Destination: New YorkWhen to Visit: Year-roundGreat for: Food + Drinks
Written By The Exploreist
By Todd Maurer | Updated: June 23, 2024
“It’s all touristy stuff there. Don’t get your hopes too high!” This is our reaction whenever someone asks us for recommendations on the best restaurants in Midtown Manhattan. However, after the delightful experience at Gabriel Kreuther, we decided to explore this part of town and compiled a list of the best places to eat, from sushi spots to old favorite steakhouses and hidden-in-plain-sight dining destinations — there is something for everyone.
1: Le Bernardin Privé
Location: 155 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019
Founded by siblings Maguy and Gilbert, who grew up in a small fishing village in Brittany, France, Le Bernardin has been serving fresh seafood since 1972 with a simple philosophy: fish is the star of the plate. In 2019, Le Bernardin was rated by La Liste as one of the world’s 50 best restaurants, alongside many of its peers, including Eleven Madison Park. First-timers? You can’t go wrong with the signature salmon, served raw with Moroccan seasonings, seared with a northern Indian spice blend, or in pot-au-feu, a French beef stew. Or order their Maine lobster tail, langoustines, monkfish, peekytoe crab cake, and the “apple” — an apple confit core surrounded by glazed brown butter mousse — for dessert.
2: Kochi
Location: 652 10th Ave, New York, NY 10036
The idea that tasting menus are slow, showy, and expensive doesn’t apply at this Korean restaurant, where service is friendly and quick. The dining room is sleek, with walnut tables, gray leather chairs, brass globe lights, and an open kitchen as the centerpiece. Chef Sungchul Shim taps into his Korean roots and fine-dining pedigree to create a solid menu featuring pine nut- and potato milk soup, salmon bibimbap, and charcoal-grilled Spanish mackerel. “Kochi” is Korean for “skewer,” which is another highlight here! The team churns out an array of impressive grilled and skewered bites that come out like clockwork. The tasting menu is $145 per person.
3: sushi 35 west
Location: 232W W 35th St, New York, NY 10001
This tiny spot is a recent addition to the city’s sushi scene, but it has already become one of the most exciting restaurants in town. Its fish is fastidiously sourced, expertly prepared, and reasonably priced. The place is not easy to find. Do not enter the office building marked 224 West 35th Street, or take the elevator and peep into someone else’s office. Instead, pass that address by a few storefronts and take the staircase to the second floor, where a friendly voice might call hello from the kitchen behind a sliding window. Order the salmon roe, the sea urchin, the mackerel, and the striped jack! Or opt for the set that comes with a couple of rolls or the 35-piece omakase.
4: Keens Steakhouse
Locations: 72 W 36th St, New York, NY 10018.
This classic New York chophouse has been in Herald Square since 1885! When it first started, the restaurant had 45,000 clay pipes lining the ceilings, pipes once smoked by customers after dinner. Today, you can still recognize the restaurant’s past from the antiques like grandfather clocks, old guns, and even the playbill Abraham Lincoln allegedly held when he was shot. While the place bills itself as a steakhouse, it’s more like a museum. Order the classic mutton chop, once a steakhouse staple but a tougher find today, or steaks like porterhouse, chateaubriand, T-bone, or a classic surf and turf with Maine lobster and filet mignon. There is also a full raw bar.
Read More: The Best Steakhouses in New York City
5: The Modern
Location: 9 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019
The Modern is a two-star Michelin restaurant located on the first floor of MoMA. The floor-to-ceiling windows allow diners to feel surrounded by the museum’s lush garden and sculptures, and the floral arrangements adorn the restaurant’s interior. The draw here is a 6-course menu, priced at $275 per person for dinner and $195 for wine pairings. The good part is that it is a non-tipping restaurant, meaning you pay what you see on the menu plus tax. We went there in 2019 for my pal’s birthday, and at the end of the night, we each received a nicely printed menu of the dishes we had, along with a “Happy Birthday” message and the name of our birthday boy.
6: Ocean Prime
Location: 123 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019
Located on the same avenue as The Modern and MoMA, Ocean Prime is one of those places you would go before watching a Broadway show or bringing your clients to sign a big deal. It is classy, sophisticated, and modern, with world-class food and a fantastic wine list. They are known for their seafood and perfectly grilled steaks, but it is the seafood that stands out. Order the Chilean sea bass, which comes with whipped potatoes and Champagne truffle sauce, or the smooth, creamy, excellently seasoned lobster bisque. In addition to being one of the area’s best-looking bars, it has some pretty good co*cktails like a whiskey clover with honey water, a rum punch with chocolate bitters, and a pineapple-infused tequila picante.
