There are plenty of 'it' restaurants that appear and disappear in New York every year. From the years I've visited and now that I have lived here almost a decade, there are some mainstays that stay on my list as they give delight, aren't too sceney, but have great food and service. You won't see these on any of the 'hottest NY restaurants' list, but locals know what they're talking about.
List of my top favorite 6 mainstays:
Extra Virgin: whatever the meal, Extra Virgin is always a great destination for a nice meal- for date night, brunch, dinners for out of town guests or a casual drink and apps with the girls. The menu is approachable, laid back, but refined. I’ve had anything from burgers to scallops, salads, omelettes. If you go on Tuesday nights, my best friend loves their meatloaf, which sounds odd, but I can attest that the bourbon sweetened with fried onion rings creation is pretty great. Top this off with their Extra Virgin cocktail that has St. Germain and lime or a nice glass or rose, and your West Village adventure is already off to a great start. Address: 259 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10014
Balthazar- on every list for New York dining is Balthazar. It’s one of the few restaurants that is so popular with tourists but yet you will still see locals enjoying the onion tart, the steak frites, the mussels, and even that delicious banana dessert. I recommend Balthazar for a celebration. Personally, the French vibe and beautiful decor is best at Christmas time. They also serve one heck of a good Irish Coffee. If you don't want to wait in line, you can sometimes find a seat at the bar, which makes for great conversation and ambience. Make reservations in advance. Address: 80 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
Jane- I have two words for you- STEAK. SALAD. Ever since I had my first NYC job, I’ve went to Jane and had this amazing salad. Think goat cheese, fried onions, steak over a bed of arugula with a yummy balsamic dressing. Yum. Many go for brunch, but I prefer going on a weekday lunch (perhaps when you’re taking the day off and shopping in Soho). Jane is related to the Smith restaurants but is miles ahead in cuisine Address: 100 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012
Odeon- Tried and true brasserie favorite in TriBeCa. Yes, there’s tons of beautiful dining choices in TriBeCa (Locanda Verde, Tinys, Mr Chow, American Cut, etc etc) but Odeon is cozy, unpretentious and a NY mainstay for good food and good people watching. Food is French bistro-esque and great for a nicoise salad, anything with goat cheese, steak frites, or poulet. Address: 145 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013
Salumeria Rosi- Upper West Side isn’t necessarily known for its food, compared to the downtown neighborhoods; however, if I just wanted to have some of the most beautiful, fresh Italian food, Rosi is where it’s at. Ingredients are flown in straight from Italy and features wines and prosciutto that will turn any day from wrong to right. Try our fav- the lasagna! It’s a teeny tiny place on UWS near the 72nd subway station, but you’ll be glad you made the trip. Start with an Aperol switch and then switch to a Barbera or Barolo. Address: 283 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10023
Ippudo- before there were hundreds of posh ramen places all over NYC, there was one- Ippudo. I’ve been to a lot of the other ramen establishments in the city and truly, none of them close to Ippudo. On a cold day, get in line early, order some pork buns and settle in for the best ramen of your life topped with pork belly. There is a reason that a decade after it opened, Ippudo is still at the top of food lists. I’ve never been to new location, but I’m partial to the East Village location near Astor Place. Wash it down with an ice cold Sapporo. Address: 65 4th Avenue
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