There was a time when it seemed like torture to be left in the city, and not working out of your Hamptons abode. But as the traffic on the 27 isn’t as novel as it used to be, an empty city isn’t so bad. Bonus: those near-impossible rezzies aren’t as hard to acquire this August. So, these are the best restaurants in NYC now.
San Sabino
Cuisine: Electric Italian Seafood
Neighborhood: West Village
Just when you thought that you knew Italian food, San Sabino came around. Turns out American Italian food is where it’s at if it’s in the hands of the team from Don Angie. Where descriptions of food can be better than reality, that’s not the case at San Sabino. Dishes challenge normal convention and give you a meal like you haven’t had before.
Quique Crudo
Cuisine: Casual Crudo Bar
Neighborhood: Greenwich Village
Crudo and ceviche just may be the perfect food for summer. However, there were so few good ceviche bars in NYC; that is, until Quique Crudo arrived. It doesn’t matter that Quique Crudo is a no-frills spot. They churn out maybe the best ceviche in NYC now.
Demo
Cuisine: Wine Bar with Elegant French-inspired plates
Neighborhood: Greenwich Village
Demo is so effortlessly good that it almost belongs in Brooklyn and not in Manhattan. It presents itself as a wine bar. However in reality it’s one of the best restaurants in NYC, especially with lobster au poivre on the menu.
Penny
Cuisine: Casual Seafood Counter
Neighborhood: East Village
A seafood tower can change your life if that seafood tower is at Penny. This isn’t just a regular seafood tower. Instead, it’s a gem of a box-filled seafood that’s been given the VIP treatment. Food isn’t limited to seafood towers though, and there are many other dishes that can also enrich your life. Penny is a place you’ll happily return to over and over and is one of the best restaurants in NYC now.
Kin Gin
Cuisine: Japanese
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Of all the places to be right now in NYC, Kin Gin is the unsung hero. This is one of the best restaurants in NYC now, that has not been discovered by the masses. In the former Cafe Medi space at the Rivington Hotel, Kin Gin is the spot if you’re a foodie. Happy hour is a top value where you a get oysters for $3 and small plates of the day for $6. Drinks are $10 and crafted with care. Food is tops that you will want to stay for dinner.
Le Veau d’Or
Cuisine: French
You know that a restaurant is one of the best restaurants in NYC now when you can’t get a reservation in August. The guys from Frenchette continue to knock it out of the park. They also continue to move Uptown. In the historic space that housed the city’s oldest French bistro, Le Veau d’Or is a passion project revival. It only took 12 years of discussions with the original owners, but the guys from Frenchette got it done. And they have a hit on their hands, by all accounts, with a so French it hurts menu. A full review will come, but count it on your list of where to be now in NYC.
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FAQs
Q: Do you need reservations at Shogun Omakase?
A: For lunchtime, reservations are highly recommended as Shogun is an insider spot for those working in the offices nearby. If you want prime dinner hours we would also recommend that you make a reservation. However, if you’re going to drop by later in the evening or on a weekend, you can likely walk in.
Q: Do you need reservations at Kin Gin?
A: Kin Gin remains an undiscovered gem so the crowds are still relatively light. Chances are you can walk in for the rest of the summer and get a table. For Happy Hour, which we recommend, you can absolutely walk in.
Q: Do you need reservations at San Sabino?
A: Reservations are highly recommended at San Sabino but they will be difficult to get. This is indisputably one of the best restaurants in NYC now. If you don’t have a reservation you can put your name on the wait list when they open. However, you’ll likely wait at least 2-4 hours for a table.
