21 Classic Restaurants In NYC

A classic restaurant is like a classic car. Familiar to lots of people, often endearingly imperfect, and you're quite likely to see Jerry Seinfeld sitting in one of them. The 21 institutions on our guide aren't necessarily the city's oldest restaurants, nor are they our highest-rated spots. And while some of them are well-oiled operations, others have their charming little quirks. But each one of these places will make you feel something—and each one feels completely essential to New York.

9.0

L&B Spumoni Gardens

$$$$Perfect For:Big GroupsBirthdaysCheap EatsKidsLiterally EveryoneOutdoor/Patio Situation

Eating a square slice followed by a drip-down-your-hands spumoni cone on the patio of L&B Spumoni is a New York rite of passage, similar to walking over the Brooklyn Bridge, or being yelled at by someone for doing nothing wrong. Families eat towering bowls of spaghetti in an indoor dining room, but a few slices at a picnic table in the summer is where this Gravesend restaurant really shines. Sold by the slice or pie, the upside-down pizza has sweet sauce baked onto the top and cheese underneath, which melds with the dough in such a gooey way that it almost seems raw. The biggest change here since L&B opened in 1935 is the addition of a vodka square pie—similar to the upside-down, and also excellent.

8.0

Grand Central Oyster Bar

$$$$Perfect For:Classic EstablishmentDining SoloWalk-Ins

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They call it “grand” for a reason. Grand Central Terminal is one of the most majestic places in all of New York City, and Grand Central Oyster Bar is a restaurant worthy of the station’s lofty tiled arches. The next time you're passing through, find a seat at the counter in this cavernous 111-year-old institution, and order at least a dozen oysters. The cooked dishes are a mixed bag, but the raw selections taste far better than you’d expect in an underground transit center. For more of a secret hideout experience, adjourn to the cave within a cave that is the windowless Saloon. Wherever you sit, order a strong dirty martini served with a bonus sidecar, and test out the whispering arches before leaving.

8.5

Katz's Deli

$$$$Perfect For:Classic EstablishmentDining SoloImpressing Out of TownersQuick EatsSerious Takeout Operation

This mythical sandwich counter on the Lower East Side has been dishing out astronomical portions of some of the best pastrami this city has to offer since 1888. Yes, it’s a bit of a tourist trap, with a line down the block at peak lunch and dinner hours, trademark gruff service, and photos of famous customers on the walls. But even if you live here, you should wait in that line at least once a year for a hot pastrami on rye with mustard and sauerkraut. It's worth it for those juicy hunks of peppery meat, sandwiched between bread that sometimes disintegrates, all washed down with a crisp Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray.

8.6

Peter Luger Steak House

$$$$Perfect For:Big GroupsBusiness MealsClassic Establishment

This Williamsburg steakhouse, open since 1887, now takes debit. (Still no credit, sorry.) Other than that, Peter Luger is stuck in the past in the best possible way. The service is endearingly surly, the crowd is 50% tourist, 50% dedicated regular—and all those regulars order a mysterious plain plate of raw sliced tomatoes and onions. A meal at Peter Luger adheres to an unbreakable formula: free bread and the signature ketchupy steak sauce, a wedge salad, impeccable creamed spinach, and finally, the justifiably famous porterhouse with a crispy-crackly crust, a soft, luxurious interior, and a whole lot of butter. Your server might not chat too much, but they'll deliver that still-sizzling steak with the speed of someone whose life depends on it, every single time.

8.2

Sylvia's Restaurant

$$$$Perfect For:Big GroupsBreakfastBrunchCelebrity SightingsClassic EstablishmentLunch

This Harlem soul food institution is so iconic that a street at the end of the sprawling restaurant’s block is named after founder Sylvia Woods. Try to get an indoor seat, so you can admire the framed photos of celebrities and politicians who’ve been dining on chicken and waffles here since 1962. You should share at least one plate of those waffles—topped with either chicken or fried catfish—and a bunch of sides. Devour a free basketful of warm cornbread while you wait, and then ask nicely for one more. The liveliest time to visit Sylvia’s is on Sundays during gospel brunch, but be sure to make a reservation. Even on other days, you may encounter a wait.

