In a city full of culinary adventures, NYC Restaurant Week showcases the most exciting bites from every borough with special prix-fixe menus, deals and wine pairings. Launched in 1992, NYC Restaurant Week is a tradition that happens twice a year, offering diners an affordable way to discover the City’s diverse array of cuisines. Whether you’re a veteran gourmand or an NYC newbie, you can find a memorable meal to match every whim, craving and occasion.
During NYC Restaurant Week, diners can also savor some of the City’s classic dishes that have tantalized taste buds for decades, even centuries. We’ve pulled together culinary landmarks that every New Yorker and visitor must check off their dining bucket list. For the program’s summer 2024 edition, explore these renowned restaurants that promise an unforgettable feast. But don’t sleep on snagging reservations—these tables go quick.
Delmonico’s. Photo:Lanna Apisukh
Delmonico’s
56 Beaver St., Lower Manhattan
Before the Statue of Liberty came to town, Delmonico’s was here. If New Yorkers were competitive, we’d remind you that this pioneering restaurant, which opened in 1837, was the nation’s first so-called fine dining establishment, first to launch a cookbook and first to serve women at their own table. The grand entrance is marked by two marble columns that were said to be shipped from Pompeii; while the menu reads like it’s from another era (like the Gilded Age or more modern times of generous expense accounts), diners can discover surprising updates to steakhouse classics. During NYC Restaurant Week, score a table for a deluxe weekday lunch featuring their Caesar salad, which ups the umami with a powerful punch of aged parmesan, anchovy and myung ran, a Korean fish roe. Treat yourself to steak frites with black garlic butter, or upgrade to the signature rib eye known as the Delmonico Steak. Don’t worry, non-steak options are far from afterthoughts. There’s also a dessert menu that features their famous baked Alaska. Some credit Delmonico’s as the innovator of the torched frozen dessert, but again, New Yorkers are not competitive at all.
The Dining Room at Gramercy Tavern. Photo: Evan Angelastro
The Dining Room at Gramercy Tavern
42 E. 20th St., Flatiron District, Manhattan
Following his success with Union Square Café (see below), Danny Meyer captivated the City with an elevated and sumptuous interpretation of an American tavern. Since 1994, a meal at the Dining Room at Gramercy Tavern, the elegant inner sanctum of this restaurant, has been one of the most sought-after reservations, especially during NYC Restaurant Week. The menu features innovative seasonal dishes, like a hamachi crudo adorned with fresher-than-fresh produce. No matter what you order, it’s all executed with Michelin-starred detail. Fingers crossed you’ll find a way into this restaurant for a three-course tasting of their lunch menu that evokes a delicious sense of luxury.
Courtesy, Gage & Tollner
Gage & Tollner
372 Fulton St., Downtown Brooklyn
This City loves a revival—and venerable Gage & Tollner had a recent one, getting a restoration in 2021. The culinary landmark first opened its doors in 1879, a few years before the Brooklyn Bridge was completed. It became an even bigger dining destination when Southern cooking legend chef Edna Lewis led its kitchen from 1988 until 1992. The acclaimed oyster and chop house, which shuttered in 2004, was forgotten until a trio of visionary restaurateurs took over the storied space and its vintage Victorian-era detailing. Since reopening, it has delighted diners with its bountiful raw bar, sizzling steaks, pillowy Parker House rolls and classic cocktails. NYC Restaurant Week diners can enjoy a three-course tasting of Gage & Tollner’s inspired dishes amid its gaslit brass chandeliers and sumptuous brocade walls.
Neir’s Tavern. Photo: Simbarashe Cha
Neir’s Tavern
87-48 78th St., Woodhaven, Queens
Journey to the residential neighborhood of Woodhaven in Queens for a trip to one of NYC’s oldest taverns. You may not be familiar with Neir's Tavern, but if you’ve ever watched classic films like Goodfellas or Tower Heist, you know it. The historic tavern has been serving its community since it first opened its doors in 1829. Part of Neir’s lore includes being the first venue where Mae West, one of Hollywood’s original sex symbols, performed. A beloved neighborhood fixture, Neir’s still has its 19th-century mahogany bar and original beer tap system. During NYC Restaurant Week, they are featuring their Famous Goodfella Burger, which keeps it spicy with melted pepper jack cheese, along with a special jerk chicken quesadilla, a festive collaboration celebrating their team’s roots in Mexico and Jamaica.
