thai |
| gertrude's | 605 Carlton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238 | decent | Standard Brooklyn brunch. |
| Good Morning Breakfast Food Truck | Broadway, just south of Herald Square, New York, NY | decent | A somewhat more gourmet take on the bodega short-order grill. Decent. |
| Gran Via | 57 Stone St, New York, NY 10004 | decent | Unexciting Spanish bar. But nice enough and maybe the best place on Stone Street |
| Grand Central Oyster Bar | 89 E. 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017 | recommended | Large underground oyster bar beneath Grand Central Terminal. Cool location, but the scene and service is chaotic. |
| Grey | 43 W 26th St, New York, NY 10010 | meh | Basic bar |
| H&H Bagels (Kips Bay) | 200 E 30th St, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Famous local bagel chain. Clean, nice new outlet. Great schmear. Reliable. Good. |
| Hainan Jones | 135 W 50th St New York, NY 10020 | recommended | Singapore style poached and roasted chicken at a stall inside a big food court. Not bad for a healthy, gourmet lunch. Market is pretty whatever. |
| Hamachi Sushi 34 | 56 E 34th St, New York, NY 10016 | meh | Edible Japanese dinner. Sushi ain't good. Get a bento or rice bowl. |
| Hamburger America | 155 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012 | meh | The burgers are decent but the long line and crowded dining room suck. Not worth the hassles. |
| Harry's | 1 Hanover Square, New York, NY 10004 | decent | Fancy downtown steakhouse. Good. You won't regret it. But pricey and there are other options in this same vein. |
| Hawksmoor | 109 E 22nd St, New York, NY 10010 | decent | Upscale British steakhouse. Everything's good, but it's pricey. |
| Hearth | 403 E 12th St, New York, NY 10009 | decent | Great service. Good sitdown place in East Village |
| Hells Kitchenette | 48 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011 | recommended | Down‑to‑earth bodega with excellent simple deli options. |
| Heritage Grand Bakery | 8 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018 | decent | Frenchy coffee shop with the standard pastries. Good food. Crammed inside. |
| Hill Country Barbeque | 30 W 26th St, New York, NY 10010 | recommended | Quality BBQ next to Madison Square. Not mindblowing, and certainly not cheap, but it's the real thing. |
| Hole in the Wall (Flatiron) | 37 W 24th St, New York, NY 10010 | decent | Meat better than fish |
| Hudson Bar and Books | 636 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014 | decent | Decent but incredible cigar book. Good smokes and drinks but the decor and setup is cliche. |
| Hungarian Pastry Shop | 1030 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025 | recommended | Hamentaschen, son |
| Hutch and Waldo (Gramercy) | 77 Irving Pl Cafe, New York, NY 10003 | decent | Bougie coffee shop with the studied California vibe that New Yorker prefer to call Austrailian. Great location south of Gramercy Park. Good when walking. |
| Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria | 53 Great Jones St, New York, NY 10012 | recommended | The New York pasta dinner people expect in the Nolita zone. |
| Il Mulino Prime | 331 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013 | decent | A fancy Soho steakhouse that will deliver the meats. Good but not great. Has the upscale WeHo vibes. |
| Istanbul Bay Express | 578 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036 | decent | Standard doner lunch option near Times Square |
| Ivory Peacock | 38 W 26th St, New York, NY 10010 | meh | Loud club music. Great cheese. Huge gin selection in the back. Speakeasy downstairs. |
| Jack Diamonds | 140 E 27th St, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Generic neighborhood bar |
| Jack's Wife Freda (SoHo) | 226 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012 | decent | Good place for young people but not me |
| Jazz Gallery | 1158 Broadway 5th floor, New York, NY 10001 | recommended | Small jazz venue above NoMad. Great place to see up and coming acts. No food. |
| Jimmy's Corner | 140 W 44th St, New York City, NY 10036-4046 | elite | True dive. $3 beers in 2023. Old school Times Square |
| Joe Allen | 326 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036 | recommended | Theater District tavern on Restaurant Row with simple good food in a ratskeller below street level. |
