10 Best Restaurants Midtown NYC – Explore Top Restaurants

If you’re into fine dining, Le Bernardin is one French eatery you must visit. Appearance-wise, it has everything that an upper-class eatery offers. Soft spotlights, smooth jazz music, hum of posh guests, dishes with the proper utensils, and oversized artworks. But what makes it one of Midtown’s best eateries is the impeccable taste of the seafood it serves. While you will be spending hundreds of dollars, rest assured that you’re getting your money’s worth with the best French eatery in NYC.

Are you planning to visit? Reserving a table in advance will be a great option to avoid rush hours or last-minute hiccups. Here is what we recommend ordering:

If you’re tired of having fish all day and want something different, consider dropping by Keen’s Steakhouse. This restaurant has been serving prime steak and slabs of meat for more than 130 years. And that’s not even the most surprising part. Since it opened, celebrities have frequently visited this restaurant: Teddy Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, JP Morgan, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Albert Einstein.

They were all members of Keen’s Pipe Club, which began in the 20th century as part of Keen’s pipe tradition. This tradition followed an older tradition of checking one’s pipe at the inn from 17th-century Merrie Old England. Travelers who rested at their favorite inn would often leave their fragile pipes so they could smoke whenever they visited. That tradition lived on, forming the Keen’s Pipe Club. Today, Keen’s Steakhouse, apart from a famous eatery in Midtown NYC, also acts as a pseudo-museum. The dining area’s ceiling is decorated with classic pipes.

Adults and kids love Keen Steakhouse. It’s one of the few kid-friendly restaurants in New York. For more kid-friendly restaurants, check out our list of kid-friendly restaurants in Brooklyn, NYC.

But apart from all the pipes and décor, it is popular because of the juicy steak and tender cut it serves. While it may not be good news for your cholesterol, it’s tantalizing for your taste buds. Here is what to order when you’re at Keen’s Steakhouse:

Nobody does seafood and pasta better than the Italians. While we can’t tell you to hop on a plane to visit Sicily for some Sarde a Beccafico, we can advise you to visit Marea, which offers the same Italian food experience. The restaurant has the same upper-class feel, similar to Le Bernardin. But the only difference is that this Midtown Eatery serves some of the finest seafood pasta.

Marea’s main attraction is their octopus and bone marrow fuilli. It’s dubbed as the top pasta dish in NYC. If you like something similar, you may want to check out Cookshop, a great restaurant in Chelsea NYC.

While everything from the taste to the ambiance is welcoming, the price can dampen your mood. The restaurant charges more than $30+ for appetizers, while $50+ on pasta and mains. So, only go if money isn’t a big of an issue. Here are some must-try pastas you should order at Marea:

While sightseeing on Broadway and the several high-rise buildings are reasons to visit Midtown NYC, if you want recreation, then no other place can do it better than the Rockefeller Center. It’s where you can escape the city’s fast-paced life and appreciate the quiet moment. You can do several things alone or with family, including watching the city skyline from the observation deck, having fun ice skating on the rink, or shopping. Moreover, you can also try out some flavorful dishes at Le Rock.

Le Rock may give off a lofty feeling, but the crowd and energy it attracts make it appear more like a downtown bistro. This is one of the best restaurants in Midtown NYC; you must visit. Besides the ambiance, the food is a big reason for making your must-visit list, especially the meat dishes they serve. They boast of having the best filet you could have. Consider trying out their tender and juicy Bison Au Poivre, or if you’re looking for something more dry-aged, Steak Haché could satisfy your taste buds.

If you plan to visit, do plan ahead. This French eatery takes reservations 30 days in advance. Here are the top picks to gorge on when you visit Le Rock:

Sushi 35 West is a hidden gem in a smoke shop near Penn Station, but don’t let its humble location fool you. This spot serves some of the freshest sushi in the city. It’s one of the best restaurants in Midtown NYC. Once you head up the industrial staircase, you’ll find yourself in a hallway that might not look like much, but the sushi makes the trek worthwhile.

For just $22, their lunch set gives you six pieces of nigiri and a roll, perfect for grabbing quality sushi on the go. The nigiri’s melt-in-your-mouth quality is comparable to what you’d get at pricier omakase spots.

