West Village

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

American

  • American Bar – A TikTok popular West Village restaurant that looks like a trendy country club
    • Location: West Village
    • Atmosphere: Preppy, country club
    • Suggestions: Peanut chicken salad, whipped ricotta, tower bar sundae 
    • Reservations: Suggested 
    • A Good Place For: Friends in town 
    • Note: The food here is just mediocre but it’s hard to get a reservation because it’s one of those places that blew up on TikTok. I will say, the peanut chicken salad is worth the reservation

  • Bird Dog – Italian-Southern restaurant in the West Village with a room that feels like an NYC studio apartment
    • Location: West Village
    • Atmosphere: Intimate, cozy, homey 
    • Suggestions: Broccoli, burrata, bucatini
    • Reservations: Required; reservations can be made 14 days in advance, and each new day is released at 9am ET
    • A Good Place For: Dinner with friends, a unique cuisine experience 
    • Note: Bird Dog offers three menu options: a family style Chef’s Tasting Menu, three course Pre-Fixe, or a Fried Chicken Dinner. They do not offer a la carte. All reservations for five or more people are required to get the Chef’s Tasting menu, complete table participation is required. All the food was fantastic, I would highly suggest Bird Dog 

  • Corner Bistro – Historical establishment in the West Village serving what was at one point NYC’s best burger. Note, Corner Bistro is cash only
    • Location: West Village
    • Atmosphere: Casual, local bar, bohemian 
    • Suggestions: Burger and fries 
    • Reservations: Not required 
    • A Good Place For: A quick meal, watching a sporting event 

  • Jack & Charlie’s No. 118 – Elevated neighborhood dining to the West Village, serving New American cuisine
    • Location: West Village 
    • Atmosphere: Dark, homey
    • Suggestions: Black truffle toast, fusilli 
    • Reservations: Suggested but not difficult to get 
    • A Good Place For: Parents in town 

Chinese

  • RedFarm – Modern Chinese restaurant serving dim sum, Peking duck, cocktails and more
    • Location: West Village, Upper West Side
    • Atmosphere: Farmhouse, rustic; note that seating at the West Village location is “family style,” meaning there are two large tables, so you will be sitting next to and near strangers 
    • Suggestions: Chicken salad, Kowloon filet mignon tarts, five flavor chicken dumplings 
    • Reservations: Suggested; can be made through their website or by calling them. 
    • A Good Place For: Dinner with friends, small group dinner (1-4 people)

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

  • Semma – Stylish, relaxed restaurant serving regional specialties from southern India, plus cocktails and wine.
    • Location: West Village
    • Atmosphere: Stylish, casual, upbeat 
    • Suggestions: Gunpowder dosa, mirchi ka salan (very spicy!), parotta, mangalore huukosu, kozhi allepey
    • Reservations: Required; reservations go live on Resy 30 days in advance at midnight. There are 12 seats at the bar for walk-ins on a first-come, first-serve basis. Semma suggests you get there right as they open to get a walk-in seat (5pm) 
    • A Good Place For: A small group dinner (2-4 people), a dinner date 
    • Note: Semma received their first Michelin Star in 2023. The gunpowder dosa is a must order 
    • Sister Restaurants: Dhamaka, Adda, Masawala & Sons  

Italian

  • Arthur and Sons NY Italian – Arthur & Sons Italian pays homage to the NYC Italian-American scene. Their culture is rooted in old school food, vibes and attitude, harkening back to the 90’s when everything in NY was just better than anywhere else
    • Location: West Village
    • Atmosphere: Lively, young, loud, old school, family style 
    • Suggestions: Spicy rigatoni (no where near as good as Carbone or Parm), meatballs with ricotta 
    • Reservations: Required; reservations can be made on Resy up to 30 days in advance 
    • A Good Place For: Dinner before going out, dinner with friends 
    • Note: The food at Arthur & Sons is mediocre; you’ll leave more than full because the portions are enough for a small family, but it won’t be a memorable Italian meal. However, the atmosphere is electric and makes the dining experience worth the reservation headache 

  • Barbuto – Revival of an NYC standby serving vibrant Italian plates in a light-filled space with large windows
    • Location: West Village 
    • Atmosphere: Vibrant, simplistic, bright 
    • Suggestions: Polpettone (an absolute must), JW potatoes, JW pollo al forno
    • Reservations: Required; reservations can be made 30 days in advance via Resy. Walk-ins welcome, as a few tables are reserved each night, and the bar is first come, first-serve 
    • A Good Place For: When the parents are in town, a nice date 
    • Note: The menu at Barbuto is seasonal, so the appetizers and salads change frequently. However, all the food was fantastic, so it’s worth trying anything that speaks to you 