| Joe's Pizza | 150 E 14th St, New York, NY 10003 | recommended | My neighborhood outpost of the famous pizza purveyor. Decent and reliably recommended for a slice nearby. |
| Joe's Pizza (Carmine Street) | 7 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014 | elite | The most famous location of one of New York's signature pizza chains. A great place to stop on any walk through the Village. |
| Joe’s Pizza (Times Square) | 1435 Broadway, New York, NY 10018 | decent | Just as good as the other Joe’s Pizza locations, but the Times Square placement means the lines are too long and the prices are a little too high. |
| Johny's Lunchette | 124 W 25th St, New York, NY 10001 | recommended | Classic greasy spoon breakfast. Good stop before a Yankee's day game |
| Josie's | 520 E 6th St, New York, NY 10009 | recommended | Simple East Village dive. Pool. Jukebox. Drinks. |
| Juliana’s | 19 Old Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 | recommended | Coal fired pizza place in a great location next to Brooklyn Bridge Park. Good spot for dinner before a sunset walk to the water. |
| Julius' | 159 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014 | elite | Cheers for gay guys. Real history. |
| Jumbo Bagels | 1070 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10022 | decent | Standard, unpretentious bagel place. All the basics |
| Junior's [Flatbush] | 386 Flatbush Ave Ext, Brooklyn, NY 11201 | elite | One of the classic NYC diners. Well worn. Easy. Good enough. |
| Jury Duty | 31 St Andrews Plaza, New York, NY 10013 | decent | Outdoor bar in the shade between the two famous courthouses. Not cheap, but what better place to celebrate getting sprung from voir dire. |
| Just Salad | 1412 Broadway, New York, NY 10018 | meh | Generic lunch salad place |
| Kashmir9 | 478 9th Ave, New York, NY 10018 | meh | Indian lunch spot with cafeteria service |
| Katz's Delicatessen | 205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002 | recommended | You know what you're gonna get |
| Keen's Steakhouse | 72 West 36th Street, New York City, NY 10018-8025 | recommended | The classic kitschy old school New York steakhouse. Massive steaks. Old school decor. Not a regular stop but for people who are into this kind of thing it's a Mecca. |
| Kin Ramen | 129 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019 | recommended | Good Ramen house near the park. Will require that you get there early to be in line ahead of the lunch rush. |
| King Cole Bar | Two E 55th St, New York, NY 10022 | recommended | Old hotel bar with a massive, historic mural. Nice cozy space. Expensive. Drinks are okay but not great. |
| Kings Theater | 1027 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226 | recommended | Beautiful old theater that now serves as a music venue. Big. Has both sitting and standing options. |
| Kips Bay AMC | 570 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Dumpy theater. AC works. Bathrooms are dirty. Has IMAX. |
| Kung Fu Kitchen | 610 8th Ave, New York, NY 10018 | decent | Not bad. Lots of Chinese options, better than the generic Americanized version. I like the hot pots |
| La Bonbonniere | 28 Eighth Ave, New York, NY 10014, United States | meh | Not great. Greasy spoon diner. |
| La Grande Boucherie | 145 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019 | decent | Overrprice big French place in the middle of Midtown madness |
| Lamb's Club | 132 W 44th St New York, NY 10036 | decent | Has some old school charm but expensive and they rush you |
| Lan Larb Soho | 227 Centre St, New York, NY 10013 | decent | Good Thai delivery option. Big menu. Everything is good. Actually spicy. |
| LaVista Pizza | 1099 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10022 | decent | Standard NYC pizza spot. Good enough. Has that firmer generic crust you see all over. |
| LB33 | 154 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Fancy cocktails below street level. You know it's open when the green light is on. Live music on weeknights. Pretty by the book, but it's good. |
| Le Bilboquet | 20 E 60th St New York, NY 10022 | recommended | Fancy, old school French place. Cheese and steak were good. This is the white table cloth place you expect it to be. |
