When dining in New York City, you want a sure thing, time and money being what they are. Luckily there are thousands and thousands of lining our streets—but finding the right one can be a lot of work. To save you from doing all that research, we've charted a course to the 81 most essential places to eat in NYC. You're welcome.Local HeroesThe winds have shifted in the dining world, with focused, personal restaurants grabbing diners' attention away from international celebrity chefs. These days, bragging rights belong to those who have had Missy Robbins' spaghetti with lemon and pine nuts at , in Williamsburg, and Dan Kluger's crunchy zucchini fries with lemon-Parmesan dressing at , in Greenwich Village. , in Soho, is another fantastic bistro; its European-inspired menu changes daily.Other chef-driven endeavors include Michelin-starred for killer Thai food (don't miss the green mango salad), for vibrant Hawaiian (get big-eye tuna poke and pineapple upside-down cake) and for anything Ignacio Mattos happens to be crafting. At plant-based , Amanda Cohen is a wizard when it comes to vegetables. And is there anything Andrew Carmellini can't do? The highly respected chef is consistently putting out great food at a clutch of cosmopolitan restaurants: , , and , each of which has its own distinct personality., in the Flatiron District, is Justin Smillie's domain, showcasing his California heritage. The crispy duck wings and ricotta gnudi are transcendent. At , in Bay Ridge, Rawia Bishara and her daughter, Jumana, turn out spectacular Middle Eastern fare, including out-of-this-world hummus, fattoush, falafel and kibbe.No doubt you've heard of David Chang, of Momofuku fame. His talented crew of unsung chefs do the work at his , , (featuring a ritzy tasting menu) and the intimate , serving great drinks and an evolving menu of surefire items like sourdough crepes and cold fried chicken. And if you haven't heard of Flynn McGarry, you should know his restaurant , a tiny sensation on the Lower East Side, presenting a multicourse menu in a dinner-party setting.Also on the Lower East Side are exciting yet unassuming spots: , with a New American tasting menu (and a Michelin star), and , a natural-wine bar with small plates like beef tartare with smoked cheddar and maitake with stracciatella.Nouvelle FrenchFrench food is making waves again. , in Tribeca, was among the biggest openings of 2018, manned by Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson, the original chefs at (which is still a thriving and trendy bistro, by the way). A few blocks away is , a gorgeous all-day café inside the Roman and Williams Guild store where chef Marie-Aude Rose cooks classic Gallic dishes. Meanwhile, her husband, Daniel Rose, wows diners nearby at the elegant . In the Financial District, Keith McNally's high-end French brasserie is a lovely experience. And the adorable café , in the West Village, is always packed for good reason.ItalianThe New Yorker magazine declared the West Village's "," not just the most perfect Italian restaurant. No reservations are accepted but the food alone, including the cacio e pepe pasta, is worth the trouble. Chef Jody Williams of nearby Buvette and partner (in life and business) Rita Sodi (behind , a fine Tuscan trattoria close by as well) are magic together here.In fact, the City has many terrific Italian restaurants. Others worth singling out include for handmade pasta and pizza (the tie-dye version is all the rage); Danny Meyer's Roman-focused ; and two of Michael White's stellar spots: dishes out specialties from the Emilia-Romagna region; and the luxe boasts a seafood-centric menu. For a special night out, open your wallet for the spicy rigatoni vodka at , which serves classic Italian-American specialties in an old-school setting.MexicanHigh-end Mexican-inspired food is on fire at Enrique Olvera's elegant , which appears on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list. His more casual , in Noho, a sunny, all-day eatery with lighter fare, is also top-notch. Then there's Alex Stupak, who adds his own twists to tacos (such as pastrami with mustard seed salsa) at a growing empire of locations. has three buzzing outposts, in Chelsea Market, Tribeca and Times Square, with another opening soon at Grand Central Terminal—and we defy you to find better carne asada or adobada anywhere. Brooklyn also sports two premier Mexican spots, Oaxacan-leaning (get the yellowfin tostada) and the upscale (crazy-good pork cheek carnitas).Around the Globe introduced diners to delicate hand-rolled Moroccan couscous with fish