7: Hillstone
Location: 378 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10010
While the prices are high even by Midtown standards, Hillstone delivers adequately to your expectations and occasionally exceeds them. The menu features crowd-pleasing items like sushi, USDA Prime steaks, and handcrafted co*cktails that are unlikely to make anyone feel awkward, uncomfortable, or challenged. Their French dip sandwich is our favorite, made with thinly sliced prime rib layered between a house-made French roll and served with a side of French fries. The desserts are worth the price, too — we ordered a key lime pie and a five-nut brownie topped with ice cream. The restaurant has a dress code: hats, tank tops, flip-flops, and athletic attire might be too casual for the place.
8: Sea Fire Grill
This massive Midtown American seafood restaurant is owned by the team behind Benjamin Steakhouse, who take the same approach to seafood as they do to steak: keep things simple and let high-quality ingredients shine. The raw bar is a good place to start. Order some Long Island littleneck clams with a sweet herb mignonette, and there is a daily selection of East and West Coast oysters with pink peppercorn mignonette. A “fresh catches” section offers various sea bounties year-round. For entrees, get the whole Maine lobster stuffed with crab, the pan-roasted day-boat scallops with celery root puree and caviar beurre blanc, or the fabulous smoked fish plate.
9: Sushi By Bou
We went to Sushi By Bou to celebrate my friend’s birthday and were blown away by their omakase menu. For $100 per person, you get 17 pieces of sushi crafted with quality fish using traditional “edomae” techniques. There is also a cheaper, 12-course option at $50. The dining experience is timed: 30 minutes for the $50 menu and an hour for the $100 menu. It may sound more stressful than getting through airport security when you’re late for your flight, and they only hold your seat for two minutes after your reserved time. The entire meal doesn’t feel rushed and is paced so that you’re handed the next piece as soon as you finish. In the summer, the place also has an outdoor sushi bar!
10: Gabriel Kreuther
Location: 41 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036
My pal took me to Gabriel Kreuther in 2020 to celebrate my birthday. The founder, Chef Gabriel, combines his masterful classic French training and his love of New York City to create an invitingly luxurious dining experience in the heart of Manhattan. Through a secret door along West 42nd Street, you’ll step into a chic, airy dining room with salvaged wood beams and a crane crystal chandelier. If you are lucky to sit near the windows, you’ll be dining with a beautiful view of Bryant Park. Here, a three-course prix-fixe is $165, and the chef’s tasting menu costs $265 per person. Your meal will start with a basket of classic Austrian Gugelhupf, a light sponge-like cake flecked with raisins and citrus.
11: Aquavit
Location: 65 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022
Located in Park Avenue Tower between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue, Aquavit is a two-Michelin-starred Scandinavian outpost serving exquisite seasonal Nordic cuisine. Its renovation in 2013 showcases the clean aesthetic of Nordic design. Chef Emma Bengtsson offers more options on the refreshed menu, and the expanded bar area serves delicacies like crab fritters and a fried cod sandwich. You can opt for the chef’s tasting menu or a more abbreviated tasting menu in the dining room. They also offer an à la carte 2- or 3-course lunch and wine pairings, of course. The flavors are typical of the region: light and fresh, showcasing the ingredients.
12: THE GRILL
Location: 99 E 52nd St, New York, NY 10022
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson brought new light to the former and iconic Four Seasons inside the Seagram Building, blending modern touches with nostalgic reverence. Now called THE GRILL, this landmark restaurant features a midcentury menu inspired by Delmonico’s and 21 Club, offering continental classics like filet Peconic, lobster Newburg, and three iterations of Dover sole: horseradish meunière, grilled Riviera, and Neptune’s crown. Since its opening in 2017, THE GRILL has received rave reviews, earning three stars from The New York Times and being named the No. 1 restaurant in New York and the best restaurant in America by multiple publications.
13: Il Corso
Location: 54 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019
Conveniently located a short subway ride from Herald Square, this small eatery stands out from what the city has to offer. Chef Mario Di Chiara churns out perfectly grilled rib eye on a bed of arugula, veal piccata paired with mushrooms and Asiago cheese, and risotto with fresh radicchio and shrimp, all well worth the 25-minute preparation time. The menu is complemented by a great selection of moderately priced wines, a full bar, and a warm ambiance. The restaurant was founded in 1993 by two native Italian women from the south of Italy. “Il Corso” means “the path” in Italian, and the restaurant’s goal is to guide its guests on a path to a wonderful dining experience.
14: Barolo East
Location: 214 E 49th St, New York, NY 10017
Barolo East in busy Midtown East prides itself on Northern Italian specialties and an extensive wine list in a rustic-chic setting. If this is your first time here, start with dishes like Scampi O Sole Mio made with sautéed shrimp and sundried tomatoes or Cozze E Vongole, steamed mussels and clams in garlic and white wine. Their handmade pasta sets this Midtown gem apart, with everything from Fettuccine with Bolognese sauce and Roman-style semolina dumplings with gorgonzola cheese and sage to risotto with porcini mushrooms and truffle oil. For main courses, opt for veal scaloppini in a brown peppercorn sauce, sea bass with capers and white wine, or grilled Prime sirloin steak.