| Le Dive | 37 Canal St, New York, NY 10002 | decent | Open air bar at the corner of Ludlow and Canal. Has a rundown Mediterranian style. New Yorky views of the gritty city corner. |
| Leather Spa at Grand Central Terminal | 89 East 42nd Street, Lower Level Dining Concourse, New York, NY 10017 | recommended | Real shoeshine stand in Grand Central where you sit up high and watch people milling in the food court beneath the busy terminal. |
| Lenz's | 514 E 20th St, New York, NY 10009 | decent | Standard NYC bodega. |
| Leo's Bagels | 3 Hanover Square, New York, NY 10004 | recommended | Great bagel place |
| Leyla | 108 W 74th St New York, NY 10023 | recommended | Fancy Turkish stuff. Could pair with Lincoln Center visit |
| Liberty Bagels (Midtown) | 260 W 35th St, New York City, NY 10001-2503 | recommended | Classic bagel options |
| Little Alley | 550 3rd Ave, New York City, NY 10016-3538 | decent | Chinese takeout from Murray Hill. Veggies better than the dumplings. Acceptable but not great. |
| Little Beet (Times Square) | 111 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018 | decent | Lunch salad counter that specializes in the trendy diets like Keto |
| Little Biggs (Bryant Park) | 2 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036 | recommended | New kiosk-sized sandwich shop next to Breads Bakery by Bryant Park, with more gourmet and expensive breakfast and lunch sandwiches than the average bodega. The Italian roll with soppressata and mortadella is quite good. |
| Little Branch | 20 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014 | recommended | The underground West Village cocktail bar you're looking for. Nice intimate table seating for two or four. Standard cocktails that are good. Nothing ridiculous. |
| Little italy Pizza (45th Street) | 55 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036 | decent | Decent slice in Midtown. Go to Xian Famous Foods across the street instead, though. |
| Little Italy Pizza (48th Street) | 62 W 48th St, New York, NY 10036 | decent | Decent slice near 30 Rock |
| Little Italy Pizza (Times Square) | 671 8th Ave, New York, NY 10036 | meh | Bad edition of a decent chain |
| Lobby Bar at the Hotel Chelsea | 222 W. 23rd Street, New York, NY | elite | Cool bar |
| Los Tacos No. 1 | 229 W 43rd St, New York, NY | decent | Good taco spot, believe it or not, on Times Square |
| Lovely's Old Fashioned | 642 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036 | recommended | Fancy version of old school burgers. Good |
| Lucia of Gramercy | 73 E 19th St, New York, NY 10003 | decent | Fancy slice with oils, honey, basil and extras; a little floppy. |
| Lucky Lyndon's | 156 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016 | recommended | Simple beer-and-shot bar. Small. Punk music. A little cliche but cheap and does the job. |
| Lunetta | 245 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10010 | decent | Standard slice shop. No frills. Good stop before night class at SVA on E. 21st Street for a garlicky grandma. |
| Macao Trading Company | 311 Church St, New York, NY 10013 | decent | Good bar and sitdown place but not above and beyond the typical very nice spot |
| MacDougal Street Alehouse | 122 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012 | meh | Dumpy dive below the street, across from the Comedy Cellar. Passable when not crowded. Has a pool bar and Touchtunes. You can do better, though. |
| Mace | 35 W 8th St, New York, NY 10011 | recommended | Fancy ass cocktail bar. Expensive |
| Made in New York Pizza (Midtown) | 512 7th Ave, New York, NY 10018 | decent | Standard slice |
| Manhatta | 28 Liberty St 60th floor, New York, NY 10005 | recommended | Incredible views from 60th story both north and south. Good place to get a drink. |
| Marea | 40 Central Park S. | recommended | Fancy spot in a fancy location. The desserts are insane concotions. |
| Margon | 136 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036 | recommended | Small, hole in the wall Cuban lunch counter. Get the Cubano sandwich |
| Martinez Cigars | 171 W 29th St New York, NY 10001 | elite | Handmade cigars! Not the best quality, but good enough and indie as hell. |
| Martiny's | 121 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003 | recommended | The pretentious cocktail bar you're looking for. |
| McSorley's Old Ale House | 15 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003 | recommended | The oldest of the old school. A fun curiousity but not a place you will want to hang all night. |
