Chelsea / Meatpacking

Note: Restaurants are categorized by cuisine and listed in alphabetical order and not in order of preference.

Chinese

  • Chelsea Dim Sum – Unassuming Chinese restaurant serving traditional hot and cold dishes, dim sum, and lunch specials
    • Location: Chelsea 
    • Atmosphere: Casual, a locals spot 
    • Suggestions: Pork soup dumplings, wonton in spicy sauce, cold spicy sesame noodle, Shanxi Biangbiang noodle, chicken with broccoli 
    • Reservations: Not required; take out / delivery menu is expansive and quick, you order directly through the restaurant
    • A Good Place For: A quick meal, take out 
    • Note: My roommate and I used to order takeout here every Sunday night. We never had a bad dish. All the food is great and reasonably priced

  • Tao – Pan-Asian eatery is known for a huge Quan Yin centerpiece and a trendy crowd
    • Location: Chelsea, Midtown East
    • Atmosphere: Trendy, extravagant, high-end 
    • Suggestions: Shishito peppers, chicken satay 
    • Reservations: Suggested but not difficult to get 
    • A Good Place For: Group dinners, corporate dinner, celebration 

French

  • Café Chelsea – French American bistro located within the historic Hotel Chelsea
    • Location: Chelsea
    • Atmosphere: Lively, trendy
    • Suggestions: Panisse, Ravioles du Dauphiné
    • Reservations: Required; Café Chelsea accepts reservations via Resy, up to 2 weeks in advance. The bar is first come, first served and offers the full menu
    • A Good Place For: A small group dinner (2-4 people), a date

  • Pastis – Theatrical evocation of Paris featuring bistro food and high-energy atmospherics from a chic crowd
    • Location: Meatpacking 
    • Atmosphere: Welcoming, elegant, tasteful 
    • Suggestions: French onion soup, chicken paillard, pommes frites, cheeseburger  
    • Reservations: Suggested 
    • A Good Place For: Brunch, brunch / dinner when friends / parents are in town 
    • Note: Pastis is consistently a great spot in the heart of Meatpacking. You can dress up or go casual. You can sit inside or outside. The food is always good. A bit on the expensive side, but worth it
    • Sister Restaurants: Balthazar, Morandi, Minetta Tavern

Italian

  • Cucina Alba – Alba is a destination with the tenor of an urbanite’s holiday in Italy
    • Location: Chelsea 
    • Atmosphere: Polished, grown-up, sceney 
    • Suggestions: Truffle poached burrata, focaccia di recco, tagliarini, agnolotti 
    • Reservations: Required; reservations are made available on a rolling two-week basis at midnight. Bar seats are reserved for walk-ins
    • A Good Place For: Dinner with friends, a date, a special night out

  • La Pecora Bianca – Stylish and bright all-day dining restaurant featuring market-driven Italian cuisine, regional wines & apéritifs 
    • Location: Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Meatpacking, Soho, Bryant Park, Midtown, Noho
    • Atmosphere: Cutte, vibrant, lively 
    • Suggestions: Einkorn gramigna
    • Reservations: Suggested but not difficult to get; easy to get a last minute reservation 
    • A Good Place For: Large group dinners, tourists, drinks after work  
    • Note: La Pecora Bianca is what I refer to as “The Smith of Italian food”. The food is average and there are locations all over the city. It’s fine but if you actually spend 5 minutes researching NYC Italian food, you’ll find some place 10x better at a similar price point

Mediterranean

  • Shukette – Bustling destination with chef’s tables turning out kebabs & seafood specialties
    • Location: Chelsea 
    • Atmosphere: Loud, energetic, modern 
    • Suggestions: Everything – literally everything was delicious. Hummus, chickpea flaxseed cracker, grilled broccoli, roasted cauliflower 
    • Reservations: Required; reservations open 30 days in advance at 9am on Resy
    • A Good Place For: A date, eating at the bar, group dinner 
    • Sister Restaurants: Shuka, Cookshop, Rosie’s, Vic’s

Japanese / Raman

  • Ajisen Ramen – Ramen chain first established in 1968 in Kyushu, Japan
    • Location: Chelsea, Chinatown
    • Suggestions: Spicy Ajisen ramen 

  • Kame – Relaxed option spotlighting ramen, rice bowls & small plates in an industrial-chic space
    • Location: Chelsea 
    • Suggestions: Spicy beef miso

Brunch

  • Citizens of Chelsea / Gramercy / Soho – Modern Australian breakfast and lunch, paired with beautiful coffee and a smile
    • Location: Chelsea, Gramercy, Soho
    • Atmosphere: Small, quaint, casual 
    • Suggestions: Avocado toast 
    • Reservations: Not required but suggested for prime time weekend brunch

  • Copper Still – Casual eatery born out of the idea that the East Village and Chelsea need a family style Irish Pub with a great whiskey selection
    • Location: Chelsea, East Village 
    • Atmosphere: Casul, a locals spot 
    • Suggestions: Avocado toast 
    • Reservations: Not required 
    • Bottomless: $25 for unlimited mimosas and bloody marys for 90 minutes

  • Jacks Wife Freda – A lively all-day NYC bistro executing American-Mediterranean cooking & classic cocktails
    • Location: Soho, West Village, Union Square, Chelsea, Williamsburg
    • Atmosphere: Homey, lively 
    • Suggestions: Not particular standout dish 
    • Reservations: Strongly suggested for weekend brunch but most of the seating is reserved for walk in guests 
    • Note: I found the food here to be just average. It’s a hotspot for people visiting from out of town, but nothing special