Like A Local Tours: Our Top Ten Favorite NYC Restaurants Right Now

Birds of a Feather, 鸳鸯 in Chinese, is a Chinese restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It is the brainchild of Yiming and Xian, the Michelin-starred duo behind Cafe China. They hav spent countless hours ruminating on the details of everything that meets the eye and behind the scenes in th new restaurant. Yiming as the interior designer and architect of Birds of a Feather, designed the space that is modern and timeless, welcoming and personal. The cuisine is Sichuan, but with new ideas and new dishes.

WHAT TO ORDER: Thousand Year Old Egg and Tofu Rolls (JUST GO FOR IT!)

Photo by Zagat

“Sunday in Brooklyn is a neighborhood restaurant that cares deeply about what and who we serve, offering breakfast, brunch, and dinner 7 days a week. The three-story sun-drenched corner building offers a multitude of experiences for each season and time of day. In the warmer months, guests bask in the rooftop garden, sidewalk cafe or the open-air kitchen which extends the outdoors throughout the ground floor. In the cooler months, wood-burning ovens in each dining space, provide warmth and social gathering places.”

WHAT TO ORDER: Black Cod Pastrami, Rye Sour Cream, Garden Pickles. Most people go for brunch but it’s way to crowded for our taste, so we go for dinner.

PHOTO BY EATER

Very chic, trendy and upscale. The New York Times gave them a rare 3 stars out of 4. Everything on the menu is delicious and the service is top notch. Pricing is also upscale so check the menu before you make that reservation.

WHAT TO ORDER: Leeks, Lobster stuffed squash blossoms

We are cheating a little because this is around the corner but it’s a great go to! The tantalizing smell from the wood burning oven is worth the price of admission.

WHAT TO ORDER: cured sardines on grilled crostini. All of the pasta dishes are amazing.

We love spicy Sichuan and this trendy spot does not disappoint! “At the revamped New York outpost of the San Francisco cult favorite, Chef Danny Bowien delivers his fiery, creative dishes with Asian-American flavors. The menu showcases a blend of Sichuan heat and spice, served up in a chic Lower East Side space decked out with a roomy bar, communal tables and red banquettes.”

WHAT TO ORDER: try the green papaya and banana blossom salad. and honestly, everything else is fantastic as well.

Photo by NYC & Co

Yes, this is unfortunately a member’s only restaurant, part of the Soho House. But every time we’ve been the food and drinks are stellar and heading one floor below for dancing after dinner doesn’t suck.

WHAT TO ORDER: carrot curry dumplings. they specialize in duck so if you’re a meat eater, order one of those.

This headline from Eater tells you everything you need to know: Vegetarian Superiority Burger Sells One of NYC’s Best Chicken Sandwiches

GO NOW AND ORDER ONE OF EVERYTHING!

“Olmsted is a neighborhood restaurant in the heart of Prospect Heights from chef-owner Greg Baxtrom. We offer a seasonal, ingredient-driven menu, some of which comes straight from our backyard garden (yes, you’re welcome to sit there for a drink and a bite). We built the entire 50-seat restaurant with a living wall and lush garden ourselves, and named it after Frederick Law Olmsted, the famed architect behind nearby Prospect Park.”

NY TIMES CRITICS PICK (2 stars)

WHAT TO ORDER: beer battered squash rings and rutabaga tagliatelle with black truffle and brown butter

According to Eater, this is New York’s best BBQ.

WHAT TO ORDER: we think you should take our Brooklyn BBQ Tour to find out!

The NoMad Bar radiates the conviviality and warmth of a classic New York City tavern. The casual menu, which draws inspiration from traditional pub fare, is rooted in the style and foundation of The NoMad and Eleven Madison Park. Here, for example, the NoMad’s famed chicken for two is re-introduced as a chicken pot pie, with black truffles and foie gras. PS – The NoMad bar has a separate entrance at 10 West 28th Street, just east of Broadway.