| Mercado Little Spain | 10 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001 | elite | Like Eataly but you want to be there. Incredible booze. |
| Merchants Cigar Bar | 1125 1st Ave., New York, NY 10065 | recommended | Underground cigar bar near the 59th Street Bridge on the eastside. Quiet. Not too pricey. Where Al Sharpton smokes. |
| Metrograph | 7 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002 | recommended | Nice new independent theater near Canal and Seward Park. Often hosts filmmakers. |
| Michael's New York | 24 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019 | decent | Old school power lunch place. You will see somebody powerful, but not famous, from the media elite. |
| Mike's Coffee and Deli | 44 E 32nd St, New York, NY 10016 | recommended | Short order cooks and coffee out of a tiny storefront just off Park Avenue. Open very early. Better than any vendor stall. |
| Mike’s Deli | Arthur Avenue Retail Market, 2344 Arthur Ave, Bronx, NY 10458 | recommended | Old-school Italian deli counter in the heart of the Bronx’s Little Italy. Head to the back right of the Arthur Avenue Retail Market; plenty of seating. |
| Miznon (The Hugh) | 601 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022 | recommended | Good, but not as good at the Times Square location, which has a better staff and buzzy atmosphere. This is more of a food court setup. |
| Miznon (Times Square) | 1410 Broadway, New York, NY 10018 | recommended | Fast casual lunch spot that's actually good. Israeli food. Kosher. Warm, sticky. Love the stew. |
| Mona's | 224 Avenue B Unit 14, New York, NY 10009 | decent | The type of East Village divebar you want |
| Moonlight Diner | 250 E 58th St, New York, NY 10022 | meh | Meh diner by the tram to Roosevelt Island |
| Moono | 29 E. 32nd St., New York, NY 10016 | recommended | Beautiful dining room in a Romanesque historic landmark club. Extremely flavorful Korean dishes that are sometimes traditional and sometimes heretical. |
| Morning Side Cafe | W 112th St and Manhattan Ave New York, NY 10026 | recommended | Humble terraced patio cafe with shockingly good food. Crabs in a tin. Great hot dog. Lovely view of the park. Great for a weekend lunch. |
| Murray Hill Diner | 222 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016 | decent | The standard NYC diner. Fast, good, everything you expect. |
| Nathan's Famous | 1310 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224 | elite | The real deal out on the boardwalk |
| Naya (Midtown) | 1400 Broadway, New York, NY 10018 | decent | Standard quick mix mediterranian counter place with salads and such |
| New York Pizza Suprema | 413 8th Ave, New York, NY 10001 | elite | Great fancy slice. Classic grandma. Love the meatball. |
| Ninth Street Expresso | 333 Douglass St, Brooklyn, NY 11217 | decent | Decent coffee shop inside the Threes Brewery building |
| Norma | 438 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Pizza and pasta place on Kips Bay strip. Good but not great. The standard decent NYC sidewalk restaurant and vibe. |
| NYC Pizza Kitchen | 390 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016 | meh | Generic pizza place. You can skip it. I go there because it's on my block. |
| OBEO | 647 9th Ave, New York City, NY 10036-3661 | meh | Noodles. Fine. |
| Old Town Bar | 45 E 18th St, New York, NY 10003 | elite | Old school pub just off Union Square. Food is better than it should be. One of the old NYC bars you want to hit. |
| Omar’s Mediterranean | 154 East 55th Street, New York, NY 10022 | decent | Small NYC chain serving fresh falafel, shawarma, and similar Mediterranean food from the grill. The Upper East Side location has seating in back; stick with the pita sandwich. |
| Osamil | 5 W 31st St #8, New York, NY 10001 | recommended | Flavorful Korean gastropub stuff |
| Oscar Wilde | 45 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001 | decent | Loud and overblown, kinda fun |
| Osteria Al Doge | 142 W 44th St New York, NY 10036 | meh | Pasta in Times Square. Not terrible but you can skip it. |
| Osteria Carlina | 455 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014 | decent | Standard Italian place. Pasta is good. Service is not. |