8.0

Bamonte's

$$$$Perfect For:Big GroupsBirthdaysClassic Establishment

In the 120-plus years since Bamonte's opened in Williamsburg, the NYC dining scene has experimented with many different ways of having fun: all-you-can-eat sushi spots, restaurants on boats, and clubstaurants with caviar bumps. None compare to Bamonte's. It’s not that the food at this old-school Italian spot is spectacular. The calamari leans pale, and the red sauce is watery. But what you eat here never really matters. Because by the time a platter of totally okay penne alla vodka lands on your table, you’ll be obsessed with the woman in a fur coat who drove in from New Jersey, and 10 childhood friends from Windsor Terrace, passing around platters of baked clams. No restaurant entertains with bow ties and bottles of red quite like this one.

8.1

Wo Hop

$$$$Perfect For:Classic EstablishmentWalk-Ins

Wo Hop is the second-oldest restaurant in Chinatown, and if you talk to a long-time New Yorker, they’ll probably have at least one late-night story from here. (Yes, they got arrested out front, and yeah, it was all a huge misunderstanding.) Tragically, like many other iconic late-night spots, Wo Hop permanently reduced its hours in 2020. But even though you can't have a 2am feast here anymore, it's still a Chinatown classic. The cash-only subterranean spot has yellow-and-red leather booths, and walls covered in signed dollar bills, mixed with ’80s headshots of former Broadway stars. Come for a group meal, expect a line, and order crispy fried dumplings, big plates of chow fun, and beef and broccoli. Plus a few rounds of Tsingtao (but not enough to get arrested).

7.8

Balthazar

$$$$Perfect For:BreakfastBrunchBusiness MealsCorporate CardsImpressing Out of TownersLunch

When it opened in 1997, Balthazar inspired nostalgia for turn-of-the-century Paris. Now, it also inspires nostalgia for turn-of-the-21st century Soho. This French brasserie’s bustling yet elegant dining room—yellow walls, red banquettes, enormous mirrors—glows with some of the most universally flattering restaurant lighting we’ve ever experienced. Order any subset of the steak tartare, escargot, moules frites, and onion soup, or splurge on a comically large seafood tower. The people-watching remains spectacular on weekend evenings, and Balthazar still functions as a PokéStop for a certain flavor of downtown celebrity. It’s worth noting that breakfast is a much more peaceful experience—and one that allows you to take advantage of their excellent bakery.

8.4

Veselka

$$$$Perfect For:BreakfastBrunchClassic EstablishmentLate NightsLunch

What do the ’70s punk scene, the ‘80s East Village art scene, and the ’90s indie sleaze scene have in common? Veselka. Since 1954, the Ukrainian diner has fueled every late-night activity that’s ever haunted the East Village, with stuffed cabbage and latkes to sober up after a night at CBGB’s, or crisp cups of coffee and blintzes in the morning. It’s no longer open 24 hours, but Veselka is still a backbone of the neighborhood (with a second branch in Williamsburg) until midnight. Come in for excellent fried pierogi, a burger, and a beer after a night on St. Marks.

J.G. Melon

$$$$Perfect For:Dining SoloQuick EatsSerious Takeout Operation

The iconic burger at this unpretentious, preppy pub is no modern-day smashburger. It’s a thick, juicy patty on a gently toasted bun that you should order with grilled onions and bacon, plus cottage fries. It would benefit from a little (or a lot) more salt, but we adore it anyway. Then there’s J.G. Melon's charming hand-painted menu, the watermelon-centric art all over the dark wood walls, the red tin ceilings, and the instantly recognizable green checkered tablecloths—in rotation since 1972. J.G. Melon is cash-only, because of course it is, and there’s no ATM, because of course there isn’t. (There's a handy bank across the street).

