Nik’s Tricks: A Fun and Fresh Guide to Manhattan — Restaurants
Here’s my guide of cool restaurants in Manhattan. These eateries feature great food and an authentic atmosphere. They’re less expensive or cliche than something from Z*gat.
To be fair, I also included a few coffee shops with pastries and a few bars that serve food. You can search (Command + F) by neighborhood, ($-$$$$), or “Genre”. Since we’re still stuck in the Q, here are the restaurants I’m dreaming of…
Manhattan
Location: 38 E 19th St, New York (Union Square)
Prices: $$$ to $$$$ (Reservation)
Genre: Vegan
Ambiance: Extremely fancy and nice — it’s Jean Georges restaurant. The interior is clean, light, and minimalist — the antithesis of a man-cave steakhouse. This is the kind of fine dining you would probably save for a special occasion like an anniversary or promotion.
Other: Fun fact: I worked at ABC Carpet and Home when they opened abcV and I got to go in and review the food during the friends and family opening. You should go through ABC Carpet and wander around before your reservation to indoctrinate yourself in the magic, especially around Christmas time.
Ben’s Kosher Deli Restaurant & Caterers
Location: 209 W 38th St, New York, NY (Garment District) (additional locations in Bayside, Scarsdale, etc.)
Prices: $ to $$
Genre: Jewish Deli
Top Items: Full sour pickles, matzo ball chicken soup, and classic sandwiches with pastrami or corned beef are the way to go.
Ambiance: This is a good deli to go during your lunch break or to cater your office if you work in Midtown. Also, a great place to go with someone who loves meat.
Other: My dad loves this place. Every detail showcases their excellent sense of humor including the ceiling art. The owner is stepping down due to age, so now is a good time to go, before much changes.
Location: 43 Canal St, New York, NY (Lower East Side)
Prices: $$ to $$$
Genre: Coastal Spanish and Portuguese, Seafood
Top Items: Great cocktails, seafood, and burger. Also features an extensive wine list.
Ambiance: Cool and elevated. Caters to industry people.
Location: 35 Orchard St, New York, NY (Lower East Side)
Prices: $
Genre: New Orleans, Sandwiches, Southern
Top Items: Shrimp po’boy or fried chicken sandwich with a biscuit and gravy, beignets
Ambiance: Tiny, smells amazing, colorful, and cool. It can be hard to find a seat, so I would recommend grabbing your sandwich and eating it on the giant swings at Pier 35.
Location: 1030 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY (Morningside Heights)
Prices: $ (Cash Only)
Genre: Bakery, Coffeeshop
Top Items: Fruity pastries and strong coffee.
Ambiance: Buzzing and lively. Full of Columbia students and staff. Come here to study, read, meet up with friends, or do work. Incredible for eavesdropping.
Location: 188 Orchard St, New York, NY (Lower East Side)
Prices: $$ — $$$
Genre: French
Top Items: The menu changes, but the grilled octopus, any red wine by the bottle, and any duck or steak entree.
Ambiance: Cozy, dark, and lovely. Good for a date and good for a solo date if you like indie or French music. Sit at the counter and pretend you’re in Paris.
Location: 25 Essex St A, New York, NY (Lower East Side)
Prices: $ (Cash Only)
Genre: Mexican and Crepes
Top Items: One of the best fish tacos ($4.50) I’ve ever had in my life.
Ambiance: This is the right place to go if you’re drinking at one of the many bars in the area and you need to take a break to eat something.
Location: 132 W Houston St, New York, NY (Washington Square Park) or 109 Avenue A, New York, NY (East Village)
Prices: $$
Genre: Jamaican, Carribean
Top items: Any cocktail from the Rum Bar, homemade ginger beer, and anything with “jerk” in the title.
Ambiance: Great loud music and lively atmosphere, prix fixe brunch
Location: 5 Oliver St, New York, NY (Chinatown)
Prices: $
Genre: Bakery, Coffeeshop
Top items: Strong cold brews with CBD
Ambiance: Cute and small magazine room with high ceilings and the ability to take your the coffee to go at the window.
Location: 41 East 11th Street, New York, NY (West Village), 141 West 41st Street, New York, NY (Times Square, 8 West 18th Street, New York, NY (Chelsea)
Prices: $$ to $$$
Genre: Japanese
Other: Everything they serve is “ofukuro no aji” or traditional Japanese fare, you really can’t go wrong. Sit at the counter
Location: 93 1st Avenue #2 (East Village)
Prices: $ to $$
Genre: Indian
Ambiance: Beyond colorful, good for big birthday parties, great for a first date because you’ll have a lot to talk about. Bottom left has a backyard. You can bring your own bottle of wine and they’ll cork it
Playa Betty’s
Location: 320 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY (Upper West Side)
Prices: $$
Genre: California-Mexican
Top items: Mexican Grilled Corn, Chicken Enchiladas, Kalefornia Salad, Shortrib Taco
Ambiance: Great for boozy brunches, fun loud music, happy hour, and large parties
Sel Rrose
Location: 1 Delancey St, New York, NY (The Bowery)
Prices: $$ to $$$
Genre: French, Seafood
Top Items: Orange wine on tap, cocktails like The Hunter or Lavender Piscine, oysters, lobster roll, burrata
Ambiance: Chic and trendy with outdoor seating, good music and good dogs
Location: 17 Mott St, New York, NY (Chinatown)
Prices: $
Genre: Chinese
Other: Wo Hop is simply an iconic New York restaurant that never goes out of style with excellent interior design, fashionable t-shirts, huge yummy portions, 24-hour service, another good date spot and another one of my dad’s favorites. There’s no way you can come here without leaving full. This is great for lunch with coworkers if you work in the area or for a big birthday party.
