An genuine, cross-borough food journey in New York reveals a city characterized by its unique diversity, historicity, and food obsession. From century-old establishments to Michelin-star restaurants and beloved street food vendors, travel in the five boroughs will ensure you experience the best tastes the city can offer.
Manhattan’s Historic Classics
Visiting Manhattan’s famous food places will not only give one excellent food but history lessons too. The Tavern on the Green in Central Park gives one a spectacular view thanks to its floor to ceiling glass walls, and its history dates back to the 1870s when it was a sheep pen converted into a restaurant in 1934. Some of the signature dishes include sesame crusted salmon Niçoise and the tavern burger that weighs a staggering 10 oz.
Serendipity 3 has become one of the legends of mid-century New York as a go-to spot for pre-theater meals in Times Square with its Frozen Hot Chocolate dessert and interesting tower snacks. In the Financial District, Fraunces Tavern, which was established in 1719, provides a taste of Revolutionary War history where George Washington and his fellow Founding Fathers used to meet. The dining room of the tavern is popular for its traditional British meal menu featuring beer-battered fish and chips and pot pies.
The place is known for its succulent pastrami on rye sandwich which consists of cured beef brisket piled on a rye with mustard and pickles.
Exceptional Fine Dining & Innovative Ideas
The upscale dining establishments in New York lead the culinary world in creativity. In Elcielo New York, Chef Juan Manuel Barrientos, who was awarded Michelin Star rating, needs no introduction for his elaborate 13-course Colombian food theme called The Journey. This amazing dining experience includes unique dishes such as the duck with passion-fruit hollandaise and a dessert sample that involves a coffee and chocolate treatment for clients.
For sushi aficionados, the real allure of Sushi Nakazawa in Greenwich Village is the offer of a 20-course omakase experience by Chef Daisuke Nakazawa, where some of the finest cuts of bluefin tuna and Japanese beef is served with a touch of truffles on top. In Midtown, Le Bernardin attracts gourmands who love seafood, with Chef Eric Ripert creating a four-course menu focused on anything from raw to minimally cooked dishes featuring seafood.
Hidden Gems Beyond Manhattan
Besides the established places in Manhattan, the outer boroughs also surprise with their culinary offerings:
- Brooklyn Pizza Legends: Grimaldi’s in Dumbo serves thin-crust classic pizzas, baked in a coal-fired oven that reaches 900°F.
- Unique Food in Queens: For genuine Tibetan beef momo dumplings and mung beans, head to Lhasa Fast Food in Jackson Heights.
- Real Latin Cuisine in the Bronx: Taqueria La Asqueta has exceptional al pastor burritos and soft pork tacos rolled in flour tortillas. Down the block, the Artuso Pastry Shop creates authentic Italian desserts, such as cannoli and butter cookies, with more than 70 years of experience.
Staten Island Favorites: Denino’s Pizzeria & Tavern is known for its crunchy thin-crust pizzas topped with meatballs. Lakruwana offers the unique Sri Lankan meal known as lamprais, made of rice, protein, and spices, and baked inside banana leaves.