8.2

Barney Greengrass

$$$$Perfect For:BreakfastBrunchCelebrity SightingsClassic EstablishmentCoffee & A Light BiteSerious Takeout Operation

It’s not often that we recognize a restaurant’s claim to royalty. But Barney Greengrass calls themselves the Sturgeon King, and we’re happy to pledge allegiance. When you go to this Upper West Side restaurant, get as many varieties of smoked fish as you can fit on your table, and plenty of bagels and bialys to eat them with. It's cash-only and feels like a window into the Mrs. Maisel Universe—there’s no elbow room, the servers will give you the same schtick every time you’re there, and you’ll leave with a bellyful of whitefish, sable, and latkes. Grab a babka on your way out the door.

8.0

Sybil's Bakery

$$$$

Founder Sybil Bernard-Kerrutt, a hairdresser who immigrated to the city from Guyana, started selling bread to friends to make rent and support her family. In 1976, she opened her first bakery in South Richmond Hill. A striking yellow and turquoise triangular building on Liberty Ave., the original Sybil’s is impossible to miss, and you can expect a line, even in the middle of a weekday afternoon. The Caribbean specialities on offer here are extensive, and uniformly delicious—try the pepper pot, goat roti, and curry chicken. The not-too-sweet pine tarts are great. There’s a reason you can, and should, order them by the half-dozen. But the moist, flaky currant roll is our very favorite thing here.

8.7

Raoul's

$$$$Perfect For:Classic EstablishmentDining SoloEating At The BarPrivate Dining

Nearly 50 years after this French bistro opened in Soho, it’s still not easy to get a reservation. The decor is charmingly eclectic, including tin ceilings and walls, plus a jarringly bright fish tank that divides the dining room. The same goes for the clientele. Squeeze into a white-tableclothed two-top (or better yet, sit at the bar) and you’re equally likely to find yourself beside decades-long regulars, sceney TikTok youth, or Robert DeNiro. The peppercorn-encrusted, watercress-topped burger au poivre is one of the best in the city, but the steak au poivre and frites are great, too. Right up front, a treacherous spiral staircase leads to the bathroom on the second floor—where you’ll sometimes also find a tarot reader.

8.6

Defonte's

$$$$Perfect For:Cheap EatsClassic EstablishmentSerious Takeout Operation

At Defonte’s, a cash-only Italian sandwich shop in Red Hook that’s been around since the 1920s, it’s not just about the big fat sandwiches. It’s also about standing in line next to someone who drives in from Jersey weekly to feast on The Zio Vito, and the person behind the counter, who’s a little peeved you’re trying to order at 3:15pm, even though they close at 4pm. Order absolutely anything that has a layer of fried eggplant on it, but since that’s most sandwiches here, the Italian Stallion is a good place to start. It’s layered with fried eggplant, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and a half inch thick layer of prosciutto. A lot of places make Italian sandwiches these days. Defonte’s is still one of the best.

Nathan's Famous

$$$$Perfect For:Cheap EatsClassic EstablishmentLunchOutdoor/Patio SituationQuick EatsSerious Takeout Operation

You can get a Nathan’s-branded hot dog just about anywhere, but there’s only one Nathan’s where you can accompany it with an order of fried frog legs. As it says on multiple signs around Nathan’s massive facade in Coney Island, “THIS IS THE ORIGINAL.” The legendary counter-service spot, which also has a raw bar, is just a block from the boardwalk and has been open 365 days a year since 1916, with the exception of a six-month closure after Hurricane Sandy. Whether you eat just one snappy, juicy dog or a Joey Chestnut-worthy 76 of them, sit outside and contemplate why they taste so much better in such close proximity to the beach—as if the salty breeze off the Atlantic Ocean acts as a final pinch of seasoning.

