Our NYC
Favorites
We've been eating and theatre-ing our way through the city since moving back. These are the places we keep going back to — the standing reservations, the birthday spots, and the ones we drag every out-of-town visitor to.
House rules: nothing makes this page unless we'd go back tomorrow. Visit counts are real (and probably undercounted). And when a place falls off the rotation, we say so instead of quietly deleting it.
🐕 Most of these neighborhoods we found on foot, walking Tanuki.
Omakase & Sushi
Where we end up most weeks. If you only trust us on one category, trust this one.
Our new favorite all-you-can-eat omakase in the city. Book the Endless Omakase at the first or last seating. BYOB and a super fun vibe.
The original AYCE omakase-and-sake go-to, and still our pick for big groups.
BYOB sake with no corkage. Great for parties and group celebrations.
Awesome last-minute date night in the West Village. Very traditional, very high quality.
Incredible value — under $60 for a legit omakase.
Super cheap and our go-to for a quick omakase fix. Similar to TSUMO.
Two locations — one on 5th and a smaller "party room" on 4th. The party room has better vibes, but both are great.
Super small, owned by the chefs. Phone reservations only.
New and up-and-coming.
Not our favorite — pulled off the regular rotation. Listed for honesty.
Korean BBQ & Korean
Our K-town shortlist, from premium wagyu to the old-school charcoal spots.
Our favorite KBBQ right now. Premium meats, owned by the Nubiani folks. Great for large groups and upleveled eating.
Love this place but hard to get a resy now. Also has a midtown east location that's easier to reserve.
The Korean steakhouse. Michelin-starred for a reason.
Pricey but insanely decadent — all-you-can-eat true A5 Wagyu. Once-in-a-lifetime type experience, not a daily event.
OG spot — one of the oldest in K-town. Try the raw marinated crab! They use charcoal which is nice.
Fun spot with cool vibes — good for large groups and late nights in K-town.
Date Night
The list we pull from for birthdays, anniversaries, and talking someone into a second date.
Basque cooking from chef Ryan Bartlow on East Broadway. A top pick.
Favorite place right now. Celebrated Lisa's birthday here. Insane wine list featuring German wines (which Lisa loves). Large format dishes are great.
The Red Label Burger is a must-order — my favorite burger in NYC, hands down.
Yes, it lives up to the hype.
Amazing vibe, and always a few unique specials you won't get at Carbone. We did the full Zeppelin and caviar service and it was worth it. Members club at Hudson Yards.
The pasta. That's it. That's the review.
By the Cote group. Amazing brunch and the best Korean fried chicken ever.
Amazing intense flavors and a very unique cocktail program. Hard to get in — arrive at 5 and grab a bar seat.
Funky Thai spot — don't sleep on their brunch. Best fusion breakfast in the city.
Local favorite — fresh-from-Italy light bites and great wine. Like a sports bar and wine bar had a baby.
Standing-only wine bar by a Japanese couple focused on amazing Italian wine and bites. Very unique concept you won't forget.
Hidden butcher shop in Chelsea Market. Great for housemade charcuterie and affordable wine. Check out their special events like the 175-day dry aged beef dinner.
The burger. Worth the wait.
Our large group go-to.
Wine & Cocktails
Natural wine, rare spirits, martinis poured from a silver kettle, and one speakeasy behind a suit shop.
Inside the Nine Orchard hotel, in an old bank lobby. Get the martini service. A top pick.
No menu. Tell the bartender what you like and they build it. Buzz the door marked AB and expect a wait.
Basque-leaning bar from the Cervo's team. Great for gildas and snacks with a drink.
French natural wines in NoLita. Perfect pre-dinner.
Natural wine bar on the LES. Great vibe. $1.50 oyster happy hour.
Hidden below La Compagnie. Rare spirits and inventive cocktails.
NYE 2026. What a night. Speakeasy hidden behind a suit shop.
Everything Else
Steakhouses, ramen, fondue, tasting menus — the spots that round out the year.
Old-school NYC. Mutton chop is legendary.
A classic we always love. Get the T-bone for two — I think it's as good as Peter Luger.
Great neighborhood spot for steak frites. Fun concept with a consistently fun vibe, and brunch is a good deal too.
Our Carbone alternative when we want to change it up. Half portions at lunch make it work for just two or three people. The calamari is super good and the red sauce is great.
Good spot before a show at MSG. Upscale vibe with plenty of space if you need to put an event together. Big fans of NoHo Hospitality Group in general.
Amazing Albanian food and a real hidden gem. Meaty, hearty dishes and a cute vibe inside — much bigger than it looks from the street.
Israeli grill. Salatim spread alone is worth it.
Swiss fondue bar. Cozy and unique.
Korean tasting menu, beautiful plating.
Tiny, ambitious, unforgettable.
Southeast Asian flavors. Now on the Upper West Side.
When ramen is the mood.
Shanghainese heat done right.
Korean diner inspired by taxi driver restaurants. A newer addition.
Soho neighborhood spot. Coming soon to our regular rotation.
Broadway
TodayTix Gold members and lottery regulars. If it's on stage, we've probably tried to see it.
At Radio City. Les Mis rocks.
Featuring the band Lawrence — we're huge fans. The live energy was unreal.
We love this show. The music stays with you for days.
Our go-to for out-of-town visitors. Took multiple groups. Never gets old.
The Kit Kat Club experience. Eddie Redmayne was mesmerizing.
Nicole Scherzinger. Unbelievable.
Way funnier than it has any right to be. We still quote it.
A classic for a reason.
A classic — and you can often get cheap tickets.
If you're visiting, take the NYC Ferry. The views of the bridges — Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg — are the best in the city, and it's under $3 a ride with a 10-pack. We take every visitor on the East River route. It's non-negotiable.
This list is always evolving. Got a spot we're missing? Send it our way. ❤️