New York City is packed with amazing eats. In fact, having visited 73 countries around the world, I can confidently say that NYC is home to the world’s best foodie experiences. From cozy diners to innovative restaurants, this city never fails to surprise. Let’s dive into some of the most unique restaurants in New York City, where every meal is an exciting story of flavor and fun.
I’ve explored the streets and savored the flavors, and I’m excited to share the city’s most unique eateries. Each restaurant offers something special, reflecting New York’s diverse and vibrant character. Here are 20 of the most unique restaurants in NYC for food lovers.
- 👉 Pro Tip: I HIGHLY recommend doing this Little Italy and Chinatown tour in NYC. They bring you to the best foodie spots in the city, tasting over 8 must-try dishes from roasted duck and Italian meats and cheeses to Chinese dumplings and sponge cake. This tour is an absolute must-do on a NYC itinerary in my opinion.
Find Your NYC Restaurant: All 20 at a Glance
Find a place that fits your day
Ellen's Stardust Diner
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Cauldron Chicken
Beauty & Essex
Maison Pickle
Refinery Rooftop
Red Rooster Harlem
Mari
Dirt Candy
Le Coucou
Bazaar Meat by José Andrés
Smorgasburg Williamsburg
Please Don't Tell (PDT)
Rule of Thirds
Estela
Jajaja Mexicana
Veselka
Katz's Delicatessen
Sylvia's
How to use this shortlist
1. Ellen’s Stardust Diner
- 📍 Location: 1650 Broadway, Midtown / Theater District
- 💲 Price range: $25.50 – $29.75 for burgers with waffle fries, before drinks, tax and tip
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Classic American Diner Fare
- 🔥 Standout Features: Singing waitstaff, retro 50s diner theme, lively atmosphere.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Musical theatre lovers, fun family meals, tourist experiences, and classic diner food.
Get ready for dinner and a show at Ellen’s Stardust Diner! It’s a full-blown musical extravaganza where talented, aspiring Broadway performers belt out show tunes while serving classic diner grub. Your burger comes with a ballad!
Soak in the high-energy performances. Enjoy comforting diner classics like thick milkshakes (chocolate or vanilla are popular). Juicy burgers, like the “Big Bopper,” or hearty meatloaf with mashed potatoes, are also great choices. It’s pure Times Square energy.
2. Lillie’s Victorian Establishment
- 📍 Location: 249 W 49th St, Times Square / Theater District
- 💲 Price range: $22 – $43 for dinner entrees, before tax and tip
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American / Gastropub
Walking into Lillie’s feels like stepping into a Victorian drawing room, with ornate wood carvings from a 19th-century Northern Ireland mansion and a marble bar brought from Belfast. The antique-filled setting is a big part of the appeal.
This spot works for a leisurely meal or a cocktail stop near the theaters. Try the fish and chips, chicken pot pie, or lobster ravioli from the dinner menu, then settle in and take in the elaborate surroundings.
Times Square is nearby, making Lillie’s a convenient escape from the neon and crowds. Check the current hours and book ahead if you’re planning dinner around a show.
3. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
- 📍 Location: 1501 Broadway, Times Square
- 💲 Price range: $29.99 for Shrimper’s Heaven, before drinks, tax and tip
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American Seafood / Forrest Gump Themed
- 🔥 Standout Features: Forrest Gump movie decor, seafood (especially shrimp!), family-friendly vibe.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Forrest Gump movie lovers, families visiting Times Square, and seafood dinners
Run, Forrest, run… straight to Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.! This Times Square hotspot brings the beloved movie to life with fun memorabilia, trivia, and of course, shrimp served every which way imaginable. Life is like a box of… shrimp!
Dive into buckets of “Shrimper’s Heaven” (a variety of fried and coconut shrimp). Munch on crispy coconut shrimp with a Cajun marmalade, or try “Forrest’s Seafood Feast” with fish, shrimp, and hushpuppies. The atmosphere is casual and fun.