15: Quality Meats
Location: 57 W 58th St, New York, NY 10019
Michael Stillman, son of Alan Stillman, replaced the Manhattan Ocean Club, a 22-year-old seafood palace in Midtown, with Quality Meats, a hip, modern steakhouse for younger generations. The restaurant sources its beef from two respected purveyors: Strassburger Meats and Milton Abeles. The menu includes filet mignon, rib eye, lamb, and custom cuts like the 64-ounce monster cut attached to a Flintstones-sized rib. The warm tones, exposed brick, and Edison bulbs add a rustic charm, while the thick cuts of premium beef, seared to perfection, keep loyal patrons coming back for more. Quality Meats is a solid choice whether you’re there for a date night or a lunch meeting.
16: Marea
Location: 240 Central Park S, New York, NY 10019
Marea is one of those restaurants you know will be incredible the moment you walk in. Yes, Chef Michael White makes some of the best pasta in the city, and their lobster burrata, polipo (grilled octopus served with smoked potatoes and pickled red onions) and bistecca are some of the best things we’ve eaten this year. Most people know their Italian dishes are good, but few realize it is a great seafood restaurant, too. Actually, it is seafood first, Italian second. The menu highlights the best of the sea, with fresh oysters, pan-seared halibut, sea scallops, Dover soles, grilled swordfish, and more, complemented by a fine selection of wines from around the world.
17: La Grande Boucherie
Location: 225 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10003
Located in the heart of Union Square, Boucherie is a traditional French brasserie and steakhouse with about 300 seats! Inside, wooden-framed mirrors and original Belle Époque posters cover every wall, and seating options include white marble and wood bistro tables, leather booths, and a 32-foot handmade pewter bar, all of which make the space feel timeless and intimate. There is also a large wooden bar overseen by Anthony Bohlinger, who churns out French-inspired co*cktails and absinthe drips. Expect French classics like escargots gratiné, moules à la Normande, and house-made pasta! We swung by this place on a Sunday night in sweatpants, which brings up another good thing about this place: how little they care about the dress code.
18: Indian Accent
Location: 123 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019
Inside Indian Accent’s chic, streamlined space, you’ll find a stylish bar, a few cozy nooks for date nights, and long banquettes to accommodate larger parties. On looks alone, this Midtown restaurant is closer to fine dining than fun-loving, with the gold-leafed wall as the only semblance of Indian flash! Chef Manish Mehrotra reinterprets nostalgic Indian dishes with a modern and global touch while maintaining traditional integrity. The menu features everything from baby back ribs with coconut milk and pork dumplings to crispy baby squid served with newspaper cones of crispy rice and an upscale appetizer sampler with a host of mix-and-match house chutneys.
19: Sakagura
Sakagura means “sake brewery” in Japanese, and this East Village gem, based on its name, is a collection of all things sake. You’ll step into an expansive space filled with screens, plants, and smooth blond woodwork, where the light is dimmed for a Zen environment. While the booths are reserved for diners — often Midtown suits and their clients — the elevated bar is inviting enough for an after-work drink. We went to Sakagura on a cold night, hoping to warm ourselves up with a drink and some Japanese bites. They offer a $100 signature course, a sake or premium sake pairing for $50 and $88, and an “Early Bird Special,” which includes a hand-roll sushi set and a sashimi rice bowl.
Read More: The Best Japanese Restaurants in NYC, According to a New York Foodie
20: Oceana
Location: 120 W 49th St, New York, NY 10020
Under the guidance of the Livanos family and managing partner Paul McLaughlin, Oceana has been serving New Yorkers exceptional seafood since 1992. Highlights include pan-roasted baby octopus with slow-cooked cranberry beans, tamarind-glazed sablefish with spring peas and ramps, and ink-dark cuttlefish risotto with fiddlehead ferns and spring onion. Soft lighting, stained glass, and ample greenery create an energetic, inviting space. Oceana also has a 70-seat cafe with a marble bar. Spring and summer add an al fresco dining area, and the new West Park Beer Garden can host up to 200 patrons! Also featured is a six-seat chef’s counter, where you can enjoy a direct view of the kitchen.
21: La Grenouille
Location: 3 E 52nd St, New York, NY 10022
Established in 1962, La Grenouille welcomes everyone to enjoy classic French cuisine in an elegant setting filled with breathtaking floral arrangements. There is also a beautiful three-tiered skylight room with a grand fireplace, where St. Exupery wrote part of The Little Prince in the 1940s. The dining room features red velvet banquettes, polished wood veneer, and softly lit tables that bathe the space in rose and apricot hues. The food is excellent: delicate ravioli stuffed with chopped lobster in creamy, tart beurre blanc, seared beef tenderloin served with foie gras and pommes soufflées, and for dessert, the floating island is heavenly under a cloud of spun caramel.
