23 Best Restaurants in New York City, New York

Even with long waits and loud noise levels, most people agree that it's worth the effort (make reservations) to experience restaurateur Keith McNally's flagship, a perfectly New York reproduction of a Parisian brasserie. Like the decor, entrées recreate French classics: Gruyère-topped onion soup, steak frites, and icy tiers of crab, oysters, and other pristine shellfish.

The old soul of the Lincoln Center neighborhood seems to inhabit the tiled and mirrored walls of this lively, cramped French bistro, where West End Avenue regulars are greeted with kisses, and musicians and audience members pack the room after a concert. The bar's always hopping, and the menu includes classics like steak tartare, moules frites (mussels and fries), and lobster roll. There's also a popular weekend brunch.

Celebrity-chef Daniel Boulud offers one of the most iconic and elegant dining experiences in Manhattan in an equally elegant, and formal (jacket required), dining room with some serious artwork. The four-course prix-fixe menu (there are à la carte selections in the lounge and bar) is predominantly French, with such modern classics as turbot on Himalayan salt and a duo of dry-aged Black Angus beef featuring red wine–braised short ribs and seared rib eye with mushrooms and Gorgonzola cream. Vegetarian menus are also available. Equally impressive are the professional service, extensive wine list, and masterful cocktails. Don't forget the decadent desserts and overflowing cheese trolley. 

Chef célèbre Jean-Georges Vongerichten's prix-fixe–only culinary flagship in the Trump International Hotel and Tower focuses wholly on his spectacular dishes, which either approach the limits of the taste universe (perhaps foie-gras brûlée with fig jam and ice-wine reduction) or are models of simplicity (say, toasted egg yolk and caviar). The dining room is sleek but understated, with floor-to-ceiling windows adding sparkle to the white leather furnishings, white walls, and white linens; fresh-cut flowers adorn every table. Exceedingly personalized service and a well-selected wine list contribute to an unforgettable meal. Jean-Georges no longer serves lunch. For lunch and brunch, try the less formal and less expensive front room, Nougatine.

Set in the heart of Midtown, and located on the second floor of One Vanderbilt, a glassy new 67-story skyscraper that dwarfs the nearby Chrysler Building (views of which you can appreciate from the restaurant's massive windows), Le Pavillon is named for a French restaurant in 1940s Manhattan that first defined French cuisine in the United States and is itself redefining fine dining in Midtown Manhattan. Immediately hailed a culinary oasis, world-renowned chef Daniel Boulud’s newest restaurant is also a soothing oasis, with its understated, neutral interiors, 57-foot ceilings, grand views, and lush greenery and forest-like setting complete with 20-foot-tall olive trees. The menu is prix-fixe and focuses on locally-sourced vegetables and seafood. The Oysters Vanderbilt is named for the railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who built Grand Central Terminal. À la carte menu items are available in the bar and lounge.

Yakitori—tasty morsels on skewers—has long been a staple of Japanese cuisine. As the name would suggest, this restaurant takes the age-old concept and runs with it in a faintly Gallic direction, its open kitchen churning out grilled bites on skewers, artfully arranged on plates, or, in the case of the pommes dauphines (crispy spheres of potato), wrapped in paper cones with a delectable dipping sauce. Don't miss the cocktails on tap and delicate desserts, both of which also have a creative East-West slant.

One of the first trendy spots in SoHo, this arty French restaurant with closely packed tables and booths has yet to lose its touch, either in the kitchen or with the atmosphere. Expect a chic bar scene and bistro-inspired dishes, with oysters and salads to start and pastas, fish, and meat options for mains.

Acclaimed French chef Daniel Boulud, known for upscale New York City eatery Daniel, shows diners his more casual side with this lively, contemporary bistro and wine bar. The menu emphasizes charcuterie, including terrines and pâtés designed by Parisian charcutier Gilles Verot, as well as traditional French bistro dishes like steak frites and coq au vin. The 500-bottle wine list is heavy on wines from Burgundy and the Rhône Valley. The three-course prix-fixe menu ($68) from the entire menu is a good value.

The world's most famous French chef, Alain Ducasse, brings to New York a Right Bank bistro—with cozy, red-velour banquettes and wall lamps illuminating each table—plucked straight from the City of Light, with a menu that celebrates beloved French dishes rather than reinvents. And that's okay, especially when onion soup, pate, filet mignon and other classics are so well executed. It's not exactly cheap for bistro fare, but it is a delicious reminder that beloved flavors of Paris also sparkle in Manhattan.