4. Cauldron Chicken
- 📍 Location: 190 Bleecker St, Greenwich Village
- 💲 Price range: $13.85 for half a chicken; $21.85 for a whole chicken, before tax
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Chinese / Dao Kou-style Braised Chicken
Cauldron Chicken is a small Greenwich Village spot built around Dao Kou-style chicken, a specialty from Henan, China. The draw is tender, spice-braised chicken that pulls apart easily, served in whole or half portions. It’s a fun change of pace from the usual burger or pizza stop.
Order a half chicken for a substantial solo meal, or split a whole bird and add sides. The menu includes scallion pancakes, cucumber salad, and chicken fried rice, with combo meals if you want your sides and a drink sorted in one order.
You’ll find it at 190 Bleecker Street, in the middle of Greenwich Village. Keep this one in mind for a casual meal while exploring the Village; it’s a compact, chicken-focused stop rather than a big themed restaurant.
5. Beauty & Essex
- 📍 Location: 146 Essex St, Lower East Side
- 💲 Price range: $24 for soup dumplings; $86 per person for the shared tasting menu, before drinks, tax and tip
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: New American / Small Plates / Speakeasy
- 🔥 Standout Features: Hidden pawn shop entrance, grand multi-level interior, shareable plates.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Impressive dates, girls’ night out, and lovers of secret spots.
Don’t be fooled by the funky pawn shop entrance; it’s a brilliant disguise. Walk through a door at the back of the shop and you’ll step into Beauty & Essex, a massive, glittering, multi-level restaurant. The place is dripping with glamour, from the giant crystal chandelier to the seriously chic crowd. It’s a total see-and-be-seen spot with a constant, electric buzz.
The menu is a globetrotting tour of shareable plates, perfect for a big group. You absolutely have to order the iconic grilled cheese, smoked bacon & tomato soup dumplings. Other can’t-miss dishes are the perfectly crispy tuna poke wonton tacos and the addictive Thai style deep-fried shrimp. It’s fun, high-energy food that matches the vibe.
6. Maison Pickle
- 📍 Location: 2315 Broadway at W 84th St, Upper West Side
- 💲 Price range: $27 – $29 for French dip sandwiches, before tax and tip
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American Comfort Food
Maison Pickle is a spot that balances retro charm with unapologetically over-the-top comfort food. Their claim to fame is the French dip sandwich, served on pillowy bread with house-made pickles and rich au jus – I’ve had dreams about this sandwich.
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The vibe here is vintage with a modern twist: think globe lights, cozy booths, and friendly, attentive staff. Don’t miss their photogenic Hudson Valley Lemonade – it’s as tasty as it is Instagrammable.
This place is at Broadway and West 84th Street, well north of Lincoln Center, so allow travel time if you’re heading to a show. I always recommend coming hungry, maybe even with friends, since the portions are made for sharing (and jaw drops).
7. Refinery Rooftop
- 📍 Location: 63 W 38th St, Midtown (Refinery Hotel)
- 💲 Price range: $20 – $22 for many cocktails; food extra, before tax and tip
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Rooftop Bar / Modern American Small Plates
- 🔥 Standout Features: Empire State Building views, retractable glass roof, industrial decor, craft cocktails.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Rooftop bar lovers, skyline view seekers, and after-work drinks
Drink in that view at Refinery Rooftop! Perched atop the Refinery Hotel, this year-round rooftop bar boasts jaw-dropping, up-close views of the Empire State Building. With its retractable glass roof and cozy industrial-chic decor, it’s perfect regardless of weather.
Sip on expertly crafted signature cocktails like the “Cool Cool Cool” or a “13th Floor Margarita.” Share sophisticated small plates such as truffle fries, sliders, or flatbreads while gazing at one of NYC’s most iconic landmarks. It’s pure Midtown magic.