8.0

The Russian Tea Room

$$$$Perfect For:People WatchingPre-TheaterClassic Establishment

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How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Well, you’ve got a number of options, but the important thing is that your route should include a stop at the Russian Tea Room next door. Every New Yorker should visit this nearly century-old, red-and-green jewel box of a restaurant, founded by the Russian Imperial Ballet in 1927, at least once. Live out your Anastasia fantasy over red borscht and blini as you marvel at the extensive art collection, and wonder which of those Chagalls and Picassos are authentic and which are reproductions. There's need to strain your budget for a full meal—though we do have a soft spot for the boeuf à la stroganoff—but pop by for afternoon tea or a martini.

8.3

Casa Adela

$$$$Perfect For:BYOBCheap Eats

This quintessential Puerto Rican restaurant on Loisada Ave., especially beloved for its moist rotisserie chicken, was founded by Adela Fargas in 1976. She passed away in 2018, but the matriarch’s likeness still smiles at customers from the tribute art on the walls of this East Village spot with a small-town feel. Think of Fargas gratefully with every bite of the mofongo with peppery pernil. There are only a few tables inside, but you’ll find a squeeze bottle of mayo ketchup on every one of them—and you can BYOB.

7.8

Patsy's Pizza

$$$$Perfect For:Classic EstablishmentKidsQuick Eats

Pay your respects to a landmark of pizza history in East Harlem. Patsy’s Pizzeria, dating back to 1933, invented the very concept of selling slices—according to them, anyway. (Hey, we weren’t there.) They still bake their pies in a coal oven, which lends a nice char to the thin, crispy crust. There are multiple locations throughout the city now, but the original still takes up half a block on 1st Ave. There’s both a takeout counter that exclusively serves cheese slices and, next door, a classic red-sauce dining room (whole pies only, no slices), which is covered in honorary proclamations from the city and photos of celebrity customers with a recognizable post-pizza twinkle in their eyes.

8.2

Louie & Ernie's Pizza

$$$$Perfect For:Impressing Out of TownersClassic EstablishmentOutdoor/Patio Situation

Louie & Ernie’s is a pizza house in Pelham Bay. Literally. This pizzeria on the ground floor of a little corner house has been dishing out saucey pies since 1959 (after relocating to the Bronx from East Harlem). The cracker-thin crusts are impeccably charred to just the brink of burnt, and the slightly sweet sauce is the color of a traffic cone. Always order a whole sausage pie—it isn’t as greasy as some of our other favorites, which means you can successfully inhale a few slices before you even begin to get full. There's a few tables inside, but if you're here on a warm day, we'd recommend eating in the large backyard, next to a bunch of people who have been coming here since before they were old enough to chew crust.

8.5

La Morada

$$$$Perfect For:Casual DinnersWalk-Ins

La Morada in Mott Haven looks like a community center, papered with flyers about various activist meetings, and banners with slogans proclaiming "No Deportaciones" against a soft purple floral mural. It functions more like a community kitchen, though, routinely serving free meals to immigrants, and affordable ones to anyone who walks in on a weekday until 4:30pm. Hearty Oaxacan classics, like chicken in a clove-heavy mole oaxaqueño, or daily specials, like albondigas stuffed with green olives, pair beautifully with their homemade tortillas. New Yorkers are good neighbors, and this place is the perfect example of that.

8.7

Abuqir

$$$$Perfect For:Casual DinnersDining SoloWalk-Ins

There's no menu at Abuqir, and that's a big reason why we love it. This casual Egyptian spot in Astoria's Little Egypt—with just a few small tables and the no-frills atmosphere of a market (apart from that smiley shark on one wall)—is a must-visit for any seafood lover in New York City. Approach the counter and point out whichever branzino, calamari, red snapper, or other ocean-sourced goodie you like the look of, and the staff will gladly prepare it however you want. Be sure to order a whole fish “Egyptian-style," blackened and crusted in spices, and some of the juiciest grilled shrimp you've ever had in your life—but don't sleep on the smoky baba ghanoush or fluffy pita, either.