Midtown

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

American

  • Monkey Bar – Heartbeat of midtown dining with its timeless fare and iconic vibe, including retro murals and swanky furnishings
    • Location: Midtown 
    • Atmosphere: Romantic, iconic, old-school 
    • Suggestions: Everything on the menu is good, highlights include French dip, any of the steaks, pommes frites, truffle tagliatelle 
    • Reservations: Required; reservations can be made up to 14 days in advance at 9am EST on Resy. Note that a $2.50 per person reservation fee is added to all reservations made online. Bar seating is available for walk-in guests
    • A Good Place For: Friends in town, parents in town, a date you are trying to impress 
    • Note: This is a place to see and be seen. The food is wildly overpriced but it’s very good. It’s a place you go once and then go back only on a special occasion because it’s expensive and unhealthy
    • Sister Restaurants: 4 Charles Prime Rib, Au Cheval 

  • The Polo Bar – American restaurant by designer Ralph Lauren, serving classic dishes, bar bites & drinks
    • Location: Midtown
    • Atmosphere: Luxurious, a place to see and be seen, romantic, equestrian themed
    • Suggestions: Burger
    • Reservations: Required; reservations are offered Tuesdays through Saturdays from 5:00pm to 10:30pm and Mondays and Sundays from 5:00pm to 10:00pm. Reservations can be made one month in advance by the calendar date beginning at 10:00am by calling 212-207-8562
    • A Good Place For: A special celebration, dinner with the parents, impressing friends from out of town

Chinese

  • MáLà Project – MáLà Project is a Chinese restaurant founded by four friends with a mission to deliver joy through the flavors of Sichuan cuisine. They specialize in dry pot
    • Location: East Village, Midtown, Midtown East, Greenpoint 
    • Atmosphere: Casual, not assuming 
    • Suggestions: Dry pot, Dan Dan noodles, rainbow liang pi noodles, spicy popcorn chicken 
    • Reservations: Suggested but not difficult to get 
    • A Good Place For: Dinner with friends, adventurous eating, a meal where everyone shares

  • 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

  • Boucherie – Traditional French brasserie and steakhouse, celebrating Joie de Vivre (enjoyment of life)
    • Location: West Village, Union Square, Midtown
    • Atmosphere: Lively, Parisian, welcoming 
    • Suggestions: Burger 
    • Reservations: Suggested but not difficult to get 
    • A Good Place For: Brunch, last minute dinner 
    • Note: Boucherie has a great atmosphere, but I found the food to be way overpriced and not worth the cost  

Indian

  • Indian Accent – High-end Indian restaurant featuring a menu of creative meals, plus a robust wine list
    • Location: Midtown 
    • Atmosphere: Sophisticated, high-end, elegant, timeless 
    • Suggestions: Beef tenderloin, sweet potato shakarkandi, makhan malai
    • Reservations: Suggested but not difficult to get 
    • A Good Place For: A special occasion 

Italian

  • Il Mulino – The epitome of an old–New York Italian hangout
    • Location: Soho, Tribeca, Midtown
    • Atmosphere: Fine dining, stuffy, exclusive 
    • Suggestions: Gnocchi al pesto 
    • Reservations: Suggested but not difficult to get 
    • A Good Place For: A celebratory work dinner, dinner when the parents are in town 

  • La Pecora Bianca – A 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

  • Obica – Spacious Italy-based mozzarella bar serving pizza, pasta & small plates plus cocktails, wine and more
    • Location: Flatiron, Midtown
    • Atmosphere: Modern, spacious 
    • Suggestions: Any of the charcuterie boards are worth ordering 
    • Reservations: Not required; you can typically walk in day or night of 
    • A Good Place For: A date, a last minute dinner with friends 
    • Note: In my option, Obica is subpar. The restaurant is convenient for a last minute dinner and the charcuterie boards are great for sharing. But the food won’t wow you. You won’t leave disappointed but you won’t leave with a memorable meal either. There are plenty of other Italian restaurants I would stop by before booking a table at Obica 

  • Quality Italian – Steakhouse with striking, contemporary design, plus an upmarket menu of chops & Italian fare
    • Location: Midtown
    • Atmosphere: Cozy, upscale, contemporary 
    • Suggestions: Chicken parmesan pizza, porterhouse agnolotti 
    • Reservations: Suggested but not difficult to get 
    • A Good Place For: Dinner when the parents are in town, a romantic evening 