| Overstory | 70 Pine St 64th Floor, New York, NY 10005 | recommended | Small cocktail bar on the 64th story with sweeping views of the harbor and city. Not cheap. |
| Padi D'NYC | 135 W 50th St, New York, NY 10020 | recommended | Inside of the Urban Hawker food hall. Malaysian noodles and soups and rendang and all that good stuff. Spicy. Good. |
| Papaya King | 206 E 86th St, New York, NY 10028 | decent | Classic papaya-stand hot dog with a snappy dog. |
| Parisien Bistrot | 163 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Classic French dinner. Not fancy but good. Tiny. A fun neighborhood place. |
| Park Avenue Tavery | 99 Park Ave, New York, NY 10016 | meh | Skip this generic midtown bar. |
| Patzeria Perfect Pizza | 231 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036 | decent | Grandma slice is good. Lasanga slice is their special |
| Peacock Alley | 301 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022 | recommended | The fancy bar and restaurant in the lobby of the renovated Waldorf Astoria. A good way to gawk at the old building's new shine. |
| Peculiar Pub | 145 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012 | decent | Dive |
| Peppercorn Station | 66 W 39th St, New York, NY 10018 | recommended | Real ma la numbing spices on the mapo. Beans app is good. |
| Perros y Vainas en la Plaza | Inside Greeley Square Park, 97 W 32nd St, New York, NY 10001 | meh | Arepa spot that isn't as good as it should be. You can skip it. Get some Korean food instead. |
| PHD Terrace at Dream Midtown | 210 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019 | meh | Dorky sceney rooftop bar that's overprice and kind of dirty |
| Pio Bagel | 58 W 36th St, New York, NY 10018 | decent | Totally decent outpost of a city-wide bagel chain next to Keens Steakhouse. |
| Pizza Foto | 31 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036 | meh | Forgettable pizza place in Midtown |
| Playwright Irish Pub | 27 W 35th St, New York, NY 10018 | meh | Yet another generic midtown Irish bar |
| Please Don’t Tell | 113 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009 | decent | Decent, tightly packed basement cocktail bar with extreme mixology concoctions the staff said are “based on memories.” The big gimmick is entering through a hidden door inside a phone booth at Crif Dogs, not from the street. |
| Pongol | 110 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Southern style Indian food, including Thali plates, good place to hang and eat a lot |
| Pop's Pizza | 301 W 57th St Ground floor, New York, NY 10019 | recommended | Good place for a slice near Columbus Circle and the NYRR Run Center |
| Porchlight | 271 11th Ave, New York, NY 10001 | decent | Bougie generic bar in West Chelesa money zone. Decent drinks and lots of seating. Pretty bland though. |
| Prince Street Pizza | 27 Prince St A, New York, NY 10012 | elite | Believe the hype, but skip the line |
| Printer's Alley | 215 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018 | meh | Print shop themed sports bar near Times Square. You can do better. |
| Puffy's Tavern | 81 Hudson St, New York, NY 10013 | recommended | Quiet, quality tavern on the cobblestones in Tribeca |
| Pulau Pinang | 82-84 Broadway Elmhurst, NY 11373 | decent | Home cooking in Queens |
| Raines Law Room | 48 W 17th St | decent | Underground speakeasy with tight seating, cocktails. Might be a late night romantic spot for some. |
| Randazzo's Clam Bar | 2017 Emmons Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11235 | recommended | Old school red sauce place by the water. Good times will be had by all. |
| Rangoon | 158 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011 | decent | Nice neighborhood place. Not cheap |
| Rolo's | 853 Onderdonk Ave, Queens, NY 11385 | recommended | Brunchy place in Ridgewood. Great wood-grilled polenta bread, mortadella, bacon. Small plates are what you want to go in on. |
| Romano Pizza | 489 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Generic pizza place. Not bad. |
| Rosie's Kosher Pizza | 1385 Broadway, New York, NY 10018 | meh | Disorganized and not very good pizza spot. Skip it for better options nearby. |
| Rudy's Bar and Grill | 627 9th Ave, Between 44th And 45th, New York City, NY 10036 | recommended | Dive of dives. Free hotdogs |