22: Valerie
Location: 45 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036
A crowd-pleasing menu and a central location make Valerie a great destination for after-work hangouts, business dinners, and weekend brunches. The space pays homage to Manhattan’s Golden Age, with decor reflecting a nostalgic, artful mix of old and new, moody and refined. Think antique smoked mirrors, vintage murals of burlesque dancers, and a ceiling covered in Chesterfield-inspired cushions. Some drinks also skew to the theme, with recipes from the Prohibition era and an entire menu focused on European-style gin-and-tonic service. If you’re feeling brave, try their co*cktails made with ingredients like coffee-pecan bitters and tomatillo-infused mescal.
23: Frida Midtown
Location: 214 E 52nd St, New York, NY 10022
If you’re looking for Mexican-Peruvian food in Manhattan, look no further than Frida Midtown! This gorgeous restaurant is casual yet elegant, with plenty of greenery on the walls and subtle red tones throughout the 50-person space. Chef Emerith Betanzo, with a career spanning two continents and over 20 years of experience in some of the city’s best restaurants, churns out delights like New Zealand mussels in Cusqueña beer sauce, Portuguese octopus with roasted rainbow potatoes, filet mignon with sautéed red onion and tomatoes, and, of course, guacamole and tacos. Emerith selects the ingredients himself from the market daily to ensure quality.
24: The Smith
Location: 1900 Broadway, New York, NY 10023
With four locations in the city, this American brasserie from restaurateurs Glenn Harris and Jeffrey Lefcourt has one simple mission: make people happy. It surely does, with crowd-pleasing bistro classics, seasonal fare, craft co*cktails, draft beers, and a shortlist of wines in a 170-seat dining room with Art Deco pennants and subway-tile floors. Plus, it works closely with local farmers and purveyors to ensure the freshness of the ingredients served on your plate. Whether it’s an after-work bite, a birthday party, or an I-don’t-want-to-cook night, The Smith has got you covered. Their Upper West Side location also has spacious outdoor space and is nicely heated in winter.
25: Sushi Yasuda
Location: 204 E 43rd St, New York, NY 10017
There are two ways to have a mind-blowing sushi experience at this one-star Michelin restaurant. First, sit at the sushi counter. Second, order the omakase. The rice is excellent, slightly warm with the right amount of vinegar, and the fish is caught fresh. Seated, you’ll be handed a short menu and a sheet with the day’s sushi choices. Just tell them you’ll have the omakase, and the chef will serve you 20 pieces of the best fish available that day! Expect to pay $100 to $130 per person without drinks, and it’s worth every penny. You can also order a la carte if you’re looking for a cheaper option, but the pieces on the a la carte menu are small, and it will take quite a few to fill you up.
26: Grand Central Oyster Bar
Location: 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017
Grand Central Terminal is one of New York’s most-visited attractions, packed with history, architecture, dining, and shopping all under one magnificent roof. Photograph the beautiful ceiling, people-watch, or grab some damn good oysters from the oyster bar. Service is lacking, the prices are sky-high, and the dining room is always filled with loud tourists, but this landmark is still worth visiting if you know where to be: the original bar and its surrounding counters! You can choose from 50 kinds of fresh oysters on a good day, and the oyster pan roast is still made to order the old-fashioned way. The menu is extensive, and if you have a hard time deciding what to get, go for the seafood platter.
27: ilili Restaurant
Location: 236 5th Ave, New York, NY 10001
When my pal and I found ourselves in Midtown on a Tuesday night, ilili presented itself as one of the dining options, and it was awesome. Since 2007, ilili has introduced the passion and generosity of the Lebanese table to curious New Yorkers while comforting native Lebanese guests with a sophisticated blend of modern and traditional Lebanese cuisine. Expertly crafted by owner and chef Philippe Massoud, the dishes reflect influences from the span of the ancient Silk Road trade routes. Service is great, though it can be lacking during busy hours. We loved the Mixed Grills, a feast of chicken shish taouk, beef kebab, kafta, lamb chops, and grilled vegetables!
Other great restaurants in Midtown, NYC
In addition to the restaurants above, there are many other great options in Midtown New York City that deserve a visit.
Empellon (Mexican, $$$)
Trattoria Trecolori (Italian, $$)
Bea (American, $$)
La Pecora Bianca Midtown (Italian, $$)
Parker & Quinn (American, $$)
Totto Ramen Midtown East (Ramen, $$)
Hutong New York (Chinese, $$)
Sushi Lab Rooftop (Sushi, $$)
Kurumazushi (Sushi, $$$)
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