Consider ordering the following dishes from the menu for a flavorful meal:

Set inside a crumbling Gilded Age mansion, Nasrin’s Kitchen offers a unique dining experience in Midtown. You are transported to an era of elegance and charm with every bite. The restaurant’s atmosphere, dotted with framed calligraphy, soft lute music, and the subtle scent of dried rose petals, feels like stepping into a scene from The House of Mirth. Their family-style service is as warm and welcoming as the food, making it a comfortable spot to unwind after a hectic day.

The menu is an ode to Iranian cuisine. Kickstart your meal with a steaming ash reshteh (a hearty Persian noodle soup) or creamy eggplant dip paired with fresh bread. But the true star is the rice, topped with a perfectly crispy layer of golden tahdig, served alongside a rich stew or kebab entrée.

The experience isn’t complete without a cup of tea, with saffron sugar and a piece of rose-scented baklava that will have you dreaming of the mansion’s glamorous past. You might also explore some of the best restaurants in Westchester, NY, for more dining options.

Here is what you should order for the

While we can’t argue that quality dim sum and dumplings are better in restaurants in Chinatown NYC, if you crave Chinese in Midtown, consider visiting Blue Willow. It’s the perfect answer to the classic dilemma of where to eat near Columbus Circle.

This Chinese restaurant on 56th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues, is a stylish spot with a vibrant atmosphere. It has velvet banquettes and bartenders shaking up cocktails. It’s a top contender for the best restaurants Midtown NYC, especially if you’re looking for a place that delivers flavor and ambiance.

The menu offers bold Sichuan and Hunan dishes with plenty of vegan options, making it an easy choice for diners.

The real star here is the Mapo Tofu, a standout dish that balances its rich mala-spice sauce with the umami hit from fermented black beans. It’s the dish that stays upright under your chopsticks and packs a tingly punch that will leave your taste buds buzzing.

Here is what you should order when you visit Blue Willow:

If you’re looking for a restaurant that delivers on both design and flavor, 53 is the place. Located right next to the MoMA, this contemporary Asian spot feels more like an art gallery than a typical dining spot. The street-level lounge has a futuristic design with a backlit structure that looks like an upside-down half-pipe.

At the same time, the larger dining room downstairs is a visual masterpiece of rainbow-colored blades across the ceiling. It’s an impressive space that could be compared to Parsons, and the food is equally worth the money.

The menu offers dim sum, stir-fried beef, and fried rice, but every bite feels new thanks to the attention to detail. The chicken and truffle Xiao Long Bao are a must-try, with their unique cone shape that holds more broth than usual. And when it comes to starters, you can’t go wrong with the banana leaf-wrapped skate covered in spicy sambal or the moist, flavorful Hainanese chicken.

Try out these dishes the next time you visit 53:

At nearly 100 years old, Monkey Bar is an NYC eatery that never fails to surprise visitors. Whether you want to visit a steakhouse, take your partner on a romantic date, or taste a retro-themed burger, Monkey Bar has got you covered.

This Midtown restaurant serves stiff drinks, satiating food, and a slice of nostalgic Americana that feels as timeless as its red leather booths and Jazz Age murals. If you’re looking for the best restaurants Midtown NYC, Monkey Bar is a strong contender with its buzzing atmosphere and all-purpose appeal.

The restaurant offers the best of both worlds: it’s a classy, vintage food spot with an incredible energy that works for any occasion. With a huge cocktail menu and a kitchen that excels at everything from Crab Rangoon to prime rib, you’ll be impressed, whatever the occasion.

Here are some must-haves when you visit Monkey Bar:

Lodi is located in the heart of Midtown, and it delivers a dreamy, Tuscan-inspired dining experience that makes you feel at home. It’s one eatery that always feels good if you go in for a quick snack or sit down for a hearty meal. Lodi serves up some of the best Italian food you’ll find in Midtown. While the menu retains Italian ingredients, the fresh take on classic dishes gives Lodi its unique identity.

Lodi’s menu offers simple yet exceptional dishes like crumbly homemade ricotta, seafood salad with smoky marinated mussels, and anchovies with fresh-baked focaccia and sourdough. Whether grabbing a bite before a meeting or catching up with friends over spritze, Lodi’s tasty food and comfortable atmosphere will leave you wishing you were on vacation in Tuscany. And don’t even think about leaving without trying the gelato, which is made with the same base as their mozzarella and ricotta, creating a dessert that tastes like a sweet, cheesy cloud.

Make sure these items are on your must-order list when you visit Lodi: