THE BEST OF NEW YORK CITY
THE Blistered Pepper's take on some of NYC's besT… AND MORE COMING…
AMERICAN BAR
American Bar is best explained by its name. They serve solid American food - my favorites being the Peanut Chicken Salad and Cheeseburger - and also have great cocktails… like seriously, one of the best Espresso Martinis. The food won’t blow your mind, but the ambiance is great and perfect for date night.
Atla’s Churros with Chocolate
alidoro
All you need to know is that this tiny shop on Sullivan street will provide you with the best sandwich in NYC.
ATLA
Atla is one of Enrique Olvera’s many restaurants. Atla is very much of a cafe as they offer an All Day menu - with a few variations for brunch… the chilaquiles are a must. If you’re willing to splurge, hit up Cosme, but if you’re just dipping your toes in the NYC restaurant scene. Start here.
ATOBOY
Atoboy serves up Koren inspired cuisine that is unique and creative. They offer one menu: a Prix Fixe for $75/person, however, you can choose your dish from each course. Highly recommend bringing a few people to dine here so you can try all the offerings… and don’t forget to add on the Fried Chicken!
Carbone’s Spicy Rigatoni
CARBONE
Yes, we all know about Carbone and sure, maybe it is a little overdone. But the hype is real. Serve me a plate of spicy rigatoni and I will lick it clean. If you can’t snag a resy here, or its a little out of the budget, pop over to Parm (the spicy rig’s birthplace).
cote
Cote is a Korean steakhouse that not only offers some of the highest quality meat, but is served in an eloquent manner. Unlike other Korean BBQ spots, every table includes a smokeless grill that the servers cook the meat on for you. Side note: the cocktail list is pretty killer. Go on a double date and make sure you order the Iceberg salad and Kimchi Paella.
Cote’s Kimchi Paella and Butcher’s Feast
ERNESTO’S
Ernesto’s is a “Basque inspired Taverna” that features an ever changing and evolving menu of pintxos - essentially, small snacks that are typically served at bars. Anyways, the food is good, the wine list is great, and the vibe is amazing. Highly recommended for date night!
ESTELA
A one Michelin star restaurant that has been visited by the likes of Obama and Hillary Clinton, Estela serves Modern American food in a very intimate setting. Not to mention its a favorite spot of many local chefs. Do yourself a favor and order the Fried Arroz Negro - its incredibly unique and delicious.
FRENCHETTE
I like to think of Frenchette as the lesser known, and perhaps better, Balthazar. The two chefs behind Frenchette actually helped Keith McNally with Balthazar, Minetta Tavern, and more. So you get the idea: they know good food. Side note: Frenchette may or may not serve the best fries in NYC. ;)
Laser Wolf’s chicken, steak, lamb&beef skewers
I SODI
Italian food isn’t hard to find in NYC, and we have a running list of the best ones in town. One of which is I Sodi. I Sodi has about 4 or 5 tables, and limited bar seating, but the food is out of this world. Try the branzino, lasagna, and Insalata Di Carciofi (artichoke salad). Oh, by the way, these are the same people behind Via Carota and Bar Pisellino so you know it’s gonna be good.
LASER WOLF
Chef Michael Solomonov, the guy behind Zahav aka the best restaurant in Philly, has arrived in NYC. Laser Wolf is at the top of The Hoxton - perfect for a summer night dinner - and is an Israeli skewer house. The menu is straightforward; pick a skewer and along comes an assortment of vegetable salatim and pita. All of which is flavorful and incredibly craveworthy.
L’Artusi Wagyu Carpaccio
L’ARTUSI
Like I said, we have a running list of Italian restaurants. L’artusi is another hotspot, known for their pastas, Roast Chicken, and Olive Oil cake. Oh and the branzino which I loved so much I had to make my own version of (see here).
LA MERCERIE
OK, this may be BP’s first not fully positive review - oops, here goes. I LOVE LOVE LOVE La Mercerie. The restaurant is situated in the most beautiful furniture/decor store, Roman and Williams Guild, and serves incredible french food that is perfect for a brunch, lunch, or apertivo. The Salad Nicoise is a must, as are the chocolate chip cookies (I’m working on trying to develop a copycat recipe shhh…). But, unfortunately the service needs work.