Manhattan's "who's who" in business, politics, and the art world come to hobnob at Daniel Boulud's café-in-name-only, where the food and service are top-notch. The menu is divided into four parts: La Tradition features classic French dishes such as roasted duck breast Montmorency with cherry chutney; Le Potager tempts with creations inspired by local farmers' markets; La Saison follows the rhythms of the season; and Le Voyage reinterprets cuisines of the world. Start with a drink at the chic Bar Pleiades.

Chef Ignacio Mattos put himself in the pantheon of living New York chefs with his restaurant Estela and now he's adding to the legend with this classic Gallic-inspired bistro on the border where the Lower East Side and Chinatown meet. Mattos is a master at layering flavors and his menu here is no exception with smoky coal-grilled steak au poivre and a boudin blanc sausage wading in a shallow pool of juniper-spiked sauerkraut.

In two elegant dining rooms, star chef Daniel Boulud's modern French bistro serves classic, exquisitely prepared dishes like Atlantic salmon, hanger steak, and the pricey "db" hamburger— stuffed with braised short ribs, foie gras, and black truffles and credited with kick-starting the gourmet burger craze. Although the bistro might not be the trendy destination it once was, it's still a worthy experience, especially for its three-course prix-fixe menu. The service is friendly without being overbearing, and the restaurant welcomes pre- or post-theater guests for dinner, cocktails, and dessert.

Entering the large, rustic-elegant dining room of Gabriel Kreuther invites a sense of calm as well as anticipation for a memorable meal—and it delivers. The renowned namesake chef celebrates his native Alsatian culinary influences with sublime tasting menus of three or four courses, or an inspired chef's tasting menu of at least seven courses (wine pairing optional, and worth the splurge). GK's haute cuisine, attentive service, and even its lovely handmade ceramic dishware are all part of an exceptional dining experience. Here's your chance to taste cuisine by a chef who's earned many of the world's most prestigious fine-dining accolades, including a James Beard award, Relais & Chateaux membership, and two Michelin stars. Note: if dinner is too pricey, enjoy a four-course prix-fixe lunch or à la carte menu, or opt for more casual dining in the inviting bar.

Despite the name, it's not just soup. Midtown office workers and in-the-know out-of-towners keep this casual French restaurant bustling for the ever-popular assortment of bistro classics like crepes, omelets, quiches, sandwiches, and croques madame and monsieur. Expect to find mussels and other seafood, along with solid wine and cocktail menus. There's often a line at lunchtime, so a reservation is recommended.

A bright yellow facade makes this upscale bistro easy to find, and inside it's warm and cozy. Sushi and tuna tartare have been added to the French and Italian menu, which includes traditional onion soup, bouillabaisse, steak au poivre, cheese soufflé, and homemade ravioli. The best bet for dessert is profiteroles—in this case, scoops of vanilla ice cream covered in a thin crust of chocolate.

Food-media-darling chef Andrew Carmellini (who has several other restaurants around town, including Locanda Verde and the Dutch) goes Gallic at this upscale bistro with lots of cushy booths inside and fancy mini "igloos" for outside dining in winter. There's no culinary trickery, just straightforward and very satisfying French fare along the lines of roasted halibut with saffron-spiked potatoes, a silky beef tartare, and excellent steak frites. For something more casual, grab a seat at the all-day café and bakery, where breakfast is the sleeper hit.

With great food and a convenient location near several Broadway theaters, this brasserie is perpetually packed. The French creations are always impressive, including the bouillabaisse, the signature dish of the region for which the restaurant is named—a mélange of mussels, shrimp, and whitefish in a fragrant broth. Leave room for the fresh-baked desserts and farmhouse cheeses. Pre- and posttheater dining works well here, and weekends bring great brunch specials.

New York hotspots change often, but this spot has managed to maintain its quality and flair since 1980: it still feels like the spot in TriBeCa to rendezvous for lunch or dinner, grab a drink, and get a late-night bite. The neo–art deco room and chill outdoor tables stay full daily with local office workers and nightly with residential revelers who adore the classic French-brasserie vibes. Cocktails are expertly made, and the pleasant service and well-chosen wine list are always in style. Menu highlights include crisp Nicoise salad, buttery croque monsieur, NY strip steak with fries, and grilled trout almondine.

A destination for those who know and love food and celebrate diversity, Yatenga serves traditional French bistro fare. With menu items prepared by a star chef and served by genuinely welcoming wait staff, this rustic-chic eatery is perfect for happy hour or dinner. For your main, the chef Gambas special (made with creamy macaroni bechamel, garlic sauce, and large shrimp) or the steak sandwich are sure to delight. Pair either with the signature Yatenga cocktail. Then after your meal, head next door for live entertainment at Shrine.