Courtesy, Pete’s Tavern
Pete’s Tavern
129 E.18th St., Gramercy, Manhattan
Like many New Yorkers, Pete’s Tavern has seen it all. Established in 1864, this endearing restaurant has weathered many economic and cultural shifts, even outlasting Prohibition by pretending to be a flower shop. Longtime general manager Gary Egan says everyone has a story about Pete’s, noting it’s “more than a restaurant, it’s a piece of the community.” In a picturesque neighborhood near leafy Gramercy Park, Pete’s offers outdoor seating and cozy indoor booths. Order their Gramercy Burger, which is made with a juicy short-rib blend by celebrated butcher Pat LaFrieda and topped with crispy onions and the housemade O. Henry sauce, named for the author and onetime patron. The burger and the chicken parmigiana, their most popular dish, are just some of the signature items available on their NYC Restaurant Week menus, along with a bevy of special drink deals, including $30 bottles of wine.
The Russian Tea Room. Photo: Amy Lombard
The Russian Tea Room
150 W. 57th St., Midtown West, Manhattan
For a theatrical NYC Restaurant Week experience, the Russian Tea Room is your royal ticket to a jewel-toned wonderland. The Russian Imperial Ballet opened this spot as a store and café next to Carnegie Hall in 1927. Today, the restaurant serves up a dreamy spread of caviar, ice cold vodka and European delicacies. For a grand meal and a good value amid opulent art deco decor, the Russian Tea Room offers a three-course dinner during NYC Restaurant Week. Start with a bowl of RTR red borscht, made with pickled red beets, dill and a short rib and bacon broth, or a blinchik, a crepe stuffed with tender beef, cabbage and onion with a zingy side of pickled veggies. From there, move onto either Côtelette à la Czar, a pan-roasted chicken in a light red-pepper and mushroom sauce, or pan-seared sea scallops with sauteed lentils, trumpet, maitake and golden oyster mushrooms; both entrées normally are priced at $48. Finish your feast—there’s always room for dessert—with a triple-layer chocolate mousse cake or slice of cheesecake.
Sylvia's. Photo: Brittany Petronella
Sylvia's
328 Lenox Ave., Harlem, Manhattan
Known as the “Queen of Soul Food,” Sylvia’s has been the crown jewel of Harlem since 1962. This NYC institution, which has won a James Beard America’s Classic Award, began as a luncheonette with 15 stools and six booths. Over the decades, Sylvia’s has expanded into an empire that brings politicians, celebrities and cultural movers-and-shakers together over bountiful plates of soul-warming food. Located blocks away from the legendary Apollo Theatre, Sylvia’s serves up a hit list of comfort food classics: gooey mac and cheese, crispy chicken and waffles, and creamy banana pudding. During NYC Restaurant Week, don’t miss their famous barbecue, smothered in their secret “sassy” sauce, along with your choice of mouthwatering sides.
Tavern on the Green. Photo: Evan Angelastro
Tavern on the Green
West 67th Street and Central Park West, Central Park, Manhattan
The soft glow of twinkling lights at Tavern on the Green will make you fall deeper in love with New York City. At the edge of Central Park, this historic restaurant once housed a pen for the 700 sheep that grazed in the park’s meadow. Over the years, Tavern on the Green has hosted fairytale weddings and made appearances in Hollywood classics, including Ghostbusters and Beaches. John Lennon and Robert De Niro are among the celebrities who have dined in this scenic NYC institution. If you swing by during NYC Restaurant Week, you can taste some of their classic dishes along with an affordable wine pairing. Be sure to reserve an outdoor table to capture the idyllic beauty.
Union Square Café. Photo: Peter Garritano
Union Square Café
101 E. 19th St., Gramercy, Manhattan
Most New Yorkers who have been to Union Square Café light up when they talk about the restaurant, which has been celebrating the freshest flavors of New York City’s best known greenmarket for more than 30 years. This award-winning restaurant launched Danny Meyer’s dining empire thanks to its attentive hospitality and locally sourced ingredients. Even though the restaurant moved from its original location, it’s still a favorite spot for special occasions and convivial meals that often become core memories. According to general manager Michael Pernicano, “Almost everything on the menu is inclusive of the Union Square Greenmarket in a way that makes you taste where you are.” Most of their daily lunch menu, including their classic Bibb salad blanketed with shards of Gruyère and soul-satisfying pastas, will be available during NYC Restaurant Week on weekdays and for weekend brunch.
Courtesy, Veselka
Veselka
144 Second Ave., East Village, Manhattan
The Ukrainian word for rainbow is veselka, which happens to be the name of one of NYC’s beloved dining establishments, faithfully serving up Ukrainian comfort food since 1954. Founded by refugees and now owned and operated by their grandson, this historic institution is a pillar of the Ukrainian community and frequent site of late-night meals for artists and students. Hollywood hits, such as Ocean’s 8 and Juno, were filmed at Veselka, which sells thousands of hand-made pierogies each day. Their East Village location will offer a NYC Restaurant Week menu for both lunch and dinner. Diners can choose from a variety of soups, including their famous borscht, along with a hearty plate of meat or vegetarian pierogies and stuffed cabbages. A visit is not complete without a side of their mouthwatering potato pancake, and of course, it’s included in your NYC Restaurant Week meal.