- Visit the Refinery Rooftop website
- Read reviews of Refinery Rooftop
- Read Next: 17 Awesome Restaurants in Midtown East, NY
- Read also: Coolest Restaurants in Midtown East, NY
8. Red Rooster Harlem
- 📍 Location: 310 Lenox Ave, Harlem
- 💲 Price range: $26 – $60 for entrees, before tax and tip; live-music cover may apply
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Soul Food / American
Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster is the beating heart of Harlem’s food and music scene, celebrating the neighborhood’s rich heritage. Soul food classics with an elegant twist headline the menu – the fried yardbird is legendary, and their deviled eggs put every picnic to shame. The jazz and gospel brunch is a city favorite, too.
Exposed brick walls, vintage photos, and a buzzing open kitchen set the vibe. There’s always something happening – from live bands to spoken-word performances. The Apollo Theater is a quick stroll if you want to make a day of Harlem’s must-sees. Every visit here for me feels like a real NYC experience.
- Read Next: 19 Unique Restaurants on the Upper East Side
9. Mari
- 📍 Location: 679 Ninth Ave, Hell’s Kitchen
- 💲 Price range: $145 per person for the tasting menu, before drinks, tax and tip
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Korean Hand Roll Tasting Menu
Mari brings a high-concept, omakase-style spin to Korean hand rolls in a minimalist yet elegant Hell’s Kitchen dining room. Each roll is rolled right in front of you and bursts with impressive, creative flavor combinations.
The tasting menu changes with the seasons, pairing Korean flavors with carefully composed hand rolls and other courses. Counter seating gives you a close view of the preparation. Book ahead and check the current menu for dietary restrictions rather than counting on a particular roll being available.
Mari is at Ninth Avenue and West 47th Street, convenient for the Theater District. This is a tasting-menu evening rather than a quick pre-show bite, so leave plenty of time if you’re combining it with Broadway.
10. Dirt Candy
- 📍 Location: 86 Allen St, Lower East Side
- 💲 Price range: About $110 per person for the tasting menu, including service; drinks and tax extra
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Innovative Vegetarian / Vegan Fine Dining
- 🔥 Standout Features: All-vegetarian fine dining, creative vegetable dishes, no-tipping policy.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Adventurous vegetarians/vegans, fine dining explorers, and special occasions.
Prepare to rethink everything about vegetables at Dirt Candy! This Lower East Side trailblazer offers stunningly creative, entirely vegetarian (with vegan options) tasting menus that elevate veggies to rockstar status. Vegetables never tasted so mind-blowing!
Chef Amanda Cohen builds a seasonal tasting menu around vegetables, with playful textures and unexpected combinations. The dishes change, so check the current menu rather than planning around an old signature. Vegan accommodations are available; mention dietary needs when booking.
11. Le Coucou
- 📍 Location: 138 Lafayette St at Howard St, SoHo
- 💲 Price range: $51 – $95 for dinner main courses; $220 for A Very Coucou Dinner, before drinks, tax and tip
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Classic French Fine Dining
- 🔥 Standout Features: Romantic setting, classic French haute cuisine
- 🎯 Perfect For: Classic French food lovers, romantic dinners, special occasions, luxurious dining.
Experience timeless French elegance in SoHo at Le Coucou. This stunning restaurant delivers classic French haute cuisine executed with precision and grace in a beautifully romantic setting. Prepare to be seduced by butter and charm! Ooh la la, indeed!
Explore the current French menu with poireaux vinaigrette, then try Tout le Lapin, a rabbit dish, or canette aux figues, duckling with fig. The quenelle de brochet, a delicate pike mousse with lobster sauce, is another signature. Menus change seasonally, so check before booking.
12. Bazaar Meat by José Andrés
- 📍 Location: 35 W 28th St, NoMad, inside the Ritz-Carlton
- 💲 Price range: $225 per person for José’s Ultimate Tasting Menu, before drinks, tax and tip; à la carte also available
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Spanish-inspired Steakhouse
Bazaar Meat turns dinner into a show inside the Ritz-Carlton NoMad. José Andrés has reimagined the former Bazaar as a steakhouse built around wood-fired large cuts, American Wagyu, and Japanese Wagyu. It’s a special-occasion pick for diners who want their steak dinner to feel a little theatrical.