LILIA
Lilia was the first restaurant Chef Missy Robbins opened solo - after tenure at A Voce, a Micheline starred Italian restaurant in Columbus Circle that has since shut down. Chef Robbins brings some of the best pasta to the NYC dining scene. Oh and remember my rave review of Misi? Lilia is the sister restaurant.
NAMI NORI (WEST VILLAGE)
Definitely an untraditional sushi spot, Nami Nori serves “open style hand rolls” all of which are individually wrapped in cellophane so that the seaweed remains perfectly crunchy and crispy. The rolls range from a more traditional toro scallion to smoked salmon dynamite, essentially a creative take on a smoked salmon everything bagel.
PASTIS
Keith McNally strikes again. Pastis was a beloved restaurant for about 15 years and then sadly shut its doors in 2014. The french bistro reopened in 2019 just one block away from its original location, this time McNally partnered with another famous restaurateur, Stephen Starr. The duo brought back the flare with great food and atmosphere. This is where we dine when we just want to cuddle up and be cozy for a comforting winter night meal.
RAOUL’S
Raoul’s is a French restaurant that has been open since the 70s. The menu hardly changes, the decor hasn’t been updated in years - dark, bistro style - the music is on point, and you’ll likely spot a celebrity or two. Order the frisee and steak au poivre for dinner, but swap it for the burger au poivre if you’re dining for brunch. The burger is otherwise only served at the bar and on a first come first serve basis and yes, it sells out.
SADELLE’S
I’ll be honest, Sadelle’s doesn’t have the best bagel in NYC, but they do have the experience down to a T. I mean, are you really going to turn down a smoked salmon tower with a rack of fresh bagels? Major Food Group just doesn’t disappoint. Oh and while you’re stuffing your face with jewish delicacies, make sure to also order the egg sandwich and french toast.
SHABU TATSU
Shabu Tatsu is definitely one of the more affordable restaurants on this list, but that doesn’t mean it is lackluster, in fact it is quite the opposite. Shabu Tatsu is a Japanese restaurant in the East Village, specializing in Shabu Shabu for those of you that aren’t familiar, basically you cook the meat, noodles, veggies yourself in a pot of boiling water directly on your table. It is an experience that is worth having.
Shinn East Omakase
SHINN EAST
Shinn East is one of the many omakase only spots in NYC and while we’re die hard lovers of Omakase Room by Maaser, nothing can beat Shinn East’s price - $69. Yup, that’s right. 12 pieces of nigiri and 1 hand roll for $69. Not to mention, Shinn East is run by one of the youngest sushi chefs in all of NYC. While you won’t write home about a great vibe or drinks, the sushi is top tier and beyond affordable.
SUSHI OF GARI (TRIBECA)
“A sushi lover’s dream” is how Sushi of Gari describes themselves on their website and it’s pretty spot on. Whether splurging for a night of omakase, or sitting in the main dining room, Sushi of Gari is one of our favorite sushi spots in NYC. If this is your first visit, make sure you order the Tuna of Gari… and my personally favorite, a spicy scallop hand roll.
Thursday Kitchen’s Soft Shell Crab, Edamame Dumplings, Asparagus
THURSDAY KITCHEN
A Korean joint in the East Village that not only serves great food, but alcoholic capri-suns… I mean, who doesn’t like that!? The edamame dumplings and soft shell crab are both a must order. Thursday Kitchen does not take reservations so go on a weeknight, or arrive early on the weekend, the wait can get a little long.
THE TYGER
While The Tyger turned into a popular spot in the middle of a pandemic, which is saying something, the SouthEast restaurant has done something right. Honestly, this isn’t the spot for a date, the two top tables aren’t great and you won’t be able to try enough of the menu. So go with a group - you’ll probably get a nice booth - order a lot, and do not miss the Coconut Bomb dessert… it’s vegan, but sweet and creamy, and mind blowing and you think you’re eating dairy, but you’re not, and it’s just WOW.
4 Charles’ Burger, Creamed Spinach, Prime Rib, Fries
4 CHARLES PRIME RIB
Last, but most definitely not least, the best best best BEST burger in all of Manhattan: 4 Charles Prime Rib. You’ll hear people say this burger is just as good at Au Cheval (same people behind both restaurants), but it isn’t. Au Cheval has a great burger, but it isn’t this great. Order the cheeseburger with the egg - bacon is not necessary - watch the waiter drizzle the yolk over the burger like a whole production that it is. Don’t forget to get the fries, creamed spinach, and the chocolate oreo pie (I dream about it).