  • Bird Dog – Italian-Southern restaurant in the West Village with a room that feels like an NYC studio apartment.
    • Location: West Village
    • Atmosphere: Intimate, cozy, homey 
    • Suggestions: Broccoli, burrata, bucatini
    • Reservations: Required; reservations can be made 14 days in advance, and each new day is released at 9am ET
    • A Good Place For: Dinner with friends, a unique cuisine experience 
    • Note: Bird Dog offers three menu options: a family style Chef’s Tasting Menu, three course Pre-Fixe, or a Fried Chicken Dinner. They do not offer a la carte. All reservations for five or more people are required to get the Chef’s Tasting menu, complete table participation is required. All the food was fantastic, I would highly suggest Bird Dog 

  • Don Angie – Updated Italian-American classics with wine and cocktails in a marble-accented space. Don Angie remains on permanent Notify status for many and for a good reason
    • Location: West Village
    • Atmosphere: Vibey, fun, elegant 
    • Suggestions: Chrysanthemum salad, lasagna, stuff flatbread 
    • Reservations: Required; reservations are released online 7 days in advance at 9am. The bar is reserved for walk-ins, and bar seats are surprisingly attainable
    • A Good Place For: A special night out, small dinner groups, when the parents are in town 
    • Note: Don Angie was awarded a Michelin star in 2022 

  • I Sodi – Tuscan-style fare, wines and cocktails lie in store at this compact, romantic restaurant
    • Location: West Village
    • Atmosphere: Quaint, romantic, charming, cozy, exclusive 
    • Suggestions: Lasagne a sugo, cacio e pepe, pappardelle al limone 
    • Reservations: Required; reservations are released on Resy 2 weeks in advance at midnight. There are 16 bar seats available for walk-ins; I would suggest going at 5pm to get one or put your name in 
    • A Good Place For: A nice date, a romantic dinner, a dinner for 2, a meal to impress someone from out of town 
    • Note: Everything on this menu is outstanding – nothing you order will be “just okay” 

  • 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

  • Malaparte – This intimate, modest neighborhood eatery with a bar supplies thin-crust pizzas and housemade pasta
    • Location: West Village  
    • Atmosphere: Casual, a locals spot, intimate 
    • Suggestions: Pizza di rucola e prosciutto di parma, spaghetti al pesto genovese, finocchio salad
    • Reservations: Suggested but not difficult to get; you can make same day reservations 
    • A Good Place For: A date, dinner with friends, a last minute dinner 
    • Note: Malaparte is cash only 

  • Morandi – Rustic, buzzy trattoria from Keith McNally with Italian fare and sidewalk seating
    • Location: West Village
    • Atmosphere: Rustic, homey, warm 
    • Suggestions: Cacio e pepe, artichokes 
    • Reservations: Suggested but not difficult to get 
    • A Good Place For: A date, dinner with friends 
    • Sister Restaurants: Pastis, Balthazar, Minetta Tavern 

  • Via Carota – Italian trattoria serving traditional plates & apéritifs in a rustic, cozy space
    • Location: West Village
    • Atmosphere: Rustic
    • Suggestions: Everything on the menu is outstanding. My personal favorites are the brussel sprout salad (cavoletti), the cacio e pepe (the best I’ve ever had) and the lemon risotto 
    • Reservations: Required; reservations can be made on Resy 30 days in advance at 10am. Pro tip: if you go to Via Carota ~30 minutes before they open and wait in line, it is likely you will get a reservation for later that even
    • A Good Place For: A delicious Italian meal, when the parents are in town, a lowkey birthday dinner 
    • Note: This is in my top 3 favorite Italian restaurants and I highly suggest it, if you can secure a reservation

Mexican

  • Jajaja – Jajaja is where south of the border flavor meets New York City flair to create global experiences rooted in local heritage
    • Location: West Village, Lower East Side, Hudson Yards, Williamsburg, Long Island City 
    • Atmosphere: Casual, light, well decorated 
    • Suggestions: Tacos, empanadas 
    • Reservations: Not required 
    • A Good Place For: A casual dinner, dinner with individuals who are vegetarian or vegan 
    • Note: All of the food at Jajaja is plant-based (i.e., vegetarian)

Steakhouse

  • Four Charles Prime Rib – Steakhouse by Brendan Sodikoff with contemporary offerings & vintage appeal
    • Location: West Village
    • Atmosphere: Dark, romantic, contemporary, a place to see and be seen 
    • Suggestions: Any of the steaks, prime rib french dip, wagyu cheeseburger, mashed potatoes, golden fries, elote style corn, chocolate cream pie, sundae royale
    • Reservations: Required and very difficult to get. Reservations are released 21 days in advance with each new day becoming available at 9am on Resy. Reservations can be made for up to 6 people 
    • A Good Place For: A special night out, a dinner to impress someone, a nice steak dinner
    • Sister Restaurants: Au Cheval, Monkey Bar
    • Note: This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Everything about it is dedicant. The food is lavish and over the top, but the bill will match that

Mediterranean

  • Balaboosta  – Imaginative takes on Middle Eastern home cooking fill the menu at this popular storefront space
    • Location: West Village 
    • Atmosphere: Quaint, contemporary 
    • Suggestions: Hummus, cauliflower, tahdig rice 
    • Reservations: Suggested but not difficult to get 
    • A Good Place For: A small group dinner, a date, a casual dinner