The menu still makes room for playful Bazaar signatures, including liquid olives and cotton candy foie gras. For the full experience, José’s Ultimate Tasting Menu brings together those small bites and a progression of meat dishes; the whole table needs to participate. Madison Square Park is nearby for a stroll before or after dinner.
13. Smorgasburg Williamsburg
- 📍 Location: Marsha P. Johnson State Park, 90 Kent Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
- 💲 Price range: Free entry; food and drinks priced separately by each vendor
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Global Street Food / Outdoor Food Market
Smorgasburg isn’t a restaurant, it’s a seasonal outdoor food market by the East River in Williamsburg. On Saturdays, roughly spring through fall, dozens of vendors serve a changing mix of global street food at Marsha P. Johnson State Park. The Manhattan skyline is part of the appeal. This market closes for winter, so check the current season dates before planning a visit.
Come hungry and bring a picnic blanket if you want to linger by the waterfront. Entry is free, and vendors set their own food prices. Most accept cards and contactless payments as well as cash. The market normally runs rain or shine, although a severe forecast can affect the vendor turnout.
- Visit the Smorgasburg Williamsburg website
- Read reviews of Smorgasburg Williamsburg
- Read Next: Manhattan’s Coolest Restaurants
14. Please Don’t Tell (PDT)
- 📍 Location: 113 St Marks Pl, East Village (inside Crif Dogs)
- 💲 Price range: Approximately $18 – $25 per drink before tax and tip; check the current menu
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Craft Cocktail Speakeasy
- 🔥 Standout Features: Hidden entrance via phone booth, modern speakeasy, craft cocktails, intimate setting.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Speakeasy hunters and craft cocktail connoisseurs.
Shhh… can you keep a secret? Find the vintage phone booth inside Crif Dogs hot dog joint, pick up the receiver, and gain entry to Please Don’t Tell (PDT), one of NYC’s most iconic modern speakeasies. Dial 1 for delicious, clandestine cocktails!
Once inside the intimate, taxidermy-adorned space, prepare for seriously impressive craft cocktails. Sip on legendary creations like the bacon-infused Benton’s Old Fashioned. Their perfectly balanced Daiquiri or a unique seasonal creation are also excellent.
15. Rule of Thirds
- 📍 Location: 171 Banker St, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
- 💲 Price range: $16 – $39 for small plates; $31 – $71 for larger dishes, before tax and tip; sharing specials extra
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Japanese / Izakaya
Rule of Thirds is a gorgeous, industrial-chic Japanese restaurant tucked into Greenpoint, serving izakaya fare with a twist. Musts here include the Japanese souffle pancake (insanely fluffy, almost cloud-like) and the karaage chicken, but honestly, it’s tough to go wrong.
The vibe is minimalist meets cozy, with string lights, lots of plants, and stylish wood-beam accents. Their courtyard seating is especially dreamy on warm evenings. You’re only a short walk from McCarren Park, which is perfect for an after-dinner stroll. For me, Rule of Thirds is the ultimate spot for a low-key but “wow” date night.
16. Estela
- 📍 Location: 47 E Houston St, Nolita / Downtown
- 💲 Price range: $29 for endive salad or beef tartare; order several plates for a meal, before drinks, tax and tip
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Mediterranean-Inspired American Small Plates
- 🔥 Standout Features: Buzzy atmosphere, excellent wine list
- 🎯 Perfect For: Small plate sharing, downtown dinners, wine lovers, Michelin-starred experience
Experience culinary fireworks in a buzzing downtown setting at Estela. This Michelin-starred gem serves incredibly flavourful and refined Mediterranean-inspired small plates designed for sharing. Get ready for small plates packing a huge punch! The energy is high.
