There are hundreds of reasons to visit New York, perhaps thousands, and there are few places on earth that can come close to the majesty and mystery that the Big Apple offers the millions of tourists that come to visit every year.
If the main driving interest to your trip is food, then you have come to the right place. A conservative estimate of the number of places to eat in New York has the number somewhere in the region of 20,000+. That’s quite something.
That means you could eat dinner in a different restaurant every day for 54 years and never visit the same place twice. Unfortunately, your culinary trip to the city isn’t likely to last that long so you’ll have to take some solid advice as to where to head to first.
New York caters to just about every taste you can imagine. This is because New Yorkers are a mixed bunch, and they like fine food and won’t accept anything less, and if they are unhappy, they’ll let you know.
In terms of the various locations and styles of restaurants, in other words, factors that don’t directly relate to the quality of the food served, New York has it all, whether it’s a fine dining establishment with restaurant furniture to match or a greasy hole in the wall that just happens to serve the finest pizza this side of the tunnel.
Porter House Bar and Grill
You’ll find this classic restaurant on the Columbus Circle, and it’s a location that has an atmosphere that matches its culinary prowess. It’s grand, and the service is exemplary.
Michael Lomonaco’s restaurant needs to be on your itinerary, so get your reservations in early so as to avoid disappointment. As the name suggests, you are going to want to try the Porter House steaks, and you should look to accompany these with buttermilk onion rings and try to get a seat near the window.
The food is a little on the expensive side, but not outrageously so, and frankly, that should be the least of your concerns. You are, after all, on the foodie holiday of a lifetime.
Katz’s Deli
This place is a New York institution and one that’s been around since the late 1880s, so you need to visit to see what all the fuss is about. When you enter, you should be ready to take on the crowds, as it’s very popular, and you may feel as if you’ve been here before.
That’s because Katz’s has featured in many films and TV shows, most famously it’s the place where Meg Ryan had her ‘moment’ in When Harry Met Sally and you are most certainly going to want to have one of what she’s having.
Pick up a sandwich as their famous Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray Soda and enjoy. Their pastrami and corned beef are legendary, and as far as authentic New York delis, this is the place to be.
Delmonico’s
Delmonico’s is hard to beat if you are looking for a restaurant with history and great food. They’ve been in business since 1827, and it’s a location that needs to be on your culinary trip across New York.
It’s a massive location, the prices are reasonable, and the expansive Grill Bar Menu is a good place to start. We’d recommend the Delmonico steak as a dish that won’t disappoint. You could make things a little lighter and try their eggs benedict, and all the dishes here were invented by Delmonico’s original chef.
Why not follow that up with a classic New York cheesecake? Here the options are traditional, and they pack a punch that will live long in the memory.
River Cafe
If you are looking for a dining experience that comes with a romantic view, then the River Cafe, situated on Water Street, is the place for you. The scene you’ll encounter while enjoying your meal is like something out of the movies.
This is a great spot for breakfast or brunch; that way, you’ll get the full benefit of the location and the views. The dishes here have a great variety, and you should definitely check out the rabbit bolognese or the Nova Scotia lobster.
It sits just under the Brooklyn Bridge and is just the kind of place you imagined you’d be eating when you started planning your food-engorged trip to New York.
Dame
Do you like seafood? Of course, you do, then check out Dame. This stylish restaurant sits in the Greenwich Village and offers a delightful menu that offers great variety.
The seafood-focused menu is seasonal, and the fish and chips are to die for, quite like anything you may have had before. The wine list on offer is off the charts and playfully arranged into two tranches, James Bond or Austin Powers, so if you feel suave and sophisticated, you know which road to take.
The baked oysters are another known favorite, and by all accounts, the lobster salad hits the spot; and basically, you can’t go wrong if you are a fan of seafood, in which case your trip to New York has to involve a trip to Dame.
These are just a taster menu of options to take on during your trip to enjoy New York’s tasty treats, and frankly, any corner you turn will probably offer you a delicious morsel or two.