| Rum House | 228 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036 | recommended | Great old school theater district place for cocktails. You've seen it in Birdman. |
| Russ and Daughters (Hudson Yards) | 502 W 34th St., New York, NY 10001 | recommended | Just as good as the other locations, but a bit boogier. |
| Russ and Daughters (The Cafe) | 127 Orchard St | NYC 10002 | recommended | Menu is more limited than the epic shop. Not as good for a random drop-in. Better for a brunch with a group. |
| Russ and Daughters (The Shop) | 179 E Houston St, New York, NY | elite | Caviar Cream Cheese is a metaphor for life |
| S&P Lunch | 174 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010 | recommended | Kitschy revitalization of a greasy spoon diner. Has all the classic menu items. Rugelach is great. |
| Sahib | 104 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Standard Indian restaurant. Has all the stuff you expect. Food is pretty good. Service ain't great. You can do better for a sitdown Indian option in this neigborhood. |
| Sally's Bar | 129 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016 | meh | Dump. Known for its stabbings. |
| San Babila Cafe | 1247 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10021 | decent | Perfectly acceptable coffee, near the Q train, big on Eggs Benedict. |
| Sardi's | 234 W 44th St #808, New York, NY 10036 | decent | Maybe the most famous restaurant at Times Square. Theater district haunt. Good crowd. Lots of space. Decent martini. Do the upstairs bar. A little worn. |
| Sarge’s Delicatessen & Diner | 548 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016 | recommended | All the classic Jewish deli stuff, plus bagels, plus breakfast plates. It's what you want. |
| Satis Bistro | 212 Washington St, Jersey City, NJ 07302 | decent | Nice place to sit outside and food is good |
| Scandinavia House | 58 Park Ave, New York, NY 10016 | recommended | Nice little restaurant and a cool place to see Nordic movies |
| Schilling | 109 Washington St, New York, NY 10006 | decent | Austrian sitdown in FiDi. Totally fine. |
| Serafina (Upper East Side) | 33 E 61st St | decent | So-so pizza |
| Shanghai Time | 273 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018 | decent | Decent dumplings |
| Shillelagh Pub | 648 Prospect Ave, West Orange, NJ 07052 | decent | Somehow a suburban dive bar is also a private club |
| Socarrat (Chelsea) | 259 W 19th St, New York, NY 10011 | decent | Paella and pintxos |
| Stinger | 300 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036 | decent | Decent hotel bar. Solid French 75 |
| Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture | 630 Bedford Rd, Tarrytown, NY 10591 | recommended | Fancy farm to table food by and for rich people. The chef got cancelled. It's good though. |
| Stout NYC | 133 W 33rd St, New York, NY 10001 | meh | Crappy bar by the Garden |
| Strand | 828 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 | elite | The epic bookstore. Has it all: New listings, stocked back catalog, good service and the famous carts of cheap books to pick over on the street. |
| Sweetgreen — Bryant Park | 1114 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036 | decent | A perfectly acceptable outpost of the lunch chain, though it has no indoor seating. Walk across the street to Bryant Park for a nice lunch instead. |
| Szechuan Gourmet | 21 W 39th St New York, NY 10018 | decent | Decent Midtown lunch |
| Tacombi (Upper West Side) | 377 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024 | decent | Okay Mexican food. The corn in the cup might be the best thing. |
| Tagmo | 226 Front St, New York, NY 10038 | decent | Good fancy Indian restaurant in the Seaport pedmall |
| Taim | 1372 Broadway, New York, NY 10018 | meh | Generic pita and falafal place. Not terrible but you can skip it. |
| Tal Bagels (Stuytown) | 357 1st Ave., New York, NY 10010 | recommended | The classic normie bagel place you're looking for. All the basics are great, plus they have matzo ball soup, knishes and the special stuff. |
| Tal Bagels (Upper East Side) | 1228 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10028 | recommended | Classic Upper East Side bagel spot at 83rd and Lex. I like the sable fish. |
| Tartine | 253 W 11th St New York, NY 10014 | recommended | Fun Village bistro |
| Tavern on the Green | W 67th St, New York, NY 10023 | recommended | Embrace it for what it is. Get the steak sandwich. |
