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What to Eat in New York City
It's fitting that New York's most popular nickname includes a reference to food. Experts say that the city is jam-packed with delicious places to eat, from the high-end celebrity chef hot spots to cozy eateries. When you're in this cosmopolitan city, you'll have to sample some of its specialties. Most people associate NYC with pizza: New York-style pizza consists of hand-tossed thin crust, a light layer of tomato sauce, plenty of mozzarella cheese and an assortment of toppings. There are dozens of pizzerias dishing out traditional pies across the city, but locals say Joe's Pizza and Grimaldi's Pizzeria are two of the top spots to grab a slice of pizza. Another New York staple? Bagels. The large, soft, doughy bagels can be topped with thick cream cheese (often you can choose from various schmear flavors), lox or your favorite breakfast sandwich accoutrements. Experts say you can't go wrong with a bagel from Ess-a-Bagel, Bagel Bob's or Tompkins Square Bagels.
In addition to its casual eateries, New York City has a vibrant food market (visit Chelsea Market and Gotham West Market) and farmers market scene. And of course, the Big Apple is home to numerous upscale restaurants highlighting cuisine from around the world. The list of must-try restaurants is constantly changing, but those looking to enjoy an exquisite multicourse meal should make reservations (well in advance) at Eleven Madison Park, Le Bernadin or Daniel. If you'd like to explore fine dining restaurants with more reasonable price tags, Butter, Scarpetta and Marc Forgione are a few celebrity chef-helmed eateries that won't completely bust your budget. The wealth of food options in the city is also part of why New York City consistently lands on the U.S. News ranking of the Best Foodie Cities in the USA. For a comprehensive understanding of the city's dining scene, take one of the Big Apple's top food tours.
What's more, New York City isn't only home to fantastic restaurants, but also to several stand-out bars and breweries. When the weather warms up, locals and travelers alike love heading to the top rooftop bars around the city to soak up the skyline views.
Find the Best Restaurants in New York City
- #1
Diana of Little Chef, Little Kitchen#1 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
$ - $$ | Italian, American, Filipino, Mediterranean, AsianNew York City, NYRead More » - #2
Spot Dessert Bar#2 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
$ - $$ |13 St Marks Place between 2nd & 3rd Ave, New York City, NY 10003-7807Read More » - #3
Levain Bakery#3 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City - #4
Levain Bakery#4 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City - #5
Piccola Cucina Osteria#5 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City - #6
Piccola Cucina#6 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City - #7
Boucherie Union Square#7 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City - #8
Obao#8 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City - #9
Olio e Piu#9 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City - #10
Bleecker Street Pizza#10 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City - #11
Mei Jin Ramen#11 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City - #12
Spice Symphony#12 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City - #13
Piccola Cucina Estiatorio#13 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City - #14
Pisillo Italian Panini#14 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City - #15
K Rico Steakhouse#15 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City - #16
SottoCasa Pizzeria#16 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City - #17
City Vineyard#17 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City - #18
Le Mille Feuille#18 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City - #19
Frisson Espresso#19 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City - #20
Liberty Bagels Midtown#20 of 13,315 Places to Eat in New York City
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