Don’t miss iconic dishes like the unique endive salad with walnuts, anchovy, and Ubriaco Rosso cheese. The sublime ricotta dumplings with mushrooms and pecorino sardo, or their beef tartare with sunchoke, are also fantastic. The wine list is excellent.
17. Jajaja Mexicana
- 📍 Location: 63 Carmine St, West Village
- 💲 Price range: $15 for jackfruit carnitas tacos; $19 for grande nachos, before tax and tip
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Plant-based Mexican
Jajaja makes plant-based Mexican food feel like a night out for everyone. At the West Village location, start with queso fundido made with coconut queso and plant-based chorizo, then try jackfruit carnitas tacos or the enchiladas. Margaritas and mezcal cocktails round out the menu.
Head to 63 Carmine Street in the West Village; the former Lower East Side location has closed. This branch is a good fit for a casual date or dinner before exploring the Village. Reservations are available, and weekend brunch gives you another reason to stop by.
18. Veselka
- 📍 Location: 144 Second Ave, East Village
- 💲 Price range: Approximately $15 – $30 per person before tax and tip; check the current menu
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Ukrainian / Eastern European Diner
- 🔥 Standout Features: Ukrainian diner, classic dishes, hearty comfort food, weekend overnight service.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Late-night eats and Ukrainian food lovers.
Find comfort at Veselka, the legendary Ukrainian diner at 144 Second Avenue in the East Village. It stays open overnight on weekends, but it is not open 24/7 throughout the week. This beloved institution has been serving hearty, homestyle Eastern European classics for generations. Check the current hours before a late-night visit.
Ordering their famous pierogi (dumplings) – potato, cheese, or meat, boiled or fried – is essential. A soul-warming bowl of borscht (beet soup), or their delicate cheese blintzes with fruit topping, are also fantastic. It’s unpretentious and satisfying.
19. Katz’s Delicatessen
- 📍 Location: 205 E Houston St, Lower East Side
- 💲 Price range: Approximately $25 – $40 per person before tax and tip; check the current menu
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Classic New York Jewish Deli
- 🔥 Standout Features: Historic NYC deli, massive pastrami/corned beef sandwiches, ticket system ordering, bustling historic atmosphere
- 🎯 Perfect For: Pastrami sandwich lovers, history buffs, “When Harry Met Sally” fans.
I’ll have what she’s having! Step into a true New York icon at Katz’s Delicatessen. This legendary Lower East Side deli has been hand-carving epic sandwiches since 1888, maintaining its bustling, chaotic charm and serving arguably the city’s best pastrami.
Grab a ticket and order the legendary pastrami on rye, piled impossibly high. The equally amazing corned beef sandwich or a classic matzo ball soup are also must-tries. Enjoy a crunchy kosher pickle on the side. It’s an essential NYC experience.
- Visit the Katz’s Delicatessen website
- Read reviews of Katz’s Delicatessen
- Read Next: 20 Epic Things to Do in New York City at Night
20. Sylvia’s
- 📍 Location: 328 Malcolm X Blvd (Lenox Ave), Harlem
- 💲 Price range: Approximately $25 – $50 per person before tax and tip; check the current menu
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Soul Food / Southern Comfort Food
- 🔥 Standout Features: Soul food, Southern comfort dishes, welcoming atmosphere, Harlem cultural landmark.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Soul food lovers, experiencing Harlem culture, classic Southern cooking, and hearty comfort food.
Feed your soul with legendary comfort food at Sylvia’s, the undisputed Queen of Soul Food in Harlem! This iconic restaurant has been serving authentic, down-home Southern classics with warmth and love for decades. Get ready for food that hugs you back!
Dive into world-famous dishes. Crispy, juicy fried chicken is a must. Flavourful collard greens, creamy macaroni and cheese, or fall-off-the-bone bar-b-que ribs are also fantastic. The atmosphere is welcoming and steeped in history.
Global Viewpoint is a personal blog. All content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional financial, medical, or legal advice.