| Temple Bar | 332 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012 | recommended | A dependable traditional cocktail bar in a great location near Lafayette and Broadway by Houston. Can be a little loud when they have a DJ in there. |
| Tengri Tagh | 144 W 37th St, New York, NY 10018 | decent | Uyghur food. Buns are great |
| Teppen Ramen | 159 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022 | decent | Unpretentious Japanese lunch spot. Simple. Easy. Has donburry bowls in addition to ramen. |
| Terra Blues | 149 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012 | decent | Bleeker Street tourist zone venue that is a reliably blues show. Music is fun but it will be a zoo of drunk and often disinterested people. |
| Terroir | 24 Harrison St, New York, NY 10013 | elite | Great drinks selection in Tribeca |
| The Bedford (Stone Street) | 55 Stone St, New York, NY 10004 | decent | Oyster bar type spot out on Stone Street |
| The Century Club | 7 West 43rd Street, near Fifth Avenue, Midtown Manhattan, New York City | recommended | One of real deal private clubs. Big beautiful library. Classic lunch and bar setup. Good isnt great but who cares |
| The Dutch | 131 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012 | decent | Upscale oyster bar setup. Service is so so. Overdone decor. |
| The Grey Dog | 242 W 16th St, New York, NY 10011 | decent | Brunchy place. So so. Loud. |
| The Grill | 99 E 52nd St, New York, NY 10022 | recommended | Beautiful mid-century bar in what used to be the Four Seasons. Great place to get a martini. |
| The Hugh | 157 E 53rd St, New York, NY 10022 | recommended | Bougie food court on the UES. Where the banky people lunch. Good options. |
| The Mansion | 1634 York Ave, New York, NY 10028 | recommended | A classic Upper East Side New York diner with a huge menu, great location next to the river |
| The Musket Room | 265 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012 | recommended | Fancy fixed price. Good service. Nice to sit in the back garden. |
| The Portrait Bar | 250 Fifth Avenue, New York City, NY 10001 | recommended | New school take on the old school NYC cocktail bar. Overappointed and a bit snobby, but it's the classic thing folks are looking for. Great for a small group and outtowners who want the fancy drink experience. |
| The River | 102 Bayard St, New York, NY 10013 | decent | Stowed away, cozy cocktail bar on the north end of Columbus Park south of Canal at Mulberry |
| The Shakespeare | 24 E 39th St, New York, NY 10016 | recommended | Traditional pub in a quiet underground nook with wooden fixtures. Real cask ale is the special attraction. |
| The World's Borough Bookshop | 3406 73rd St, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 | recommended | The radical-lefty-but-still-nice-and-down-to-earth neighborhood bookstore you're looking for |
| Tibetan Japanese | 75-26 37th Ave, Queens, NY 11372 | decent | The name says it all. |
| Tierney's Tavern | 138 Valley Rd, Montclair, NJ 07042 | decent | Standard suburban pub |
| Tina's Cuban Cuisine | 940 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10022 | decent | Busy lunch place on the Eastside. Not terrible. Has most of the standard Cuban sandwiches and rice dishes. |
| Tom and Jerry's | 288 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012 | meh | Great bar for divorced white guys to take their eHarmony dates and hear their favorite Strokes deep cut three times a night |
| Tompkins Square Bagels | 184 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003 | recommended | The bagel place people really want. Lots of fancy ass sandwiches that are good. |
| Top Thai 55 | 55 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014 | decent | West Village thai spot that has the basics. For young people, and those who want halal. |
| Trailer Park Lounge | 271 W 23 St, New York, NY 10011 | decent | The kitschiest dive on Earth. They didn't leave anything on the field. |
| Treadwell Park | 301 South End Ave, New York, NY 10280 | decent | Decent beer bar for the neighborhood but generic and loud |
| Tsumo | 132 E 28th St, New York, NY 10016 | recommended | Trendy omakase counter that'll put truffles on your sushi. It's an Instagram trap but it's good. So why not? |
