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New York City’s Most Iconic Restaurants

The OpenTable team

Seasons change, trends come and go, but these restaurants have withstood the test of time—and have become integral parts of the New York City dining scene. Here are NYC’s OpenTable Classics: the places that continue to excel after 10+ years. There’s a reason they’re still around: they keep giving us a reason to come back.

10 Restaurants
Updated February 19, 2020
Restaurants:The Modern, Nougatine at Jean Georges, Cookshop…
Price Range:$$ - $$$$
Cuisines:Contemporary American, French, American…
Neighborhoods:New York, Midtown West, Chelsea…

The Modern

$$$$·Contemporary American·
New York
4,792 reviews
  • Special Occasion
  • Tasting Menu
  • Good for a Date
Museum dining can get a bad rap. Not at The Modern, one of Danny Meyer’s first restaurants in New York City and a testament to his vision of elegant-yet-approachable fine dining. D…Read more
95% recommended
Not available on OpenTable
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Nougatine at Jean Georges

$$$$·French·
Midtown West
6,517 reviews
  • Creative Cuisine
  • Fit for Foodies
  • Great for Lunch
Jean-Georges Vongerichten is one of New York City’s most influential chefs, and his restaurants near Columbus Circle—the eponymous Jean Georges, and its sister, Nougatine—are a per…Read more
100% recommended
Not available on OpenTable
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Cookshop

$$$$·American·
Chelsea
5,779 reviews
  • Neighborhood Gem
  • Fit for Foodies
  • Casual
For over ten years, Cookshop has been serving its Greenmarket-driven, Italian-influenced cooking to neighborhood regulars, hip, young party-goers, and everyone in between. It’s gla…Read more
95% recommended
American in Manhattan
Table for 2 today

Raoul's

$$$$·Contemporary French·
SoHo
1,838 reviews
  • Neighborhood Gem
  • Good for a Date
  • Romantic
There are few places as fun to dine in as Raoul’s, where locals cram into white-tableclothed tables and dine on steak tartare, frisee salads, roast chicken, and steak au poivre. He…Read more
93% recommended
Not available on OpenTable
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Keen's Steakhouse

$$$$·Steak·
Midtown West
8,958 reviews
For a true steakhouse experience, head to Keens, one of the most glorious places in the city to eat meat, drink martinis, and be merry. The restaurant is a picture-perfect version …Read more
Not available on OpenTable
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Quality Meats

$$$$·Steakhouse·
Midtown West
8,117 reviews
  • Special Occasion
  • Good for a Date
  • Business Meals
It’s hard to believe that Quality Meats is over twelve years old; the place still feels hip and modern, with a bustle and buzz usually reserved for newer hot spots. The menu is dev…Read more
87% recommended
There aren’t any available tables for 2 today at 7:00 pm
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Casa Lever

$$$$·Italian·
Midtown East
1,482 reviews
  • Good for a Date
  • Business Meals
  • Special Occasion
For a Midtown power lunch or dinner, head to Casa Lever, an Italian restaurant in the architectural landmark Lever House. Andy Warhol originals line the wood-paneled walls, and Mad…Read more
86% recommended
There aren’t any available tables for 2 today at 7:00 pm
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Mercer Kitchen

$$$$·American·
SoHo
5,684 reviews
  • Good for a Date
  • Special Occasion
  • Fit for Foodies
Mercer Kitchen, a SoHo restaurant from the Jean-Georges Vongerichten group, is a lovely spot for lunch or dinner in SoHo. The Greenmarket-focused menu has something for everyone, a…Read more
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Buddakan NY

$$$$·Chinese·
Meatpacking District
13,698 reviews
  • Special Occasion
  • Good for a Date
  • Romantic
While it may not be the most authentic or low-key Chinese restaurant in town, Buddakan certainly has its perks: it’s fun, it’s glizy, it’s sceney, and the food is—somewhat shocking…Read more
89% recommended
Chinese in New York / Tri-State Area
Table for 2 today

Gotham Bar and Grill - Permanently Closed

$$$$·Contemporary American·
Greenwich Village
9,387 reviews
  • Creative Cuisine
  • Romantic
  • Good for Anniversaries
Gotham Bar and Grill is a quintessential New York restaurant, a place with a devoted local clientele, an elegant-yet-laid-back vibe, and consistently high-quality food. This is Ame…Read more
100% recommended
Not available on OpenTable
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Discover our curated lists
OpenTable Classics: Iconic Restaurants on OpenTable
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  1. OpenTable Classics: Iconic Restaurants on OpenTable
  2. New York City’s Most Iconic Restaurants
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