Mediterranean

  • Au’Zatar – Lebanese/Middle Eastern fare in a contemporary space, known for their tableside shawarma towers
    • Location: Midtown East, East Village 
    • Atmosphere: Casual, contemporary 
    • Suggestions: Falafel, hummus, halloum mekli, chicken kafta kebab, fries, shawarma 
    • Reservations: Suggested but not difficult to get. It’s likely you’d be able to walk in on a weekday 
    • A Good Place For: A last minute meal, casual dinner with friends 

  • Estiatorio Milos – A Greek gastronomic experience, united by fresh ingredients and timeless traditions
    • Location: Midtown, Hudson Yards 
    • Atmosphere: Upscale, grand, corporate 
    • Suggestions: Milos is known for their seafood; I don’t eat seafood but can attest that their non-seafood dishes were delicious. My family, who does eat seafood, did enjoy their branzino 
    • Reservations: Suggested but not difficult to get 
    • A Good Place For: A business dinner, dinner with the parents 

Mexican 

  • La Esquina – Sceney Mexican spot with no-frills taqueria, cafe & exclusive basement brasserie/tequila bar
    • Location: Nolita, Midtown, Upper East Side
      • I strongly suggest visiting the Nolita location, which is hidden under a taqueria in Nolita
    • Atmosphere: Trendy, romantic, exclusive (Nolita location)
    • Suggestions: Tortilla soup, tacos, guacamole, queso fundido
    • Reservations: Strongly suggested; reservations are available up to 21 days in advance. You can book via Resy or by calling the restaurant. If you plan to visit La Esquina to go out, I would suggest getting there before 11pm 
    • A Good Place For: A birthday dinner, dinner with someone from out of town, a date 

  • Mexicue – Mexicue combines classic street tacos and innovative flavors, perfect for anyone who loves to eat
    • Location: Nomad, Midtown
    • Atmosphere: Casual, not memorable  
    • Suggestions: Tacos 
    • Reservations: Not required 
    • A Good Place For: A quick meal, a last minute meal   
    • Note: Mexicue started as a food truck and got a lot of buzz. The owner then decided to open up a restaurant location and has been expanding since. The food is good and my family really enjoyed the tacos 

  • Rosa Mexicano – Rosa Mexicano offers a fresh take on authentic Mexican cuisine, serving both beloved classic dishes in a stylish and sophisticated atmosphere
    • Location: Flatiron, Upper West Side, Midtown East 
    • Atmosphere: Vibrant, colorful
    • Suggestions: I don’t think there are any standouts on the menu
    • Reservations: Not required 
    • A Good Place For: Dinner before going out, a last minute big group dinner 
    • Note: I find the food here to be subpar at best. But, the drinks are decent and affordable so it’s a good last minute dinner spot before going out 

Japanese / Ramen

  • Ichiran – Japanese ramen chain serving only one kind of soup: pork-bone-broth tonkotsu
    • Location: Times Square, Midtown, Bushwick
    • Suggestions: Classic tonkotsu ramen

  • Ippudo – Tonkotsu ramen from the heart of Fukuoka Japan
    • Location: East Village, Times Square, Long Island City, Midtown West
    • Suggestions: Shiromaru classic 

  • Nishida Sho-ten – Japanese noodle soups served in a cozy nook styled like a traditional, old-timey ramen shop
    • Location: Midtown East
    • Atmosphere: Small, casual, unassuming 
    • Suggestions: Shishito peppers, tan tan ramen 
    • Reservations: Walk-in only
    • A Good Place For: A quick meal, a casual dinner

  • Totto Ramen
    • Location: Hells Kitchen, Midtown East
    • Suggestions: Spicy ramen 

Steakhouse 

  • The Grill – Steakhouse in an iconic Seagram Building setting with midcentury style, classic dishes & cocktails
    • Location: Midtown East
    • Atmosphere: Upscale, corporate 
    • Suggestions: Any of the meat options
    • Reservations: Suggested but not difficult to get 
    • A Good Place For: A corporate dinner, dinner with the parents
    • Sister Restaurants: Sadelle’s, Torrisi, HaSalon, Parm, Carbone, The Lobster Club, The Pool, Dirty French, ZZ’s Clam Bar, Crown Club

Brunch 

  • Blue Box Café by Daniel Boulud – Tiffany’s destination for a prix fixe American breakfast, lunch or tea in a robin’s-egg blue room
    • Location: Midtown 
    • Atmosphere: Upscale, trendy, high class 
    • Suggestions: Croissant, the rest of the menu is seasonal 
    • Reservations: Required; reservations can be made 30 calendar days out every day at midnight via Resy