| Turnmill | 119 E 27th St, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Standard sports bar. Big. Has all the screens. Decent beers. If you need the game, they will have it. |
| Ulivo | 4 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001 | recommended | Great Amaro and Euro-liquor selection. Sardinian food and wine that's not your typical red sauce stuff. A neighorhoody spot in a touristy neighborhood. Cool beareded bartender named Jose from Argentina. Big pours. |
| Uluh | 152a 2nd Ave, Ste A, New York City, NY 10003 | decent | Broad Chinese menu that's good |
| Ulysses Folkhouse | 58 Stone St, New York, NY 10004 | decent | Totally acceptable pub with a horseshoe bar on Stone Street |
| Union Square Cafe | 101 E 19th St, New York City, NY 10003-3104 | recommended | Fancy bar and restaurant of the classic Gramercy style, right off Park Avenue. More seafood than its sister restaurant, Gramercy Tavern. |
| Unregular Pizza | 14 E 37th St, New York, NY 10016 | decent | Bougier than the average pizza spot. A little gimmicky. Not bad but not great. |
| Upside Pizza | 598 8th Ave, New York, NY 10018 | decent | Good lunch stop that's better than the standard dollar slice |
| Utopia Bagels | 120 E 34th St, New York, NY 10016 | recommended | A big clean and new version of the classic NYC bagel place. They bake the bagels on premises |
| Van Da | 234 E 4th St New York, NY 1000 | elite | Gourmet Vietnamese plates in the East Village. Legit good |
| Veselka | 144 2nd Avenue, at East 9th St., New York City, NY 10003 | recommended | Classic Ukrainian food. Actually good |
| Vezzo Pizza | 178 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016 | recommended | Thin crust pizza in neighborhoody vibe |
| Vietspot | 99 Nassau St, New York, NY 10038 | recommended | Simple counter with a textbook banh mi loaded with pate that comes warm and fast. |
| Village East by Angelika | 181-189 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003 | decent | Reliable art house theater in the East Village. Not that nice but good enough. |
| Village Vanguard | 178 7th Ave S New York, NY 10014 | elite | House brandy, please |
| Vin Sur Vingt Wine Bar (Flatiron) | 1140 Broadway, New York, NY 10001 | decent | Great outdoor seating in Broadway pedmall with view of the Flatiron. Go for the location not the service. |
| Vin Sur Vingt Wine Bar (West Village) | 192 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014 | decent | Good spot for a drink outside before a show at the Vanguard. Otherwise skip it. |
| Von | 3 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012 | decent | Meh cocktail spot |
| Wagamamma (Flatiron) | 210 5th Avenue at, W 26th St, New York, NY 10010 | meh | Basic bowls |
| Walker's | 16 N Moore St, New York, NY 10013 | decent | Old school bar for preppies and Long Island types in Tribeca. Not bad. Old and cozy. |
| Waverly Diner | 385 6th Ave, New York, NY 10014 | decent | Standard diner in great West Village location |
| Webster Hall | 125 East 11th Street, New York, NY 10003 | recommended | Cozy club with standing room on the floor and a balcony above. Great location near Astor Place. |
| Xi'an Famous Foods (Chelsea) | 96 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011 | recommended | Handripped noodles, dumplings, cold skin noodles. All great. Great lunch pick. |
| Xi'an Famous Foods (Midtown) | 24 W 45th St, New York City, NY 10036-4205 | recommended | Only go when the weather is nice. There's not much sitting space. But there's a park across the street where you can sit and eat. Handripped noodles, dumplings, cold skin noodles. All great. Great lunch pick. |
| Zabar's | 2245 Broadway, New York, NY 10024 | elite | The quintessential Jewish grocer and bagel counter. Professionally ungentrified. A tradition worthy of relish. |
| Zucker's Bagels and Smoked Fish (Bryant Park) | 1065 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018 | recommended | They have all the basic bagel stuff people want. A goto lunch spot for me. Get takeout and eat in Bryant Park |
| Zucker's Bagels and Smoked Fish (FiDi) | 125 Fulton St, New York, NY 10038 | decent | The basic bagel stuff. Good but not a great storefront to hang at. |
| Zucker's Bagels and Smoked Fish (Murray Hill) | 370 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10017 | decent | The basic bagel stuff. Good but not a great storefront to hang at. |