or braised kosher meats, a passion project from chef-restaurateur Einat Admony (of Taïm and Balaboosta). In Brooklyn, a lot of love went into , showcasing Nasim Alikhani's Persian home cooking. The same could be said of Cobble Hill's , from wife-and-husband team Alex Raij and Eder Montero. Their tribute to Southern Spain celebrates the Jewish and Moorish influences of the country. The Mediterranean is well-represented all over the City, including by Flatiron's , a glamorous Greek spot specializing in simply grilled fish. In the same neighborhood is the festive , a Korean-American steakhouse. Korean-food fans should also know about , a lively NoMad destination with an innovative prix-fixe menu of banchan-style dishes.Never Going Out of StyleIt's easy to imagine returning to French-American bistro , Jean-Georges Vongerichten's or Marcus Samuelsson's a decade from now and finding them as magical as they are today. Their accomplished food and high energy make them all-stars. And we're going to predict that Danny Meyer's New American spot , with sweeping views of the City, and , displaying mastery of cocktails, fried cauliflower and shrimp sticks, will have similar staying power.Big SpendersThose looking to splurge may start at Eric Ripert's , still worth every dollar—exquisite seafood in a serene setting never gets old. The gifted chef-owner Daniel Humm is what keeps at the top of gourmands' bucket lists worldwide and with three Michelin stars since 2012. Restaurant , Daniel Boulud's luxurious old-world French establishment, remains beloved, as does Danny Meyer's , an unassailable contemporary American restaurant housed at The Museum of Modern Art. proffers carefully crafted Nordic specialties, a cuisine that has particularly enjoyed its moment on the world stage.Best in BrooklynIt's hard to go wrong with dining in Brooklyn. A welter of awesome restaurants has added to the borough's cachet. It's tough to choose but standing head and shoulders above the rest are (duck liver mousse, dry-rubbed scallops), (grilled steaks), (throwbacks like baked clams, wedge salad and chicken paillard) and (elevated Peruvian-style numbers).Both and continue to turn out epic pizza in intimate settings. Be prepared for a wait, though it's worth it. is brilliant at pizza, too, and so much more, including the bountiful salads and singular pasta dishes.For pit-smoked barbecue, Red Hook's can beat out brisket or pulled pork anywhere. On the opposite end of the food spectrum, is incredible for oysters and cocktails. Defy low-carb diets at , serving excellent breads and pastas, and —nobody bakes better pies (salted caramel apple is most bewitching) than the Elsen sisters.Best in QueensQueens is a patchwork of multicultural neighborhoods. Many restaurants are humble, founded by immigrants from all corners of the world bringing authentic cuisines. We can't get enough of the dumplings at in Flushing, whose streets are lined with a plethora of Chinese, Vietnamese, Malaysian and Korean spots.Then there's Long Island City, home to . If you've ever questioned what's the big deal about ramen, this place is a game changer—anything but ho-hum. Also in the area is , an elevated Mexican restaurant boasting a Michelin star, and , cofounded by Hugue Dufour. His Caesar salad and dry-aged porterhouse for two are the definition of bold.Astoria has long been famed for its classic, crowd-pleasing Greek establishments, but if you have time for only one, head to the nautical for grilled octopus, calamari and traditional pan-fried cheese.TimelessWhether it's your first visit to New York or your hundredth, it's fundamental to hit the iconic for pastrami on rye—and/or for what the late Anthony Bourdain deemed "the best breakfast in the universe" (scrambled eggs with caramelized onions and Nova Scotia salmon, along with a plain bagel). Bourdain also cherished , established in 1885, a standout when it comes to lusty T-bones, creamed spinach and hand-cut fries. In Brooklyn, the venerable (founded two years later) also ably fulfills carnivorous needs with its juicy porterhouse.If freshly shucked oysters, cherrystone clams and chowders are your priority, is a grand experience. In Harlem, soul food is supreme at , which serves smothered chicken, collard greens and baked macaroni and cheese.Tribeca's defined restaurant nightlife in the 1980s heyday of Jay McInerney's novel Bright Lights, Big City. It still rules for bistro fare and a cool crowd. Similarly, and continue to flourish. So does Tom Colicchio's , which is a contender for the best braised beef short ribs and scallops.
