A Foodie's Guide to New York - 5 Must Try Restaurants in NYC. (2024)

Updated October 2022

I am well aware that writing something titled ‘A Foodie’s Guide to New York’ is not only a daunting but somewhat laughable endeavor. Unless I had a lot of money to spend and time to eat my way through a majority of New York City restaurants, there is no way, I could ever do the food scene justice.

Even the list of most iconic restaurants in New York – Nobu, Peter Luger, Eleven Madison Park, Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare, Balthazar, Indochine, Jean-Georges to name a few – is long. The list of hip and happening eateries and new celebrities chefs opening their own joints is even longer and on top of this, there are sheer endless options for authentic Chinese, Mexican, Korean, Vietnamese, Kosher, Italian, Polish food and various combinations thereof.

I am getting a bit dizzy to think of all the options that would need to be frequented to write a well-rounded restaurant guide for New York. But I am not Zagat & Co so I won’t even try.

Instead, I will just share some of my favorite restaurant and cafe recommendations for NYC which I tried and tested for more than 6 years and which have lasted over 2 decades (minus The Elephant, my favorite restaurant ever which unfortunately has closed its doors but lives on in the name of this blog). I am not saying each of them is worth a trip across the ocean or even across town, but if you happen to be in the neighborhood, hungry after some New York sightseeing, they are very worth checking out.

5 Must-try New York Restaurants

BAR PITTI

Occasion: Understated people-watching for pastaholics

Bar Pitti is my favorite of all of the New York restaurants and I will actually say firmly – this place is definitely worth the trip! Why? Just go and experience pasta perfection! The service is lovely, efficient, and has just the right amount of Italian charm – someone will call you ‘bella’ but also get you a table, a menu, and a glass of Prosecco in the same breath.

This Italian restaurant/ dinosaur has a huge table turnover so it is not a place to linger hours on end but that doesn’t diminish Bar Pitti’s charm.
What to order? Anything with truffle and you can’t go wrong or otherwise try their classic ‘Rigatoni Pitti’ and sigh in delight when you realize that the accompanying parmesan cheese comes fresh from the waiter.

As one of the few places left in New York that doesn’t take reservations it is a good spot for an early bird dinner. Chances are you will still have to wait for a table but thanks to their extensive terrace on Six Avenue you can spend the time with some excellent people watching.

If you have to wait for a table, do it and don’t be tempted to go to the Italian next door. While it may look similar, the prices are steeper, and the food and service cannot be compared.

Bar Pitti: 268 Ave of the Americas, New York, NY 10014

Aurora

Occasion: A boozy Brooklyn brunch

Aurora is a beloved restaurant in Williamsburg that has been around for ages. I came here following my brother’s recommendation, who declared that he had eaten the best seafood pasta of his life at Aurora. To be honest, my favorite is still from Greece, but the one I had at Aurora was a plate worth traveling for.

Like so many other restaurants, they built a little sidewalk extension during Covid and also have a big covered patio and inside dining room.

The interior is natural-hipster chic with a menu to match – a little Italian, a little New York. There are some great brunch options like poached eggs, smoked trout, and avo on toast and co*cktails to wash it all down with.

I went for their squid ink seafood pasta with breadcrumbs which wasn’t the cheapest dish on the menu but came with generous amounts of crab meat and prawns. Service was quick and attentive and something that I really liked about Aurora – even when it was full (we came for a Saturday lunch) it never felt too crowded, not a given in a New York restaurant!

Aurora Williamsburg: 70 Grand St., Brooklyn, NY 11249

CAFE GITANE

Occasion: Chic & relaxed Soho shopping break

I came across Cafe Gitane on the border of Little Italy and Soho 17 years ago thanks to my back then bible, Lonely Planet, and have been going there ever since. It is one of those New York institutions that many visitors don’t seem to know about – maybe because of an odd mix of French-American food with a side of Moroccan mint tea or because it has been around too long to be considered hip and happening but not long enough to be considered a classic.

Who cares? Go there now and hurry because it is always crowded. Come early for meal times or expect a wait.
Once you are in order everything but especially an iced mint tea and the chicken sandwich with parmesan or the focaccia with mozzarella and tapenade. Well, those are my personal favorites, my friends all have their own which sort of shows that whatever you order, you can’t go wrong.

Cafe Gitane: 242 Mott Street, New York, NY 10012

MOMOf*ckU

Occasion: Ramen & bun cravings for hip people

David Cheng has become a New York institution in his own right and started a legacy of cool cooking with a twist. His Momof*cku empire covers everything from ultra-fine dining to a takeaway mart and anything in between. Whatever your budget, you can afford a meal from David Cheng – there are 8 restaurants in New York City alone!

I opted for the lesser evils (or so my wallet says) by going for lunch to Momof*cku Noodle Bar and to Ssäm Bar. They are both something to write home about: easy, cool, and delicious. The buns are outstanding as are the ramen with barley noodles at the Noodle Bar from David Cheng and the bowls are the highlight at Ssäm.

If you wanted to be fancy and cool, and obviously have a lot more cash to burn, you can order the weirdly wonderful caviar and fried chicken meal for you and a group of friends.

And whatever you do, you must order the spicy lychee slushie at the Noodle Bar – best $6 you will ever spend on a drink, even a non-alcoholic one!

Noodle Bar: 171 1st Avenue between 10th + 11th Street, New York, NY 10003
Ssäm Bar: 207 Second Avenue at 13th Street, New York, NY 10003

CARACAS AREPA BAR

Occasion: Came for a snack, ended up staying the night

I think Venezualan food was late to be hyped in the New York food scene of ethnic cuisines and since I used to live just a road up from Caracas Arepas Bar and had a Venezualan roommate I was ahead of time. The amount of money I have spent on arepas over the years is something I don’t want to know.

Caracas offers mainly Venezuelan arepas, small flat maize flour buns that are grilled and filled with anything your heart desires. From cheeses to beans, the infamous Pabellon Criollo, the Venezuelan national dish, and everything in between. Douse it all in their secret sauce and wash it down with a sugarcane juice and you will be a happy person, I promise. And try my personal favorite – the La del Gato.

Unfortunately, both the original East Village branch and the Brooklyn restaurant have closed, but luckily there is still one Caracas in Rockaway. I definitely recommend you head there for some awesome arepas or pop in if you are in the neighborhood!

Caracas Arepa Bar: 106-01 Shore Front Pkwy, Rockaway Park, NY 11694

While I think some New York foodie essentials are terribly overrated – yes, looking at you Dominique Ansel and Magnolia Bakery – there are many classic things to eat in New York you shouldn’t miss.

From a typical slice of New York pizza (some say Joe’s Pizza is the best though I personally cannot attest to that) to a hotdog in Central Park or at Gray’s Papaya, a bagel at Katz’s Deli (yup, where Harry met Sally!) and a burger at Shake Shack – your belly will thank you for coming to New York. Just remember that a lot of those places are not just in it for the food anymore but the experience and the Instagram picture to commemorate the occasion of experiencing a New York classic.

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